People can’t buy you off if you’ve already decided you’re not for sale.

A decision made in advance holds up better than one made under pressure. When the offer is in front of you and your reasoning starts to bend, the question becomes how tired you are rather than what you believe. Settling it beforehand means the pressure has nothing to work on.

Write down now the two or three things you will not trade, in plain language, before anyone tests them. Being specific matters more than being noble about it. Then, when the moment comes, you are remembering a decision rather than making one.