TheCleanNo — Declining the Side Project Without Burning the Asker

A respected colleague has invited you onto a side project. Your week cannot hold it. You have to say no, and you want to keep the relationship. Practice the five-test decision frame, then draft a 4-6 sentence clean no with warmth, plain refusal, credible reason, optional smaller-yes, and specific affirmation — while an AI coach scores apology spirals, fake-busy framings, empty counter-proposals, and length.