# The 'Have You Given Up' Ghosting Text

> A single-line negotiation prompt to re-engage contacts who stopped responding.

This technique, developed by former FBI negotiator Chris Voss in Never Split the Difference, uses a concise prompt to break through communication deadlocks. It leverages loss aversion to prompt an immediate reply or provide clear closure to move on.

## How it works

When someone is ghosting you on a deal or conversation, send a single-line message containing only:

"Have you given up on \[insert project/deal name\]?"

Rules:

1. Keep it strictly to that one line—do not add greetings, extra explanations, or pleasantries.

2. If they do not respond at all, the answer is 'yes'; move on.

3. If they respond with personal issues or a delay, respond with genuine empathy for their situation. If they are truthful, you will resume dialogue; if they ghost again, move on.

## What it is for

- Re-engage prospects who have gone silent on a sales pitch or contract
- Determine whether to archive a stalled project inquiry or lead
- Prompt a response from unresponsive collaborators or clients

## Key points

- Send a single-line message: 'Have you given up on \[project/deal name\]?'
- Omit pleasantries, greetings, and defensive explanations
- Leverage loss aversion to prompt a natural protective response
- Interpret non-response as a final 'yes' to close out the deal
- Reply with empathy if the recipient cites personal or unexpected delays

## Pricing

Free

## Details

- Type: Tip
- Category: [Marketing & Sales](https://xiry.app/topics/marketing-sales.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: other
- For: Sales professionals, freelancers, and anyone dealing with ghosted communications
- Alternative to: Standard 'just checking in' follow-up emails
- Tags: negotiation, sales, follow up, communication, cold outreach, productivity

## Why it was saved

- [@thefbinegotiator, 6 November 2024](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCAzE4BPZJS/): It leverages loss aversion to get a response within minutes or gives you clear closure to move on if they remain silent.

## Related

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- [No-Oriented Questions Negotiation Technique](https://xiry.app/resources/no-oriented-questions-negotiation-technique): Negotiation framework that frames questions so 'no' gives the desired commitment. (Tip, Free)
- [160 ChatGPT Prompts to Build a High-Ticket Sales Business](https://xiry.app/resources/160-chatgpt-prompts-to-build-a-high-ticket-sales-business): A Notion library of 160 prompts across eight sales frameworks. (Prompt)
- [90-Day New Hire Prospecting Tactic](https://xiry.app/resources/90-day-new-hire-prospecting-tactic): A cold outreach tactic targeting recent job changers on LinkedIn Sales Navigator. (Tip, Free)
- [Ghosted Client Follow-Up Scripts](https://xiry.app/resources/ghosted-client-follow-up-scripts): Follow-up message sequence to re-engage unresponsive sales prospects without sounding needy (Tip, Free)
- [Howdy](https://xiry.app/resources/howdy): Automated, AI-personalized Instagram cold DM outreach tool and browser extension (Web app, Freemium)

Updated 3 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/the-have-you-given-up-ghosting-text

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