Business field manual · 2026 edition
You answered one message at 9 PM. Now it’s part of your job.
The exact words for 15 situations where work takes more than it pays for, from the 9 PM “urgent” ping to a departed colleague’s workload. By Frank Muran, a top executive with 30+ years on both sides of the desk.
Launch price: $57 $37. Instant PDF after secure Stripe checkout.
The problem
Burnout usually starts with one small yes.
The book calls it boundary drift. Nobody plans it, usually not even your manager. It looks like this:
- Week 1You reply to an 8:45 PM message because you want to be helpful.
- Week 3Your manager now treats 9 PM replies as normal.
- Month 1You agree to cover a colleague who left, “just for a couple of weeks.”
- Month 6You’re doing two jobs for one paycheck, and saying no now feels impossible.
The book gives you the sentence for each of these moments, and the next one for when they push back. Try three of them below, or take them with you as a free PDF.
Free sample
Take 3 scripts with you.
A 7-page PDF with the three situations from the demo, all nine scripts, six pushback replies and the tier decision guide. Enter your email and the download starts right away.
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What’s inside
A reference you’ll reach for, and a coach that makes it stick.
- 00
How managers really see you
Eleven rules from 30 years in management, the yellow, red and gold card system, and three messages that build your record.
- 45
Word-for-word scripts in three tiers
Polite, firm, and paper trail, for 15 situations. Each script says where to use it: out loud, in chat, or by email.
- 30
Replies for when they push back
“It’ll only take five minutes.” “Everyone else replies at night.” “Budgets are frozen.” You get the answer before you need it.
- 04
The CYA protocol
A recap email template that turns a hallway instruction into a written record, plus five rules for logging problems safely.
- 05
Your training ground
A 2-minute self-audit, a trigger map, a 5-step rehearsal, before-and-after checklists, a practice log and a 30-day plan.
- +1
Bonus: printable cheat sheet
All 45 moves, the tier decision and the delivery checklist on two pages for your desk.
Is it for you?
Who it’s for, and who should skip it.
A good fit if you
- work in an office or remote team and say yes more often than you’d like
- are doing work your role and pay never covered
- freeze when someone pushes, then agree to something you regret
- are a new team lead who wants to set healthy norms from day one
Skip it if you
- need legal advice for an active dispute (see an employment attorney)
- want a way to do less work: the book argues that results come first
- have already decided to quit tomorrow
What it can’t do
A script won’t fix a toxic company.
What it can do is help you answer calmly, protect your evenings and keep a written record. How it goes depends on your workplace and on how consistently you use the words. Nobody honest can promise you a raise or a nicer boss. If you’re facing discrimination or a legal dispute, talk to a licensed employment attorney.
Get your copy
Less than a single hour of coaching.
The Scriptbook
Everything in the book
$57$20 off
$37USD · one-time
- The Corporate Boundary Scriptbook, 46-page PDF
- 45 scripts in three tiers, for 15 situations
- 30 ready replies for when they push back
- 11 rules from 30+ years in management
- CYA recap email and incident log pages
- Training workbook: self-audit, rehearsal, checklists, 30-day plan
- Printable 2-page cheat sheet
The Scriptbook + Templates
Book plus 10 editable Word templates
Best value$87$30 off
$57USD · one-time
- Everything in the Scriptbook
- 10 editable .docx templates: recap email, scope change request, pay review request, early risk flag, weekly update, improvement pitch, weekend decline, out-of-office handoff, response to a review, covering a colleague
- Incident log as an editable document
- Open in Word, Google Docs or Pages. Fill in the brackets, send.
- Secure Stripe checkout
- Instant download
- No subscription
By clicking a buy button you agree to the terms of sale and ask for immediate delivery of the files, which means the 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply. All sales are final.
You’ll pay on Stripe’s secure page, then return here to download your files. General career coaching runs $80 to $225 per hour, according to Noomii’s 2026 pricing guide; these are the words you’d practice there, in a book you keep. Not sure yet? Get 3 scripts free first.
After you click
What happens next: three steps, about two minutes.
Pay on Stripe’s secure page
One payment, $37 or $57 for the bundle. No subscription, no account to create.
You’re sent straight back here
Your download page opens right after payment, with the book, the cheat sheet and, for the bundle, the templates.
Take the self-audit first
Two minutes on page 37 tells you which of the 15 scenarios to read first.
Questions
Questions people ask before buying.
Won’t my manager notice I’m using a script?
Not if you make the words yours. Every script has placeholders, and the training section asks you to change a word or two and say it out loud before you use it. Most scripts are two or three sentences, the length of a normal reply.
Is saying no going to hurt my career?
The book’s argument runs the other way. People who deliver results and say early what won’t fit tend to be trusted more. It also tells you when not to escalate: on probation, during layoffs, without a written record, or when you’re angry.
What’s in the bundle, and do I need it?
The bundle adds 10 editable Word templates built from the book’s scripts (recap email, scope change request, pay review request, early risk flag, weekly update, out-of-office handoff, written response to a review, and more) plus an incident log. You need it if you’d rather open a document and fill in the brackets than write the email yourself. The book alone has all the words.
Do I need to be a manager to use it?
No. Most scripts are written for individual contributors and team leads. Managers will find the eleven rules useful for seeing their own team from the other side.
Does it work outside the US?
It’s written in US workplace English (PTO, Slack, 1-on-1s), and the situations are common to any office or remote team. Employment law differs between countries, and the book is not legal advice.
What format is it, and how do I get it?
A PDF with a clickable table of contents, plus a separate 2-page cheat sheet for printing. After payment, Stripe sends you back to a download page.
Can I get a refund?
Because the book is an instant digital download, all sales are final once the files are delivered (you confirm this at checkout). If your file doesn’t open or something is wrong with it, email support@example.com and we’ll fix it. Full details in the terms of sale.
Can I share it with my team?
Each copy is for one person. For team copies, email support@example.com.