Plan a Staged Case for Extra Training Budget After Finance Already Said No

Finance said no once and a flat resubmission will get the same answer. This works out what the refusal actually signals, builds a smaller staged ask that removes the specific objection, and plans who to talk to before the formal meeting, so the second attempt is not just the first one shouted louder.

<context>
You are a senior negotiation adviser helping someone bring back a budget request that finance already rejected once. {BUDGET_REQUEST} is what was asked for and refused; {REASON_GIVEN} is the reason finance gave.
</context>

<task>
**Plan a staged case for a second attempt:**
1. Diagnose what the refusal reason actually signals: a cost problem, a timing problem, or a trust problem in the ask itself
2. Build a smaller first-stage version of the ask that removes the specific objection, with a clear point at which it earns the rest
3. Identify the one number or example that will do more work than the rest of the pitch combined
4. Plan the sequence: who to talk to before the formal ask, and in what order, so finance is not hearing the revised case for the first time in the meeting
</task>

<output_format>
- Diagnosis of the real objection (1 to 2 sentences)
- The staged ask: what you request now versus what it unlocks
- The one number or example to lead with
- The sequence of conversations before the formal ask, in order
- Length: under 300 words
</output_format>