Once we decide what is important in our lives, the rest suddenly becomes less important. It’s then time to say no to the things that don’t matter — the things that take up our precious time and energy.
Learning to say the small but powerful word, no, is critical to success. We grew up with the word no — some more than others. We may hear lots of no’s but how good are we at saying no to others? Many find it extremely difficult to say no for fear of letting others down. But if pleasing others means limiting your own personal growth then it’s time to put yourself first and say “No”. Saying NO is a YES for self-respect.
“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. But that’s not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.” – Steve Jobs
Why not just say, “Yes”?
- You can’t say yes to everything — think capacity.
- Not everything is worth a yes — think value.
- Sometimes it’s not the right time to say yes — think right choices.
What are we saying “No” to? By saying no to things of low value we free up time, energy and money for the right stuff — the high value things that matter. This is one of the greatest tools of highly productive people. Of course when we say no it doesn’t always mean it doesn’t get done — just not now and not always by you.
WARNING! Don’t forget to say “Yes” — but be super discerning when you do. It’s about your return on investment for every yes.
Remember every no brings you closer to the right yes!
Every Minute Counts and You Can Have It All! ®
