We all know the feeling of “oh crap, I’ve taken on too much and now I’m spread too thin”. We’ve all been there. We’ve been through a period where opportunities keep coming up and we don’t want to say no to anything for fear that we will be missing out on something that’s going to give us our big break.
But what happens when we say yes to everything is that we get overwhelmed, we miss deadlines, and we feel drained rather than motivated to do the work that we are passionate about.
I’m not going to tell you that you have to say no to all these amazing opportunities coming your way but rather explain how by saying no to the wrong opportunities you open yourself up for so much more!
If it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a no.
If you’re just starting out in your industry, maybe you just graduated or just opened the doors to your new business venture, you don’t want to turn down an offer that’s going to mean earning an income or an opportunity to expand your network. However, if you are a little further along and you’ve made some good connections or you have a few clients already, don’t be afraid to say no to the things that don’t align with your vision of your career or business.
Yes, they may help you meet new people or give you some extra cash but by saying yes to everything, you’re saying no to better things down the road. Things that would be a better fit, that would allow you to meet more of the right people, and give you opportunities to do what you are passionate about.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you didn’t leave your full-time job to not be working on your passion as much as you can!
Questions to ask yourself before saying yes to an opportunity
- Why do I want to do this?
- Does this align with my values and vision? – Don’t compromise who you are for money or exposure
- Am I only saying yes because it will look good on a resume? – Not worth your energy
- Am I only saying yes because they want to pay me? – This one is difficult, especially in the beginning, but try to find another opportunity that will pay you but is a better fit
- Is this a HELL YES situation? – If it’s not, it’s a no.
This isn’t about saying no to things that push you out of your comfort zone
Before you apply the “hell yes, or no” to all of your decisions, take into account that your fear isn’t a part of this equation. Let’s add this question to the end of our list “Is fear the only thing keeping me from saying ‘Hell yes’ to this opportunity?”
If fear is what’s stopping you, throw it out the window. If the opportunity is the right fit, if it is in line with your values, where you see your brand/business going, and gives you great exposure or income then it should be a hell yes. Don’t let fear keep you from your “hell yes” moment. I’m going to hit you with another saying to help you navigate these situations: “Feel the fear, and DO IT ANYWAY”
This also isn’t a take it or leave it situation either
Can you turn the no, into a hell yes with a few tweaks? Be willing to negotiate the terms so they fit into your current situation and you can confidently say yes to the opportunity. There won’t always be a clear answer. You may want to say hell yes to an opportunity, but it doesn’t quite tick all the boxes. You’re allowed to negotiate the terms. The worst they can say is no.
Putting it all together
Let’s put all these questions together so you have a clear check list to run through when your next opportunity comes knocking and you don’t know if you have the capacity to take it on.
