This Is Your Reminder to Say ‘NO’⁠↗

the proper response is to say no because everything we say yes to is, in fact, saying no to something else. No one can be in two places at once. No one can give all their focus to more than one thing. But the power of this reality can also work for you: Every no can also be a yes, a yes to what really matters. To rebuff one opportunity means to cultivate another.

everything I say yes to is taking me away from the two people I’ve already promised so much of my time to. And from my writing, which is not only the thing that is most meaningful to me and how I make my actual living, but it’s how I can help the most people. So if I say yes to one random person, I’m saying no to a lot more people by taking that time and energy away from my writing.

to focus on one thing requires not focusing on other, less important things.

Who cares if you have achieved extraordinary things when you are punished for it by having even less freedom day to day?