Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you wished you have just said no? How many times that ‘yes’ prevented you from doing something you actually wanted to do or from being with the people you actually wanted to spend time with? Or how that ‘yes’ was actually inhibiting you from creating work that speaks to your soul? Yeah me either. Until I did. So I’m here to say knock it off.

I’m the type of person to say, “Yes! Absolutely!” before I even know what is going on. Which is bad. So as I’m sure you can imagine learning to say no was actually really hard for me.It’s okay to think about yourself first. It’s okay to put your business before someone else’s. You don’t  ALWAYS have to be a giver. I’m not saying you should never bend but for the love of all that is holy please don’t break. And if that ‘Yes’ starts to feel a lot more like a ‘No’ maybe you should listen to yourself.

It’s not all about the money.

I know we’ve all got bills to pay. Maybe it’s your slow season. Or maybe you are just starting your entrepreneurial journey and you feel you need the experience. But I’m telling you that some things just aren’t worth it. The more you allow yourself to say no to opportunities that don’t quite fit your brand, that feel a little icky, devalue your worth, or take time away from things you want to be doing; the more you can say YES to the opportunities that uplift and fulfill you.

Because it’s better for you.

It took me a long time to realize that it’s my business and I can run it how I see fit. That once I take myself seriously other people will too. And the ones that don’t aren’t the right clients for me. They are not my target market. You should NEVER let someone guilt you into anything or allow them to make you feel like you owe them something. Because you are worth more than that.

I’ve learned that I cannot adequately serve my clients to the best of my abilities if I am stretched so thin I’m left feeling empty, devoid of passion, and frustrated. It’s not good for my clients and it’s certainly not good for me. Besides, why would anyone ever want to work with someone who makes you feel like you are inadequate or unworthy?

This isn’t just business advice either. Some of the best life decisions I’ve made were to simply say no. No, I don’t have the time, the energy, or the capabilities to do what you are asking me. No, I need to focus on myself, my school work, my business, or my family right now. I started looking at these No’s as big fat YESES! I’m saying yes to me, my dreams, my passions, my worth, my family, and my health. And I’m saying no to the rest of it.