Be honest with yourself for a moment, when someone approaches you to speak about your services do you see dollar signs? Do you start trying to figure out how to get them to say yes? Do you do this even when you know they might not be right for you?
Saying “No” to work can be scary, yet we both know that working with the wrong client is awful. You dread working with them. They tend to be the most demanding, they leave you tired and frustrated. They leave you wondering why you are in business in the first place. This is not to say that the client is a bad person, they just aren’t right for you.
What about opportunities? The same holds true here. There are so many things you can do. I am approached regularly about participating in a wide variety of things. There have been plenty of times that I’ve regretted saying “Yes”, not because it wasn’t a good opportunity, but it wasn’t a good opportunity for me at that time.
I use the following 3-quesitons to help me figure out when to say yes to and when to say “ENOUGH!” or “No”.
- Is doing this (or working with this person) in line with my overall business goals or am I doing it because I feel I have to or out of fear or guilt?
- If I do this (or work with this client) what won’t I be able to do?
- Will doing this (or working with this client) make me happy and support the life I want to lead?
When you start saying ENOUGH to the wrong things you can focus on the right things, the things that will grow you and your business. The things you will do well, the things that you will enjoy.
What can you say ENOUGH to today? I’d love to know, share it in the comments section below to make it real.
Thanks for these reminders, Carrie!
I said “yes” today to a project I told myself last time I would say “no” to next time. Why? There is some prestige to it, even though it does not pay well. I do have at least one big project finally wrapping up, with a second that will soon. So before something bigger and better comes in, I said, “Why not?” I’ve shifted my thinking about it as well. I’m looking at it as something “a little extra,” as opposed to something I HAVE to do. I see it as money to help cover a couple of recent “extra” purchases. In that way, it didn’t feel negative as it did last time.
The thing to consider Ilene is what you are getting out of it as opposed to what you are putting into it. As long as the balance is in your favor go for it. Having said that however, make sure that the time that you’ll be spending on that project does not make it impossible to take on the bigger & better one.