When to say yes, and how to say no

November 10, 2024

Welcome to The Productivity Blueprint newsletter 🗞️

Last week, we went over the difference between stress & stressors, and how sometimes, you should focus on managing your stressor instead of stress.

If you missed last week, you can catch up here 🙂

Today’s newsletter is all about when to say yes or no, an important lesson to learn when it comes to making decisions in your life!

“Saying “yes” to one thing means saying “no” to another. That’s why decisions can be hard sometimes.”

Mark Manson begins this article stating that early in your career you should: “Say “Yes” Until You Have to Say “No”. In these building stages, all of these offers are opportunities for challenge and growth. And as he so eloquantly puts it “Even the things that seem kinda dumb or pointless or weird or inconvenient. You say yes and do them anyway. Because you never know what doors they will open.” (Oh, no one can beat Manson’s literate genius 🤪).

However, as you grow your skills, and figure out what it is you want to do, it’s time to start saying ‘no’. Likely, you will have more opportunities than you want or can fulfill. By saying “no,” you’re able to focus on the opportunities that present the biggest upside and you get even further, faster.

This method works in all parts of your life like making friends, starting relationships, and figuring out what fields you are talented in.

Overall, people tend to better at saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and not both. People who struggle declining opportunities often feel trapped due to the lack of control they have in their life. On the other hand, the people who have trouble saying “yes” usually find it hard to commit to something, leaving it impossible for them to achieve their goals.

The secret sauce as Manson puts it, really is knowing when and how to say (and hear) both.

TL/DR: It is important to know when to say “yes” and when to say “no.” You should always say “yes” when you want to explore new opportunities but then start saying “no” when you are ready to settle in and build on your current circumstance.

6 Effective Tips to Politely Say No (that actually work!)

If you’re like me, “yes” rules your life, and “no” doesn’t exist. How do we say no without feeling bad? In this guide, let’s learn to say no!

Mark Manson Podcast: The Secret to Success Is... Giving Up?

A lot of people treat goals like some kind of sacred self-improvement law, where the most important thing you can do is set and achieve your goals. But goals are simply tools we use to point us in the right direction. Your goals should serve you—and so you shouldn’t be a slave to some arbitrary goal you set when it’s no longer serving you. So how do you know when a goal is no longer pushing you in the right direction?

💡 Challenge of the week

For the the week, say "yes" to a new opportunity that aligns with your goals. Then, say "no" to one existing commitment that doesn’t serve your priorities. Reflect daily on how your choices affect your productivity and adjust as needed.

That’s all for this newsletter! We hope you enjoyed learning when to say "yes" and how to say "no" effectively.

Until next week,

The Productivity Blueprint Team

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