Why I Said NO to 100+ Opportunities Last Year & How to Filter Opportunities for Impact
Last year, I turned down dozens of speaking opportunities, podcast appearances, collaboration requests & “quick calls.”
Why? Because I learned a valuable lesson about Opportunity Cost that transformed my business.
You see, I used to be the person who said “Yes” to everything. Every podcast invite, every speaking opportunity, every “quick call” to explore potential partnerships…
I thought saying yes to everything was the path to growth. But I was wrong.
What I discovered is that saying “Yes” to everything means saying “No” to the things that truly matter — like leading my team, innovating new strategies for our clients & focusing on what moves the needle forward in my business.
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆:
Every “Yes” has an Opportunity Cost.
When you say “Yes” to that podcast interview, you’re saying “No” to something else. Maybe it’s time with your team, maybe it’s working on that game-changing project, or maybe it’s the strategic thinking that could 10x your business.
I told my Executive Assistant something important:
“I’m going to show up 110% for everything I commit to — that’s who I am. But we need to be extremely selective about what makes it onto my calendar. My team & clients come first.”
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
- Does this directly benefit my clients?
- Will this move the needle for AdOutreach?
- Does this align with our core mission?
- Am I genuinely excited about this?
If it doesn’t hit at least 3 of these 4 criteria, it’s a “No.”
The result? More focus, better results & exponentially more impact.
Remember: Your time & energy are your most valuable resources. Guard them fiercely.
Because saying “No” to the good opportunities is what creates space for the GREAT ones. 💯
The hardest part? Learning to say “No” to things that look good on paper but don’t align with your highest priorities.
But here’s what happens when you do:
- More bandwidth for innovation
- Better results for your clients
- Increased momentum in your business
- Greater impact in the areas that matter most
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻: Success isn’t about doing more things — it’s about doing the RIGHT things with complete focus & dedication.
So next time you’re faced with an “opportunity,” remember: A strategic “No” today creates space for a bigger “Yes” tomorrow. 🚀
What opportunities do you need to start saying “No” to?
