[SERIES] 4/7 Unpopular Belief: Say Yes To Everything
But you can't say yes to everything!If you do, you'll just be overwhelmed and out of time!This is partially true, but not completely. Let me explain.This is Part 4 of the 7 Unpopular Beliefs Series.
Say Yes To Everything!
Once you're rich, you can say "no."
Until then, you're working on creating new opportunities and building new relationships.When you have too many and you start to feel overwhelmed, it's time to cut the bottom 20%.Kill the bottom 20% of your projects, relationships, whatever you're spending your time on.If you do this continually, the only way is up.
Diversify your opportunities
By saying "yes," to things you might otherwise reject, you're diversifying--a major principle in investing. Over time, you'll learn what returns on investment and what doesn't. This will also protect you from depending too much on one opportunity.If you work for GE for 25 years and suddenly they decide to lay you off, you now have to find another job. If you develop multiple skills and streams of income over 25 years, it's going to be a lot harder to knock you down.
Reinvest In Your Network
"No one has ever said: 'I'm too well liked and I'm too well respected--I just can't seem to make any money.'"- Seth Godin
By showing your network that you appreciate and value them (by adding value), they will appreciate and value you.This creates more opportunities and keeps you fresh in their minds when new ones arise.You also have the benefit of a strong support network when things go sideways.
2 Minute Action:
Take 2 minutes to do one of the following:
- Email/call/text an old colleague and tell them how they made a difference in your life.
- Think of someone who asked you to do something recently. Not a favor like "can you drive me to the airport." I mean more like "hey, do you want to start a really informal podcast about hunting?"
- Say "yes," and commit for a period of time. Have a rule about what will allow you to bail and agree on it with an accountabilibuddy.
- If you're not overloaded, add something to your project list.
- If you're overloaded, kill the bottom 20% of projects you're working on.
An Important Choice To Make After Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks.
There are a billion places on the internet where you can learn about how this holiday came to be.You can learn about how Edward Winslow's account of the Pilgrim's harvest in 1621 mentioned that they ate some turkey--among other things.You can learn about how it's not about any help given to the colonists by the Wampanoag Indians.You can learn about how Thanksgiving was actually a way to commemorate the deeply religious and ceremonious massacre of about 700 Native American men, women, and children.Intense.
By not knowing the truth, it's easy to think of our current selves differently.
Instead of seeing our ancestors as murderers or genocidal maniacs, we get to see them as conquerors and adventurers.We get to feel like their courage somehow has passed on to us, and we get to feel proud.The alternative creates too much dissonance. It just doesn't seem possible. How could that be part of us?
The next thing to remember is that we get to choose who we are from here.
It's up to us to revise our ethics, empathize with one another, and be grateful for the planet we have.It's true for Thanksgiving history and it's true for our everyday lives.
Here's a tool I use to recalibrate after each Thanksgiving:
It's a quick read from Seth Godin about giving thanks.I read it every year.It takes longer than 2 minutes to read the whole thing, so that's up to you.
2 Minute Action
Read the Thanksgiving Reader for 2 minutes--though it'll be hard to only spend 2 minutes on it.Or, take 2 minutes to thank one person in your life for being them. Be specific. Call out characteristics or moments that you love about them.Let them know how they've helped change your life.Also, just for the record. I've got a ton of other resources like this in my personal VAULT.And that's free for everyone, so feel free to share.Have a warm and happy Thanksgiving.