I once knew a guy who made it a habit of saying ‘no’ to an influential leader. He spent years telling the guy no every time he was asked to help or assist in a variety of projects.
After so many years of consistent rejection, the leader finally recognized the strength and wisdom behind these responses and asked the guy a question he could say yes to.
He asked to guy to mentor him, on stewarding his own life!
On the outside, ‘no’ doesn’t have the connotation of success, strength or skill. It doesn’t bring popularity, nor does it display competence. How could anyone get anywhere in life by saying ‘no’ most of the time?
Saying ‘no’ is like budgeting.
It’s not about what it gives you- but it’s about what is allows you to keep.
A ‘no’ wisely distributed, gives you time and energy to focus on what really matters. It will bring a level of quality and precision to the important areas – things that really matter.