Saying "No" To Saying "Yes"
"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything." ~ Warren Buffet
It is a common belief that if you want to get noticed at work and have the opportunities to move ahead, then volunteer for the tasks that no one else wants to do.
But wait! You should be careful about saying "yes" too often, says sales expert Anthony Iannarino, author of "The Only Sales Guide You'll Ever Need."
According to Iannarino, when you say "Yes" to small things, you are also saying "No" to your biggest priorities.
When you say "Yes" to the tasks that aren't really your work, you are saying "No" to more purposeful, more meaningful tasks.
Saying "Yes" to the inbox almost always means saying "No" to the tasks that produces the outcomes you need.
Saying "Yes" to cleaning your desk means saying "No" to spending that time with your clients or dream clients.
Saying "Yes" to planning the team-building day might mean saying "No" to the strategy you are supposed to be developing.
In your personal world, saying "Yes" to television or Facebook means saying "No" to spending time developing yourself both personally and professionally.
Saying "Yes" to distraction and escapism is a "No" to improving the single asset you own free and clear, and the source of all your results.
Without a solid set of priorities, a set of tasks that needs to be completed each day to move you closer to your goals, and time blocked to complete them, it is easy to drift.
If you value your exceedingly limited time, you will protect it.
If you want to accomplish your goals, reach your full potential and make a difference, then you will say "no" to the countless small things to protect your time for the things to which you need to say "yes."
As Steve Jobs said, "Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things." If you say "yes," make sure you aren't saying "No" to something more important.
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