The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.
Warren Buffett
How often do you say “No”?
I am home in Cayman for a week from today, and on each successive trip, I am learning to say “no” to more things.
As Steve Jobs said in my favourite of his speeches (video here), which I wrote around in “Be ruthless with your time“:
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.
Steve Jobs
I could pack my days every time I go to Cayman twice over, but these days I leave a little more space. I say “no” more often. Among other things, this allows me:
- Space, which itself increases the opportunity to be present when I am meeting with family, friends, clients.
- Flexibility to allow space for serendipity
- In short, “Only enough Structure to allow Flow“
Again, how often do you say “No”?