You’re not being strategic until you say no
Focus, focus, focus
Hi friends!
So we made it to February. Who’s with me on just pretending that this is the start of the new year? :)
In my last update, I shared one of the best days I’ve had in a long time, and a major part of that was Frank Fernandez (CEO of the Community Foundation) speaking to the Ripples cohort.
The thing that stuck with me the most from his talk was this line:
“You’re not being strategic until you say no.”
That philosophy has been so pivotal to my success. Early on in my first business (Spunlogic), we would say yes to EVERYTHING. No matter what a client needed, we were their team. Sure, we can build it. Oh, we can definitely create this. Are you kidding, we love doing that!
It wasn’t until five years into our business, when one of our leaders suggested that we focus on User Experience as our North Star that everything started to change (more on that story in this podcast episode).
From that point forward, everything fell into place. For the next five years, we doubled our business every year, ultimately leading to a sale of the business in 2008. Saying no to opportunities that didn’t align with our UX focus gave us clarity of purpose, and allowed us to hone our skills and make a name for ourselves.
It might seem like I say yes to too many things, given that I seemingly can’t stop starting nonprofits or writing books. But in fact, I say no to far more things these days than I say yes to. Case in point: I dropped off of one of Atlanta’s most prominent nonprofit boards in 2019, much to the chagrin of several of my mentors. I needed more space to create Ripples of Hope, and I knew something had to give.
The Point
Do you have your goals laid out? Do you know what you’re trying to achieve in this life?
If not, get on that ASAP! I suggest starting by finding your personal Purpose. (Some tips on how to get started.)
Once you know what you’re trying to accomplish, take a look at the things you’re up to. Look at your calendar (and color-code it), your to-do list, even your friend group. Identify activities that aren’t leading you forward toward your goals. What should you have said no to in the first place?
Get yourself focused, re-evaluate your priorities, and start saying no more often. I promise you’ll find more success than you ever imagined. And share this with someone that you think might need to read it! 👇
Jeff
Recent podcasts
I produce a weekly podcast called, Begin the Begin. I hope you'll consider subscribing.
Paul Snyder, EVP Stewardship at Tillamook, on living a life, and career, of purpose
Jay Bailey on his journey to do good and his search for significance: Podcast + YouTube
SpunMafia #9: Early days and epic stories of my first company, Spunlogic: Podcast + YouTube
Ben & Jerry’s head of Activism, Jabari Paul, shares how he ended up at an ice cream company trying to save the world: Podcast + YouTube
An interview with Jen Hatmaker and Erin Arnheim: Podcast + YouTube
I'd love for you to check out either of my books: The 5-Day Turnaround + The Crisis Turnaround. They're a heck of a deal on Amazon right now ;)
Thanks for reading, and please let me know if there are particular topics you'd like me to write about. Of course, if there is someone you think might enjoy this email newsletter, feel free to forward it over to them ;)
And remember, always lead with purpose!
Jeff, this is spot on. One of my favorite business school profs, David Yoffie, taught the first year strategy class. What I most remember from that was his saying: good strategy is not deciding what to do but deciding what not to do.