20 Templates to Say No to Just About Everything (Nicely) So You Can Get Your Focus Back
Warren Buffett has said that “really successful people say no to almost everything.” Steve Jobs believed “focusing is about saying no.” Most of us would agree in theory, but here in reality I, have a question for you: How’s your schedule looking?
For a lot of professionals the answer is probably “packed.” As much as we love to read about the Spartan to-do lists of super achievers, in the modern workplace, keeping your calendar under control so you can actually focus on what matters can be a daunting task.
The solution isn’t complicated. You need to say no to more stuff. The trouble is in the execution. We fear being rude, struggle with FOMO, and worry about appearances. I can’t do much to help with your underlying anxieties about the shortness of time (though others have offered great advice), but I can at least help with the practicalities of saying no.
Many incredibly busy people, from CEOs to venture capitalists to time-use experts, have written about their own struggles with managing their schedules and have helpfully offered up exact scripts to automate the process of finding just the right language to say no nicely. To help you wrestle back control of your calendar this year, I’ve gathered them up here in one handy resource.
