“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good.””

~ Stephen R. Covey from “The Seven Habits of Highly Effctive People”

“No.”

Please pronounce that for me.

Say it out loud.

“No.”

Pleasantly. Smilingly. Non-apologetically.

“No.”

Practice again.

“No.”

Different tone. Bigger smile. More confidence.

“No.”

Good.

Now use that the next time you’re asked to do something that compromises your highest vision for yourself.

…

(Please say, “Yes!!” to that request. :))

…

“A 'No' uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi