Before you say ‘yes’ …

Many years ago, a speaker at a conference shared a story about working with the Dutch. He said while it’s very difficult to get them to make a commitment, once they do, they’re in 100 percent.

He paused and said, “Now, think about Americans.”

He makes an interesting point. As a culture, we don’t like to say no, and often regret saying yes too quickly. However, that often leads to overextending ourselves, and not having enough time or energy to follow through on what we promise.

Worse yet, it’s becoming harder to say no.

What’s the answer? I suspect it’s a combination of becoming better at prioritization, letting go of details that are less critical, and yes, learning to say no.

Implementing and following a solid time management system is also a big help.

Your turn. How do you manage all of your commitments and requests?

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