Stop saying yes to everything
For many years I fought with trying to help and please everyone I came in contact with. I have many skills: publisher, web designer, IT person, trainer, business owner, executive, graphic designer and so much more. I have been blessed by God to be able to do so many things. I am also an excellent clarifier, so I become invaluable when working with a client that does not know what they want. I translate and become that person or business to give them exactly what they want without requiring their direct answers. That gift of interpretation has gotten me into some not so good situations: I say YES to everything because I know I CAN do what they require and want. This can lead to me doing countless hours of work for a person without getting paid, over-extending myself so that I can not get all my projects done and the frustration at the end of the day realizing that I am not taking care of my own personal life (time) and my finances (since I do not always charge for my expertise). Not the best way to use my blessings… Recently I decided to look at what I was doing and see what I could do to make a change in my life. I admitted to myself what I do well: clarifier, web design, giving people what they want, graphic designer, quick at making changes, really good at IT stuff, writer, etc. Then I looked at what I am not good at: billing, selling, asking people to pay me for my services, etc. So I said YES to working with my friend Maureen McBride who is a brilliant sales and marketing person, very good at seeing what someone needs for their business to get the message out, very clear on what the possibilities are, great at getting PAID. Here is the fun part for me – she is not so good at the details, OH and I am! Yippi! So we decided to test out working together – she makes the sale, decides what to do and then I do the details – WOW! This works for both of us. The Results are great – I get to DO what I do best and she gets us paid, I LOVE it! The best part is that neither one of us has to feel the pressure of not getting what we said YES to done. The cooperative match works. It has also helped me to learn how to say NO to projects that do not fit what I do best. I don’t have to feel bad either – this way we both feel good. Consider saying NO next time something does not fit who you are… ...
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