Companies of one need to be relentless in what they say no to, since plans, tasks, distractions, meetings, and emails, though they may all seem productive to a team at first, can become counterproductive quickly if not well managed. In saying no to anything that doesn’t fit, you leave room to say yes to those rare opportunities that do fit – opportunities that align with the values and ideas of your business.
Paul Jarvis
It’s always good to have another way and reason to say no. This lesson along with others in Company of One are not just for solopreneurs. The main argument is that growth is not the only answer for companies. Getting bigger is not the only goal for organizations.
In this quote, I love how Paul Jarvis notes that making plans and tasks can feel productive. Planning can distract us from the actions that align with what we want to do.
We have to remember how easy it is to appear busy. We are drawn to busy work that makes us feel productive because that type of work is easy. It becomes a way to procrastinate or avoid more challenging work. This is something Alan Lakein also talks about in his book.
And, of course, this quote also reminds us that if we don’t weed out things that aren’t right for us, someone else will fill our time or deploy our energy for us. So, we need to know what to say yes to and what to say no to.
Of course, there are many other ways to say no. This is just another way and reason to say no!
Knitting Note
I made this scarf last year for my older daughter. It is inspired by the one in a K-drama, 도깨비 (Goblin).
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