How hard is it to say ‘No’?

February 11, 2008

I am at a point in my life where I need to make decisions on my career. However, there is on dangerous factor that can mess everything up: New possible commitments!

Opportunities… They keep coming!

Right when I decided to scratch some of the opportunities I have from the list, there are suddenly a couple of new opportunities. These usually seem very innocent, so I easily start thinking “I can do this quickly!” I start thinking of either the money you could make with this quick commitment or the long term benefits it could have for me.

It’s kinda hard not to, when, for instance, you get the opportunity to work on an international project that will be running until 2011. Just thinking of the exposure…

Then you have some quick job for a friend, who is willing to pay up front, just so he can get this work done as soon as possible.

Not ready for new commitments

I start thinking of taking on a new commitment, by thinking of the possible benefits, while I should be asking myself a different set of questions:

How much influence (time, energy, money, dedication) will this quick project have on the rest of my projects?
How long will this project have this influence on the rest of my work?
Do I even have time in my schedule to take on new commitments?

Please note that, at this point, I’m not even done with my evaluation of the current opportunities I have. I do have a better view at what I have in front of me, but the decision is not made yet.

Just say ‘No’!

I really need to learn to say ‘No’. And I’m starting now!

Although there may be some very nice benefits to the long term project mentioned above, committing to it would just help me dig a bigger hole for myself, while I’m in the process of getting rid of some holes. So I’m letting these people know that I won’t be able to help them with this part. Maybe in the future, but not at the moment. I can help with area’s where there’s not too much of my specific attention required, such as hosting.

Saying ‘No’ can be very difficult when there seem to be great benefits. But in the end, saying ‘No’ can guard you against a lot of problems in the (near?) future.

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