Derek Sivers - "Say no to almost everything."

Insight and inspiration for flying higher in the difference only you can make from guests who have appeared on Creative on Purpose Live.

This week's wisdom comes from Derek Sivers, author of Everything You Want.  Click here to tune into our entire conversation.

[Derek] "When you're overwhelmed, if you're spread too thin, if you've said yes to too much, the idea is you've got to raise the bar all the way up. And if anything that you're presented with is making you feel anything less than "Oh hell yeah. Oh my god, that would be amazing!" If it's anything less than that, you just say "no."

So you say no to almost everything. And the reason is that most of us feel that we're supposed to fill up our time. But because you've filled up your time now you don't have any time to throw yourself in completely when you find something amazing.

So, instead, you say no to almost everything, so when that rare one out of a thousand thing comes along, then you can give it the biggest damn, "yes" and you will have space and time in your life just throw yourself and do it completely.

And ultimately I think that's better for your career, for your life, for your peace of mind. I think it's more impressive to kick major butt on the things on the occasional rare thing you say "yes" to instead of kind of half-assing everything else along the way so yeah that's the hell yeah or no philosophy."

If you want to go further, I share a few thoughts on creating a zest barometer here. When you're feeling exhausted or overwhelmed why is that? Are you doing the wrong thing or doing the thing wrong?

Scott Perry, Difference-Maker Coach at Creative on Purpose.

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