The SEASON OF NO (What it Takes to Win)
Summary
- Warren Buffet once said really successful people say no to almost everything, which aligns with my experience of periods of growth in business, marked by what I call "seasons of no."
- A "season of no" can last from a few months to years; my longest was three years, during which I declined social events, alcohol, and even industry gatherings that I had already paid for.
- It's difficult to say no because it feels like rejection, but I frame it as saying yes to what matters most; achieving a big goal will keep doors open that might otherwise close.
- Jim Watson's $50 million exit was achieved during a season of no; I find that people I've said no to in the past still reach out because of the success brought about by past focus.
- At the end of a successful journey, most people will either still be there or new, equally valuable individuals will enter your life.
- Yeses are like withdrawals from my personal energy account, whereas nos are deposits into my future success, likening this approach to Warren Buffet's strategy of focusing only on the top five goals and discarding the rest.
- In following Buffet's advice, I put all my effort into the one goal that matters the most, maintaining just enough in other areas to not move backwards.
- Steve Jobs believed in saying no to a hundred other good ideas to focus on the one that counts, and I agree that a disciplined focus on the main business goal is crucial.
- I caution against diversifying into inefficient, one-off deals because a solid, singular focus invites more success than scattered pursuits.
- To avoid stagnation, say no to work below your pay grade; spending time on such tasks robs focus from where you can truly add value and grow your business.
- Family obligations are a choice, and sometimes you have to prioritize your own goals over family expectations to achieve long-term happiness and success.
- Saying no to business contacts is tough, but it preserves time and mental capacity for your own goals, preventing multitasking inefficiencies that hinder productivity.
- During an intense growth phase, I gave up leisure activities and made a list of sacrifices rather than a to-do list, recognizing that saying no frees up focus for essential work.
- Emulating Jerry Seinfeld's disciplined writing routine, I create environments that allow no distractions, forcing productivity by eliminating other possible activities.
- Changing your environment can be more effective than trying to change personal habits when aiming to modify behavior for better productivity.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing a "season of no," which means for a while, focus only on what's really important for growth. This could be a few months or longer. Here's what to do:
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Make a list of everything that's not helping you reach your big goal and start saying no to those things. Things like social gatherings, extra projects, or small favors that distract you.
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Think of every yes as taking energy away from you and every no as saving energy for your big goal. This will help you stay strong when you need to say no.
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Choose the one goal that is most important and give it all your effort. Keep other areas stable, but don't let them take too much attention away.
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Stop doing tasks that someone else could do or aren't worth your time. This will free you up to work on more important things that will help you grow.
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Remember, family is important, but sometimes you need to focus on your goals. It's not about forgetting family, but rather choosing the right times to prioritize your work.
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Be careful with business contacts. It might feel good to be helpful, but too many small tasks for others can distract you from your own business goals.
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Change your environment to help you stay focused. If you're sitting down to work, remove distractions. Make it so the only thing you can do is work.
By saying no and focusing only on what matters most, you’ll create more success and open up new opportunities. Plus, you'll likely be more productive because you're not switching between tasks. Stick to this plan, and over time, you'll find yourself getting closer to your big goal.
Quotes
"Warren Buffett once said the difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything"
– Alex Hormozi
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"You have to kind of trick your brain into thinking that the no is actually a yes to the thing that matters most"
– Alex Hormozi
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"I like to think of yeses that I give to other people as withdrawals from my personal energy account and I think of nos as deposits into my gold account"
– Alex Hormozi
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"Most people don't achieve the success they want because they either don't do the thing that matters most enough times, they don't do it for long enough, or they're doing the wrong thing altogether"
– Alex Hormozi
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"If you say no to everything else, what's left is the work in front of you that just he's doing"
– Alex Hormozi
