When Should You Say No

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers When Should You Say No? I got an email this week from a lawyer I coach. She told me she had submitted her resignation to the charitable board of directors and that would free up her time to focus on her more important priorities. Her thought reminded me of two quotes. I saw the first quote this week when I read:  12 Most Important Quotes for Business from Steve Jobs. He said: It is by saying “no” that you can concentrate on the things that are really important. The second quote is one by  Stephen Covey  that I have always found helpful: You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courageâ€"pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say “no” to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger “yes” burning inside. The enemy of the “best” is often the “good. Christy Crider is a Baker Donelson shareholder I coached a few years ago. After our work together she created an outstanding webinar: At the Top: Career Success and Life Fulfillment by Using Time Wisely. If you have an hour, take time and listen to how Christy plans her life and career based on her priorities. When would you say no? I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.