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LIFE LESSONS
The Intoxicating Power Of No
The power and responsibility of choosing your own path
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Just this past week, I was offered the opportunity to be part of a business start-up that I found intriguing because the idea was solid and there was money to be made. In the end, I walked away because it wasn’t right for me. It had nothing to do with the business concept, but more of a conflict of vision between myself and the other partners, whom I both like and respect.
Nothing catastrophic or earth-shattering, just a common disconnect I could foresee being a problem down the road. We just didn’t approach things the same way and had differing philosophies on how to solve problems. Better to walk away now than become mired in an untenable situation that would surely lead to resentment and conflict. I needed the work but said no because it wasn’t going to lead to any place I wanted to go. I didn’t much care whether it had the opportunity to make a lot of money or not. In my experience, money is perhaps the worst reason to do anything.
I have discovered, however late in life, that the key to fulfillment is recognizing the power of saying no. I suppose this isn’t revelatory to anyone, including me, but maybe it’s required that…
