Why Really Successful People Say No to Almost Everything

One of the world’s wealthiest billionaires, Warren Buffet, is quoted as having said, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”

This concept may seem confusing to some, wondering how anyone could be really successful if they say no to most things. Wouldn’t you think that by taking advantage of every invitation and opportunity, you could have a full and profitable portfolio of investments and accomplishments?

You might think so, but by discovering how really successful people look at opportunities, you might find that by being more selective in where you put your time and energy, you’ll produce better results!

Let’s take a look at why saying no to some things, can be a big YES to bigger things.

Why Say No?

The first thing you might want to ask yourself is, “Why say no to almost every opportunity that comes my way?” It might seem counterintuitive to say no when trying to make a success of something. But saying yes to too many things can leave you feeling stressed and fragmented.

Entrepreneur Diana Kander said, “We over-commit because we don’t want to disappoint, and we disappoint because we over-commit.”

By limiting the number of requests, you accept and commit to, you could spend more time, energy, and money on the things that you really want to focus on.

By saying no to things that don’t align with your highest goals, and prioritizing projects that are important to you, you may find yourself more successful.

What Really Matters

Then, how do you decide when to say no and when to say yes? Warren Buffet had another thought on choosing the best opportunities to help you reach your goals. He called it the 5/25 rule. First, make a list of 25 things you want to do. Then think about each item on your list and ask yourself a few questions.