The Beauty of Learning to Say ‘No’ to Yourself

Quote: “Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” – Elbert Hubbard

Highly paid people have learned the word “no”.

That is the reason they are paid more and promoted faster. When you truly want to do something, like sleep in late, but you don’t because you know that you have a deadline to beat, you’ve said no to yourself. Women especially have a hard time using this word. But it’s a fight that can be won. Learning to say no to yourself will catapult you to untold success.

Who’s your favorite actor? How do you think they got there? Do you think any hard work or sleepless nights played a part? I think so too. What about your favorite athlete? Did they just wake up and miraculously they became the best in the world? Nope. The same goes for you. You have to be willing to live uncomfortably for a while in order to achieve true success.

Grab a piece of paper and write down exactly where you want to be career wise in three years. Next write down what you have to do to achieve that. Then write down in small steps how you will go about achieving it.

Think of it this way, when you go to the movies, the first thing you do is pay for the price of admission, then you go see the movie. Your career works largely the same. In order to be paid more and promoted faster, you have to pay the price first, by working hard and saying no to yourself, then you can reap the benefits later. I don’t know about you but I want some popcorn right now.

Action Item: Make sure you do the step outlined above.

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David B. Grinberg

Excellent advice, Meiko, very well put and inspirational (as usual). Say “no” now and reap the benefits later — works for me.