I have a really hard time saying "no" to people. I feel selfish, or I just say "yes" because I can, and I end up stretching myself too thin. How do I fix this?
I get it. My default is "yes" too. The most important mindset shift is this: every time you say "yes" to one thing, you are automatically saying "no" to something else. You have to ask yourself, "What am I saying no to?" Is it your family? Your peace? Your own business?. The reason you say "yes" is often because you want to be helpful, but you can't be too available to everyone. It's not selfish; it's about learning to prioritize your commitments and protect your peace.

I'm a leader, and I always say "yes" to new clients or opportunities. I can handle the work, but how does this affect my team?
This is a critical point. Saying "yes" all the time can burn out everyone around you. As a leader, I've had to learn this. I might see myself as just getting things done, but I expect my team to catch it and place it nicely every time. You have to realize that you can't expect your staff to burn themselves out for something that is your baby. Sometimes, you have to say "no" for your team's sake, to protect them from overload and ensure the quality of your work doesn't drop.

How can I say "no" to business opportunities or clients without burning bridges?
One of the most effective ways to say "no" is to build structures, or what we call a "red rope policy". This means you clearly define the type of customers you want to serve. When I first started my CPA firm, I took anybody. You want to pay 50 bucks? Come on in. But you have to define who you're able to serve. If a request doesn't align with your business, you say "no". A good way to soften this is to provide another resource that can say yes. This shows you're still helpful, but you're protecting your focus.

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