Why You Need to Say “No” More Often
In my last post, we talked about why coaches often struggle to get their businesses off the ground. One key takeaway was Inaction or Misdirected Action—how sometimes we’re putting in effort but focusing on the wrong things, or worse, not taking action at all.
Giannis’s Story Got Me Thinking…
I’ve been deeply inspired by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s story lately. If you don’t know him, he’s the star player for the Milwaukee Bucks and one of my all-time favorite athletes. His journey is nothing short of incredible.
Giannis grew up in Greece as a Nigerian immigrant, facing severe hardships—barely enough food and constantly at risk of eviction. Yet, through it all, he never let go of his dream to play basketball.
At one point, things were so dire that Giannis asked a local café owner for a job to help his family. The kind café owner, who had previously shown Giannis and his brothers some generosity, said no. Instead, he encouraged Giannis to keep focusing on basketball because he saw something extraordinary in him.
That decision—to say “NO” to a short-term fix—allowed Giannis to pursue his dream, eventually leading him to become an NBA MVP and champion.
The Power of Saying NO
As Christian coaches, how often do we say yes to short-term fixes that keep us from our bigger dreams?
Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and our businesses is to say NO.
- No to distractions that pull us away from our true calling.
- No to overcomplicating your business with projects that don’t drive sales.
- No to ideas that aren’t aligned with what truly matters to us.
When you say “NO” to things that don’t align with your long-term vision, you create space to say “YES” to what does.
This might mean saying “YES” to:
- More sales-focused activities.
- Building meaningful relationships.
- Prioritizing your faith and family.
Start Small, Build Up
You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Start with one small "no" today. Maybe it’s saying "no" to a non-essential task that eats up your time, or a project that doesn’t align with your mission.
It’s not always easy, but sometimes the first step is simply saying no. What can you say no to this week to make room for your dreams?
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