“Yes” to “No”: How I Learned to Protect My Time Without Losing My Drive

I used to say yes to everything.

My favorite word used to be yes

Early in my career, I said yes to everything. More meetings? Yes. Extra work? Yes. Late nights? Yes. I believed every yes was a stepping stone, another opportunity to prove myself, build my reputation, and grow.

And for a while, it worked. I built a business from scratch, earned recognition, and opened doors I didn’t even know existed. My calendar was a badge of honor, booked solid from morning to night. I was proud of my hustle. Proud to be needed. Proud to be the one who showed up.

When yes started to cost too much

But somewhere along the way, yes started costing me more than it gave me.

What once felt energizing began to feel exhausting. As 401(k) Marketing grew, so did the demands on my time. I became a mom. I became someone with more at stake and far less time.

And I’ll be honest—this is an uncomfortable topic for me. It goes against everything I was raised to value: hard work, loyalty, showing up for others, being the “yes” person. Even writing this gives me skin crawling anxiety because it’s sooooo not the person I am.

But my older self, my more experienced self, has learned that time is the most valuable thing we have. Every parent that I talk with says to “cherish the time with your kids when they’re young, because you never get those moments back.” I’m trying. Truly, deeply trying. And sometimes, that means saying no to something exciting, even when every instinct in me wants to say yes.

Why saying no is so hard (and so necessary)

Here’s the other truth: I love what I do.

I love this industry. I love our clients. I love speaking, going to conferences, and connecting with brilliant people. Saying no doesn’t come from burnout or boredom. It comes from caring too much about doing things right, with the right energy and intention.

So, I’ve had to learn the power of “no.”

Not as a rejection, but as a boundary. A form of protection. A quiet, courageous filter for what really matters.

My “no” list: What I’ve learned to let go of

“No” became my permission slip to focus. It gave me the clarity to protect my time, my energy, and my values.

Here are a few things I say no to now:

• Meetings without an agenda or clear objective

• Projects that don’t align with our strategic goals

• Clients who aren’t a values fit (even if the revenue looks good)

• Speaking engagements that don’t serve the bigger mission

• Personal obligations that drain me instead of filling me

And here’s the most important part: I don’t need to justify my no. (Yikes, that’ feels big!)

I just need to be crystal clear on my yes.

My “yes” list: What deserves my energy

So, what do I say yes to now?

• Yes to aligned growth, not growth for growth’s sake. Things that create a spark!

• Yes to rest, margin, and the space to think.

• Yes to our best clients and most meaningful work.

• Yes to being fully present—with my team, my daughter, and myself.

• Yes to doing fewer things better.

• Yes to events and opportunities that align with our bigger mission and my values.

• Yes to saying no, even when it’s hard.

The truth about ambition and boundaries

It’s not always easy. In fact, it’s rarely easy. But it’s necessary.

The version of me that said yes to everything got me here. I’m grateful for her. But the version of me that says no with purpose? She’s the one creating a business and a life that lasts.

Because here’s what I’ve come to realize:

You don’t lose ambition by saying no—you focus it.

The next chapter of success isn’t built on more. It’s built on better. On alignment. On intention.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stretched too thin, maybe it’s not about what else you need to do, but what you need to stop doing.

Your turn: Make your yes/no list

Here’s my invitation to you:

What’s one thing you’re ready to say no to, so you can say yes to something better?

Draw a line down the center of a page. On one side, your “yes list.” On the other, your “no list.” Let it guide you.

Because when you align your “yes” with your purpose, everything changes.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Marketing!

About Us

401(k) Marketing is the modern marketing agency for the retirement plan industry. We support our clients through custom engagements, content marketing campaigns, sales material innovations, and thought-leadership consulting. Our mission is to empower the retirement plan industry with high-quality marketing, ultimately inspiring Americans to become financially prepared for their future.

Retirement Plan Marketing is the solution for retirement plan advisors looking for a scalable marketing process to generate awareness, streamline sales opportunities, and earn more 401(k) business. This comprehensive, strategy-driven program includes digital content and sales material designed to help retirement plan professionals attract the right decision-makers.