The Power of Saying No: Why Focus Is the Secret to Great Leadership

Sep 18

One of the greatest gifts of my life has been my MBA education at the McCombs School of Business. The program sharpened my understanding of business and investments, and set my family on a strong trajectory. But with that blessing came an unintended consequence: confidence. Perhaps too much confidence.

Because I understood investments, and equipped with the superpower of a strong work ethic, I felt ready to take on big opportunities in the years after graduation. And I did.

But here’s what I’ve learned over time: not every opportunity is your opportunity.

Recently I spoke with two other entrepreneurs, and we all admitted to the same mistake. Someone brought us an investment or business idea, the numbers made sense, we had the capability, the timing felt right, so we said “yes.” Fast forward—and those decisions now occupy time, energy, and focus we wish we could devote elsewhere.

Leadership—and life—require focus. We only have so much time and attention. I’m sure you have heard this phrase before, but it’s a good one: every “yes” is also a “no” to something else.

Here’s your leadership challenge for the week ahead:

Ask yourself: does this opportunity take me closer to living my life’s true purpose?
If the answer is “no,” have the courage to decline, even if it looks lucrative or exciting.
If you’ve already said “yes,” give it your best, because people are counting on you. But let that experience sharpen your filter moving forward.

As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” The best giving we can do is with the full strength of our purpose and focus—not scattered across distractions.

Big opportunities aren’t always the right opportunities. Focus on the few that align with your God-given purpose.

Stay steady.