• 💡 Wisdom

• ✏️ Illustration

• 💬 Saying

• 🧭 Explanation

• 📝 Reflection

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 37 seconds

Quick Update from Me

Since I last wrote a WISER Newsletter, my wife and I have welcomed our first chid into the world.

It’s been the best and most challenging experience, and I can’t wait to share some wisdom I inevitably extract from my parenting journey.

Before we look at the rest of this newsletter, I want to do 2 things:

1. Thank both John and Nayla for writing guest newsletters whilst I’ve been preparing for the adjustment of parenthood.

2. To invite you to share your feedback on this redesign of the WISER Newsletter. Let me know your feedback by replying to this email or by completing the poll at the bottom of this newsletter.

Now let’s get WISER together!

You can’t do everything.

Every time that you say “yes” to something, you are saying “no” to every other opportunity that would take up your resources.

Choose what you say yes to wisely.

Here is an illustrated representation of this principle of wisdom:

Even though this visual doesn’t actually feature 1,000 nos, it helps to put into perspective just how many opportunities you might be missing out on when you do say yes to something.

The inspiration for today’s newsletter and visual come from one of my favourite books: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

This should come as no surprise, but you can’t do everything.

Anytime that you say yes to something, it is costing you the opportunity to use that resource on something else.

When you say yes to working late, it costs you time to spend with your loved ones.

When you say yes to buying another takeaway, it costs you the opportunity to invest in your future.

We often overlook the cost of saying yes to things.

What can we do about this?

Derek Sivers shares that he uses a framework called “Hell yeah or no.”

Essentially, when he is offered an opportunity, if it’s not an enthusiastic yes, then he declines it.

This ensures that he has capacity to say yes when a golden opportunity comes up.

Consider trying this the next time you’re invited to say yes to something.

Journal Prompts

• What opportunities do I regret saying yes to?

• What framework could I use to help decide what I say yes to?

Want to journal? Join Journal Wiser today!

If you’d like to learn more about today’s nugget of wisdom, consider checking out these additional resources:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer has been one of the most life changing books that I’ve read this decade.

If you find yourself living a hurried, stressful life, you will find benefit in John’s exploration of how Jesus walked a slower pace and what principles are relevant in the modern day.

Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers will give you a framework to ensure that you’re not taking on too much.

If you are reading this knowing that you say “yes” to too many opportunities, you’ll benefit from picking up this book.

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Thanks for checking out this issue of the WISER Newsletter.

If you have any feedback, I would love to hear it! Simply reply to this email, and I will get back to you. Alternatively, just DM me on social media.

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Catch you in the next issue!

Thanks,
Michael