by Dr. Reza Zahedi, author of “Self-Made Maverick: Break Free of Conventional Business Wisdom for Lasting Success“
When you’re starting a business, it feels like you have to say yes to everything. Yes to meetings. Yes to collaborations. Yes to any small win that might lead to something bigger. It feels like the only way to grow is to keep saying yes, just in case this one leads to your break.
But at some point, every founder learns the hard truth: Not all opportunities are opportunities. Some are distractions dressed as potential. And saying yes to too much can actually slow you down.
In fact, what’s helped me most in building and scaling my ventures hasn’t been adding more, it’s been learning when to say no.
I’ve seen this pattern repeat itself in every serious founder I’ve worked with. The ones who grow with focus and consistency aren’t the ones chasing every door that opens, they’re the ones who choose their doors carefully.
Learning to say no might be one of the most underrated growth skills in entrepreneurship. Here are three moments when it matters most.
1. When it pulls you off your mission.
Early on in my journey, I was offered a big deal by a client who had real reach and name recognition. It would’ve looked great on our site and brought in some fast revenue. But, when we broke it down, the project would’ve taken my team into an area we didn’t specialize in, and didn’t want to grow into. It would’ve been a short-term win but a long-term distraction.
We said no.
It was tough at the time, especially when you’re still building and cash flow is tight. However, that space let us focus on work that aligned with our core direction. Three months later, we picked up two new clients in our niche, with far better synergy and long-term value. Both came through referrals we never expected.
Not all growth is good growth. If it pulls you off your mission, even a little, ask yourself what it’s really costing you.
2. When the energy isn’t right.
There’s this thing that happens in business — you get so used to operating logically that you start ignoring your intuition. I’ve learned the hard way that energy doesn’t lie.
I’ve said yes to deals, partnerships, and events that looked smart on paper but felt heavy or off. And in almost every case, I regretted it. The energy wasn’t aligned, and the results showed it.
Build your calendar around what gives you energy, not what drains it. Now, before I say yes, I ask myself how it feels. Am I excited? Am I lit up by the possibility? Or, am I convincing myself with logic while my gut is saying no?
If it doesn’t feel right, trust that. Bad energy costs way more than it seems.
3. When the real cost is your time and focus.
Every yes has a price. It might not show up on a bill, but it shows up in your calendar, your creative space, your team’s bandwidth.
One thing I started doing is asking myself this: “If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?” It’s a small question, but it’s been huge for my decision-making.
Time is a limited resource, especially when you’re scaling. If you say yes to a one-off project that’s not aligned, you’re saying no to time you could have spent on sales, strategy, or systems that actually move your mission forward.
This mindset shift helped me tighten how we operate. We became faster, more intentional, and way more respected, because people could tell we were serious about where we were going.
What saying no actually gives you.
the crazy thing is, when you start saying no more often, people respect you more— your team gets clearer, your message sharpens, and you attract better opportunities, because you’re signaling that you’re not just out here grabbing at anything. You have direction. You have purpose.
And the results speak for themselves. Better deals. Less noise. More traction.
Saying no doesn’t mean being negative. It means being clear. It means protecting your energy, your mission, your team, and your timeline.
How to know it’s time to say no.
I’ve created a little mental filter I use when I’m unsure. It’s not perfect, but it works 90% of the time:
- Does this align with where we’re going in the next 12 months?
- Would I still want this if it paid nothing?
- Is this a “hell yes” or a “maybe”?
- Will I regret this on my busiest week of the year?
If I can’t confidently answer those, it’s a no.
It’s not about being cold or inflexible, it’s about designing your business to grow in the right direction, not just in any direction.
The bigger picture.
We don’t talk about the power of no enough in the startup world. Everyone celebrates the hustle, the yes, the move fast energy, but no is where the real power lives.
Behind every focused founder, there’s a hundred no’s that cleared the way for their yes.
If you’re building something that matters, protect it. Protect your energy, your priorities, and your future, even when it’s uncomfortable — especially when it’s uncomfortable.
And sometimes, that starts with one small word that changes everything.
No.
Born in Iran, Reza Zahedi’s life took a dramatic turn at age 2 when he and his mother fled to the Netherlands. With no money or connections, Reza quickly learned the value of hard work. In 2024, Reza launched Leadtainment, a global platform designed to connect and inspire entrepreneurs. Reza’s goal is simple: to inspire entrepreneurs to think bigger, aim higher, and build businesses that drive change. He is the author of “Self-Made Maverick: Break Free of Conventional Business Wisdom for Lasting Success“.