I am very late to the Derek Sivers "Hell Yeah" proclamation, but it is never too late to learn something new as long as you are still alive and kicking.
My first intro to the "Hell Yeah" mindset happened the other day while I was listening to an interview with Derek Sivers on the podcast Marketing Over Coffee with Christopher Penn and John Wall on my drive from Tok (my current home) to Fairbanks to catch a flight at the start of my #CrowdsourcingBook Tour. Loved loved loved what he had to say. Here's a nutshell:
If I'm not saying “HELL YEAH!” about something, then say no.
Meaning: When deciding whether to commit to something, if I feel anything less than, “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” - then my answer is no.
When you say no to most things, you leave room in your life to really throw yourself completely into that rare thing that makes you say “HELL YEAH!”
We're all busy. We've all taken on too much. Saying yes to less is the way out.
Yesterday, I heard the phrase in an email from C.C. Chapman (if you don't already listen, check out his wonderful podcast Managing the Gray). He's definitely employing the "Hell Yeah" strategy, and it seems to be working for him.
Here's a video ditty from Derek Silvers:
As I'm stressing about all the times I said Yes this year that obligates me to a lot of time away from my family, I am looking starting to say more No's and only Yes to the things that make my heart soar and provide me the opportunity to share my love and knowledge about technology to groups of people who can truly benefit. I want to be doing bigger and more meaningful work but spend more time with my family. A dichotomy? I don't think it has to be in this day and age of Internet and communication technologies.
No is the new Yes. No may be the best Yes of your life.
What are you saying no to? What are you saying "Hell Yeah!" to these days?
