michellereno[dot]com

Why is it that I can’t seem to tell anyone “no”? No, I can’t edit your manuscript for free. No, I can’t go out with you tonight because I have things to do in the morning. No, I can’t write about diagnosing video cards because I don’t know anything about them.

While working at a large $oftware company as a recruiter, I had the worst manager ever. She was cruel and rude and selfish (I called her a “frigid bitch” on my last day there). But she gave me a great piece of advice that I have every intention on taking sometime in the near future:

“Don’t overcommit and underdeliver or you’ll lose credibility to your customers.”

I’ve even found myself giving this same piece of advice to others but can’t seem to apply it to my own situations. Here I am, struggling to get everything done for the friends / family / clients that I’ve told I’d do stuff for. And when I feel I’ve taken on too much (or am juggling too many balls in the air as my dad likes to say), every thing and every one suffers.

From now on, I’m learning to just say no. Please don’t take offense if I tell you I can’t watch your kids or can’t come over for dinner. I just need to take some time for myself to get the things done that are important to me right now.