One of the things our “Grow Your Small Market Farm” teacher told us at the beginning of the first class was that she wanted us to learn how to say “NO”. Maybe it is learning to say no to lowering your prices, maybe you need to say no to adding operations to the farm, or probably you need to learn to say no to all of the outside activities. I think I need to really learn how to do the last thing because I have found that saying yes often leads to time away from the farm and from the work that I need to do.
Case in point … I’m writing this at 10:30 AM instead of having a post ready by my usual 8:00 AM each day. I think this will become the “norm” over the next seven weeks or so as we make our way through the soccer season. We will be working hard to fit in everything that needs to be done in the day (feeding, watering, work, family time, etc.) and then trying to squeeze everything else into that schedule. The everything else includes the major fencing project, garden work, and the building of our shed. I think we can do it … if I can learn to say “NO” from time to time.
Some times, as you point out, No is a very kind word. When you place it next to a bunch of Yes’s that can’t possibly be fulfilled. A No allows Yes in the right place.
Your one of the busiest bloggers I know. Hang in one thing at a time.
Ha! Ethan, that “No” lesson is the hardest one that Penny teaches and the one that stymies most of her students. We’ve had to continue to work on that one, but once you are able to use it well, it is amazing how liberating it is, mentally as well as schedule-wise.
This small software company often speaks about the power of the word “no”, like this post for instance. Search around their blog a bit and see how they feel about formal business plans. You may find it interesting. 🙂