The Goal of This Post

To share bold ideas from the book Hell Yeah or No, by Derek Sivers; on how to live a meaningful and intentional life.

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Part 2: Saying No

1. If You’re Not Feeling “Hell Yeah!”, Then Say No

• Say yes to less. Say no to almost everything.
• When you find something you’re actually excited about, give it your full attention.

Do almost nothing. But the things you do, do them all the way.

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2. Slow Thinking

• Your first reaction is usually outdated.
• Either it’s an answer you came up with long ago, or it’s a knee-jerk emotional response to something in your past.

Someone asks you a question. You don’t need to answer. Say, “I don’t know”, and take your time to answer after thinking.

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3. Quit Something You Love

• Personal change needs space to happen.
• To bring something new into your life, you need somewhere to put it.

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4. How Will This Game End?

• Before you start something, think of the ways it could end.
• Sometimes the smart choice is to say no to the whole game.

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5. Getting Out of a Bad State of Mind

• Ask yourself, “what’s wrong in this very second?”.
• Observe. Watch the emotions pass by. Act later.
• Raise standards. Say no to anything less than great.
• Focus on your goal. See the horizon. See where you’re heading.
• Do the necessary stuff; the mundane responsibilities.

Separate the mental anguish from the physical reality. Stay focused on what’s real versus what you’re imagining.

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All content credit goes to the author(s). I’ve shared the bits I’ve enjoyed the most and found most useful.

Cheers ’til next time! Saludos!
Alberto