Especially during the first grueling years of a new business, it's tempting to take every opportunity that comes your way. And hey, we've all felt it! The pressure to just bring. money. in. the. door. 

While you do need to make sure that your bills are paid (hello, day j-o-b!), it's important to allow yourself to say no to less-than-perfect opportunities as soon as your business allows. This means saying no project requests that aren't aligned with your brand, saying no to requests for discounted rates, saying no to unrealistic timeline demands... every decision you make in your business should feel aligned with you and your brand. 

What happens when you don't say no? Yes, you get stressed. Yes, you're not as happy during the process of your project. But think about the long-term effects, too! If you keep taking requests that aren't aligned, then how are you ever going to reach those big lofty goals of yours?! 

So if you're anything like me, you're probably freaking out because:

• But what about that $$$ that I'm turning down? Isn't that a bad idea? I want more money coming!
• OMG how do I say no to someone? I can't turn someone down without insulting them or looking like a freak!

Don't worry, I got you. 

First, let me let you in on a secret. When you say no to the bad, the good will appear. The good projects, the good people, the good opportunities... Now this involves a fair amount of trust, but it's absolutely true. Once you have the basic financials covered, try trusting the universe a bit and saying no to a project or request that doesn't feel right.

And when it comes to how to say no to someone, you know I got you covered! Grab the free downloads for How to Say No to that Not-So-Perfect Client and How to Decline a Request for Discount. You'll find both in the Freebie Library (along with loads more!), and they're f-r-e-e! 

Till next time, sunshine.