Because, look, I have a lot of ideas . . . and I like to launch. ��
And while that has paid off for me more often than not, it also got me in trouble earlier in my career, stretching me too thin and not giving me enough time to focus on the more important projects. You know, the ones that could have the biggest impact on my professional and personal life.
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This seems counter to almost everything. Usually articles about these kinds of topics are about saying yes and going forward, to just keep pushing. But this article does exactly the opposite. It is telling you to say no and to not move forward with ideas. This seems very counter-intuitive to success in particular. However, it makes a good point; If you say yes to something you are taking away from other things that will actually do something. You have to notice what’s worth doing and what isn’t, or, in other words, you have to notice what is worth doing and not let other things distract you. It could also be said more akin to how this article portrays it as to notice what isn’t worth doing so that you focus on the other things. It is true though, saying no is often hard or better yet too easy but it is only worth it if you have something it would take away from. This is always a tricky decision but one that really leads somewhere.
I really want to know what happened to the person who wrote this article, cause wow this is heartbreaking. I think that the only part of this article that really has any merit is the last one because that type of disappointment is rough and does do a number on people who were otherwise expecting to succeed on a project that they've put their life's worth on to. Other than that, the truth of the matter is that you have to work hard to make any project happen, especially when you're doing it on your own and trying to figure out how to do it yourself. I am a strong supporter of not starting your own business or project unless you're prepared to struggle for a very long time, but this article is structured almost like a challenge for those of us who see things like this and think, hey I know how to work hard and I don't even know what money is.
I find that this is really useful advice. While yes, it is a little heartbreaking and counter intuitive, I can understand why saying no is a good thing. I don't usually follow this advice. I dislike having nothing to do, and usually over commit to things that I have a passion for or that I find truly interesting. I am not in things to make money or be recognized. I do things and over commit because I want to and because I like the things I want to do. This advice seems to be made for people like me. Saying no can be a lifesaver, especially for people like me, because it makes I prioritizes things and activities or projects. I cannot do everything that I want to. While that is sad, it's ultimately the truth. However, I can do most things I want to do that will make the most impact to me, so I need to choose and say no occasionally.
This article reads as incredibly cynical, but there is a shred of truth and good advice within. I love to overextend myself, I love to start new things and discover new projects to work on. In some ways, that’s how I like to operate. But I also realize the great value in saying no. Overextending yourself is only productive and fulfilling for so long, and it’s only a matter of time before you burn out, or your projects go up in flames because you can’t give them all the attention that they need. This article seems aimed at those who just jump into new projects like nobody’s business, those who don’t do their research beforehand and know what they are getting into. But what about those who have been working their whole lives for their brand launch, or who’s idea for a new play has been simmering in the back of their mind for the past five years? This article doesn’t seem to take those people into account, and is a narrow-minded view of development and moving forward.
“You do NOT have time to do everything.” I think we should get that carved into the side of Purnell and make everyone look at it every day. Saying no allows you to say yes to so much more. In Production Management Workshop we are reading The Power of the Positive No and if that class is not on your eventual course list, do yourself a favor and make sure you read that book before you leave CMU and practice the techniques it gives. Saying no to something often means you are saying YES to something else. There are a few people who have commented that this article sounds cynical, but I think that’s an overabundance of optimism that’s making this article seem “cynical.” I think this article is being realistic. You cannot say yes to every half baked idea that crosses your path. Saying yes to all of them is to think that you have no bad ideas. Bad ideas are a good thing, recognizing that you are not always the smartest is a great thing. And saying no to the half-baked, improbable, not all that great thing leads you to FOCUS on the ones that are good. It also means you have the critical thinking of being able to discern good from bad in your own brain which will lead to good projects that make money. Like Steve Jobs says in the quote at the top of this article “Focusing is about saying no.” If it worked for Steve Jobs, I think it’ll work for us too.
At CMU especially, startup culture is a huge portion of the collective campus identity. There are tons of resources available to start up any sort of company you want, whether it is a bagel on a stick food truck (why???) or some new take on investment that will be 'revolutionary'. While the enthusiasm for these projects is by and large a really cool experience, I agree with the author that not all ideas are actually worth your time, effort, and money. Just like design, starting a business should be an iterative process that seeks to reach into the core of your idea to find a strong motivation and aesthetic that drives you to your goal. Throwing your first thought on stage is seen as lazy or sloppy, so why should one consider doing that with a startup? Even though it does, on occasion, happen that the first idea is pretty good, honing in on your passion for a startup allows you to reach a place where maybe your startup is actually worth starting.
This is so important. Saying “no” is one of the hardest things we in the school of drama have to learn. Saying “no” is not the end of a relationship, or a project. It can be the start of something new that is actually meaningful. Too often we feel pressured to agree to a project or whatever even though we know that we have other things going on. Only last semester I really learned this lesson. I agreed to a project I knew I would not have the time or energy to devote to, however, I felt obligated to say “yes.” It pushed me past my limit and I failed on the project. Like Jess above, I am also reading The Power of a Positive No. Reading this text has helped me so much in accepting that saying “no” is not as bad as you make it out to be in your head. You are saying “yes” to other ideas and opportunities by doing so. Opportunities that can be more fulfilling and not make you resent the work you do.
There is an absolute balance to the things that we say yes to and the things that we say no to. Having an honest reality check with yourself about when you are overcommitted, before you dive headfirst into something, is a critical step to finding success in what you want to accomplish. That being said, I don’t agree with how this article is the lack of encouragement in risk taking, trying something new, and just jumping in to a project with belief in yourself. If you get in the habit of saying no, you will end up shutting yourself off to so many opportunities that excite you and may scare you a little bit. As you get further into life and your career, the things you want to do and will bring you joy will naturally focus a bit, but, while I am young and a lot of doors are open, I intend on jumping through as many of them as possible.
This author, though endlessly cynical, does sort of have a point. For many people (myself included), saying no is hard, and it's often inevitable to get roped into too many projects to be able to handle. I think a lot of people have a lot of great ideas, but acting on all of them (especially all at once or back-to-back) can become very overwhelming, especially when you want to do them all justice.
I think this article is relevant to Playground here at CMU. The advice I have heard multiple times from multiple people is to not commit myself to more than 3-5 projects. I am interested in sound, and there are noticeably few people around here that are also interested in it, so sound folk are a "hot commodity" for a lot of people's projects. Upperclassmen have told me that it's easy to bite off more than you can chew for that reason, and I should be careful. I think this article reiterates a lot of that advice.
However, I don't think this means closing yourself off and not doing anything (and I don't think the writer of this article means that); I just think he means that you should choose one or two projects you are especially passionate about and work to develop those with the time they deserve. I think the most truthful thing he said was that money is not the most precious resource in these projects, time is.
First of all, I have seen several articles that quote the words by Steve Jobs, “Focusing is about saying no”, however, it is important to note that it is not about saying no to everything. Jobs lists 4 particular things to say no to: cluttering your mind, interruptions, time robbers, and your own belief. It is a great tip to keep in mind in order to focus on the thing you are working on, for example starting a new show.
In addition, never say no to a customer. When I worked at Tokyo Disneyland as my part-time job, I had to take a full-day course of how to avoid saying no to the guests. (I am not supposed to say anything about behind the magic, so don’t tell anyone.) This is related to the third point which the writer mentions. Although starting show, project, or business, is tough, I believe it is the theatrical producer’s responsibility to provide what audiences want.
This article is a perfect article for anyone in the school of drama planning on helping with a playground piece to read. With that application deadline quickly approaching, many directors are searching for designers and stage hands, young actors are looking for a chance to show their worth, and the rest of us are watching everything fall apart. Freshman year is typically filled with signing up for clubs and events and classes and everything else that goes on in life. Having this article is a helpful reminder to say no sometimes. Recently, I have been having little lunch or coffee dates to get closer with sorority sisters, but it has made my days stressful and long. Last week, I had 3 open hours in my day, one for lunch, one for dinner, and one that I am just free. All of those hours were filled with coffee and food dates. I would have been eating or getting coffee during those times anyway because that is just how I spend my Mondays, but by saying yes, I took time out of my day and made my schedule inflexible. This article is also written conversationally as a train of thought and less formally, which I enjoy reading.
If I were writing this article, I would have expanded a little more on the concept of spreading yourself too thin. I totally believe that taking on too many projects at once can inhibit creativity rather than foster it. However, this article is pretty negative in trying to make that point. The author points out that once a world is out in the world, more work is required. The effort does not stop when your work is "complete", and I put that in quotations because I think that the most satisfying work is the work that requires attention. It's the work that is rich enough to grow and evolve. To even use his NASA analogy against his argument, a launch of a rocket may be an exciting part of the journey, is walking on the moon not also exciting? That's super cliche, but he's stating that projects are comprised of two things: opening and upkeep. Honestly, I think making claims such as those does less justice to a work than it deserves because the best work is always shedding new light and uncovering new layers of its environment.
Of his three reasons, that one is the one I had the biggest issue with. The other two I think are points that are underdeveloped. For example, if you say yes to every opportunity, the time commitment is going to negatively affect you. But if you focus on work that matters, then the time commitment will make you better at your craft.
Though some people may not want to listen to it, this advice is really important. I more people followed these rules, especially number three, I think that the quality of new productions would increase. There has been a noticeable strain of new works making it to high level professional theater that seem to succeed because of name recognition from existing works. While I don't mean to say that there is not care, consideration, and intense creative effort behind shows like musicals made from movies or jukebox musicals, it is difficult not to wonder if the intention in creating those shows is to produce quality theater or capitalize on that name recognition to make money. I think that reading this article should be mandatory for people going into artistic work because I believe the message of this article to be that as an artist, or at least one that creates work that contributes to artistic society, you should put your heart into every project, and the three reasons given in this article for not starting a project are essentially just a checklist of making sure that your heart is in the work.
It is a little funny to read this, because I have heard from the design students that they are instructed to never turn down work. As a freelancer, I have had to live like this, and it has definitely had a negative impact on my output and products. This article is mostly about starting new enterprises, and less about deciding what jobs to take on. The wrench in all this is that I found that the better paying, higher value jobs often came last minute, and the lower value jobs booked well in advance. I could use some advice on how to identify projects that are worth the time. The author mentions how time is more valuable than money, and although that resonates with me to a certain extent, jobs will (should) always pay money, but they can never pay time. Time is, in a sense, what workers expend in order to gain money; in most companies, a percentage of time is reimbursed in the form of vacation time.
Well, I enjoyed this article and found it useful I also felt extremely called out. I am one who tends to keep wanting more on my plate, and that feels the need to stay busy in order to stay focused enough to get the little things done. I think that the first two reasons they give in the article are relatively good, first that it is going to take more time than you think it will even if you have done the same task before and second being that the project is going to take more attention once you get it up and moving than you could imagine, although this is basically rephrasing the first point in a slightly different way. Lastly, the only other thing that they could come up with is that it won't make a bunch of money, and we all know that's why we are here after all. Overall it seemed like this is a filler "I need to make my quota" article without much substance.
I have a bad habit of stressing myself out and putting too much on my plate. Sooner or later, I end up regretting doing just that. Whether I get emotionally stressed out or I realize I simply don't have time for everything that I planned on doing, It never works out. I really like how this article is written from a business perspective. The author writes a lot about time management and how maintaining so many projects at once simply isn't practical. My favorite rule of the three she described in the article was the one about not starting a project because you think it's going to make a lot of money. I completely agree with the author when he mentions that if you ever start a project for the sole reason that you'll get a lot of money, it will fail. I agree with the fact that shows are about the audience. In theatre, I believe, it is important to focus on the audience and make sure they genuinely enjoy the show and not just because you're looking for the paycheck.
I am a big believer in saying no pretty often to things that are extraneous to your main focus and goals in life. If doing an extra project is gonna jeopardize the other work you are doing in your life, then it is probably not worth the extra time and strife. You should never let an extra job get in the way of what you are already doing. It is not fair to you and it is not fair to the people you work with or for. I hate seeing people struggle in their life and career because of self inflicted obligations they have put on themselves that do not really mean that much, especially when there is no good reason for it. I can kind of understand it if the extra project will get you connected to someone cool, or it is a project you are really interested in, or yes, even if it is for some extra money. But there comes a point where none of those things are worth it, and especially if those things are not present, then why would you even do it?
This article seemed somehow too much of an idealism to me. As for the three points that made in the article, I can barely agree .5 point. First of all, how do you know a project would cost you more time than you expected? Does that suggest we are bad at budgeting or scoping how long and how hard would a project be? After all, if in the first place we decided it is too much for the current state, how would we proceed anyway? The second reason is the one I found a bit useful, that is looking beyond the project. Not only consider the cost of producing it, but also the upkeep and maintenance which is definetely going to occur in the future, even if it is not likely to be your problem, since it might trace back to the person who started it. Last, bearing the idea of making major profit is not necessarily a bad idea, the rule of "making someone's life better" sounds much more unattainable to me.
The main thing that should be taken from this article, even though it is not stated clearly, is to know yourself very well and know what you are willing and capable of doing, as well as your limits. Sometimes we look at what other people are doing and because they may have a good handle on everything that is on their plate, and it seems as though their successful business was a breeze, we think that we can do it too. No. Firstly, we have no idea what went into their "product." We don't see all of the behind the scenes work. So just looking at the surface isn't a good way to estimate whether we can do what someone else has done and should take on the additional task. Also, balance is so important. Even if we are able to accomplish certain tasks, we should estimate how much of ourselves are we putting into certain things and if it a healthy and efficient amount. By all means, it is good to work hard and push ourselves. Nothing gets done without hard work. But that does not mean that we should constantly be overexerting ourselves and trying to every single thing that comes out way. It may seem like it will hinder the process if we take breaks or say no, but it doesn't. We should work hard but also have slots of our time set aside where we are able to step away and exhale. This time allows us to replenish ourselves so that once we get back to work, we are giving 100%, rather than constantly working at 50% because we are exhausted. This all goes back to self-analyzing and knowing how much we as individuals can handle before it becomes unhealthy and unproductive. I am a firm believer in having a good balanced life. I love putting in extra hours ensuring that my garden is healthy and flourishing. I will take the extra time and energy clipping thorns and pulling and and every weed. But I also ensure that I have moments when I am able to sit quietly in my garden, simply reading a book.
Starting any project that you are passionate about, is rooted in your passion for it, so of course it is going to take up time, require attention, and might not be the most financially sound. If you care about something, you should go for it. If the idea is a good one, commit the time to planning it and making sure you can follow through with a logistics. If “Focusing is about saying no” then say no to the ideas that don’t inspire you and run with the ones that do. If “The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes” then be a leader when necessary, but also don’t be afraid to take a risk. Obviously there’s a cost benefit to every idea and there is a balance to starting everything and starting nothing, but if you care about something and if you want to do it, just do it. I disagree with a lot of what this article says, but I understand where it is coming from and it was an interesting read.
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