Please please please make room for your dreams

Summary

In this episode, career coach and writer Mandy discusses the importance of discernment in protecting your time and energy. She shares three key lessons: how to value and protect your time, safeguard your personal agenda, and how saying no can lead to greater opportunities. Mandy emphasizes the importance of being selective with your time, especially if you're building something meaningful. She also highlights the significance of knowing what you're about and staying true to your mission, while also pointing out how strategically saying no can create the space needed for growth and success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Protect your time as it's your most valuable asset. Time spent wisely can help you create, build, and grow.
• 😀 Set boundaries around your time and energy, especially when balancing a 9-to-5 job and side projects.
• 😀 Be mindful of common time drains like coffee chats, networking, and volunteering, as they can prevent you from focusing on your priorities.
• 😀 Don't feel guilty for not saying 'yes' to every request; you are allowed to protect your time and say no when necessary.
• 😀 Prioritize yourself and your own growth by carving out personal time for relaxation, creativity, or self-care.
• 😀 Avoid sacrificing your personal time to work commitments outside of your scheduled hours to prevent burnout.
• 😀 Identify 'leakage' in your life where your time and energy are being drained, and work to regain control.
• 😀 Leadership involves knowing your own agenda and sticking to it, even if it means standing alone and facing criticism.
• 😀 Be a leader in your own creative endeavors—define your mission and stick to it, even if the path is unclear.
• 😀 Saying 'no' to things that don't align with your goals or vision can clear the path for opportunities that do.
• 😀 Learn to strategically step away from commitments that no longer serve you, even if it’s hard or uncertain, to make room for new possibilities.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the episode?

The main theme of the episode is discernment, which is the ability to judge if something is worth your time, energy, and attention.

Why do people often struggle with saying no, according to the speaker?

People struggle with saying no because they want to be nice, considerate, and don't want to hurt others' feelings. They often say yes out of a sense of obligation or to be seen as good.

What are the three lessons shared in the episode?

The three lessons are: 1) How to protect your time, 2) How to protect your own agenda, and 3) How saying no can lead to your yes.

How does the speaker suggest protecting your time?

The speaker suggests being mindful of how you spend your time, especially outside of your 9-to-5 job. It's important to reserve your valuable time for personal growth, creativity, or rest, rather than constantly giving it away to others.

What categories of activities should people be mindful of to protect their time?

The speaker highlights coffee chats, networking, and volunteering as activities that can consume your time. While these are not inherently negative, doing them too often can detract from more meaningful endeavors.

Why does the speaker recommend being selfish with your time?

Being selfish with your time is important because if you don't prioritize yourself, you may never have the chance to invest in your own growth, creativity, or future.

What is the impact of giving too much time to your job?

Giving too much time to your job can lead to burnout. The speaker points out that you can become caught in a cycle where you feel drained and have no time left for yourself or your personal projects.

How can protecting your own agenda help your creative pursuits?

Protecting your own agenda ensures that you stay focused on your goals and passions, rather than being distracted by others' agendas. It helps you stay true to your vision and avoid being pulled into things that don't align with your mission.

What is the role of leadership in protecting your agenda?

Leadership in protecting your agenda means standing firm in your vision, even when it means standing alone. It requires courage to say no to opportunities that don't serve your long-term goals.

How did saying no benefit the speaker in her career?

Saying no allowed the speaker to clear space for opportunities that aligned with her vision. It helped her focus on building her business and pursuing what truly mattered to her, rather than being distracted by things that weren't a good fit.