RSS Feed
The Power of Saying NO
August 13th, 2026
by Bill Boyajian

One of my first NO responses was in high school when our basketball coach asked me to manage the scoreboard of a game. I politely declined because I wanted to watch the game, not keep the score. That was an important no for a young man who would normally say yes even if I didn’t want to do something.

Learning to say no to what other people want you to do is an unappreciated skill worth learning. This is because saying no to something others want you to do means you can’t say yes to what you may want to do. Said another way, saying yes to something is saying no to something else that might be much more important, meaningful, or enjoyable to you.

Helping people is a great trait, but it can also backfire on busy people who can’t turn down an offer to be of help. My point is, everyone else’s need or call is not necessarily yours to fill. What often happens is you serve someone else’s agenda, not your own, and this can lead to frustration or even resentment without even realizing it.

Do I sound like a bad person when I encourage you to learn to say no?

I help people all the time and you probably do, too. My point is to be conscious of overdoing it so you have the time to do for yourself and others what only you can do. Saying no is an art worth cultivating, so be kind and thoughtful, but clear and committed when you decline your next opportunity.

“I needed help orchestrating a succession plan for our business. I had heard that Bill Boyajian specialized in assisting owners to transition their business to the next generation. He knows how to bridge the generation gap and deliver what each needs to hear. I would recommend Bill to any business owner who needs advice on succession planning from a trusted outside professional.”

–Charles Denaburg,
Managing Partner,
Levy’s Fine Jewelry
Birmingham, AL

"Our family needed some guidance on business transition and succession planning. We asked Bill Boyajian to help us because we knew we could trust him to tell us what we needed to hear. Bill became a valuable resource for our company and our entire family. He has the ability to meet each of us where we’re at and it has served us very well."

–Ceylon Leitzel
Leitzel Fine Jewelry
Hershey & Myerstown, PA

“We needed a plan to transition our business to a non-family member and we asked Bill Boyajian to help us. His experience in the area has really paid off, but we didn’t expect the added value of putting us together with a financial planner who helped organize our retirement needs. We now have the fundamentals to transition our business successfully, and we have Bill to thank for it.”

–Ernie & Debbie Cummings
Kizer-Cummings Jewelers
Lawrence, KS