Ask these five questions before saying yes

Distraction can be silent and sometimes lethal when you have a goal to achieve.

Not every “yes” is aligned.
Not every opportunity is an opportunity.
Not every request deserves your time, energy, or mental real estate.

A single unfiltered yes can derail months of hard work.

Let me suggest five questions you can ask before committing to anything new, be it a meeting, a partnership, a project, a hire, or a client.

💬 Question 1: “What problem does this solve?”

Sounds obvious, but it’s not. Is it a new offer, a new platform, new tools, or a different marketing angle? Great! Are you leaning towards a “yes”?

If you can’t name the problem this “yes” is solving for your business or your customer, it’s probably a distraction.

• Does this address a current challenge or priority?

• Or is this just responding to boredom, fear, or FOMO?

💬 Question 2: “Would Future Me still want this?”

When you say yes out of panic or scarcity, you’re making a choice your future self might resent.

Zoom out. Picture yourself 3–6 months from now.

• Will this decision make sense when you’re busier, bigger, or more in flow?

• Will this yes become a burden you wish you’d avoided?

💬 Question 3: “Does this serve my business or my ego?”

Some “yes”es feel good because they stroke our identity.

• A big brand wants to collaborate.

• Someone said, “You’d be perfect for this.”

Saying yes just because it makes us feel important is a slippery slope. Instead, ask:

• “Would I still do this if no one saw me doing it?”

💬 Question 4: “What will this cost me, even if it works?”

In essence, “What’s the cost of success here?”

More clients could mean more delivery stress.
New partnerships could mean more time in meetings.
That viral campaign might bring in attention you’re not resourced to handle.

This question doesn’t mean let’s not go for it.
It means being clear on what we’re walking into, so we can build accordingly.

💬 Question 5: “If I say yes to this, what am I saying no to?”

Sometimes, it is a zero-sum game. Every yes displaces something.

• Our energy

• Our attention

• Our team’s focus

• Our calendar

• Our ability to rest, reflect, or move forward on something deeper

So, before a yes to one more thing:

• “Are we saying no to something that matters more?”

Alignment often shows up in the choices that protect what matters most.

So,

Let’s say yes to what moves our mission forward with focus, clarity, and integrity.

💬 What’s the last “yes” you regret — or the best “no” you’ve made recently?