The scary art of saying no
On protecting my energy and being driven by fear as a solopreneur.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver
It’s been two weeks since my last day at work (if you’re new here, hi, I quit my job as a marketer). And I’m only now starting to grasp what that means.
Here’s what happened over the past month:
Off-boarded at work + one last hangout with the team (you can even spot me in this cute vlog by the founder).
Made over €4k (half of that will be taxes now, welcome to self employed life haha)
Had 10(!) discovery calls - all from people writing me on LinkedIn.
Published my first ever sponsored videos (SO FUN)
Launched the website for my solopreneur community: launchanyway.com
Wrapped up my first freelance client project.
Gave my first paid workshop about LinkedIn for 12BRAVE.
Mentored 9 marketers & founders (click here for a free mentorship call with me).
Launched my first paid Notion template for event planning.
Built my first-ever AI agent and filmed the whole thing (should I call this series “feel stupid with me”? haha)
Gave a presentation at a Notion summer party about event planning.
And all of this happened even though I also went on a 10-day vacation/workation with my family (can you hear my heart pounding? :D).
I’m still at the very start of my solopreneur journey.
And yet funnily enough, even though I know I have a lot to learn and it will take time, I find it very hard to take my time.
Because I’m driven by anxiety (what a fun realisation! haha):
How do I stop feeling like everything could fall apart any second?
That I’m not doing enough at every second of every day?
Since quitting I realised I haven’t really given myself the space to reflect.
I jumped into every project I could get my hands on. And now I’m noticing:
I said yes to a LOT, out of fear:
– Fear of disappointing my family.
– Fear of not being able to pay my bills.
– Fear of being found out as an impostor.
– Fear of making the wrong call & having to justify my failures.
On paper, my life looks balanced: workouts, dinners with friends, even binge-watching TV series. But under the surface, my brain never turns off. It’s been running 24/7 from the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep.
The truth is: this is the reason I quit my job.
I needed to reclaim my headspace.
Constantly thinking about endless tasks made me feel like I was never present. And I know that if I keep saying yes to everything now, I’ll just recreate the same cage I left behind.
Light from a window, Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
So, I made the scariest choice yesterday.
I cancelled two client projects. Well-paid, recurring projects that would’ve made me feel safer financially.
This means I may need to be uncomfortable for a bit longer. But at least I’ll try to make it on my own terms, without client deadlines and meetings taking over my calendar & brain space.
My dream is to build my own thing. To create, run my own community, educate, mentor and inspire in a way that feels honest, true, and valuable.
a note to self (and maybe to you)
Greg McKeown asks this question in his book Essentialism that stuck with me.
He says we need to ask ourselves:
“Will this activity or effort make the highest possible contribution toward my goal?”
View through a window at Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
For me, the answer is clear: hustling for clients for 20-40 hours a week won’t take me where I want to go. At least not now. Saying no is terrifying, but also necessary.
If I trust myself enough to focus, I’ll get there. And you will, too.
So here’s to following our gut, even when it means turning down good opportunities to make space for the right ones.
my question for you
What’s one thing you’re doing right now that isn’t moving you closer to the life you want?
Could you cut it out?
Take a moment to weigh the pros and cons. Then do what’s necessary.
Because I’m realising more and more: what we say no to matters just as much as what we say yes to.
Thanks a million for being here. See you in the next one <3
– Maria
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver
It’s been two weeks since my last day at work (if you’re new here, hi, I quit my job as a marketer). And I’m only now starting to grasp what that means.
Here’s what happened over the past month:
Off-boarded at work + one last hangout with the team (you can even spot me in this cute vlog by the founder).
Made over €4k (half of that will be taxes now, welcome to self employed life haha)
Had 10(!) discovery calls - all from people writing me on LinkedIn.
Published my first ever sponsored videos (SO FUN)
Launched the website for my solopreneur community: launchanyway.com
Wrapped up my first freelance client project.
Gave my first paid workshop about LinkedIn for 12BRAVE.
Mentored 9 marketers & founders (click here for a free mentorship call with me).
Launched my first paid Notion template for event planning.
Built my first-ever AI agent and filmed the whole thing (should I call this series “feel stupid with me”? haha)
Gave a presentation at a Notion summer party about event planning.
And all of this happened even though I also went on a 10-day vacation/workation with my family (can you hear my heart pounding? :D).
I’m still at the very start of my solopreneur journey.
And yet funnily enough, even though I know I have a lot to learn and it will take time, I find it very hard to take my time.
Because I’m driven by anxiety (what a fun realisation! haha):
How do I stop feeling like everything could fall apart any second?
That I’m not doing enough at every second of every day?
Since quitting I realised I haven’t really given myself the space to reflect.
I jumped into every project I could get my hands on. And now I’m noticing:
I said yes to a LOT, out of fear:
– Fear of disappointing my family.
– Fear of not being able to pay my bills.
– Fear of being found out as an impostor.
– Fear of making the wrong call & having to justify my failures.
On paper, my life looks balanced: workouts, dinners with friends, even binge-watching TV series. But under the surface, my brain never turns off. It’s been running 24/7 from the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep.
The truth is: this is the reason I quit my job.
I needed to reclaim my headspace.
Constantly thinking about endless tasks made me feel like I was never present. And I know that if I keep saying yes to everything now, I’ll just recreate the same cage I left behind.
Light from a window, Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
So, I made the scariest choice yesterday.
I cancelled two client projects. Well-paid, recurring projects that would’ve made me feel safer financially.
This means I may need to be uncomfortable for a bit longer. But at least I’ll try to make it on my own terms, without client deadlines and meetings taking over my calendar & brain space.
My dream is to build my own thing. To create, run my own community, educate, mentor and inspire in a way that feels honest, true, and valuable.
a note to self (and maybe to you)
Greg McKeown asks this question in his book Essentialism that stuck with me.
He says we need to ask ourselves:
“Will this activity or effort make the highest possible contribution toward my goal?”
View through a window at Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
For me, the answer is clear: hustling for clients for 20-40 hours a week won’t take me where I want to go. At least not now. Saying no is terrifying, but also necessary.
If I trust myself enough to focus, I’ll get there. And you will, too.
So here’s to following our gut, even when it means turning down good opportunities to make space for the right ones.
my question for you
What’s one thing you’re doing right now that isn’t moving you closer to the life you want?
Could you cut it out?
Take a moment to weigh the pros and cons. Then do what’s necessary.
Because I’m realising more and more: what we say no to matters just as much as what we say yes to.
Thanks a million for being here. See you in the next one <3
– Maria
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver
It’s been two weeks since my last day at work (if you’re new here, hi, I quit my job as a marketer). And I’m only now starting to grasp what that means.
Here’s what happened over the past month:
Off-boarded at work + one last hangout with the team (you can even spot me in this cute vlog by the founder).
Made over €4k (half of that will be taxes now, welcome to self employed life haha)
Had 10(!) discovery calls - all from people writing me on LinkedIn.
Published my first ever sponsored videos (SO FUN)
Launched the website for my solopreneur community: launchanyway.com
Wrapped up my first freelance client project.
Gave my first paid workshop about LinkedIn for 12BRAVE.
Mentored 9 marketers & founders (click here for a free mentorship call with me).
Launched my first paid Notion template for event planning.
Built my first-ever AI agent and filmed the whole thing (should I call this series “feel stupid with me”? haha)
Gave a presentation at a Notion summer party about event planning.
And all of this happened even though I also went on a 10-day vacation/workation with my family (can you hear my heart pounding? :D).
I’m still at the very start of my solopreneur journey.
And yet funnily enough, even though I know I have a lot to learn and it will take time, I find it very hard to take my time.
Because I’m driven by anxiety (what a fun realisation! haha):
How do I stop feeling like everything could fall apart any second?
That I’m not doing enough at every second of every day?
Since quitting I realised I haven’t really given myself the space to reflect.
I jumped into every project I could get my hands on. And now I’m noticing:
I said yes to a LOT, out of fear:
– Fear of disappointing my family.
– Fear of not being able to pay my bills.
– Fear of being found out as an impostor.
– Fear of making the wrong call & having to justify my failures.
On paper, my life looks balanced: workouts, dinners with friends, even binge-watching TV series. But under the surface, my brain never turns off. It’s been running 24/7 from the second I wake up to the second I fall asleep.
The truth is: this is the reason I quit my job.
I needed to reclaim my headspace.
Constantly thinking about endless tasks made me feel like I was never present. And I know that if I keep saying yes to everything now, I’ll just recreate the same cage I left behind.
Light from a window, Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
So, I made the scariest choice yesterday.
I cancelled two client projects. Well-paid, recurring projects that would’ve made me feel safer financially.
This means I may need to be uncomfortable for a bit longer. But at least I’ll try to make it on my own terms, without client deadlines and meetings taking over my calendar & brain space.
My dream is to build my own thing. To create, run my own community, educate, mentor and inspire in a way that feels honest, true, and valuable.
a note to self (and maybe to you)
Greg McKeown asks this question in his book Essentialism that stuck with me.
He says we need to ask ourselves:
“Will this activity or effort make the highest possible contribution toward my goal?”
View through a window at Fortezza of Rethymnon, Crete, Greece
For me, the answer is clear: hustling for clients for 20-40 hours a week won’t take me where I want to go. At least not now. Saying no is terrifying, but also necessary.
If I trust myself enough to focus, I’ll get there. And you will, too.
So here’s to following our gut, even when it means turning down good opportunities to make space for the right ones.
my question for you
What’s one thing you’re doing right now that isn’t moving you closer to the life you want?
Could you cut it out?
Take a moment to weigh the pros and cons. Then do what’s necessary.
Because I’m realising more and more: what we say no to matters just as much as what we say yes to.
Thanks a million for being here. See you in the next one <3
– Maria
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