pause: some days you just say no

It's been a heck of a week, notable for the fact that I said "no" more often than I said "yes".

No, I can't do that storyboard.

No, I can't write that channel brief.

No, I can't do that meeting, or that meeting, or that meeting.

When the sirens had stopped, I realized that saying "no" was the smartest thing I've done in a very, very long time.

Because my saying "no" brought out the best in colleagues who realized I was "full", and who stepped up to help manage stuff that frankly had been paralyzing me with abject fear and loathing.

Sometimes the job just looks too damn big for words. Saying no helps.