Getting to "Yes" (By Defining your "No")

A few days ago, a college student asked me how to make the most of an internship. Internships are an opportunity to learn early in life what interests us, I said, but more importantly, what doesn't.

Over the course of a 30-year career, we might have the chance to say "yes" to 5 or 6 roles. To do that, we'll have to say "no" to hundreds more equally good opportunities.

Internships are a chance to discover what to say "no" to.

So I challenged this young professional to write down two things at the end of every day: One thing she liked working on and one thing she disliked. At the end of her internship, I encouraged her to review the lists.

The list of things she liked will give her direction as she seeks a full-time role, of course. The few opportunities to which she will get to say "yes."

But the things she didn't like--they are the most valuable. They will help her discern the difference between the many opportunities that look great, and the few that are truly the right fit for her and for the organizations she'll serve. They define the many opportunities to which she'll need to say "no."

(Post-script: To the student who asked this question: If you're reading this, please let me know how the internship goes and whether you found the daily note helpful.)