The Wonders of "Yes People"
One day last week, I got an email from the assistant of someone I know and respect very highly. The email was asking me to do something. A close reader would've realized that it would take more than 5 minutes (actually 20 to 40 times as long), but I didn't read it closely. Instead, I just said yes.
Because the assistant was the assistant of one of my Yes People.
My Yes People, in case it's murky, are people I say yes to.
Not because their ask fits within my personal goals. Not because I have endless time. Not because I have boundless energy. And not because I don't have lots of other things going on, like a small child underfoot or an inbox to faint over.
The Yes People are people you say yes to because that's the way it is.
They invite you to jump, and you jump. High. They ask you to do a favor and you do it. Stat. They need advice and you tell them all you know.
There are many reasons for doing so. She is your BFF, say. He is your casual friend, otherwise known as the President of the United States. She is hurting and needs help in this season. He helped you out at a dark time in your life and you'll have his back forever.
The point, though, is not to dig deep and unpack why they are your Yes People, because honestly most of us can feel it in our bones if someone is one of those people for us (and why bother wasting brainpower on things you know in your bones, right?). The point, really, is to know you have them, figure out who they are, and then memorize the short list. That way, when those people come to you and ask you for something, you don't have to think.
You know the answer.
Yes People are a good thing. Having Yes People might really be one of the best things. So figure out who yours are and hold them close. Shower them with glitter, and never say No.
For more from Claire, read her free ebook on developing a morning routine, check out her blog, follow her on LinkedIn, or find her on the Twitters via @claire.
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9 年Saves us a lot of time overthinking, and may give us a comfortable feeling of trust! However, how can we evaluate clearly which people deserve to be your "yes-people" more than others as it seems strongly based on emotive responses?
service manager at a private auomotive company
9 年At the end of the day a win -win relationship has to be there to gurantee sustainability.
Vice President of Conservation - The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
9 年Hey Yes Person! I am going to be in NYC next week - care to get together and do some plotting?
Senior analist CDD / KYC
9 年Nice positive thinking ! So is everyone who is not Yes people a No person or a maybe person. Hope you got a lot of Yes people: I call them friends
President and CEO at JAYRAMON LLC (Strategy Consultant, Leadership Advisor, Organizational and Community Listening)
9 年great read