A Smart Bear · Jason Cohen
articleprincipleNever say "no," but rarely say "yes."
1 October 2023Profit
Source excerpt
About A Smart Bear"Focus" requires saying "no" to most things, but there's a way to do it that allows you to say "yes" exactly when it matters most.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Treat focus as a rule for conditional commitment, not blanket rejection. Define the rare conditions under which an opportunity deserves a “yes,” so most requests can be deferred without closing the door on unusually valuable ones.
Why it matters
Without clear criteria, founders either scatter resources across too many opportunities or reject promising ones reflexively. A high bar preserves focus while leaving room for exceptional opportunities.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
Write three explicit conditions that a new opportunity must meet to interrupt your current priorities. Which open request, if any, clears all three?
Private notes