Heck yes.

I ran into something on the internet this week that went something like this:

If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no. (attribute to Derek Sivers, entrepreneur)

I pondered it.

So, if it’s a soft yes.

A maybe yes.

A let-me-think-about-it-and-get-back-to-you yes.

An I’m-nervous-and-scared-and-excited-because-I-haven’t-done-this-before yes.

An out-of-my-comfort-zone-but-in-a-good-way yes.

An I’m-stretching-and-reaching-and-trying yes.

Well… those would all be no. If I had said no in all those scenarios I would have missed some great things.

And yet, there’s some value to this idea. There’s something helpful, when faced with a decision, to pause and think is this a heck-yeah or a no?

Last week I was offered a part-time job and my “yes” was a soft-yes-with-a-few-red-flags-waving-on-the-horizon. I had applied to a lot of jobs and this was the first one to get back to me. I felt really uncomfortable saying ‘no,’ yet I also knew it was definitely not a hell-yes. That made it easier to ultimately say ‘no, thank you,’ and walk away. And wait. And hope.

This week I was offered a different part-time job. And the answer was a heck-yeah! I am excited about this. Let’s do it. Does it make my life more complicated? Yes. But that’s okay, because I’m in the heck-yeah category on this one. It turns out it makes a difference.

So, if I were my own best friend, I would tell myself to think about all-in-yes vs. no. Some decisions you’re still going to say ‘yes,’ even if it’s not 100%-all-in, because there may be other variables at play. You may say ‘yes’ because your conscience tells you it’s the right thing to do. Or you may say ‘yes’ because it helps someone else you care about. Or you may say ‘yes’ because you want to try something new you’re uncertain about.

Then again you may say ‘yes’ because it is a hell-yes. Either way, it’s good to think about why you’re saying yes. And remember, by saying no, it opens up the opportunity to say yes to something else in the future.