The Digital Junk Drawer

The Year I Said Yes to Everything: Why Being a Yes-Person Cost Me More Than Money

Episode Summary

I dive into my year of saying "yes" to everything and the harsh lessons learned along the way. From overdelivering to burnout, I share how one client's dangling carrot of "business growth" led me down a path of exhaustion and missed opportunities. If you're a people-pleaser who struggles to say no or finds yourself constantly stretching thin for clients, this episode reveals the true cost of being a "yes" person in business.

Episode Notes

Hey there, I'm Kathleen Stewart, your host and resident weirdo! Welcome to The Digital Junk Drawer, where creative service-based businesses come for practical advice and actionable strategies.

Today, we're talking about the year I said yes to everything—and how it nearly destroyed my business and sanity. If you've ever found yourself saying "what's one more task?" or pushing through exhaustion to please clients, this episode is your wake-up call.

I'll be sharing:

• A personal story about how one client's constant requests led me to learn everything from podcasting to launch management
• How being a "yes ma'am girl" turned me into a business bestie instead of a business owner
• The real cost of overbooking—from quality of work to personal relationships
• Why boundaries aren't just about protecting time, but protecting peace

What You'll Learn in This Episode 💡 Why saying yes to the wrong things costs more than you earn 💡 How to recognize when you're at capacity 💡 The true impact of overbooking on your work quality and creativity 💡 Why boundaries are essential for business growth 💡 How to say no without feeling guilty

Tiny Stepper of the Day Take 15 minutes to do a quick capacity audit:

1. Write down everything currently on your plate
2. Highlight anything that's stretching you too thin
3. Commit to one boundary
4. Say no to the next thing that doesn't light you up or fit your schedule

Links and Resources Mentioned 🔗 TheMainStage.ca – Ready to turn your beautiful mess into strategic success? Let's make it happen. 🔗 Follow Me on Threads – For unfiltered behind-the-scenes tea about running a business: @themainstage.ca