Chamber News & Views
Think about this for a minute. “No” is not a four-letter word. But I’ll bet if you counted the number of times during a day, a week, or a month that you say “yes,” it is a lot more times than you say “no.” For many of us, the word “no” is one of the hardest words to say. But it is also one of the most important.
Giving of your time and doing things for others are essential for our community, our chamber and for our own well-being. But some of us go too far. Saying “yes” to every request can wear you out. It can get to the point that we give so much, we have nothing left for ourselves and our families. We can end up using all our energy, and if we don’t refuel, it can lead to burnout and mistakes.
In our work – whether it’s paid or voluntary – a lot of people are asking for our time…but there’s only so much of that time to go around. Many of us want to help whenever we can. We’re basically people pleasers. We want to say “yes.” But there must be a limit. We need to make a distinction between pleasing others and true service. Saying “yes” just to be a good guy can turn any project into a chore and a dreaded obligation. That doesn’t mean you need to become a nay sayer. Say “yes” to things that matter to you. Say “yes” to things that will bring you some joy in giving. And if we can learn to say “no” more effectively, then our “yes” becomes more valuable.
Be sure to make choices that are going to be the best for you and your well-being. And to our chamber volunteers, board of directors and members, we appreciate every one of your “yeses.” Your “yes” helps the chamber and our community thrive. And we promise we will not take advantage of your good nature. You don’t want to be on the Chamber Cup Classic golf committee? Okay. Can you help us out with our upcoming Pet Expo or the Annual Banquet? If becoming an ambassador sounds like your thing, join in, and you’ll get to meet new people and potential new customers. Bottom line: at the chamber, we thank you in advance for your authentic “yes.”
Lynne Conlan is Executive Director of the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. Call her at 813-634-5111, or email lynne@sccchamber.com.