The Art of Saying No to Projects

A potential client called last week. Good project. Good money. Interesting tech stack.

I said no.

Two years ago, I would have said yes without thinking. Here’s what changed.

The Yes Trap

Early in my consulting career, I said yes to everything. Every project. Every speaking gig. Every “quick favor.”

The result:

Saying yes to everything means saying no to doing anything well.

Now I run every opportunity through three filters:

Does this project fit my focus areas? Right now that’s Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Fabric, and AI consulting.

A React frontend project? Probably no, even if the money is good.

A Power BI dashboard? Maybe, if it connects to Fabric.

An AI chatbot on Azure? That’s my lane.

Not “can I technically do it.” Can I deliver excellent work given my current commitments?

If I’m already at 80% capacity, a new project means either something slips or everything degrades.

I’d rather be known for 3 excellent projects than 7 mediocre ones.

Life’s too short for soul-crushing projects. If the thought of starting makes me dread Monday, it’s a no.

This isn’t just about happiness. Energy directly impacts quality. Motivated work is better work.

The key: be honest and prompt.

Bad: Ghost them. (Unprofessional and burns bridges.)

Bad: “Let me think about it” for weeks. (Wastes everyone’s time.)

Good: “Thanks for thinking of me. This doesn’t align with my current focus, but I’d recommend [name]. They’d be great for this.”

Refer whenever possible. It builds goodwill and helps the client.

Quality went up. Fewer projects means more attention per project. Clients noticed.

Revenue didn’t drop. Counterintuitively, focused work led to better referrals and repeat clients.

Stress went down. Not juggling six projects means actually sleeping.

Reputation improved. Being selective signals confidence. Clients trust consultants who have standards.

Fear of missing out. What if this was THE project? What if they don’t call again?

They might not. That’s okay.

The projects you say no to make room for better projects you can’t even see yet.

If it’s not a clear yes, it’s a no.

Applies to projects. Applies to meetings. Applies to most decisions.

Protect your time. It’s the only resource you can’t make more of.