This article, by David Maister, used some of David C. Baker’s thoughts on the difficult that entrepreneurs have in saying no. Maister is a noted author, speaker, and consultant who has taught extensively at Harvard Business School. Part of the article:

David C. Baker, who specializes in advising marketing communications firms, puts it this way: “If you are any good at all, eventually you’ll have more opportunities than you can handle. Not choosing carefully between those opportunities is far more likely to harm you than the occasional opportunity that slips by because you say ‘no.’

You need to say ‘no’ to save your energy for the opportunities that are worth pursuing. Entrepreneurs, especially, have a hard time not pursuing any opportunity for learning and stimulation, but the successful ones are really choosy. Don’t let panic tempt you.

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