Learning to Say "No"

Distractions often masquerade as opportunities.  It's hard to say "no" to income, but back when I worked in sales my boss told me that we didn't go after every opportunity, only the mutually beneficial ones.  There have been times when I've had to pass up a hospitality job because I had a lower-paying mystery shopping route already scheduled.  Plus, I've had a deadbeat tenant occupying one of the townhouses because I've been too busy working to invest time towards the eviction process.  I'm losing $700/month in passive income every month on that townhouse, actively chasing after day-to-day jobs.

Instead of growing many small bushes, it's time to grow a tree.  Focus breeds success.

I'm starting to say "no", and it feels good.  On Monday one of my mystery shopping companies called, asking me to take a single job in Naples, FL (a 340 mile round trip).  I offered to do the job, but only for a very large bonus that would make it worth my while.  The company declined my offer.  It felt good to effectively decline the job.

As planned, we worked on the kitchen remodel in our spare time this past week.  We're still in the demolition phase.  We remove an entire wall of cabinets and took them to the landfill.  My deadbeat tenant claims to be moving out this weekend.  I don't believe him, and have plans to post an eviction notice on Monday unless he's out.  These are two tasks I've been putting off, not because I'm lazy, but because I've overextended myself with piddling mystery shopping work that isn't worth doing.

I'm still mystery shopping, but gone are the one-off jobs that pay $10 (or less).  Even if they may take less than an hour to complete, they are a distraction.