Creating Spaces

As a young systems analyst, I worked for a big shot consulting firm in a far away land. I spent countless hours at the office. It was pure luxury. Floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of Victoria Harbor and cool grey carpeting so gritty it could exfoliate your feet.

The height of the cubicle walls was just right, forcing me to squeeze in an occasional half-squat when hollering at a colleague. The restrooms? Next level, complete with awkward shoulder rubbing attendants and fluffy hand towels. I see you’re thinking about that last one, I said it was awkward didn’t I?

Most of the walls in the office were adorned with carefully curated messages from Successories. They’re like framed memes for the office, but cheesier.

I must have memorized every one of the inspirational quotes. Yet amongst all the cringe, it was often the words of an Austrian-American management philosopher that did resonate with me. You probably know them well too:

This was a confounding principle that took me some time to understand. Ironically, it finally hit home a few years later when my team and I were literally laughed out of a pitch by one those game-changing client opportunities.

Notwithstanding the anger we felt, we held our heads high and marked the opportunity as lost rather than chasing it further.

Turning away from a massive, multi-year-target crushing prospect was the right thing to do. Some of my colleagues didn’t agree at first and my bank account sure as $#!t didn’t like the idea either. However, it became clear to us that the prospect didn’t value our expertise or our capabilities.

We wore this decision as a badge of honor and moved on.

But before we left that day, the stubborn and petulant scrapper in me couldn’t help but clapback to the questioning of our fees with:

As self-employed professionals, it can be tempting to say yes to every project that comes your way. After all, bills need to be paid and the fridge needs beer.

But sometimes, saying yes to every project can lead to a never-ending cycle of regret, exhaustion, and resentment. Especially when you’ve had to devalue yourself by discounting your fees to land the gig.

Don't be afraid to say no to the opportunities that don't light your fire. Walk away from clients who don’t value your work.

Doing the right thing—even when it’s hard—will open up space for a business filled with work that you'll be proud of.

The kind that will make you feel fulfilled, at the top of your game, and keep you smiling all the way to the bank.

Put your hands together for the undisputed king of the court, LeBron James. The Lakers forward just broke the record books, scoring more points than any other player in the history of the NBA.

He slammed past Kareem’s career 38,387 points on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles crowd was so hyped, you'd have thought they were giving away free tacos.

This incredible data visualization published by ESPN columnist Kirk Goldsberry lifts the amazing milestone to new heights.