A simple tool to help you say no without guilt.

“How you spend your days is how you spend your life.”

So take a look at your calendar this week. Is it filled with what matters or just filled?

One of the quietest ways nonprofit leaders burn out is saying yes too often.

Yes to calls. Yes to panels. Yes to “quick chats,” virtual coffees, exploratory partnerships, pilot projects.

Each one feels harmless. Together? They scatter your focus and exhaust your energy.

That’s why I recommend all my clients use an Opportunity Scorecard.

It’s a simple decision matrix:

➊ Score each request against criteria: relevance, return, alignment, time.
➋ Weight what matters most.
➌ Let the numbers guide you.

It doesn’t kill serendipity. It protects the space where your best work can happen.

(Want to borrow my scorecard? In this past newsletter, I shared the criteria I use and how to adapt it to your own context).