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For years, I thought saying yes was the key to success. Yes, to my parents dream of me becoming a doctor. Yes, to the long hours in medical school. Yes, to a career that others admired, even as I felt a growing sense of unease. I loved medicines ability to make a difference in peoples lives, but deep down, I had questions: Did I truly want to be a doctor, or was I fulfilling the role others expected of me? Every yes felt like another step away from myself. One pivotal moment came while I was working in a hospital in the Cook Islands. I treated patients with heart failure so advanced that basic mobility was a struggle. What struck me most wasnt the lack of resources; it was the sense of familiarity. Even in the U.K.s world-class healthcare system, I had seen patients left behindignored, dismissed, or underserved. These moments clarified what I valued most: fairness, justice, and confronting systemic inequality. When I returned to work as a junior doctor in Edinburgh, it became clear that the questions driving me werent about treating symptomsthey were about the systems perpetuating inequity. I eventually said no to medicine, not because I didnt care, but because I cared deeply. Saying no isnt rejectionits redirection. Its about aligning your time and energy with your values and goals. But in practice, saying no can be dauntingespecially in professional environments where compliance often feels safer than resistance. I have learned, however, that the ability to say no is a skill. Turn down projects that stretch you too thin Leaders and professionals often overcommit, risking burnout and lower-quality work. A former student of mine, a project manager, learned this the hard way. After saying yes to an unrealistic timeline, the team missed deadlines, and relationships suffered. The next time a client proposed an impossible deadline, she said, To meet your goals, wed need more time to maintain quality. Can we extend the timeline or adjust deliverables? The result? The client agreed, and the team delivered excellent work, strengthening trust. Set boundaries without alienating others A marketing executive I know faced constant interruptions from colleagues seeking her input. Instead of shutting them down, she framed her no around her priorities: I want to give you my full attention, but Im focused on completing this project right now. Can we schedule a time to discuss this later? By acknowledging their needs while protecting her time, she maintained strong relationships without compromising her priorities. Say ‘no’ to preserve long-term vision Patagonias decision to say no to the fast-fashion model is a famous example. By focusing on sustainability and durability, the company aligned its business practices with its values. This defiant stance reshaped the outdoor apparel industry and built a loyal customer base. One reason saying no feels so difficult is the fear of resistance or misunderstanding. People may question your decision or even push back. Thats why preparation matters. Before entering these conversations, get clear on your reasons and rehearse how youll articulate them. If youre declining a promotion, for example, you could say, Im incredibly grateful for this opportunity, but Ive reflected on my priorities and realized this role doesnt align with the path I see for myself. Id love to contribute in ways that better match my strengths and long-term goals. Clarity and confidence can help diffuse resistance and ensure your no is respected. Saying no isnt about being contrarian or uncooperative. Its about alignmentwith yourself, your values, and the future you want to create. Even at the highest levels of leadership, the importance of focus and clarity is critical. In a recent strategy meeting, Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the company’s biggest priority for 2025: simplifying work and scaling key initiatives like their AI-powered Gemini app. He urged employees to “internalize the urgency of this moment” and to prioritize focus by saying no to distractions. This kind of intentional decision-making isnt just about efficiencyits about achieving excellence by staying aligned with core goals. When saying no: Reframe no as alignment, not rejection. A well-chosen no isnt about shutting down an opportunityits about making space for the right ones. Be transparent and tie your no to shared goals or values. When people understand your reasoning, they are more likely to respect your decision. Remember that no isnt the endits the beginning of a better path. The discomfort of saying no is temporary, but its impact can last for years. Looking back, I see that saying no to medicine wasnt about closing a doorit was about opening the right one. That decision made room for a career aligned with my values, one where I could research, teach, and advocate for systemic change. No isnt the end. Its the beginning of a path to greater alignment, purpose, and impact. Whether its a career decision, a project at work, or a personal boundary, learning to say no with clarity and intention is one of the most productive skills you can develop. And each time you do, youre not just making a decisionyoure affirming who you are and what you stand for.
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E-Commerce
Dutch Bros Inc. shares surged more than 27% in premarket trading Thursday after the coffee chain posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and announced plans to expand mobile ordering and food offerings. Revenue rose 34.9% to $342.8 million, surpassing Wall Street estimates. Same-store sales grew 6.9%, and adjusted earnings per share reached 7 cents, both exceeding expectations. The company forecasts 2024 sales between $1.555 billion and $1.575 billion, exceeding analyst projections. Our efforts to develop our foundational transaction driversinnovation, paid media, and our Dutch Rewards loyalty programare working, CEO Christine Barone said in a statement. We believe these efforts are contributing to current momentum and that there is considerable runway for further growth. Dutch Bros stock (NYSE: BROS) has risen more than 143% in the last 12 months. Expansion plans and growth strategy The fast-growing Starbucks rival has made significant strides in its expansion. Dutch Bros recently opened its 1,000th store and added 151 locations in 2024 alone, which is on the lower end of projections it had made early last year. With plans to now open at least 160 more shops this year, the company continues its aggressive growth strategy while increasing its advertising efforts and expanding its rewards program. Barone also highlighted future plans for mobile ordering and food offerings. We see a clear path forward, with multi-year transaction-driving initiatives that layer on top of this foundation, with opportunity to unlock throughput and ramp mobile order in 2025, she said. In 2026 and beyond, we are excited about opportunities with expanding our food offerings. Preserving culture amid growth As Dutch Bros continues to expand, the company said it remains committed to preserving its culture of friendly service, courtesy of the “broistas” (Dutch Bros’s term for baristas) who have been key to its success. As we expand [broistas] roles, we must consider how to do so in ways that continue to foster a fun and energetic work experience that assures we continue to attract and retain the very best people, Barone explained.
Category:
E-Commerce
As a candidate last year, Donald Trump suggested he could easily conquer inflation and ease voters’ fears about the economy.“I will very quickly deflate,” he promised at a California rally. “We are going to take inflation, and we are going to deflate it. We are going to deflate inflation. We are going to defeat inflation. We’re going to knock the hell out of inflation.”Wednesday’s consumer price index report showed that inflation is punching back and President Trump could end up facing the same challenges that dragged down his predecessor, President Joe Biden.The annual inflation rate has risen in the three months since the November election to 3%, with gasoline prices climbing despite Trump’s claims that his return to the White House would signal increased oil production that would lower energy costs.Trump frequently makes far-reaching assertions about his power to bring about change only to find that it is no match for market forces. It’s a humbling reminder that even U.S. presidents are subject to the invisible hand of supply and demand, rather than the masters of it.Consumer sentiment measures suggest the public already sees Trump’s plans to expand tariffs as increasing inflation. On Wednesday, the president called for interest rate cuts, even though rate hikes by the Federal Reserve helped lower inflation that spiked at a four-decade high in 2022.The latest consumer price figures have unnerved economists and the financial markets because they suggest that strong consumer spending, solid job gains and a falling unemployment rate could reignite inflation. Steady demand, particularly from wealthier consumers, makes it easier for companies to keep raising prices.The cost of goods including toys and auto parts rose last month even before the imposition of tariffs. Trump has placed 10% tariffs on China, in addition to announcing the removal of exemptions on his 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs. There are also potential tariff hikes on Canada and Mexico and a potential executive order that would increase tariffs to match the import taxes charged by other countries.All of this means that baseline inflationary pressures could be at their highest level in decades.“Disinflation may be dead, and we may be looking at a higher rate of inflation than we observed for the 20 years prior to the pandemic,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, a tax and advisory firm.Trump’s call for lower rates puts him in opposition to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.“If inflation goes up in general, we will use our tools, which is the interest rate, to bring it back down to 2% over time,” Powell told a congressional committee on Wednesday. Powell also said that Trump’s calls to lower rates wouldn’t sway the Fed.So far, the Trump White House’s main response to this challenge has been to blame Biden, an argument with a short lifespan as Trump is exerting more control over economic policy.“The Biden administration indeed left us with a mess to deal with,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Wednesday’s news briefing. “It’s far worse than I think anybody anticipated.”But Trump allies are also starting to float new ideas for tackling inflation. Standing in the Oval Office on Tuesday, billionaire Elon Musk, the head of the president’s Department of Government Efficiency, proposed $1 trillion in spending cuts this year.Musk, the world’s richest man who continues to control Tesla, X and SpaceX among other companies, wants to eliminate $1 out of every $7 spent by the federal government in order to bring the inflation rate to zero. It’s not clear based on lawsuits and Congress’ responsibility for government funding that Musk can deliver those savings.“If you cut the budget deficit by a trillion between now and next year, there is no inflation,” Musk said. “And if the government is not borrowing as much, it means that interest costs decline. So everyone’s mortgage, their car payment, their credit card bills, anything, their student debt, the monthly payments drop. That’s a fantastic scenario for the average American.”Such a steep cut might bring lower prices but also the pain of a sharp economic downturn.“That would be a roughly 4% of GDP cut to federal spending, all in one year,” said Michael Linden, a senior policy fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. “It would be an instant recession.”For now, markets are anticipating more inflation as consumer demand stays strong and Trump has yet to show how exactly his policies would keep prices low, as he promised to voters.The yield on the 10-year Treasury note jumped Wednesday to 4.62% in response to the inflation report, a sign that investors expect interest rates, growth and inflation to be higher in the coming months.Consumers also say that inflation will rise. Americans’ expectations of inflation over the next year have soared, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey. The February survey said that inflation this year will be 4.3%, up sharply from 3.3% the previous month. Many respondents mentioned tariffs as a concern.When asked Wednesday why Trump’s call for lower interest rates would temper inflation, Leavitt focused on what the president “wants” instead of what he would do.“He wants interest rates to be lower,” she said. “He wants inflation to be lower. And he believes that the whole of government economic approach that this administration is taking will result in lower inflation.” Josh Boak and Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
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