Comment by steve_adams_86

This is the side of software where soft skills are critical. Navigating when and how to say no can be extremely difficult, but it’s arguably crucial to operating effectively and sustainably.

Early in my career, everything was a yes and it cost me a lot of sanity. It rarely cost me clients because I was so diligent about keeping things on the rails, but that seemed to come with an inversely proportional cost to my well-being.

It took me a long time to realize that saying no is kind of like saying yes; you’re saying yes to getting the project done on a reasonable timeline and with the budget the client has, and most importantly, with your happiness intact. Saying yes at the wrong time can be saying no to finishing the project at all. It’s the right, and in a sense “nice” thing to do for everyone involved.

If you’re a chronic people pleaser, this kind of work can be extremely taxing (speaking from experience).