You know that old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Well, it turns out that’s not really true. In fact, the words we use can significantly impact our success – or lack thereof. So if you want to be highly successful, you must learn how to use your words wisely.

There are two words that every highly successful person knows and uses regularly. You can only be highly successful once you learn how to use them. These two words will change your future for the good.

Here they are:

“No.”

If you want to be successful, you have to learn how to say no. That’s because successful people don’t just take on any project or assignment – they carefully consider which opportunities are worth their time and energy. And if something doesn’t fit their best use of time, they’re confident to pass it up. You’ll limit your potential if you don’t learn to use the word no. You can only access the power of your full focus if you intentionally protect your time.

No may feel like a negative term, but you have to change your negativity towards it. Saying “no” allows you to pull back and focus on what matters most. It opens the door to a successful life. Even though most people know they need to say “no” more, they don’t follow through. They are trapped in yes’s claws and don’t know how to escape. Different personalities suffer different degrees of this torture, but make no mistake; the monster of yes attacks everyone. Always saying, “Yes!” will eventually distract you from your greatest contribution. Steve Jobs said, “I’m actually as proud of the things we haven’t done as the things I have done.”

“Help!”

Leaders are often under the impression that they need to do everything on their own in order to be successful. However, research has shown that the most successful people often ask for help when needed. 92% of high-achieving leaders say seeking help is critical to their success. You can’t do it all alone. Highly successful people are not Rambos! They don’t take on the world all by themselves. Too many people suffer from burnout because they do too much alone. So, if you want to become a more successful leader, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s no shame in admitting that you need some assistance. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help – it could be your best decision!

Saying no and asking for help may seem like simple concepts, but they can be challenging to put into practice. Especially in our work lives, we often feel obligated to say yes to every request and take on more than we can handle. But by learning to say no and ask for help, we can actually make ourselves more productive and successful.

So, where do you need to start saying no? And who can you go to for help with the things you’re struggling with? Don’t be afraid to reach out – the people around you want to see you succeed…and we do too!

If there is anything we can do to help you become more successful, don’t hesitate to reach out for a coaching session with us.