Gary Ryan Blair – a.k.a. “The GoalsGuy®” – has some key advice for those wanting to realize their dreams and achieve their goals: understand the power of the word ‘No’ and get comfortable using it.

As an author, speaker, coach, and consultant, Gary is dedicated to helping his clients win by creating focused, goal-directed lives. He continues to share his unique strategies with top companies around the world, including IBM, NASA, General Electric, Federal Express, and Ford. He’s also a huge advocate of the word ‘No’!

Gary believes that it’s not about working harder or longer to capture the brass ring—which is what most people try to do.

It’s about learning to say “No.” This word has power: it helps you set limits, hold firm to boundaries, and get clear about what you will and will not do.

If the thought of saying “No” to your boss, friends or family members makes you cringe, you’re not alone. The majority of us dread the idea of disappointing people. We also don’t want others to think we’re not helpful and obliging. We’re doing ourselves a massive disservice, though.

Everyone would be a lot more productive and positive if they recognized that:

1. ‘No’ is not a dirty word. It’s not negative, and it doesn’t mean you’re selfish. Rather, it’s liberating. It frees up your time to focus on your key priorities.
2. Saying “No” allows you to go out and chase your wildest dreams because you have more time and energy. It’s your life. You should control how you spend your time.
3. Saying “No” actually increases the value of the things you say “Yes” to.

Gary knows real change can happen if you resolve to give ‘No’ the strategic resolve it deserves.

Keep reading to discover Gary’s simple and effective strategies—both personal and professional—to help you reach your goals:

1. What strategies, initiatives and activities will you say “No” to? Take out a piece of paper and write down all the superfluous, ‘go nowhere’ activities that slow you down and prevent progress from happening in your life. Now say “No” to all these activities that continuously hold you back.
2. What meetings will you decline or delegate? Write a list of all the meetings you have coming up in the next three months and figure out which one you will NOT be attending. Meetings consume large chunks of productive time, especially if you have to travel. Most meetings are run improperly and inefficiently, so either decline or delegate them to someone else.
3. What relationships will you NOT keep? How you manage your relationships has a tremendous impact on your ability to maintain a high level of performance. Really examine the relationships in your life. Identify the top three energy-draining relationships and say “No” to them. Most people have so little extra time, it only makes sense to spend it with individuals who inspire and energize.
4. What measurements will you ignore? Kiss goodbye all lagging indicators. ONLY pay attention to measurements related to customer satisfaction and the levers that directly drive sales, margins, operating expenses, and ROI.
5. What customers will you NOT target? Identify your IDEAL prospect, client or customer. This is who you want to target. Stop chasing every opportunity. It’s a total waste of time and resources. Also figure out who your VIPs are and ensure they get special care and attention.
6. What competitors will you NOT follow? Far too much time is lost by following and focusing on too many competitors. Identify the top three and immediately remove yourself from other e-mail distribution lists, blogs and other related communications. When all your focus goes to watching to competition, you’ll forget to concentrate on what matters: your customers and key performance indicators.
7. What money will you NOT spend? Put yourself on a fiscal diet. So much money slips through your fingers each month that you’re not even aware of—a fancy coffee here, an expensive haircut there. What things (or even entire budget categories) can you do away with?
8. What trips will you NOT make? It’s hard to deny the power of ‘showing up’ in person. Great things happen when you get out and mingle with customers and colleagues. Nevertheless, trips consume heaps of time, energy and money. Think about using technology to achieve the same goals, and only travel when it can make a BIG impact towards your primary goal.
9. What foods will you NOT eat? Achieving the next level of performance and productivity starts with how you manage energy. Eating foods that are unhealthy and not exercising are contributing factors to energy loss. Eliminate any food or drink that compromises your energy.
10. What excuses will you NOT engage in? Stop making excuses—they are a waste of energy, time and productivity. Excuses make you feel better temporarily, but they hold you back in the long run. This requires you to be brutally honest with yourself and a heightened level of personal awareness, but the results are worth it.
11. What will you NOT say? Cultivate a habit of keeping your mouth shut if what you say does not move the ‘agenda’ forward or uplift others. Speak only about the solution and don’t waste a second on the problem or blaming others.

Discover what you’re made of in this interview with Gary Ryan Blair — “100 Days: Do It or Dream It” here NOW »