After three meetings...
On being OK with contradicting with myself.
Do you remember the story about how I defied my initial impulse to say no to an unexpected opportunity? It was one I reframed into a shared exploration on how we might collaborate.
Well, this is the follow up on that story.
Long story short, I chose to say no.
Should I have trusted my instincts and declined the offer in the first place? Yes... and no.
Yes because my hunch told me it was a good opportunity, not a great one.
No because I learned I have more power than I thought to change systems.
The original invitation I received was a binary game: an accept and refuse opportunity game. But instead of "pressing start" or "turning off" the console, I dared to "swap the game cartridge."
The alternative I proposed was a fun game to play. I met amazing people, exchanged ideas, and while I decided not to move on with a formal collaboration, the connection is still there. The door is open, and time will tell.
And this is what time has been telling me, several weeks after I politely declined:
I've underrated the effort required for me to help them. That extra effort would have put my own purpose on hold.
Today, I'm grateful I dared to change the original game. However, I'm even more grateful for having ignored sunk costs, stopping my own game, being OK with contradicting with myself, and moving on.
Have a great Thursday!
Alberto
