This time ten years ago, I was in the early stages of moving away from journalism and into ghostwriting for a book publishing startup. Four years ago, at the same startup, I was long out of ghostwriting and instead leading a full team as Head of Systems. Nine months ago, after surviving that company's implosion and being offered a chance to help re-build it under new owners, I was laid off anyway.

The trap I fell into was thinking, "This level of effort got me here, so to get to the next level, I just need to do more." Work harder, take on more, say yes to everything; just ... more.

That logic, as it turns out, is completely backwards, and it took a mentor asking me a simple question to see it.

"If you say yes to everything, what are you saying no to?"

A mentor said that to me almost 10 years ago. I still ask myself that question on a daily basis.