Everything Good Started With A Yes You Almost Didn't Say

Read time: 6 minutes

Hey, welcome back.

Last week, I talked about why deliberate practice is the foundation of everything you want to do in life, and why you should not shy away from it. You can read that (and all past issues, here).

Before you read on:
If you’re serious about making 2026 one of the best years of your life, I’ve put together a short exercise that helps you reflect on where you’ve been, clarify what actually matters next, and set a calm, grounded direction for the year ahead.

It’s not motivational fluff, just a quiet, structured way to think clearly.

You can download it here → Your Best Year Ever Guide

Today I want to talk about something I've been noticing in my own life.

Every good thing I have started with a yes I almost didn't say.

The Pattern I Didn't See

I was looking back recently at the major turning points in my life.

The moments that actually changed the trajectory. The opportunities that led somewhere. The relationships that mattered.

And I noticed something uncomfortable.

Almost all of them were things I nearly said no to.

The Podcast I Almost Turned Down

When we started Secret Leaders, I was terrified.

I'd never done a podcast before. I wasn't a "media person." The idea of interviewing successful founders felt presumptuous. Who was I to have these conversations?

I had the email drafted to decline. Made a list of reasons why someone else should do it instead. Convinced myself I wasn't ready.

But something stopped me from hitting send.

I said yes. Scared. Unqualified. Certain I'd embarrass myself.

Now it's over 50 million downloads. It became the thing that opened every other door. The relationships I built through those conversations are some of the most valuable in my life.

If I'd listened to that voice telling me to wait until I was ready, none of it would exist.

The Message I Almost Didn't Send

Heights started because I sent a message I almost deleted.

I'd been struggling with insomnia and burnout. Started researching nutrition and brain health obsessively. Had this idea that kept nagging at me about building something in this space.

I knew someone who might be interested in talking about it. But I sat on that message for weeks.

"They're too busy." "This idea isn't developed enough." "I should wait until I have more figured out."

Finally sent it at 2am one night when I couldn't sleep anyway. Fully expecting either no response or a polite decline.

They replied within an hour. "I've been thinking about this exact problem. Let's talk tomorrow."

That conversation became Heights. If I'd waited until I felt ready to send that message, I'd still be waiting.

The Job I Nearly Declined

My first real job in tech, I almost turned it down.

I was underqualified. The role was above my experience level. I'd somehow made it through the interviews but was convinced they'd made a mistake.

I drafted the email declining the offer. "I don't think I'm the right fit." "I appreciate the opportunity but..."

A friend talked me out of sending it. "What's the worst that happens? You fail and find something else?"

I took the job. Terrified every single day for the first three months.

That job taught me more than any course or book ever could. The people I met there became my network. The skills I learned under pressure became the foundation for everything after.

The Person I Almost Didn't Talk To

Some of my most important relationships started with conversations I almost avoided.

Too intimidated to introduce myself. Too convinced they wouldn't be interested. Too scared of rejection or awkwardness.

The business partner who changed everything. The mentor who opened doors. The friend who became family.

All of them started with me forcing myself to say something when every instinct told me to stay quiet.

Why We Almost Say No

The pattern is always the same.

The opportunity feels too big. We feel too small. The gap between where we are and what's being asked of us feels impossible to cross.

So we convince ourselves to wait. Until we're more ready. More qualified. More confident. More something.

But ready never comes. Because ready is a feeling, not a state.

You don't become ready and then say yes. You say yes and then become ready through doing it.

The Math Is Brutal

Think about it this way.

Every major good thing in your life probably started with a yes that scared you.

And every major regret is probably a no you wish you could take back.

The yes is terrifying in the moment. But temporary. You feel the fear, you do it anyway, you move forward.

The no feels safe in the moment. But permanent. You avoid the discomfort, but you also close the door. And you never know what was on the other side.

What I've Learned

The things worth doing rarely feel ready when the opportunity appears.

If you wait until you're confident, you've waited too long. Someone else already said yes.

The best opportunities don't come with preparation time. They come when you're not ready. That's what makes them opportunities.

Your job isn't to be ready. Your job is to say yes anyway.

The Practical Part

I'm not saying yes to everything. That's chaos.

But I've started noticing when I want to say no out of fear versus no out of genuine disinterest.

Fear no sounds like: "I'm not ready. I'm not qualified. What if I fail? What will people think?"

Real no sounds like: "This doesn't align with what I'm building. This isn't the direction I want to go."

Fear no is worth pushing through. Real no is worth honouring.

The difference is subtle but everything.

What's Waiting For You

Right now, there's probably something in your life you're about to say no to.

An opportunity that feels too big. A conversation that feels too scary. A risk that feels too uncertain.

And you're coming up with very reasonable-sounding reasons why not now. Why not you. Why you should wait.

But everything good in your life started the same way.

With a yes, you almost didn't say.

To saying yes scared Dan

P.S. The thing you're thinking about right now while reading this. The opportunity you're on the fence about. That's the one. Say yes. Figure it out as you go. That's how it always works anyway.

It helps you:

Reflect on the last 10 years, 5 years, and the past 12 months
See what’s been draining you versus what’s energised you
Get clear on what actually matters next
Set a direction for the year ahead
And create a simple mantra you can live by

If you want to give 2026 a real foundation, you can download the guide here → Your Best Year Planning Guide

And if you want the Word doc of the guide, you can get it here → Word doc of Best Year Ever Guide

(No pressure. Just a tool, use it if it feels right.)

Rosalia

Lux album. Obsessed.

Listen Here

Liars Poker

The OG Michael Lewis book (big short etc), from his days working in banking

Read Here

Predator Badlands.

Just like Alien Earth, (and set in the same universe with a few easter eggs), this film was absolutely brilliant, action packed and way better than expected.

Watch Here

A 2020 study published in Emotion found that people who learned to accept their “non-ideal emotional states”, including low motivation, low energy, and neutral days, experienced significantly higher overall well-being and lower stress.

The key insight: self-acceptance amplifies emotional resilience, while self-judgment weakens it.

📌 Quick Takeaway →

Your average days aren’t failures; they’re emotional training grounds.
When you stop punishing yourself for being human, everything in your life compounds faster.

→ Link to study

In my goal to help more entrepreneurs/people who are looking to level up their careers, I've just started taking 1-1 consulting calls (only 1 a week)

Why book a call? Some of my expertise/success:

I've built 5 startups. 1 win, 1 fail, and 3 still going.
E-Commerce: Heights - with revenue over £20M a year.
Community: Foundrs, one of the UK's top founder communities
Podcasting: Leaders Media - I bootstrapped a media company that made the UK's top business podcasts including Secret Leaders, with over 50M downloads across the network.
Health/Mental Health: Overcame burnout, insomnia, depression & anxiety in pursuit of success. Hear me on Steven Bartlett's on Diary of a CEO
Angel Investing: I've invested in over 100 startups
Coached & Mentored: Certified coach & 5* mentor on Mentorpass
Personal Brand: Over 400,000 followers across social

So if you're interested in booking a session with me to talk all things business or building a personal brand, book for 30-minutes or 45-minutes. (limited spots).

Book a Call with Dan