Can I be honest?
Last Saturday was a bit of a flop.
For the last three years, I’ve participated in an artists and authors fair at the local library. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the library (maybe not this branch, but we’ll get to that in a moment). One of my proudest moments as an author was seeing You Had Me At No on the library shelf.
When I was “ramen poor” (my condolences if you know how poor that is), the library provided me with a steady stream of education and entertainment. Having my book in the local library was a real “I made it and I get to pay it forward” moment for me.
So when it came to the fair, I was eager to participate. Free table, potentially meet some new readers and sell a few copies of my book? Don’t mind if I do!
For the first two years, I had a little war going on inside of me. Was it worth spending a good part of a Saturday there?
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the library next to my house. It was the library in one of the worst parts of town where you have to hike through “tent city” (it’s a gathering place for the homeless) in the parking lot to get to the building. (Spoiler alert… they are not buying books.)
But at the end of those fairs, I had enough sales, and had made a connection or two that made the afternoon worthwhile.
Not this year.
(At least Charlotte joined me for the day)
The fair had fewer attendees than usual, everyone I spoke to was looking for Fiction, and there was a higher percentage of homeless people (inside) than in previous years. At the end of the day, I trekked back to my car with all but one book in tow. I was exhausted, disappointed, and a little bit angry with myself for wasting a Saturday.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for that one sale. If my book makes an impact in even one life, it’s a win. When you factor in the ripple effect after she learns how to set healthy boundaries… it’s a BIG win. However, the bigger win? I was reminded of the power of Opportunity Cost.
Opportunity cost is “the value of the best alternative you give up when making a choice, representing the potential benefits missed from the forgone option. Not just the money spent, but also time, pleasure, or other gains.
“Basically, when you say Yes to something, you are saying No to something else.
Where have I heard that again?
Oh yeah… I SAID IT!
The table was free. The gas to get to the library, negligible. However, the cost to my body (I’m not carrying around feathers, folks), and giving up a nice, relaxing Saturday afternoon with my husband and our pups?
Now, that free table wasn’t so inexpensive after all. When you have to make a decision, remember… money isn’t everything. Your time, energy, and Netflix opportunities are limited.
When you say Yes to something, understand all the things you’re saying No to. I may not have sold many books this past weekend, but I did remind myself that time is valuable and something I (and you) should protect at all costs.
Before you say Yes to the next invitation, or request, ask yourself, “What am I saying No to?”
If you’ve got a group that could benefit from healthier boundaries, let’s talk and see which one of my programs could help you.
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