The Beauty of No

aka: Why I'm no longer brainstorming in the shower

I was on a business call the other day, talking through a potential new project. It was one of those things that looks good on paper—creative, collaborative, potentially profitable—but every bone in my body was tightening at the idea of saying yes.

Still, I did what I’ve always done. I softened the “no,” padded it with politeness.
“I’m just not sure I have the time,” I said.

And then they said it:
“Well, it’s not a big commitment. You can always do the creative thinking in the shower, right?”

And just like that, I started talking myself into it.
Sure. I can spare the shower.
I’ve squeezed bigger things into smaller cracks of time.
It’ll be worth it.

But when I hung up the phone, I wasn’t inspired.
I was angry.