Saying no.
It sounds simple when you put it that way, but for me, it’s a concept that is still brand new. Since I started in this profession, I’ve always had this little inner voice telling me that I had to seize every opportunity. Saying yes means moving forward. Saying yes means building a network. Saying yes means keeping your business alive. But over time, I’ve realized that saying no also means moving forward. Sometimes, it’s even the most important decision one can make to preserve what really matters.
Recently, I said no to a massive contract. A prestigious project that a younger version of myself would never have dared to refuse. And yet, today, with everything I have built and with the reality of my daily life in the studio, it simply wasn't realistic.
This project caused me great anxiety. I turned the idea over in my head for days. Refusing felt almost "wrong." As if I were letting a chance slip by that might never come again. But deep down, I knew that accepting it would have jeopardized my balance, my mental health, and the quality of my current work. I believe that we often underestimate, as artisans, just how much our energy and our time are our most precious resources. Without emotional stability, without a certain amount of mental space, it is impossible to create thoughtful, polished, quality work.
So, I said no.
Instead, I choose to focus my attention on what is already there: my studio, my health, my students, my current clients, and the wonderful people who work with me every day. I want this space to remain a place where one feels good, inspired, and in balance.
Of course, saying no remains difficult. After I made that decision, I spent several days doubting, imagining all sorts of scenarios: What if I made a mistake? What if I regret it later?
I am still far from perfect at this exercise. I easily let myself get overwhelmed; I often find myself doing too much. I am certainly not the best example of a perfectly balanced lifestyle… but I am working on it. And I think that is what counts.
I am learning, slowly but surely, to stay true to myself, to my values, and to my real capabilities. Because that is, at the end of the day, what allows an artisanal business to last and flourish: decisions that are aligned, sincere, and in harmony with the person you are — not the one you are trying to appear to be.
