Let Your Yes be Yes

A good friend recently asked—half joking—“Does The JWC Foundation want to sponsor this event?”

Without hesitation, I said no.

It came out so fast he laughed and said, “Damn, you could’ve paused.”

We both cracked up, but I explained why my answer was so quick. It’s all in the logic model. From the beginning, we put guardrails in place—who we serve, what we focus on, and what problem we’re here to solve. That framework extends to every aspect of our work, including sponsorships, and we get a lot of those requests.

Has that model shifted over time? Absolutely. Over the last five years, we’ve refined, released, and reimagined programs. We’ve gotten sharper on what we do and why we do it. That’s the necessary part of growth. But even with those changes, the logic model still holds. And when you’re clear on what aligns and what doesn’t, it takes just seconds to run a question through that filter. The answer is either aligned or it isn’t.

And this doesn’t just work in business—it works in life. Nine times out of ten, if I’m invited to an evening event, the answer is no. I’m in a season where I’m no longer willing to drag my youngest with me to everything. She’s a tween now, and she deserves more than memories of sitting quietly in the back of another one of Mommy’s meetings. This is her time, and it matters that I’m present for it. When this season shifts, I’ll shift with it. But not a moment before.

Whether it’s business or personal, clarity has made my yeses easier and my noes even easier. And that kind of peace? I worked hard for it.

And I love that for me.