Why it matters now to say no
Corporate leaders are drowning in tasks and starving for strategy, and don’t know how to say no without feeling fear.
A Deloitte study found 77 percent of executives say they feel burned out, yet nearly the same percentage admit they take on work that isn’t part of their job description. Why? Fear.
Fear of being seen as less ambitious.
Fear of missing out.
Fear of slowing momentum.
And yet, here in Austin’s hyper-growth corporate market, the leaders who rise aren’t the ones sprinting on the hamster wheel. They’re the ones who manage their energy, protect their time, and choose the right work. They say NO.
Because at the executive level, your value isn’t how much you do.
It’s in what you decide not to do.
The 5% Club Method: Two High-Impact Moves a Day
Inside my coaching practice, I teach leaders a simple high-performance habit:
What it is
Make one meaningful advance in the morning.
Make one meaningful advance in the afternoon.
Not twelve.
Not “whatever comes up.”
Two moves that move the business.
This is what executives do. They protect their attention for high-value work and let the noise fall away.
Why it works
One of my clients, an executive at a Fortune 10 company, recently shared this:
“I stopped jumping at every new task and focused on two big advances a day. It felt scary at first, but suddenly I was chosen for bigger strategic work. My boss protects my time now because he wants me on the most impactful projects.”
Momentum comes from discipline, not chaos.
Executive presence is a product of discernment, not overwork.
How to apply it
Tomorrow morning:
- Identify two truly important moves (one AM, one PM)
- Block the time
- Protect it like a board meeting
- Let others take the “busy work”
- Leave work knowing you moved the right things
Who benefits?
- Mid-career leaders moving into executive roles
- Directors and VPs who are tired of feeling stretched thin
- Women who fear that boundaries = career sabotage
- Anyone ready to replace proving with power
Where does this work?
Every industry. Every level. Every company that rewards strategic leadership.
The executives who win are not the ones who do the most.
They are the ones who do the most important things consistently.
🎧 Listen to the full episode
Hear the full conversation with a Fortune 10 leader on The 5% Club podcast
Where I see this in action
I see this shift inside:
- Tech and healthcare hubs near the Domain and North Austin
- C-suite talent moving between major corporate HQs and fast-growing startups
- Female leaders navigating the pressure of performance and parenting in Lakeway, Westlake, and Bee Cave neighborhoods
Austin leaders aren’t just chasing titles.
They’re building meaningful careers and meaningful lives.
And that requires learning to say no.
Common Questions
Won’t saying no make me look lazy or unmotivated?
No. Done right, it makes you look strategic. Executives don’t say yes to everything. They choose what matters.
What if my boss expects me to take on more?
Then your job is to lead the conversation.
High-value leaders influence how work gets assigned.
How do I avoid guilt?
Remember: you’re not taking opportunities away. You’re making room for people who are passionate and capable… and making room for your highest value.
Will this hurt my chances of promotion?
It does the opposite. Promotions go to people who think like executives, not task machines.
30 Day Executive Action Plan
For the next month:
- Identify 2 big moves daily
- Put them on your calendar
- Protect the time
- Practice saying, “I can take on one strategic item this month. Which aligns most with our priorities?”
- Let someone else take the task that doesn’t grow you
- Track momentum every Friday
Small boundaries create big careers.
Ready to lead at the top level?
If you want support applying this inside your life and leadership:
✅ Listen to the full episode of The 5% Club
✅ Join the waitlist for 1:1 coaching or the PH+ Lab
✅ Take my Executive Presence Mini Course
Someone is already living the life and career you want.
Let’s make sure it’s you.
About the Author
I’m Shayla King, an Austin-based Executive Coach and creator of the Performance + Happiness Formula. Former C-Suite executive. Once worked myself into the ground, now I help leaders rise without losing their life in the process.
About Evolve Career Coaching
Evolve helps corporate leaders grow their impact, income, and joy using the PH+ Formula: Results, Relationships, Rituals, and the King Mindset. We coach executives and high-potential leaders across Austin, Chicago, and beyond.
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