Being the CEO of your life means recognizing that every “yes” you give is a “no” to something else. To protect your vision and your energy, you must learn the high-level art of setting boundaries without burning bridges.

In this episode, we will hear from Michele Williams, an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business and the John L. Miclot Fellow in Entrepreneurship. Michele is an expert on the “people side” of business, specifically how trust and collaboration work across boundaries. Today, she shares how to navigate difficult professional requests and why saying no strategically is actually an act of leadership that preserves trust and long-term results.

Later in the show, we will hear from Tippie student Aaron Wendel, whose Story Lab story takes us back to a pivotal choice to walk away from a lifelong sport. Aaron shares how saying “no” as a sophomore in high school paved the way for future success in baseball, a shift in his college major, and a clear-eyed approach to his early career.

And finally, we will bring it all together with a Final Tip(pie) just for you.

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro
(01:46) Why is saying no so hard?
(03:52) No as a strategic tool for the CEO of your life
(06:00) Reframing no as a solution to a problem
(08:51) Strategic boundaries and relationship building
(15:05) The yes audit and discerning opportunities
(23:07) Student Story: Aaron Wendel
(27:23) Final Tip(pie) and Outro

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