But then, well-meaning people say, if you're going to be in the music business, you have to read this book on music business law, you have to learn networking skills, marketing, tech skills, accounting, and writing good newsletters, and so on.

If we want to reclaim our time, our resources and our life for what really matters to us, we have to learn to say “no” and say it often. It might be awkward and difficult at first, but then it becomes liberating.

Most people speak indirectly, which requires us to infer the actual meaning of what they are trying to say. 

This creates a lot of room for misinterpretation, especially through text or email. 

What we decide to say or not say requires that we interpret as acc...