No is Italian for No

Well, that didn’t go as planned.

I thought when I went to look at this new job I’d change the client’s mind about the best way to approach the work, and leave with a new project penciled into my calendar.

Neither of those things happened.

To recap, the project had a lot going for it: A charmingly crotchety elderly Sicilian gentleman. A big stone wall that needed to be rebuilt. And a fifteen minute commute from my house.

That short commute almost blinded me to the reality of the situation.

Yes, I do stonework. But this wall is outside the typical scope of projects I take on. Concrete and mortar require a different skill set, one that doesn't excite me. I drive all over the state for the right project. I wanted that short commute so badly I tried to convince myself it was a good fit.

But it's not. I'm not the right person for this job.

Luckily, I wrote the 3Ps for moments like this.

The client, the project, and I all deserve the right match. So today, I’ll make the call and say no.