If you’ve ever felt like you had to say yes to every cookie order, last-minute request, or PTA mom with a “quick dozen,” I see you. I was that baker too—exhausted, overbooked, and terrified that one “no” would ruin everything I’d built.

But here’s the truth: saying no might be the very thing that sets you free.

I Used to Say Yes to Everything

Back when I was knee-deep in custom orders and holiday pre-sales, I thought more orders meant more success. More income. More momentum.

What it really meant? More late nights. More exhaustion. And a whole lot less time with my family.

I’d close my pre-orders, only to cave when someone emailed me, “I know it’s last-minute, but…”

And guess what? Every “yes” I gave them was a “no” to something else:

– A full night of sleep

– Dinner at the table with my kids

– A day off just to breathe

And let me tell you—burnout disguised as hustle is a tricky thing. I thought I was building momentum, but really, I was building resentment.

Why We Struggle to Say No

There’s a lot behind those yeses we don’t really want to say.

• FOMO: What if this order is my last? What if they never come back?
• People pleasing: I wanted to be everyone’s go-to cookie girl.
• Scarcity mindset: Saying no felt like turning down future business.

But here’s what I learned:

Every yes that drains you? It keeps you from the offers that could actually light you up and grow your business.

What Changed: I Built a Business That Worked For Me

When I hit my limit, I knew something had to change. So I started doing three big things:

1. I Got Clear on My Boundaries

I wrote down exactly what I would and wouldn’t take on—and stuck to it.

• No more last-minute orders
• No to designs that didn’t spark joy
• No to requests that disrupted my systems

I even taped a sticky note to my computer with my new rules so I wouldn’t forget.

2. I Built Systems to Support Those Boundaries

• Canned email responses for inquiries I needed to turn down
• Waitlist automations for full classes
• Batch baking and packaging so I could stay on schedule

When you set boundaries and back them up with systems, you save yourself from a million tiny decisions that wear you down.

3. I Said Yes to the Right Things

I made space for the projects I actually wanted—cookie kits, pop-ups, classes I loved teaching. And suddenly? I wasn’t just surviving. I was enjoying my business again.

Saying No Isn’t Failing—It’s Growing

You don’t have to say yes to grow.

You don’t have to hustle until 4AM to be successful.

You just have to get clear on what you want—and protect it.

When you say no to what drains you, you make space for the offers that light you up and bring in income you can sustain.

Ready to build a business that fits your life?

Grab my free guide: 10 Steps to Make a Full-Time Income With Your Cookies—no burnout required. It’ll help you clarify your next steps and grow a cookie biz that supports your schedule, your family, and your joy.

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