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The Hidden Cost of Yes
How to choose what NOT to do.
Jaime Solis
18 Jul
In partnership with
⏰ 5-Second Summary
The Red Thread — Why every yes is silently a no to something else.
The Unlock — 4 strategies to spot hidden project debt and protect your future freedom.
Creative Edge — Don’t confuse busyness for progress—guard your time like an asset.
Prompt Playground — AI prompts to calculate the real cost of your next yes.
Industry Pulse — Creator economy pressure, K-pop AI, Gen Z streaming trends, and more.
Creator Tools — Tools for pop-ups, meal planning, interior design, music creation, and UGC at scale.
Open Opportunities — New roles at Claritas and Nebula17, plus job boards for music and podcasting.
⏳Read time: ~6 minutes
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“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”
— Michael Porter
The Red Thread This Week
With summer in full swing at our house, and our kids enjoying the daily promise of infinite possibility, I've been thinking about the weight of the word yes.
Because every week, creators tell me:
"I just need one more client."
"It's only a few minutes a day on a new platform."
"I'll squeeze it in."
But here's the problem: every yes is silently a no to something else.
Saying yes to a new project can mean saying no to deeper creative work.
Saying yes to another meeting means saying no to whitespace or rest.
Saying yes to a "quick task" might cost you hours if it compounds over a year.
We talk about debt like it's only money. But debt lives everywhere—in our calendars, obligations, and choices we're afraid to undo.
This is called project debt (or opportunity cost.)
It's the invisible weight that accumulates every time we say yes without considering the future cost.
It's why so many of us feel overwhelmed, scattered, and creatively drained, even while being "busy" with the things that are supposed to matter most.
This week's Red Thread is for anyone staring at all their project irons in the fire, wondering where all the time and energy went to move them forward.
Because every yes comes at a cost. The trick is making sure it's a cost you actually want to pay.
Let's dive in.
~ Jaime
🔑 The Unlock
How to Manage Your Hidden Debts
Debt isn't evil. It can create leverage—if you know it's there. But hidden debt quietly drains your future capacity.
Here's how to spot it and avoid drowning in invisible costs:
1️⃣ Declare Bankruptcy When Needed
Old projects, stale commitments, outdated tools—they all consume attention.
Try this: List everything you're still maintaining. Ask: "Would I start this today if it weren't already on my plate?" If no, consider letting it go.
2️⃣ Measure the True Cost of "Small"
Nothing is truly small if it repeats. Five minutes a day becomes 30 hours a year.
Try this: Before saying yes, multiply it out. What does that "quick task" cost in a month? A year?
3️⃣ Limit Open Loops
Each project you add is a new tab open in your mental browser. Too many tabs crash the system.
Try this: Before adding new commitments, ask: "What am I willing (and able) to close to make room for this?"
4️⃣ Choose What Scales
Some work multiplies effort (managing a team). Other work scales gracefully and compounds over time (publishing a book.)
Try this: Invest more time in assets that keep working for you, even when you're not working on them.
📌 Remember: You're not just managing time. You're managing your future freedom.
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💡 Creative Edge
The Myth of "Just One More Thing"
Opportunity is seductive. Especially for creative, driven people.
We love to build. To say yes. To keep moving.
But behind every yes hides a future cost.
"It's just one more social platform."
"I'll take on one more client."
"This partnership will only require a few calls a month."
Each of those is a puppy. Cute now—but one day, it grows into a dog that needs feeding, walking, and trips to the vet.
Saying yes is easy. Sustaining yes is what drains you.
So next time you feel tempted to say yes, try this instead:
"What does this cost me one year from now?"
Because the work that matters most often needs fewer yeses—and more space to grow.
📌 Mindset shift: Protect your capacity like it's your most precious asset. Because it is.
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🎲 Prompt Playground
Calculate the Cost of Your Next Yes
Don't let hidden project debt creep up on you. Use this to think through the real costs before you commit.
Copy + paste the prompt below into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity, fill in the blanks, and see what happens!
Prompt:
You are my strategic coach and decision partner. I'm considering taking on a new commitment and want to understand its true cost.
My context:
Current projects: [list briefly]
New opportunity: [describe it]
Time I think it will take: [estimate]
Current workload level: [low, medium, high]
Help me:
Calculate the real annual cost of this commitment
Identify what I might need to say "no" to if I say "yes"
Suggest ways to simplify or scale this opportunity
Offer one question I should ask myself before deciding
Keep it practical and clear.
✅ Bonus Prompt:
"Given my current work and goals, how can I protect white space in my calendar—even when tempting new opportunities arise?"
📡 Industry Pulse
SiriusXM is Betting on Advertising to Reach New Listeners more ›
TIME Unveils First Ever List of Top 100 Digital Creators more ›
Graphic detail: Inside the Creator Economy’s Industrial Complex more ›
New Music Biz Data: Good Luck with “Quick Hits” in 2025 more ›
Stranger Things, Twilight, and more IP coming to Roblox more ›
BeReal App Plots Comeback with New “Less is More” Strategy more ›
New Social Music App Lets K-Pop Fans Chat with AI K-Pop Idols more ›
🛠️ Creator Tools
Poper.ai – Smart pop-ups tailored by AI for your website, optimized to convert.
Strongr Fastr Macro Meal Planner – AI-driven meal planning tailored to your macros, calories, and diet goals.
DreamhouseAI – Visualize stunning home redesigns or decor updates from any photo you upload.
AutoUGC – Automatically generate high-quality user-generated-style video content for brands at scale.
AI Song Creator – Create original music tracks in seconds using text prompts, spanning genres and moods.
💼 Open Opportunities
Product Lead – Media Channel Measurement – Claritas (Cincinnati, OH) View Role →
VP of Marketing – Nebula17 (Remote) View Role →
Your next move in Music
Explore the MBW Job Board →
Crack into Podcasting
Check out the Sounds Profitable Job Board →
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⚡ Your Next Bold Move
I run JMedia, an advisory firm helping companies and creatives bring their ideas to life. Here are a few ways we can work together when you’re ready:
Get 1:1 Support from Me: Need a thought partner to help shape what's next for your project or team? Let’s talk!
Audit Your Podcast: Get pro-level eyes on your podcast without hiring a full-time producer.
Speaking Engagements & Workshops: Looking for a speaker for your next live (or virtual) event? Or someone to lead your next strategic workshop?
NEW! The Red Threads Podcast: Get insider strategy and insights from me, now in audio!
And thank you for spending time with Red Threads this week.
I’m glad you’re here :)
~ Jaime
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