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Here is my honest story, what grew, what tired me out, and the super easy way you can try it yourself.
For one month, I stopped saying:
“let me think about it.”
I live in Michigan, and last February I was stuck in the same old rut, same three coffee shops in Grand Rapids, same tiny circle of people, same gray-sky routine that made even a trip to Meijer feel like a big deal.
So I tried something that felt reckless.
For thirty straight days, I said yes to almost everything that came my way (as long as it was legal, safe, and not harmful), and I wrote down every single yes in a cheap spiral notebook.
By the end of the month, one number had climbed by 340%.
Here is exactly what I did, what actually grew, the surprises, the costs, and what I would tell you before you try it yourself.
Why I Decided To Say Yes To Everything
The honest answer is I was bored and quietly stuck.
I had been turning down invites out of pure habit, a neighbor’s community meeting, a quick coffee, even a stranger’s message asking for feedback.
None of them felt like big deals, but together they had shrunk my world small.
I picked February on purpose.
In Michigan, February is basically hibernation season.
If saying yes could shake things up during the coldest, grayest month, I figured it could work any time of year.
How I Tracked Every Yes (Kept It Stupid-Simple)
Every time I said yes to something I would normally skip, I jotted down one quick line: the date, what it was, and who was involved.
At the end of each week, I copied everything into a basic spreadsheet and added one column:
“Did anything come out of this?”
A reply, a meeting, a new contact, paid work, or even just a good conversation.
I also tracked the one thing I cared about most, new opportunities (anything that did not exist before and could actually lead somewhere).
Normal month for me?
About five.
I wanted to see what a full month of yes would do.
The Numbers: What Actually Jumped 340%
The headline number was new opportunities; they went from roughly 5 per month to 22.
That is the +340%.
However, other things moved too.
Here is the simple before-and-after:
| What I Measured | Typical Month | Yes Month | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New opportunities logged | 5 | 22 | +340% |
| New people, I actually met | 8 | 31 | +288% |
| Coffee or lunch meetings | 2 | 11 | +450% |
| Times I left my neighborhood | 6 | 19 | +217% |
| Nights, I felt genuinely tired | A few | Most | Honest cost |
The Yeses That Actually Surprised Me
A few tiny moments completely shifted how I see opportunity now.
One snowy evening, I dragged myself to a community meeting in Grand Rapids, which I had almost skipped.
Ended up chatting with a woman who later introduced me to two people I now work with regularly.
Another time, a stranger asked me to review their rough business plan.
I said yes, hopped on a 40-minute call, and they quietly sent me two referrals later.
The smallest one?
My neighbor needed help carrying boxes.
While we were hauling stuff, he casually mentioned that his small business needed exactly the skills I have.
One couch carry changed that.
None of these felt like “big opportunities” in the moment.
They felt like chores.
The Science That Made It Click + The Hard Part
Later, I learned these lines up with “strength of weak ties,” “openness to experience,” and “planned happenstance.”
Basically, yes, is how you buy more lottery tickets for luck.
However, by week three, I was completely exhausted.
A couple of yeses were total time-wasters, and my closest relationships took a tiny hit.
The real lesson? Most of us have our “no” dial turned way too high.
A short burst of yes resets it beautifully.
What I Would Do Differently + Easy Version You Can Try
Next time, I would protect two “no” evenings a week, track energy, and tell friends it was an experiment.
You do not need a full month.
Try this starting tomorrow: Pick any seven days.
Say yes to exactly one thing you would normally decline each day.
Write it down.
At night, note what (even tiny) came from it.
That is it.
A Quick Bit Of Trivia
The movie Yes Man was inspired by the real-life writer Danny Wallace, who actually lived by saying yes to almost everything.
Just like my month – brilliant and exhausting!
Wrapping It Up, Friend
Thirty days of yes did not magically fix everything, but it cracked open a door I had been holding shut.
The 340% jump was real, the tiredness was real, and the best stuff showed up dressed as small chores I almost skipped.
Your next good thing is probably hiding in something tiny you were about to turn down.
Try the seven-day version.
Write your yeses down.
Watch what shows up.
If you liked riding along with this little experiment, we have got tons more honest, real-life stories waiting for you.
Grab a coffee (or a warm Michigan cider), stay a while, and see what sparks.
You have got this, one yes at a time.
What is the first small yes you are thinking about today?
I would love to hear in the comments!
A brother from THOUSIF Inc. – WORLDWIDE
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