No matter why you'd like more time away from the day-to-day basics of your business, there's one sure solution that will allow you to get this extra time: saying no more often.

We're all victims of an inability to say no at one time or another. You don't want to say no to a project involved with your child's school, or you don't want to turn down work because you're afraid a client won't come to you again if you turn him or her down.

The truth is we all need to say no for the sake of our own sanity. If you say yes to everyone who asks something of you, you won't have time even for the basics that sustain your business.

You'll be working so hard for everyone else, doing things just because other people want you to, that you won't really be working for yourself anymore. You'll be in exactly the situation that you were trying to get away from when you started your own business!

The next time someone asks you to do something and you really don't want to do it, say no. Just plain no is a fine answer, but if they press, say you're too busy. It's true, because you're busy building the life of your dreams, which doesn't involve doing things just because someone asked you nicely.

You probably don't want to make a habit of turning down work, but if a client is consistently coming to you with work you don't want to do, that's a sign that you need to tell that client you don't want that kind of work or that you need to stop working for that person.

The ultimate goal is to remove from your life anything that doesn't fill you with passion and joy. If you aren't waking up with a smile, excited about what you get to do each day, then you need to start saying no a lot more often until that smile is glued to your face!

When you are happy about your work and your life, you're a better worker, partner, spouse and friend. Your work will get done faster and will be better. Best yet, your enthusiasm may very well be contagious, too.