# Creative People Say No | by Kevin Ashton | Medium ![rw-book-cover](https://miro.medium.com/max/700/1*9Hu-U8R3CEyRgkji0C1v1Q.png) URL:: https://medium.com/@kevin_ashton/creative-people-say-no-bad7c34842a2 Author:: medium.com ## Highlights > A Hungarian psychology professor once wrote to famous creators asking them to be interviewed for a book he was writing. One of the most interesting things about his project was how many people said “no.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xrtd2pv78myg9hbecz6yx)) > The professor contacted 275 creative people. A third of them said “no.” Their reason was lack of time. A third said nothing. We can assume their reason for not even saying “no” was also lack of time and possibly lack of a secretary. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xs3kdmfw174qh3ayvtx6k)) > Saying “no” has more creative power than ideas, insights and talent combined. No guards time, the thread from which we weave our creations. The math of time is simple: you have less than you think and need more than you know. We are not taught to say “no.” We are taught *not* to say “no.” “No” is rude. “No” is a rebuff, a rebuttal, a minor act of verbal violence. “No” is for drugs and strangers with candy. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xsahfbm9w1c43w8b1t07t)) --- Title: Creative People Say No | by Kevin Ashton | Medium Author: medium.com Tags: readwise, articles date: 2024-01-30 --- # Creative People Say No | by Kevin Ashton | Medium ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/media/uploaded_book_covers/profile_70552/19Hu-U8R3CEyRgkji0C1v1Q.png) URL:: https://medium.com/@kevin_ashton/creative-people-say-no-bad7c34842a2 Author:: medium.com ## AI-Generated Summary A Hungarian psychology professor once wrote to famous creators asking them to be interviewed for a book he was writing. One of the most interesting things about his project was how many people said… ## Highlights > A Hungarian psychology professor once wrote to famous creators asking them to be interviewed for a book he was writing. One of the most interesting things about his project was how many people said “no.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xrtd2pv78myg9hbecz6yx)) > The professor contacted 275 creative people. A third of them said “no.” Their reason was lack of time. A third said nothing. We can assume their reason for not even saying “no” was also lack of time and possibly lack of a secretary. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xs3kdmfw174qh3ayvtx6k)) > Saying “no” has more creative power than ideas, insights and talent combined. No guards time, the thread from which we weave our creations. The math of time is simple: you have less than you think and need more than you know. We are not taught to say “no.” We are taught *not* to say “no.” “No” is rude. “No” is a rebuff, a rebuttal, a minor act of verbal violence. “No” is for drugs and strangers with candy. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01ff0xsahfbm9w1c43w8b1t07t))