In the media industry, we used to talk about “Information Scarcity.” Our job was to find the facts that were hidden. Today, we live in “Information Infinity.” The facts are everywhere, which means the only thing left that has real value is your No.
Every day, a thousand things try to “edit” your life. An app wants your data, a colleague wants a “quick sync,” and a news cycle wants your outrage. If you don’t edit your life, the world will edit it for you—and you won’t like the final draft.
1. The “Default No” Policy
In a busy newsroom, if an editor said “yes” to every story pitch, the paper would be 4,000 pages long and completely unreadable. Selection is the essence of quality. Most of us live with a “Default Yes” mindset. We say yes out of guilt, habit, or FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
The Editorial Insight: Every “Yes” is a hidden “No” to something else. When you say yes to a meeting you don’t need, you are saying no to the deep work that actually moves the needle.
2. Guard the “Golden Hour”
Every journalist has a “Golden Hour”—that window of time when their brain is sharpest and the prose flows fastest. For some, it’s 6:00 AM; for others, it’s midnight. The biggest mistake you can make is giving your Golden Hour to someone else’s agenda (like checking your inbox).
The Strategy: Identify your most productive 90 minutes. Build a fortress around them. No emails, no “quick questions,” no distractions. Treat that time as sacred.
3. The Power of the “Wait List”
In publishing, we have a “slush pile”—a place where stories sit until we have the time to evaluate them properly. You should have a “slush pile” for your impulses. Want to buy a new gadget? Want to start a new hobby? Want to pivot your business? Put it on a 48-hour wait list. If the urge is still there in two days, it’s a choice. If it’s gone, it was just a distraction disguised as an opportunity.
4. High-Signal, Low-Noise
An editor’s job is to increase the “Signal-to-Noise” ratio.
Noise: Endless scrolling, outrage-baiting headlines, and “urgent” but unimportant tasks.
Signal: Deep books, long conversations, and strategic thinking. If your life feels “thin” or “anxious,” it’s likely because your noise levels are too high. It’s time to cut the fluff.
