---
user-invocable: true
name: hell-yes-or-no
description: Derek Sivers's filter for commitments - if it's not a hell yes, it's a no
tokens: ~250
cloud-ok: true
---

# Hell Yes or No
#claudeai

## The Framework

When deciding whether to commit to something:

**If it's not a HELL YES, it's a no.**

This filter works because:
- Mediocre opportunities have opportunity costs
- Your time is finite
- Lukewarm yeses crowd out hell yeses
- Saying no to good makes room for great

## How to Use

### Step 1: Consider the opportunity
Someone asks you to do something, or you're considering a commitment.

### Step 2: Check your gut
On a scale of "no" to "HELL YES":
- Does this excite you?
- Do you feel energized or drained thinking about it?
- If this were tomorrow, would you be excited or dreading it?

### Step 3: Apply the filter
- **HELL YES** → Do it
- **Anything less** → Politely decline

### Step 4: Say no gracefully
"Thank you, but I can't commit to this right now."
No elaborate excuse needed.

## When to Use This

**Good for:**
- New commitments and invitations
- Projects you're considering taking on
- Events, meetings, collaborations
- Anything that adds to your plate

**Not for:**
- Existing commitments (honor those)
- Necessary but unexciting tasks (some things just need doing)
- When you're in exploration mode (early stage = say yes more)

## The Calibration

**If you're saying yes to everything:** 
Your filter is too loose. Raise your bar.

**If you're saying no to everything:**
Your filter might be fear disguised as selectivity. Check yourself.

**If you're early stage / exploring:**
Temporarily lower the bar. You need volume to find what excites you.

## Output Format

```
## Hell Yes or No: [Opportunity]

**The ask:** [What you're being asked to do]

**Gut check:**
- Excitement level: [1-10]
- Energy: [Energized / Neutral / Drained]
- Tomorrow test: [Excited / Dreading]

**Verdict:** HELL YES / No

**If no, response:**
"[Graceful decline]"

**If yes, next step:**
[What to do next]
```

## The Insight

Most opportunities are good. Very few are great.

Good is the enemy of great.

Protect your yeses for the things that make you come alive.

---

*"The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."* — Warren Buffett