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Hey—it’s Clay.

On Monday, we talked about the power of saying no—and how every yes has a cost.

But here’s the thing most guys miss:
Saying no isn’t always about pushing new things away.
Sometimes it’s about letting go of old habits that don’t serve you anymore.

That’s what this week’s Kindling is all about:
A one-week experiment, a wallet-chewing dog, and a lyric that reminds you exactly who your life belongs to.

Let’s keep it grounded—and keep it going.

Core Five in Action–Simplicity

🔥 The One-Week “No” Experiment

Most guys say yes too much.

Out of habit. Out of guilt. To avoid awkwardness.
But every yes you give without thinking is a no to something that actually matters—your time, your energy, your priorities.

This week, flip the script.

Step 1: Track Every Unwanted Yes

For the next seven days, just notice.
Anytime you agree to something you don’t actually want to do—write it down. Mentally or on paper. Doesn’t matter. Just keep score.

🚨 That meeting you didn’t need to be in
🚨 The favor you didn’t have time for
🚨 Plans made out of obligation
🚨 That late-night email you answered off the clock

No pressure to change anything yet. Just pay attention.

Step 2: Replace One Yes With a No

At the end of the week, take one thing off your plate.

🔥 Say no to the pointless meeting
🔥 Say no to the extra task
🔥 Say no to the social event you were dreading

You don’t need a long excuse. Just say no.

Try one of these: 🔹 “I can’t commit to that right now.”
🔹 “I won’t be able to make it, but thanks for thinking of me.”
🔹 “I need to focus on other priorities.”

Short. Direct. No over-explaining.

Step 3: Reflect on What Changed

✅ Did the world end because you said no?
✅ How did it feel—awkward, freeing, both?
✅ What did you gain—time, peace, energy?

Most guys spend their lives handing out yeses like free samples at Costco. But every yes has a cost.

This week, take one back.

Say no with purpose—and watch what happens.

Lyrics of the Week

That’s your reminder: your life is yours to live.
No one else gets to dictate your path, your priorities, or your purpose.

Saying no isn’t about rejection—it’s about ownership.
The more you protect your time, energy, and values, the more your life becomes truly yours.

🔥 Make the in-between count. 🔥

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Do I Really Need a Wallet?

I’ve never liked carrying a wallet. Never have. Don’t know why—just don’t.
Eventually, I got into the habit of leaving it in the car and only grabbing it when I needed it—quick store run, paying for something, whatever.

Then one day, that habit backfired.

I left my wallet on the bed. And my dog—loyal but slightly destructive—chewed it to pieces. Cards everywhere. Fake leather shredded. Total loss.

My first instinct? Hop on Amazon and buy a new one. Because that’s what you do, right? Everyone has a wallet.

But mid-scroll, I paused and asked:
Do I actually need a wallet?

So I checked Google Wallet—something I’d barely touched. And guess what? Everything I used was already there: cards, ID, memberships, even insurance info.
Outside of a little cash (which I rarely carry anyway), I wasn’t missing much.

Now, for some guys, going wallet-free sounds nuts:

All fair concerns. And just to be clear—I’m not saying you should go wallet-free.
That’s not the advice here.

What I am saying is this:
Regularly challenge your assumptions about what you actually need.

Maybe those assumptions are right.
Maybe they’re not.
But it’s worth asking the question.

And that’s the thing about saying no—sometimes, it’s not about rejecting new commitments.
It’s about questioning old ones.

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is by letting go.

It All Comes Back to Intention

This week’s about more than just saying no.
It’s about paying attention—to what you carry, what you agree to, and what you’ve outgrown.

The wallet story, the lyric, the one-week challenge—they all point in the same direction:
You don’t need more. You need to be more intentional with what you already have.

Because when you stop saying yes out of habit, guilt, or fear, you make space.
And in that space? That’s where your real life can start to take shape.

So—what’s one thing you’re ready to let go of?
Say no. Reclaim your time. And see what opens up.

Until next time, keep the fire burning.
—Clay

If you’re digging Campfire Gentleman, check out a few other newsletters I actually read and recommend. No fluff—just solid stuff from like-minded guys trying to build something that matters.