So Money with Farnoosh Torabi · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Mike Allen, co-founder of Axios, discussed his 'Hell Yeah' rule for deciding on projects and commitments. He advises that if an opportunity doesn't elicit an immediate, enthusiastic 'Hell yeah,' it's likely a 'no.' This framework aims to combat 'toxic complexity' and ensure focus on what truly matters.
“So, if somebody asks you if you want to do something, if you want to go somewhere, if you want to meet up, if you want to do a project, if you're like, "Uh, okay," or like, "Yeah, I guess I should." Say no.”
“If you say, "Hell yeah," then it's a good idea. Then it's worth doing. And it just uses our. We know it uses our own filter. We instinctively know if something's a good idea or if it matters or if it makes good use of our time.”