Beautifully spoken. I think I'm still in the being too safe camp from just getting out of university and into a for life corporate job. I like your attitude towards 'no'. Some risks are necessary but the worst outcome being 'no' like you said is really not a bad outcome. Hey, it could even be a good outcome since it lets you start focusing effort somewhere else earlier.

Any chance I could contact you as a newer grad from a similar background?