A common, recurring problem I hear from leaders is that they are too busy.  And for so long, I completely agreed.  Until I didn’t.  Until I realized that being overwhelmed is an emotion, and a choice.  Based on my thoughts.  Sometimes I still experience this emotion.  However, I do recognize it as something I’m choosing.  

Time is fascinating it's just a mental construct.  The framework of time (clocks & calendars) significantly impacts our waking moments, our lives.  And that we don’t have enough time.

Of course, this is not true. Because we all have enough time. The way we choose to think about it, utilize it, talk about it, affects our results. We have enough time if we are clear on our priorities, if we know the results we want to achieve. If we are mindful of how we are using our time and the quality of the experience.

#1 The Time Mindset

Scenario 1: I wake and feel already behind because my to do list is lengthy, at work and at home. I chug coffee, gripe at the traffic and charge into work.....

Scenario 2: I wake, thankful that I put together my to do list yesterday afternoon. I put my coffee in a to go mug, and head to work....

The difference between Scenario 1 and 2 lives only in my mind. The power of my thoughts and how I see time, see myself in the context of a day.  If I see time as a scarce commodity—fretting about precious minutes wasted, or resenting time with my team—I will be hurried, impatient.  If I expect a “perfect day” free of challenges and problems, when they arise I will be surprised and frazzled. Irritated to change the schedule, resentful. My thoughts about time, create my emotions, which affect my actions….and ultimately generate my results.

Examine your thoughts.  Do you know you have a choice to see time for what it is, a neutral circumstance? At the end of the day, are you confident knowing you used all your seconds, minutes and hours mindfully and purposefully?

#2 The Urgency Addiction

We don’t even realize how powerfully urgency affects our mindset and our choices.  Stephen Covey examined this in his amazing 1994 book, First Things First.

His concept is about getting used to the adrenaline rush of handling crisis; getting dependent on it for our sense of energy and excitement.  Do these questions resonate?

To overcome the urgency addition, we have to realize it exists.  We have to be mindful of the traps that we or others set about priorities, or requests or deadlines.  We have to realize that it compromises our ability to make choices that keep us effective and sane.

Actions to consider:

1. Clarify your priorities: personal and professional.
2. Expect things to take more time than you planned, to not go as planned, expect to be interrupted. It’s when we are unrealistic that we’re so consistently disappointed.
3. Change your mindset to one of focus and awareness. Be mindful of how you are using your time, whether it’s aligned with your priorities.
4. Make decisions and don’t beat yourself up for decisions in the past.
5. Examine your relationship with urgency, know when something is urgent to you and to others, and when it is not. Engage in an urgency detox.  

One day. 86,400 seconds. Do you have enough time?  You have a choice.

Choose to emphasize your growth and deve

Be the Best Leader You Know

Perform with Power, Lead with Impact, Inspire Growth

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