“I just don’t have the time.”
If we had a dollar for every time we said we lacked time, we could probably pay someone to do the tasks we keep avoiding.
After my TEDx talk, I set a new goal: launch a YouTube channel to share leadership lessons and culture-building insights. The catch? I needed video skills, and the gear—tripod, mic, phone—felt daunting.
Week after week, the new equipment sat in its box, unopened. I kept telling myself I didn’t have time to read the directions or experiment with the camera. I reset my deadlines not once, not twice, but three times. I was stuck. And the reason I gave myself? Time.
But was it really a lack of time? Of course not. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. The real culprit wasn’t my schedule; it was my motivation.
From Intimidation to Action
The truth is, I was intimidated. I was about to dive into something I knew nothing about and I hate the feeling of incompetence that often accompanies learning. It’s easy to label that discomfort as “wasting time” and use our busy schedules as the perfect alibi. We justify our lack of discipline by blaming the clock.
Then, one morning last week, I had enough. I watched a couple of YouTube videos on camera settings for professional shoots. I figured out the microphone and set up the tripod. And you know what? Once I focused, the process was much faster and simpler than I had built it up to be in my mind.
After shooting my first series on building high-trust teams, I felt a huge rush of accomplishment. It was pure joy. I had gained a new skill that would help me share my message and inspire more leaders. That feeling was electric.
Connecting to Your “Why”
This experience revealed another crucial connection I had missed. I had lost sight of my “why.”
If I had kept my reason for starting the channel at the forefront of my mind—the purpose, the potential to inspire—it would have fueled my motivation. Instead, I let the challenge blind me to the endgame. All I could see was the intimidating new equipment and my own lack of knowledge. I let the “how” overshadow the “why.”
The vision of the finished product, of connecting with leaders and making a difference, got lost. When your purpose is clear, it acts as a powerful motivator that can pull you through the initial discomfort of learning something new.
Your Time, Your Choice
So, here is the real insight: the next time you hear yourself saying, “I don’t have the time,” pause and reflect.
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Is this truly a priority for me right now?
- Why do I need to do this? What is my deeper purpose?
- What are the benefits of making this a priority?
It’s perfectly fine to decide that you don’t want to make time for something. That’s a conscious choice. But let’s be honest with ourselves. We have a finite amount of time each day, and we are the ones who decide how to use it. Don’t let a simple lack of motivation hide behind the easy excuse of a busy schedule.
Acknowledge the hesitation, reconnect with your “why,” and then decide. You have more control than you think.
If you want to be part of building something bigger than yourself, this book is a great place to start! Jon Gordon on Leading with Significance
Grab your copy of Leading with Significance to find more magnetic insights to help you on your unique journey.
For more information on my presentations or to access my beBetter blog library go to joeyhavens.com.
