“Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem.
We all have twenty-four-hour days.” Zig Ziglar.
It’s common these days to hear someone say, “I don’t have time to ______,” filling the blank with any of a number of things. Maybe you even say something similar yourself. It’s easy to fill our days with so much busyness that we are unable to accomplish all we would like to.
You may see it when you look at people you consider successful. You wonder how they manage it all; the job or business, the home, the family, kids involved in extracurricular activities, adults active in the community, leisure activities. Then you see others, or maybe even yourself, rushing from home to work and back, never quite keeping up with what needs to be done, much less enjoying any family time or recreation.
The same thing can happen at work. Have you ever looked around your workplace and noticed some of your co-workers are productive and successful while others are struggling? They work the same schedule. They’ve been given the same tools and opportunities, yet some just can’t seem to make things work.
Do some people just magically have more time or fewer responsibilities? No. The difference lies in the motivation, the direction. If you have a clear goal, a direction, it’s easier to focus on that goal and ensure everything you do takes you in that direction. You naturally accomplish more when you aren’t scattering your focus and spinning your wheels going in every direction.
We all have the same twenty-four hours in each day. To make the most of that time, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish, i.e., have a direction. Otherwise, you’ll start and stop and change gears and waste a lot of time.
The secret to being successful is to set goals and develop plans on how to reach them. Those plans become your road map, giving you clear measurable steps and a steady direction.
If you’re struggling to get everything done or accomplish things, there’s hope. You don’t need more time. You need direction.