My schedule has been a whirlwind lately, filled with countless tasks and meetings that leave me feeling like there’s never enough time in the day. It’s a common refrain I hear in my head: “I’d love to do so many things, but I just don’t have the time.”
Then, I take a moment to remind myself that even the busiest and most successful people in the world, like Richard Branson, Oprah, and Elon Musk, are working with the same 24 hours in a day that I have. This realization is always a wake-up call for me.
Take Back Your Time
This week, I’ve made a conscious effort to reclaim some of my time, and I’ve found one strategy particularly effective: mastering the art of saying “No.” I took a hard look at my calendar and identified a couple of recurring virtual events that, while nice to attend, weren’t really advancing my business or personal life. They were just there, taking up space. So, I made the decision to say “No” and removed them from my schedule.
Just like that, I gifted myself two extra hours every week.
I’ve applied this same principle to deciding whether to accept or decline one-on-one meetings. Is there a clear, compelling reason for the meeting, even if it’s simply to find common ground in our businesses? If the answer is yes, then the meeting stays. If not, it’s a “No.”
This simple change has opened up at least another hour in my week.
Imagine This
Now, I pose this question to you, especially if you’re a busy, driven entrepreneur: What could you accomplish with an extra three hours next week?
The choice is yours. I hope this insight helps you free up some valuable time for your meaningful projects!
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