Instead of saying, “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.” – The Wall Street Journal.

I found that quote today. I found that quote…and it literally made me sit down to think about it.

It made me think about how I am spending my time. It made me think about what’s really important in my life and how I am organizing the time that I have right now. By looking at what I’m doing, I think you can clearly see what’s a priority in my life. But that doesn’t mean that there don’t need to be adjustments – of course there need to be some changes – but that’s an ongoing process in my life. I look at what I did today and make adjustments for tomorrow.

“Good enough” is broken thinking to me.

I know I will never achieve perfection. That’s something I know. But what I’ve realized that in my striving to make something perfect I fall just short and hit something else completely – excellence. To me, that’s worth it. It’s worth it to be really good at a few things instead of being good enough at a lot of different things.

When it comes down to it, I want to be able to touch peoples hearts and minds like no one else in the world can. I want to do it to the best of my capability and then continue to elevate that every single day. It’s not about competing with other people, but about seeing the ghost of my potential and knowing that I have something more to give.

That can be a pretty exhausting thing when you are just starting (I remember those days and they still happen)…competing with what you are capable of.

You feel like a big cold piece of clay and when you try to move off the path you are on you go very slow at the start.

But it’s not always that way. In fact, when you really get going, you have some momentum behind you and you start to heat up a bit. It’s a lot easier to make changes when you are moving than stopped completely. Thinking about when you drive your car on the freeway. Make a little turn to the wheel and you’re off into another lane. Catch my drift?

What all of this comes down to however is a discussion about what really matters in your life. Because the truth is, no matter what’s going on, you make time for those who matter and you do what needs to be done – if it matters to you.

That’s the dead honest truth.

It’s a truth that cuts a very straight line in between you being interested in something and you being committed to it. When you are interested in something, you only do it when it’s convenient. When you are committed to something, you accept no excuses and you get the job done.

Period.

So decide what really matters to you. Know why it matters to you and move forward with an attitude of “I’m going to find a way” instead of “I’m the victim.”

Those two types of thinking are completely different – night and day – and they will make a massive difference in your life.

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project