How to successfully hunt for time

Most people don't know how much stuff they have until they decide to move and start hauling it all out, piece by forgotten piece, like the mountain bike with a flat tire, Christmas decorations you don't even use anymore, and the parts for that project you'll get around to 'someday'.

It got so bad for me that last time I moved, I ended up throwing away half my belongings (or at least wished I could throw out half our belongings), and swore I would die in my next house.

I don't even want to consider how much crap is currently hiding in the various storerooms and niches around my house. That stuff accumulates magically, as if some divine will has decided my home needs to be constantly stuffed to the gills.

Which is exactly where Paul is currently in life.

The accumulation of 'junk' in your life

This week, on my call with Paul, we were talking about prospecting, and how important it is. But, the truth is, Paul has enough knowledge to start creating an effective prospecting pipeline.

In fact, Paul has a lot of knowledge. Over the course of his coaching, we've gone over everything he needs to create a strong foundation for his business. From his diet, to his focus, to getting clients, we've covered everything a small business owner needs to push through and make a difference.

But he can't find the time to put everything together properly. Or at least, that's what he feels like – too much to do and not enough time.

That's the biggest problem I deal with my clients. But the truth is, it's not a matter of finding time, it's a matter of priorities. When a client is ready to prioritize the right things in their life, whether that's family, business, or some other goal, the things we can do together are amazing. But, when a client never seems to 'find the time', there's absolutely nothing I, or anyone else, can do.

So, if you've been reading along with Paul's journey, here's your boot to start getting your priorities right to really make a difference.

Step one to finding time – taking stock

The observation of behaviour is the first step to changed behaviour

We always talk about finding time to do this or that, but we so rarely know what we spend our time on.

Just like moving, it's not until we unpack our days or our homes that we really bgine to understand where we spend out time, and how much of it we actually have. That's because we go in and handle each piece with our own hands, and see it accumulate as box after box gets filled without making a dent.

That unpacking – that exploration of each moment and what it contains – is the first step to finding time.

Now, you can't literally haul out each piece of your life, but you can create a journal where you write down everything you do for a week, or two. Try to do 15-minute increments if you can, but even half-hour, or full hour increments are helpful.

Step two – Deciding what to discard

Having a million priorities looks the same as having the wrong priorities

Now that you have your life splayed out in front of you in all its (sometimes embarrassing) glory, you can clearly see where your priorities lie and decide if you're ok with that.

Like I said earlier, you can't create more time, but you can make more room in your schedule to pursue your priorities – as long as you keep reins on your priorities.

Most people have one million priorities that pull them through life like a team of huskies. So, as they careen through life they can never find the time to do anything. But now that you can see what you're doing, and see what's pulling you through life at breakneck speed, you get to decide which 'huskies' stay attached and which you can unchain to run off into the distance.

Just like Marie Kondo says, find the thing that sparks joy. Once you've gotten rid of the rest the priorities that don't give that joy, then your life slows down so you can focus again.

Step three – Organizing your day

The only way to focus is to organise

I've had plenty of clients who have decided on priorities and stopped there. They thought in the moment that once they'd decided those priorities would stay the same, as if they'd been cemented into their psyche.

But life isn't static, and if you don't reinforce those choices with a solid foundation, your priorities will start to shift and move without you even noticing. You'll think your focus is right, that you have your priorities straight, but in reality, that stuff has continued to accumulate.

If you want to maintain that focus, and maintaining focus over a long period of time is the only way to get things done, you need to create a schedule that reinforces your decision. Block out periods of time that are dedicated to pursuing your goal, whether that's creating a multi-national company, or spending time with family.

Creating the time

In the end, it's not about finding time. It's about creating a life that is bound to goals through effective organization.

Once you've created the life that will get you where you want, you'll find plenty of time for doing the things you need to do. Just remember, stuff accumulates. So, when you start to feel harried – like you're being pulled through life by a team of huskies – take the time to observe, discard, and organise once again.