TIME: Where Did THAT Come From?

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As you are discovering, it's no magic trick to start finding time that you thought didn't exist. We're NOT pulling something "magically" out of a hat even though it may seem to "magically" appear.

Hopefully, by following through with the lists I have asked you to put together this week you have been able to see that, although you are not gaining any EXTRA time, you are finding that there is time available to you that can be "re-purposed" and used for something better than it's current use.

Magic? No. Smart and productive? Yes and yes!

So, now let's go back to that first list I had you put together at the start of the week that had you list what you would do IF only you had the time. Get it out - go on - and now take a look at it along with the schedule of your daily activities. (I'll wait.)

Now then, when you look over your daily activities, did you find that you had some time that you could "re-purpose"? (Go back and read yesterday's article on this). How MUCH time did you find that you could actually re-purpose for something that would be more productive for you?

Add up how much time you found that could be re-purposed...go ahead, add it up. Did you find one extra hour? Two? Three? Maybe even more? Again, some of you may say that you are busy from the time you get up until the time you go to bed. I'm not doubting that some of you are very busy but - let's be honest - very rarely does anyone actually have NO time during their day.

But, if you are one of those that believe that to be true about your day then consider the idea of getting up an hour earlier or staying up an hour later. Hey, it's just a thought for those that feel that there is absolutely NO time in their daily schedule to be "re-purposed".

Now, go back to that first list of the things you would do if you had the time. BINGO. You have found the time (that was there all along), now what can/will you do with it? Listen, I realize that you aren't going to be able to take an extra vacation by finding one or two hours available during your day. I mean, it's not like you can accumulate them and use them like vacation days at work, right?

But, WHAT IF you used that "extra" time to research and get involved in some sort of home-based business that would bring in the extra income you'd need to take that vacation? (Be very careful - DO THE RESEARCH - before deciding on such an opportunity). Maybe there is even something you can do "in person" as opposed to being on line that could bring you some extra income.

Perhaps you put on your list the desire to get a college degree. Again, do the research and see what is available for you - even on-line.

HERE'S THE POINT: Now that you realize - and actually SEE it for yourself - that you have the time available, it is now up to you to DO something with that time. It is now time for YOU to decide what PURPOSE you will now dedicate this time for during your day. It does no good at all to "find" this time and not re-purpose it for something useful and valuable.

GET SERIOUS about this and DO SOMETHING that will make a difference in your life. Hey, if nothing else, you have realized that time DOES exist in your day. Now it's up to you as to what you plan to do with it.

Well? Stop talking about it and start DOING it and LIVING it. I know this is going to sound corny but...THE TIME IS NOW.

Be sure to join me tomorrow as I look at another purpose for which we all can use this "re-purposed" time in our day. But, until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

TIME: Don't Have vs. Don't Take

(be sure to check out the podcast on iTunes or on the RSS feed)

"I would but I just don't have the time!"

How many times have you either SAID that or HEARD that said? As a matter of fact, take a moment and try to think of when the last time YOU said this phrase occurred...was it sometime today? Yesterday? We likely say something along this lines way more often than we realize.

Many times we say this to our kids when they are seeking our help and/or attention but we are busy with something else..."Mom! I need you to help me!" "Not now honey, I don't have time!" We don't want to sound like bad parents by saying what is actually true which would be, "Not now honey, I'm not going to TAKE the time for you right now."

Is that bad? No! Listen parents, there is no way in the world that we can devote all 24 hours a day to our children - IT'S NOT POSSIBLE! Now listen, if you're sitting in front of the t.v. eating Cheetos and watching a soap opera when your kid asks for your help and you say you don't have time - SHAME ON YOU! That's right... I said it.

But, if you are busy with something that helps the family (cleaning the house, balancing the checkbook or paying the bills, etc.), then there is nothing wrong with actually saying, "I can't take the time right now."

So many times we say we don't HAVE the time when, in reality, we simply choose to not TAKE the time. So, the question actually is this: What are you TAKING the time for during your day?

This SHOULD be obvious but it still needs pointing out - we ALL have the same amount of time every day. We ALL have 24 hours a day, divided up by hours, made up of 60 minutes, made up of 60 seconds each. It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are and it doesn't matter where in the world you live - TIME IS THE SAME FOR US ALL!

Here's what I want you to do to start this series off for the week - get out another piece of paper like you did during last week's series. Go ahead, get that paper and something to write with and write this across the top of that paper....

IF I HAD TIME, I WOULD...

Do that and then start writing things down - WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Don't over-think this, o.k.? Just write down what you would do IF you "had the time".

No, this isn't a trick. Take a few minutes and do this and feel free to add to it as you go through your day. DO NOT THROW THIS PAPER AWAY! Hang on to it - I will be coming back to it later on in the week.

Many times we don't want to hear the truth behind this fact but it's still true: THE TIME IS THERE!

I hope you'll join me the rest of the week as we go though and discover the time that is already in our day that we may be able to use for those things that we've always wanted to do.

Be thinking about that - fill out that list on that piece of paper and, in the meantime, whatever you do, where ever you go, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike