You don't have a time problem. You have a campfire problem.
In 2011, Seth Godin wrote: "You don't need more time…you just need to decide."
Seven years later, he followed up with another post: "Deciding is difficult, because decisions bring responsibility. It's better to not decide, the lizard brain says."
I decided in 2012 to stop watching the news.
In 2015, I stopped being emotionally invested in Michigan Football and the NFL.
I decided in 2016 to take Facebook off my phone.
Both gave me a negative ROI. I was handing over my attention and getting nothing back.
We get to decide what gets our attention.
I spend 15 minutes in the morning scanning two newspapers. Cutting my attention has not stopped me from having meaningful business or personal conversations.
What could you stop doing to gain back time?
I listened to Matthew McConaughey on The Daily Stoic podcast. He's been working in Hollywood for over 25 years.
McConaughey realized he had diversified too much. A production company. A music label. A foundation. His acting career. His family.
Five campfires.
His words: "What I did was I got rid of two of the campfires." He called his lawyer. Shut down the production company and the music label.
"I was left with the three things that were most important to me. And those three campfires turned into bonfires…I had been making C's in five things, but when I concentrated on three things, I started making A's."
This is the philosophy of doing less, better.
This week, look at your business.
How many campfires are you tending?
And which ones need to become bonfires?
