20d ago in General discussion
In late 2005, I was drowning.
My laptop was open at 11 PM (again).
Multiple unread messages.
Multiple overdue tasks.
Multiple missed calls.
The only difference today was that I yet again missed my daughter's school sports activity—the one I'd missed in the afternoon because I was "too busy."
My wife shared stories about how it seemed all other parents were there—probably not the case, but I got it; there was unhappiness in the tone.
That was my breaking point. Not the 65-hour-plus weeks.
Not the constant anxiety.
Not even the burnout I was desperately trying to ignore.
It was missing that afternoon sports activity.
I was a "busy" person.
The one who wore overwhelm like a badge of honor. "Busy? Me? Always!"
I'd laugh, but inside, I was screaming.
My calendar looked like a game of Tetris gone wrong.
I was that person having lunch in between back-to-back phone calls, shoveling some unhealthy something into my mouth.
I thought this was success.
I thought this was leadership.
I was wrong.
Here's what I learned the hard way:
- Being busy isn't the same as being productive
- Saying yes to everything means saying no to what matters
- Running faster on the hamster wheel doesn't mean you're getting anywhere
That night, thinking deeply about my daughter's sports afternoon I had missed, I made a decision.
This had to change. Not tomorrow. Not next week.
NOW.
I started small:
- I Deleted email from my phone
- I Created "sacred" hours for deep work
- I started saying, "Let me check my calendar" instead of "Yes!"
The first week was chaos. The second was uncomfortable. The third? I felt like I could breathe again.
A Few Months Later?
- I worked 35 hours a week (really)
- I didn't miss a future school event
- The business grew way beyond my boss's expectations, resulting in promotions
- I slept 8 hours a night
- My team became more productive than ever
Plot twist: Doing less helped me achieve more - counter in intuitive, right?
If you're reading this from your phone at midnight, if your to-do list keeps you up at night if you're wearing "busy" like armor...
I see you. I was you.
And I want you to know: There's another way.
Drop a "Change" below if you're ready to break free from the overwhelm.
Your story of change starts today.
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In late 2005, I was drowning.
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