Why you can’t find time ⏱
↩️UNFOLLOW University — December 29, 2023
Happy Friday,
I started this year with 3 simple goals:
Self-publish a 35,000-word book on courageous change. ❌
Build my business, Unfollow LLC, to $10,000+ in monthly revenue. ✅
Lose 20 pounds by running the Cowtown half marathon. ✅
I didn’t fully achieve all three but I made more progress in 1 year than in the previous 5 years combined. Starting this newsletter was a major step towards #1.
Changing how I spend my time has transformed how I live my life. I’m learning how to direct my days and focus on the few things that matter.
I’ll do the same thing for 2024. It’s not a formula for frustration-free living but it provides a path to sustainable success.
In the past, my days were filled with activities that happened to me. I was seduced by the idea that achievement, performance and evaluation were the core ingredients for winning at life. My calendar was a conveyor belt of other people’s plans, priorities and expectations.
It’s a hard lie to let die but there’s a big difference between winning and success.
Instead of finding time for immediate things, what would it look like to spend time on important things?
🤯 Radical Truth
Time cannot be found. It can only be spent.
Positive relationships are the #1 predictor of life satisfaction and well-being. Where you spend your time and who you spend it with are significantly more important than how much money you have to spend.
I’ve always had more than enough time. What I lacked were clear goals, priorities and values to guide where I spent it.
You, too, have more than enough time. What you don’t have are clear parameters for where to invest it.
We have everything we need. Peace, joy, hope, rest and healing aren’t hiding from us. We are too distant and distracted to experience them.
It’s time to stop looking for answers we already have…
Don’t find peace, protect it. ✌🏽
Protect peace from the people, situations and environments that undermine it.
Don’t find rest, trust it. 🛌
Trust the natural rhythm of your purpose enough not to rush it.
Don’t find joy, choose it. ☀️
Choose joy as a constant stream of gratitude independent of outcomes.
Don’t find healing, allow it. ❤️🩹
Allow healing to happen by accepting reality and rejecting avoidance.
Don’t find greatness, give it. 🏆
Give greatness away by serving and supporting others.
Don’t find help, attract it. 🙋🏾♂️
Attract help with humility, vulnerability and courage.
Don’t find hope, choose it. 🙏🏽
Choose hope as the byproduct of struggle.
Looking for time always left me exhausted because there was never enough. But I didn’t need more hours in my day, I needed more trust in my Father.
Life is a borrowed gift we all give back someday. Spend it well.
This was my 3rd and last half marathon. I don’t need to find new knees, I need to take care of the ones I already have. 😬
⚡️Courageous Question
How will I feel one year from now if things stay the same as they are today? What will I do about it?
🗣 Wonderful Words
“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.”
🙏🏽 Prayer Package
God, all the things I seek are found in you. Take my struggling, striving and trying; take my effort and ambition - and lead me to your place of restoration. Redefine my view of greatness and success as I learn to walk with you - not as an employee, slave or servant - but as a son or daughter. Hearts that seek you will always rejoice. Amen.
🎵 He Has Time - Common Hymnal 🕑
🛠 Practical Tool
This is the last UNFOLLOW University newsletter of 2023. I’m investing this time in my family and my future. I hope you will take time to do the same.
I’ll do a few things differently next year.
From weekly to monthly publishing - UNFOLLOW University will become a monthly publication so I can share the best insights from my new career journey.
From in-person courses to virtual workshops - UNFOLLOW LLC, my speaking and consulting practice, will focus on digital content on demand. I plan to create virtual workshops for my most requested topics so I can stay focused on my day job.
From presentations to keynotes - I became a paid speaker last year after 15+ years of speaking for free. It’s still humbling to receive requests. I believe I have unique stories to share that go far beyond PowerPoint slides and look forward to continuing this as time allows.
There’s still a book in me and next year I’ll get a front-row seat at supporting a NY Times bestselling launch. Whether I self-publish or start on a book proposal, that’s a goal I’m still investing in.
Thanks for your support this year! I pray these words continue to cultivate value as you also unfollow the ideas that no longer serve you in 2024. You got this!
Happy New Year!
As you reflect on 2023 and plan for 2024, here’s a recap of courageous ideas to help you unfollow:
Sign up for the ↩️Unfollow University newsletter
Every month I’ll send you 5 courageous ideas to help you redesign your work life by making better career decisions:
🤯 Radical Truth - A story from me
⚡️ Courageous Question - A challenge for you
🗣 Wonderful Words - A quote worth remembering
🙏🏽 Prayer Package - A moment of meditation
🛠 Practical Tool - An actionable resource
We have more than enough time. What we lack are clear goals, priorities and values to guide where we spend it.