Just breathe

Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I have a hard time sticking to the schedule I have set for myself.

Why?

Because there’s almost always something that happens while I’m sleeping where a client needs my help or someone is asking me to call or e-mail them back right away.

One of my favorite quotes is from Brendon Burchard —

“Your inbox is a convenient organizing system for other people’s agendas.”

I find myself *infinitely* more productive and at peace throughout the day when I don’t check my e-mail or social media first thing in the morning.

I’ve even gone so far different times as making a custom wallpaper for my phone that says things like “READ A BOOK” or “STAY OFFLINE” to remind me that I am the one in control of my agenda and how I spend my time.

It’s not always easy, and I’m certainly not always perfect at it — but over the last year especially I have made it a point to seriously cut back on how much time I spend *responding* and *reacting* and focus instead on creating and building.

There are an infinite number of distractions flying at us every day — and that number is only increasing.

However, with the right tools, a good bit of discipline and hard work, and laser sharp focus you can cut through the BS and really make something that will leave a legacy and help a lot of people.

For me, that’s what is important. I want to create companies that help move the human race forward. I want to build businesses and organizations that empower people around the world to do what they love.

I want to help turn ideas into reality.

And for me to do that, I need to remember to just breathe when I feel my brain kicking into overdrive.

I need to sit back and stop what I’m doing when the external demands on my time and attention begin to dictate my direction.

Obi Wan said it well in Episode II:

“Patience. Use the force. Think.”

If you’re feeling stressed out about the things you feel you absolutely need to do, take a deep breath.

Slow down. And remember that only you can decide what it is that you’re going to do with your time.