I used to say “I just don’t have time for this” or “I’m too busy for that”. But the truth is, time isn’t what was lacking… it was organization.
As a filmmaker - it’s easy to justify busyness or lack of organization as a means to put things off that need to get done. And I’m not just talking about the day to day workload.
Exercise. Networking. Researching. Side Projects. Rest.
You really CAN make time for it all. I’ll prove it.
I am a husband and father of 3. Until recently my first born (now 16) lived out of state with his mom, so I flew back to see him almost bi-weekly (he now lives with us full time). My other 2 kids (9 and 7) are in school here in Los Angles and both have extra curricular things going on. My wife works full time as a concierge nurse for celebrities, so we both share responsibilities with taking kids to school, homework, sports, dancing etc.
We are Busy with a capital B.
But I CANNOT let the necessities of life distract me from what I NEED to do as a filmmaker and business owner.
But it’s so easy to use those excuses to say “I don’t have time”, which is crippling, and the easiest crutch to lean on.
You are the only person who truly knows how much time you have on your hands. When no one is looking, are you on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok? Are you sitting around playing World (my fave morning routine). Are you endlessly scrolling YouTube watching ASMR or the latest celebrity breakup news? Watching the NFL, NBA, MLB or maybe looking at million dollar homes on Zillow is your thing?
Whatever it is. You have time.
I wonder how many people’s iPhone’s would show “2 hours spent on IG” or “3 hours spent on TikTok”, only to reveal 5 + hours of time we could have used to be more resourceful for our future - but I digress.
If I can do it, so can you. i could very easily make the excuse (and I did for a while) that I had too many responsibilities to start that thing, or edit that project, or email that guy, or pay that bill.
And let me tell you… it’s better to just get with the program now, rather than when it’s too late and the sh*t hits the fan. Be proactive now, reap the rewards later.
I recently did a post about a channel we started back in May that has hit over 4 million fews in just a few months (go check out that blog post).
But that’s a perfect example of taking my spare time I knew I had, and doing good with it. Creating short stories that would inspire others, REGARDLESS of how popular it would get or “how much money I could make on it”.
The key with these side projects is to find something you’re truly passionate about and you enjoy creating. Because once the excitement wears off, and it’s the same thing day in and day out. You’ll give up if you don’t love it.
But making sure you convince yourself you DO have time to start, is key.
And if you’re already (honestly) maxed out with working, traveling, family, exercise and there’s just no way to make time for something new… just make sure you’re happy. Sometimes too much work with no rest is dangerous. I’m not on one side or the other of the “sleep is for the weak/grind harder” or “only work 4 hours and rest/relax all day” mentality. There’s a balance and only you know what you can truly handle.
But if you’re tired of where things are, and you know there’s more inside of you. If you know you can push yourself harder, further and overcome that part of you that continually makes excuses… then try carving out time in your day. Find something you can eliminate, and replace it with something productive. Check your iPhone for blocks of time you spend on social media - and replace it with doing something productive.
That passion project, that business, that new venture isn’t going to start itself. And you’ll keep making excuses til the day you die if you don’t start now. Right now. Not tomorrow… now.
You have more time than you think you do. Prove it to yourself. You’ll be grateful you took that leap when you see the rewards in the very near future.
