Issue #009

Why I Stopped Saying 'I Don't Have Time' (And You Should Too)

For years, I was the queen of "I don't have time."

Team meeting during my blocked focus time? "I don't have time." Coffee with a colleague who wanted career advice? "I don't have time." Strategic planning session that wasn't directly tied to my quarterly goals? "I don't have time."

I thought I was being efficient. Disciplined. Focused.

I was actually stealing my own power.

The Moment Everything Changed

That conversation with my daughter wasn't just a parenting wake-up call, it was a leadership revelation.

If I was unconsciously programming limitation into my own mind with my language, what was I doing to my team? How many opportunities was I missing because I positioned myself as someone who "didn't have time" instead of someone who made strategic choices?

The Language Trap

Every time I said "I don't have time," I was actually saying something much more dangerous:

"I don't have control over my choices." "Other people decide what I do with my life." "I'm a victim of my circumstances."

No wonder I felt powerless and overwhelmed. I was literally training my brain to believe I had no agency over my own life.

That's when I decided to try an experiment. For one week, I banned the phrase "I don't have time" from my vocabulary.

Instead, I would tell the truth about my choices.

What Activated Leaders Do Differently

The Business Impact

Six months after making this shift, something remarkable happened during our team performance reviews. The language change hadn't just improved my stress levels, it had transformed our entire culture.

When leaders model choice-based language, teams stop making excuses and start making decisions. Our project delivery improved significantly because people stopped saying "I can't get this done by Friday" and started saying "I'm choosing to prioritize X over Y, which means Friday delivery requires us to..."

That precision in language created precision in execution. And precision in execution drives results.

What Activated Leaders Do Differently

Activated leaders understand that language shapes reality. They audit their words like they audit their budgets, because they know that disempowering language creates disempowering results.

When you say "I don't have time," you're positioning yourself as powerless. When you say "I'm choosing to focus on X," you're acknowledging your agency and your priorities.

Here's the other thing that happened: People respected my boundaries more when I was honest about my choices.

"I don't have time" feels like an excuse. "That doesn't align with my current priorities" feels like a decision.

One makes you look scattered and overwhelmed. The other makes you look strategic and intentional.

The 48-Hour Language Audit

I want you to try this experiment. For the next 48 hours, pay attention to how often you use disempowering language:

• "I don't have time"

• "I have to"

• "I can't"

• "They won't let me"

• "I should"

Every time you catch yourself, pause and ask: "What am I actually choosing here?"

Then rephrase with ownership language:

• "I'm prioritizing..."

• "I choose to..."

• "I'm deciding not to..."

• "I'm focusing on..."

• "I want to..."

The Ripple Effect

Here's what happened when I made this shift permanent:

My team started taking more ownership. When I modeled choice-based language, they stopped making excuses and started making decisions.

My stress levels dropped. When you acknowledge you're choosing your priorities, you stop feeling like a victim of them.

My relationships improved. People appreciated my honesty and clarity instead of feeling brushed off by "no time" responses.

My results accelerated. When you own your choices, you make better ones.

Your Language Makeover

The words you use every day are either building your power or eroding it. They're either positioning you as the leader of your life or as someone who happens to things instead of someone who makes things happen.

If you're ready to take back control of your narrative, and your results, it starts with taking back control of your language.

Because here's the truth: Activated leaders don't happen to circumstances. They create them.

And it all starts with the words you choose.

What’s Next

Thursday, September 4th at 7PM CST, I'm hosting an exclusive Q&A session where I'll share the details about The Activated Leader™ Group Coaching Program launching in late Septemberand give you the first opportunity to be part of the founding cohort.

This 8-week intensive group coaching program is designed specifically for ambitious professionals navigating transitions who are ready to move from uncertainty to unstoppable momentum using my proven Activation Methodology™.

During our live session, you'll get:
→ An inside look at the complete 4-stage framework I've developed through 15+ years at Microsoft, Oracle, and Google
→ Real results from past participants: 90% report increased leadership confidence, 67% receive promotions within 6 months
→ The chance to ask me directly about your specific transition challenges
→ Details about the program structure, weekly group calls, and how to secure your spot in the next cohort

Limited to just 12 participants for maximum personalized attention. If you're a senior leader with 7+ years of experience who's ready to invest seriously in your development, this Q&A is your gateway to the program.

Speaking of activation... I'm also putting the finishing touches on a brand new keynote that takes everything I've learned about helping leaders navigate transitions and packages it into a transformative experience for teams and organizations.

"The Activated Leader: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity" will officially launch this fall, and I'm looking for a few forward-thinking companies to be part of the initial rollout. If your organization could benefit from a keynote that doesn't just inspire but actually equips leaders with practical frameworks for navigating change, let's talk.  Just hit reply on this email.

P.S. The most powerful leaders I know are obsessive about their language, not because they're trying to manipulate anyone, but because they understand that words create worlds. What disempowering phrase are you ready to retire? Hit reply and tell me. I want to help you find your empowered alternative.

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