One of my favorite quotes talks about how we all have the same 24 hours in a day and it’s what we do with them that matters.

As someone who loves to be busy, there are days where I start to feel that I am just running in circles and not making much progress.  I’m sure it happens to most moms – you go through the day’s routine without much thought.  You wake up and get ready with moments to spare before your littles need to get up.  You feed them, dress them and then rush out the door barely making it on time.  Next it’s drop offs, traffic and your daily to-do list running through your mind before making it to work.  Then it’s work all day, crossing things off your to-do list and putting out fires.  Before you know it, it’s time to pick up the kiddos and head home to cook dinner, do dishes and start a load of laundry.

Or is that just my typical day?

Hmmm… as someone who has big goals for myself and my business it gets hard to stay focused day in and day out.  Life gets in the way and for good reason.  We close the laptop early so we can be present with our families.  We fall into bed out of exhaustion, telling ourselves we’re wake up even earlier to get more done, but then we hit that snooze button.

It’s okay, but we really need to be working towards our goals.  The best way to do that is by keeping our dreams top of mind.  Let’s start making sure we know, our husbands know, our friends know what our end goal is.  That way they can start encouraging us along the way.

Let’s start using our 24 hours to our advantage:

Make A Plan

Create a plan for each day. I love using time blocking as a way to fit in all the have-to-get done tasks and the steps to reach my goals.  Write out all the tasks that you need to be working on to help you reach your goal.  Make sure to save some buffer time for those fires, but you have to start prioritizing your goals too.

Write Out Your Goals

List out what your big goals are so that you can create smaller steps to help you get there.  I’ve talked about this idea before.  You need your big goals with small mini goals with closer deadlines.  That way you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Put your goals where you can see them every day.  Stick them to your mirror, hang them inside your closet, or make them your screensaver on your phone.  Make sure you see them every single day.

Do What You Love

When you’re focused on what you’re passionate about then it doesn’t feel like work (tweet it).  For instance, I love helping families learn to budget their money.  That’s my passion.  When you’re working towards a goal that incorporates your passion then you will find the time for it.  You won’t be putting it off, you won’t be avoiding it.

Cherish The Small Moments

How many times do you achieve a goal (big or small) and you just keep moving forward?  No celebration?  No victory dance?  Nothing?  Stop it!

You need to celebrate all the wins.  No matter if that means calling someone to share that moment with (I usually call my husband and my sister) or just posting it in a business owner group (I’m part of a few on Facebook and it’s amazing to see all of us support one another).

Want More?

Grab our Cross Stress Off Your To Do List worksheet.  This guide will walk you through a game changing exercise.  By the end you will feel more in control and less stress, which means you’ll be able to focus on what matters most!

Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. 

Are you trying to start a new side business or maybe you’re trying to grow it into full-time income.  Sometimes you need some motivation and a good kick in the pants to keep things moving.  I think that’s why I love business books as much as I do.  I love finding new inspiration and new ideas from others that have been where I am.

Honestly, the best coaches are the ones that have been where you currently are – they’re just a few steps ahead of you.  I’ve mentioned my favorite budget books and inspirational money books before, which was a huge hit!  I thought today would be a good time to share some of my favorite business growth books with you.

Good To Great by Jim Collins

I read this book for extra credit in college and still to this day, it’s a favorite. It was such great insight and wisdom about finding the right people for the right seat on the bus.  Not that long ago my Dad (who I work with) came back from a conference saying that he was going to loan me a book as soon as he was finished that I needed to read – it was Good to Great.  I told him I read that years ago and still had the copy in my office.  He was shocked and a little proud.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

If you’re a struggling business owner not sure how you’re ever going to make money from your business then this book is a must. It breaks down the idea of paying yourself first then taxes and then spending the rest back in your business.  This is another one Dad had laying on his desk telling me that I needed to read it since it was a big talking point these days – but I beat him to the punch again by checking it out of our local library a month earlier.

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

I can’t say enough good things about this one.  I read it on a drive somewhere (J drove, I road) and couldn’t put it down . She’s very inspiring, very direct and I loved it.  As a woman leader it’s motivating to hear from other women who have conquered so much.

Get Over Your Damn Self by Romi Neustadt

If you’re in a network marketing business or a sales rep then I highly recommend Romi’s book . It’s the perfect kick in the pants you need to get your business moving and growing.

Start by Jon Acuff

Start was the first book I read by Jon Acuff – he’s direct, funny, and inspiring all in one book.  This is a great book for anyone trying to get started with their business, but really keep telling themselves to wait or it has to be perfect or it’s not the right time…yet.

Quitter by Jon Acuff

You’ll notice this is the second book by Jon Acuff on the list. He’s really that good.  Once you read Start and you get your new business off the ground, Quitter will help you reach your dream so that your new business can be your full-time gig.

Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard

No one likes change, right? But in today’s world with technology, advancements, social media, and a lot of other factors most jobs are changing.  We need to be accessible, understandable and an expert.  Sometimes it can be hard when you feel as if everything in your field is shifting.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

My boss in college read this book and said it really helped him learn how to prioritize his day so that he could do more in less time.  I was intrigued so I borrowed it.  I loved it.  I still take a lot of what I read years ago and apply it to my career today.  It’s about prioritizing your day, taking care of the big stuff only you can handle and delegating the rest.

That’s what inspired me to create my Cross Stress Off exercise – it’s not quite like the book, it’s a bit deeper but it helps you knock the small things off your plate so you can focus on the bigger picture.

How to find the time to chase your dreams.  It’s a loaded subject.  One that I’ve been wanting to write about for awhile.  You see, I’m not a sugar coat it kind of gal.  I’m more of let’s be blunt, direct and to the point kind of woman.  I talk to you (readers of this blog) just as I would my clients, my family and my closest friends.  I talk to you how I want to be talked to.

I tell you the truth.

So hold on – today’s post is going to be a good one.

But first – let’s recap yesterday.  If you’ve been following me on Instagram (which you totally should!) I’ve been sharing a lot about the Women Aware Conference.  It was a huge undertaking, but yesterday was THE day.  And let me tell you, it was a whirlwind. I promise pictures are coming, but for now make sure to check out my Instagram Stories from yesterday.

As soon as the conference ended I got in a car with two amazing ladies and a guy to drive to another conference that’s happening today.  Yep, if you feel like I’m using the word conference an awful lot lately, it’s because I am.

But after today I get to breathe – at least for the month of October before more trips, events and conferences kick in.  Then December is usually a bit of a break, but it’s quickly followed by 4 months of tax season.  So down time is not really in my vocabulary.

I hear all too often from fellow moms, “how do you have the time?”  That’s usually right after the find out about this online blog and business I am also running.  The truth is – I have just the same amount of time in a day as anyone else.  We all are given 24 hours, but it’s how we use it that makes the biggest difference.

This is where the tough love starts to come in.

When you have goals – big goals, small goals, any goals it’s so easy to tell ourselves we don’t have the time.  But in reality what we’re saying 95% of the time is, “we’re afraid to fail.”  I get it.  I’m afraid of failure, too.  My biggest fear as a young child was disappointing my parents.  Now as an adult that fear as morphed into disappointing my spouse and my child and myself.

But when you start to look at failing differently then you find the time to chase those dreams.

Look at failing from a new angle –  where giving up is failing, where not even trying is failing, and where falling short just means try harder.

Once you start seeing failure as a new idea then you won’t have anything left to do, but try.  So when it comes to finding the time I have a few rules that I follow.  I ask myself a few things about any new project that I want to take on:

• will this help me reach my end goal?
• who is going to benefit – me, my family, my community?
• do I really have the time to fully commit?

If I can answer these three questions honestly and like my responses then I add it.  But when it comes to chasing my dreams I have a few tips to help keep me on track.

Here’s my top tips on how to find the time to chase your dreams:

1. Know your goals.  Goals are a fluid thing in my mind – I know my end goal, the big picture.  But the small steps to reach that end goal are fluid and constantly changing.I’m going to get real with you for a second – my biggest goal is to turn this online business into a full-time income while still working my full-time career.  Yes, I want more so that I can provide more for my child.  I want him to experience traveling to new places, not have to worry about college debt like his parents, and I want to live on land where my closest neighbor is miles away.  But to reach those goals I need to be greedy and keep focused.

   Your goals may not involve money at all. And yes, I keep talking about goals in the plural sense because you are allowed to hav more than one.  They can be back-t0-back or they can be at the same time.  But dream big.

2. Set your priorities.  Once you have determined your goals you need to figure out what’s going to help you reach them.  Do you need more time to build your business?  Do you need more passive income so you can work less and be home more?  Do you need to finally take guitar lessons so you can start playing music like you’ve always dreamed?Whatever your goals are – you need to understand what it’s going to take to reach them.  Now here’s the tricky thing about goals – not only are they a fluid concept, but the steps to reach them change too.  You may set out on a path, thinking that’s where you need to be and then you come to a road block.  You’ll have to change directions.  It happens.  Roll with it.
3. Always keep moving.  Don’t take no for an answer.  If you hear a no or are rejected, bounce back and keep moving forward.  Your path may change and you may have to attack your goal from a new position, but always keep moving.
4. Don’t be afraid to use all of your time.  Now I’m not suggesting staying awake for a full 24 hours, but be wise of how you’re spending your time.  I started blocking my schedule a few months ago and it’s been a game changer.  I now know when it’s time to work on my business, my work, home management and all the volunteer work I do.  Make sure you’re spending your time wisely so that when it’s time to focus on your dreams you can.