There will always be time

Something really sounds frustrating. It is an excused which is used the world over by almost everyone. This saying goes "I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time. I'm busy." 

Chances are very good that you've heard someone in your own life say that. Either you've accepted it as an excuse and moved onto other activities or you've lingered over the excuse. Nothing is unreasonable with questioning it; if anything people who say this should often be questioned. Really? Why's that? How come? Are you so low on time you can't go on the computer, watch TV, or even cook a reasonable meal? 

Many of my friends have said this to me before. Most of the time I just forget about it and move on. Then there are the times when I reflect a bit more over the situation. Is John really studying straight through from sunrise until sunset? Is Jane really working so much, she cannot meet up for a coffee? 

Often, when people procrastinate, they hardly realise how much time is being wasted or squandered. I used to use the excuse of "I don't have time," but since I began University last year, that excuse has vanished. Of course time is available to spend time doing activities with friends, of course people are available to pursue their hobbies, even in very stressful panicky times. Here are a few examples.

Ultramarathon man Dean Karnazes used to work a 60 hour office job, in addition to raising a young family. Still he was able to run for hours at a time, without sacrificing his career or family time in the process. Steve Jobs, as busy as he used to be, still found time to go vacationing with his family. Lynley Smith, a women's water-polo player (and former ASU University student), sat six papers, had an internship and trained 20 hours a week for water-polo in her senior year. If anyone claims to be incapable of making time for those non-busy activities, I encourage them to use these three examples as a measuring stick. Suddenly, a lot more time will free up, even during those busy periods.

So are you really so busy, everything else is on hold? Or is there time which you just do not want to fill?

Sophie

There is a girl who I volunteer with at church called Sophie King. Although, four years my junior, speaking 4x more in a day than most people and still a school girl, there is something interesting about this young woman.

She has a charisma which I very seldom see in other people. It is not one which people use in a fabricated way to hide their insecurities. No, this charisma is a very genuine gregarious type, that not many people possess and few people can ever consistently carry. Many people tire of being so outgoing. Not Sophie King though. She thrives in environments where one needs to have an ability to win over the hearts of people very quickly. Perhaps more amazingly, her personality can maintain, grow and develop those friendships.

My sarcasm always seems to come out thick and fast when I'm around Sophie. Perhaps I'm inclined to do so, knowing that a rather amusing comment will be fired right back, done in typical Sophie fashion. She's good at taking a joke and is always quick to dish them back, whenever the opportunity arises. No person is more pleasant to joke with than Sophie. Sometimes it is hard to determine whether she is being serious or cracking a sly under the table joke only she is in about.

A few quick facts about Sophie King

She likes to joke around
She has named her phone
Likes to let you know her Tribe group, has beaten your one in the points competition
Goes to Macdonalds late at night or when she has nothing else to do. (Employment future there perhaps?)
Friend with the other legendary Year 7 leader Tammy Palm
Randomly visits the team leaders house.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that is Sophie King for you.

The width strains against the failing hate

The width strains against the failing hate

Look forward with confidence

There is nothing which increases your likelihood to be unable to complete a task than not believing in yourself. It happens all the time. For many years sports teams feared playing the top ranked team and were defeated before the game even took place. Job applicants going for high power positions walk in fearful of every micro assessment the interviewee makes on them. Tourists often cannot bungee jump because they are too afraid of what will go wrong.

Sometimes in life, those risks have to be taken. Do not be nervous or petrified or intimidated. Look forward with confidence. You'll be amazed at how much it'll help.

Carry some urgency because the last minute is too late

Last year I had a friend studying the same degree as me. What amazed me was generally how relaxed she was in her attitude toward studying. Thirty minutes at the most and she was having a break. Ten minutes here, twenty minutes there. I aimed for more prolonged study blocks, sometimes pushing three hours at a time. After comparing marks, let's just say she got the most sprinkles on top. By managing to simply chip away at her study and assignments, coupled with a gradual urgency to stay afloat, one shouldn't be surprised she finished top of the year.

Wake up and show the world you have that urgency. Never sit around and let the weight of a task overwhelm you. Chip away at it slowly and progressively. Within time, a task will come around where it isn't enough to say at the last minute "Why didn't I start that earlier." Put some urgency in your pockets. Don't lose motivation because of the time frame, be motivated that you can truly produce a masterful showcase with the seconds, hours and days available.

People often talk about having some urgency when you're on a brittle walkway. Spray the urgency button throughout your day; keep ahead of the pack. See it as a prerogative to outclassing competitors. Pushing out into the waters early enables you to be more according and shrewd as problems, enabling a more progressive time solving period, which advantages you far more than many people who sweep it under the rug, hoping it'll go unnoticed.

Carry that urgency. Sooner or later, the last minute job will topple over, whilst the early starter, who was full of urgency climbed up the ladder. I've taken my friends approach this year and can't see myself ever reverting back to the old method. Practice may not make perfect but it does make consistency. Consistency plus urgency plus an early start wins.