How frequently do you hear the expression "There just aren't enough hours in the day!" In the face of seemingly endless obligations, many of us feel this way. Still, "Lack of direction, not lack of time is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days." as wise Zig Ziglar puts it.

It's true - we're all given the same twenty-four hours. Everyone we look up to—extremely productive people, top athletes, and successful CEOs—uses the same time frame as the rest of us. The amount of time they have is less important than the quality of their focus and concentration.

Here's an interesting analogy. Life is like a road trip. We risk getting lost, stopping needlessly, and taking picturesque detours if we don't have a specific place or map to follow. Even if we enjoy the ride, we probably won't make it to the finish line or waste a lot of precious time before we get there.

Contrarily, everything changes when you have a clearly defined path and a timetable. With our laser-like focus, we can still enjoy the scenery as we travel. Our destination and the best way to get there are both clear to us. We travel efficiently and enjoyably.

Here we see the influence of leadership. Our twenty-four hours are better used when we know what we're working toward and have a prioritized program. We eliminate distractions and time wasters by concentrating intently on the things that matter most.

We can take charge of our schedules and make progress toward our goals by following these steps:

1. The first step is to figure out what you stand for: your core values. By what standards do you make choices? As your actions begin to align with your values, your focus naturally intensifies.
2. Make SMART goals: To make the most of your time and effort, set objectives that are SMART, or specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
3. Recognize the Importance of Saying "No": Politely turn down requests that don't fit in with your priorities. If you want to achieve your personal goals, you must protect your time.
4. Plan ahead of time by setting aside specific blocks of time to work on your top priorities. These self-appointment meetings are just as important as any meeting with outside parties.

So, keep in mind that time isn't an adversary, but rather a valuable asset that we can use to achieve our goals. We can make the most of our twenty-four hours by focusing intently and deciding what we want to accomplish. Today is the day to take charge of our journey and succeed.