I used these two new time systems for 6 months and now I’ll never go back.
I used to think we all have 24 hours and that some use their time better than others. Then I heard a concept that changed what I think is now possible in a day.
“Success requires both urgency and patience. Be urgent about making the effort, and patient about seeing the results.” — Ralph Marston
I was driving on my way home on a warm Spring afternoon. Podcast playing, windows down a tad, nodding along, nothing earth-shattering.
But then I heard something that made my jaw drop. My eyebrows furrowed. My head tilted to an angle.
“What did he say?”
My existing beliefs about time were now broken. Never to be the same again.
“The most stupid, antiquated, ridiculous concept on planet earth today may well be that we have today 24 hours.”
We are applying a model of literal time to our present day but we’re not being contextual he went on to explain.
We can do way more now faster than ever.
From phone calls and video chats to emails and direct mail save us hours of time.
Over the weeks, months, and years this adds up.
What would take us weeks or months 10 years ago, now gets done in a day.
Sometimes hours. And depending on what you’re doing, minutes.
So we need to update how we use time.
One hour in this age we’re in is not the same as an hour a decade ago. Our result/minute effect is much more.
We can now create results with less energy, time, and capital expenditure.
This means we can be further along in our lives if we get a few things right.
- Using better tools and systems.
- Understanding our priorities and the best times to work on different tasks.
- But also, acting with more urgency.
Way more.
How can we do that in a realistic way?
By using shorter time frames within our day.
24h is an outdated model
If someone asks the time then sure, it’s fine. But if we’re in the business of getting results it won’t do anymore.
What we’ll be better off doing today is to use the idea of ‘mini days’.
Treat the day as though it has intervals and then judge ourselves by what we do at every mini-day interval.
I first heard this concept from speaker Ed Mylett on a podcast with Tom Bilyeu on a drive back.
That drive home is one I won’t forget in a hurry.
And with that short segment the way I saw time was now completely different.
It changed something I had never considered before.
I then later followed up on the pod by reading his book, ‘The Power of One More.
He states how he uses 3 sets of 6 hours in a given day and I adopted it too when I first heard of it six months ago.
But before I even began I decided what things were most important.
And from that list, what one single thing?
What had to come first in that first, ‘pre inputs’ part of my day?
I leaned on Gary Keller’s backcasting process from your ‘someday goal’ in his book ‘The ONE Thing’.
Using that I was able to find my priority. Good first step.
But what about the rest of the day?
I would need more structure.
So again I looked back at what I had already experienced for clues.
It was time to use Entrepreneur Coach, Dan Sullivan’s model of ‘free time’, ‘buffer time’ and ‘focus time’.
I realized the first and most important part of my day had to be my ‘focus time’. With the aim of getting my ‘ONE thing’ done as best as I can.
But to do that I need to center myself and calm my mind.
- Meditation
- Gratitude journaling
- Intention setting
- Some light activity
These are examples I’ve found of ways to look after my mind, body, and spirit and set myself up for the day ahead.
Now I’m ready for my focus time’s main course.
Focus time is when you do your building work
The things that don’t have a fixed immediate deadline get done here. So, no they’re not ‘urgent’, but you will want them to form the foundations for your future. So they’re without doubt ‘important’.
Here is where I’m in high gear and operating without any distractions. Working on that ‘ONE Thing’ first that I’ll love myself for finishing.
Then we have the ‘buffer time’ block.
Buffer time is where you deal with the urgent things of today
Often many of those things will be important too. Do those things first. But after dealing with urgent fires and other people’s issues, I like to switch gears.
I will also do my planning, research, and prepping workloads here.
Though not as fun or glamorous as the type of work done in the focus time bucket, it underpins everything.
If the ‘focus work’ is the chopping of the wood, the action work brings in the results. ‘Buffer work’ is the sharpening of the axe, the motion work that ensures the results keep happening.
I also actually find this time of day to be a great time for brainstorming and creative thinking.
Alone or with others, the brain is in a more relaxed state and able to make new connections. New suggestions come easy now, better than at any other point of the day. At least that is what I’ve found.
Now, with the important things done in the focus bucket, and well into my buffer bucket, it’s time to eat. I’ll break my fast and eat my first meal.
This is from personal experience, but operating off black coffee is enough to take me to lunch. The fasted state is always more effective for me when it comes to brain function than having eaten
And what will I eat when I do?
Most of the time it’s something balanced with natural ingredients.
And a good shake can do this best.
I’ve found Huel to cover all my nutritional bases, save me heaps of time and taste great at the same time. After trying other similar products, these guys come out on top.
Finally, I wrap with free time.
Free time is about unwinding after the efforts we put in today
When in achievement/ hustle mode, this is tempting to sacrifice. But I disagree. This is important to do too.
We can’t just live for tomorrow, building away for our future selves. Not for me. I’ve been that guy and it leads to not a fun way to live.
We have to take care of our present versions too. Our current self is the person doing all the work. They need some appreciation & some rest. So long as it’s well-earned.
Plus, today, our current self is all we have after all when you think about it.
Tomorrow as much as we’d hate to admit it, is not promised to anyone.
So I like to enjoy my free time in memorable, meaningful ways. Connecting with loved ones or filling up my mind with new ideas. Or even indulging in a little entertainment.
There’s no guilt here too.
When we complete our focus and buffer time blocks we win.
This use of free time is like a reward to your current self for prioritizing your future self. That’s how I like to see it anyway.
This is a good time too to be experimental.
Explore new trends, tools, places, etc. Anything that could be influential in the future.
When using your time in this way, you can find great upside with very little time invested.
This is something I want to do more of after learning from writer Michael Simmon’s 100-hour framework.
He suggests we can become dangerous in a field, using 100 deep hours in a month’s time. Versus the traditional Anders Ericsson 10,000-hour rule for mastery.
So there you go. Ed Mylett’s model of the 3 days in 1, using Dan Sullivan’s time system.
Give this a try even for 30 days and I promise you won’t go back.
