“I just don’t have time.”
How many times have you said that this week?
Time to plan. Time to fix your systems. Time to actually implement the changes you know need to happen.
Here’s what we’ve learnt from working with hundreds of builders: it’s not actually a time problem.
It’s a control problem. And there’s a difference.
Because the reality is: You’re making everyone else’s priorities your own.
Let’s be honest, when was the last time you started your day with a clear plan and actually stuck to it?
For most builders, the day begins the moment the phone rings or the first issue hits on site.
You’re reacting, firefighting, keeping promises in your head, and by the end of the day, you’re exhausted but can’t point to what you actually accomplished.
The real issue isn’t that there aren’t enough hours in the day.
And without a schedule, you’re letting everyone else dictate how you spend those hours.
This is costing you more than you think
Every phone call you promise to return “tomorrow,” every meeting time you try to remember, every commitment floating around in your head – that’s taking up valuable mental space.
- Space you need for clarity
- Space you need to make good decisions
- Space you need to actually grow your business instead of just surviving it.
And the worst part?
You know what needs to change.
You know you should be working on better systems, reviewing your numbers, planning ahead.
But you genuinely believe you don’t have time. So nothing changes. The cycle continues. And burnout creeps closer.
Take control by scheduling your time
Here’s what Amelia and Duayne have learnt from working with hundreds of builders inside ELEVATE – and what they practise in their own businesses every single day.
Watch the video now, or read the transcript below. Be sure to also subscribe to the Live Life Build YouTube channel.
Amelia
I think the most common complaint we hear from builders is, “I don’t have time. I don’t have time to plan. I don’t have time to do anything. I don’t have time to make any changes in my business or in my life.”
Duayne
If you’re not scheduling your time and understanding the value of your time, I think that’s the big one. So many people just don’t understand the value of their time.
You’re making everybody else’s priorities your priorities, and that is causing you to make mistakes.
You’re not making the right decisions.
You’re probably finding yourselves putting out fires every day because you’re constantly running around not knowing exactly what you should be spending time on.
Amelia
One of the key things that we do with builders when they join our ELEVATE program, and that we encourage you to think about, is if you’re struggling with this in your business and you’re finding you don’t have time to do the things that you want to do, it’s really important that you actually start scheduling your time.
Look at your week and think about how you’re going to spend your time each and every day to do the things that you know make a difference in your business.
Otherwise, as Duayne said, you will start your day with absolutely no structure and you’ll just be reacting to everybody else’s problems and urgencies.
Instead, if you have a schedule in place that enables you to know what you’re supposed to be doing each day. It gives you a point of return so that you can still deal with the challenges that come up.
You know when you’re dealing with particular things on site or in your business, but you’ve also got something to guide you – a rhythm in your schedule that helps you stay on track and execute effectively.
Time is a magical thing. When you get it right, you understand the value of it. You take control of your time. It seriously changes your life.
Duayne
Duayne
It’s funny because we’re talking about not having any time, but when you give people the solutions to get more time, they freak out because they think it’s going to take them more time.
By doing some simple things, you can make a huge difference. I’m a massive believer in having personal schedules. It’s one thing that has definitely helped change my life, and we see it so often with our members in ELEVATE.
The way I like to explain it is this: if you’re on site, you might still be on the tools, smashing out a frame with your team, or maybe you’ve built up a team that can operate on site on their own while you spend time growing the business.
If you’re taking phone calls or meeting with people, and during those calls or meetings you’re making promises like, “I’ll call you back tomorrow,” or “I’ll meet you at this time,” and you’re trying to keep all that in your head, it takes up valuable space that stops you from having clarity about what you should be doing.
One of the simplest ways for you to get more time is to simply have a Google Calendar.
Each time you make those promises, hang up the phone, get straight on your Google Calendar and put in a reminder for the following day or the time you said you’re going to meet the plumber or get back to the client.
As soon as you do that, it’s gone. Your head’s clear. You’ve got clarity to keep moving on with the rest of your day.
Time is a magical thing. When you get it right, you understand the value of it. You take control of your time. It seriously changes your life.
Amelia
When you take a bit of time, it doesn’t have to be a huge amount. You can literally sit down for an hour and think about how your schedule is going to happen this following week or month. That’s actually what can create time in your business.
As you get into the rhythm of doing this, you’ll quickly find that you gain hours back in your life and in your business to focus on the things that truly improve your overall quality of life.
Duayne
Take the time to get scheduled and get organised. As Amelia said, spending just a few hours a week on your business will give you months back in your life.
The resistance is real, isn’t it?
When someone tells you the solution to not having enough time is to spend time scheduling, it feels counterintuitive.
Like you’re being asked to do more when you’re already drowning.
But here’s what actually happens when you implement this:
- You get clarity.
- You get control.
- You get time back.
This is exactly what we work on with builders inside Elevate, not just the theory of scheduling but the practical implementation that fits your actual life.
Because a schedule that doesn’t work for you is just another thing you won’t stick to.
Start simple. This week, take one hour – just one – and map out your following week.
Block time for the things that actually move your business forward.
Put every commitment into your calendar as soon as you make it.
Then watch what happens.
Because your time is worth more than putting out fires all day.
Learn more about the ELEVATE here.