Leaders are purpose-driven people.

When you know what you should be doing it helps you know if you should be doing what it is you are doing. Purpose is a great filter for knowing if you are spending your time in the right ways. It gives us an internal compass to navigate our agenda. If what we are doing doesn’t align with our purpose we have to be willing to let it go. My mentor, Dr. John C. Maxwell says, “You have to give up in order to go up.”

We can’t get preoccupied with temptations that pull us away from what we were purposed for. Too many people are stuck doing what they don’t want to do rather than freely living the life they were meant to do. When you determine your purpose, you begin to bring clarity to what your daily duties need to be. Everyday should be getting you one step closer to fulfilling your ultimate purpose.

We need to be very strategic and selective about how we invest our time. I have found that their are 3 types of people when it comes to time:

1. Victims Of Their Time

These are the people that are being beaten up and knocked out by their schedule. They have the inability to say, “No” so therefore they are consumed with “stuff” that clutters their life. These people have no defense against the time stealers that are robbing them of productivity. They over-schedule and over-commit themselves to more than they can handle. Victims have to stand up and defend their time or they will be slaughtered by it.

2. Managers Of Their Time

These people are simply keeping their head above water, treading back and forth. They are not getting ahead in life, they are just maintaining what they have. Managers usually just keep their life from getting too crazy. Their focus is on keeping the ship afloat, so they are doing their best to throw any extra water that gets in the boat back out. Most people feel that if they manage their time they are doing well. But they never really feel like they have time to do the things they want to do, because the immediate sucks up every ounce of energy.

3. Leaders Of Their Time

These are the people who make time work for them. They control their time, their time doesn’t control them. They are focused on getting the things done that really matter and will yield a fruitful harvest from their labor. They do not waste their time on good things, they spend most of their time on the best things that only they can do. They delegate the rest to others or surrender it up altogether. Leaders of their time do things that they feel “called” to do, and things that they are “purposed” to do.

Everyday counts, so make the most of it and aspire to be a leader of your time. Only do what you should be doing. Get intentional about using your time wisely. Even more importantly, make sure you determine your purpose. I have coached many people over the years through the process of determining their unique purpose individually and as a leader. And it first starts with leading your time so you can have the margin to invest your time in self-discovery.