I cringe when I hear someone say they’re too busy or they have no time. These have to be two of the worst excuses ever! Trust me, I’ve used them myself.

It’s a lesson I learned a long time ago but still have to check myself, even today. Recently, I was asked to speak at a conference, one of my favorite things to do. I nearly jumped at the opportunity when I caught myself and took a step back. I am currently working full time, going to school full time, volunteering, siting on the board of a nonprofit, chairing a committee for another organization, writing a blog and writing for about five other sites periodically. In between all of that, I try to stay connected with friends, family and my network of peers across the country.

It sounds like I have no time to take on anymore but that is not the case. I actually do have the time but I have to make choices. I can either find a way to work smarter so that I can take on more and simply spend less time on each task or I can give something up to take on something else.

Life is about choices. We make time for everything we think is important enough. So when you think about this in the context of work, people have time to do what is important but the problem is that importance is defined differently by different people.

What are you making time for in life, professionally and personally? What is important to you and are you being honest about what is not?