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Sounds inspiring, but >Time is often said to be our most limited resource, but it’s not true. We can create time. It takes the sheer force of will to do it, bu

Sounds inspiring, but >Time is often said to be our most limited resource, but it’s not true. We can create time. It takes the sheer force of will to do it, but it can be created. Not really. We have exactly 24 hours each day. We can (and should) find ways to use it more effectively, and he explains that this is what he means, but it is definitely possible to get to the point where if you want to add something valuable to your life, you have to give something else equally valuable up.

Flankk 16y ago
Few things are more valuable than creating something great. Unfortunately the other things taking your time are necessary obligations and responsibilities whereas your pipe dream ideas are not. I think everyone can agree that if you don't have time to work on what you value most then you suck at managing your time. No exceptions.
danilocampos 16y ago
As someone who had to create the opportunity to learn programming once upon a time, I can verify the truth of the quoted remark. It's a crucially important perspective. It's meant figuratively, of course. He's not suggesting you modify the space/time continuum by sheer force of will. Yeah, there are 24 hours in a day. But what's really meant here is that you can reconfigure the management of your time so as to create availability for your new project. It's the idea that you can create a period of time freed from other obligations. Unless you're operating at 100% efficiency, there's always a bit of fat you can trim in exchange for something else. If you're uncompromising in your commitment, you'll find the way to pinch 5 minutes here, 20 minutes there, until you've got a chunk of time to work with and get things done. And until you do that, you'll continue to not have time.
- bricestacey 16y ago
  How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett is a good reminder on how to find time here and there. It's available for free at Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2274 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2274) or even Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-24-Hours-Day/dp/144952849X http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-24-Hours-Day/dp/144952849X).
jeffclark 16y ago
Don't take it literally, as in "add more hours to a 24 hour day". Think deeper: "spend less time with 'watching TV' as your top priority". LOTS of people want to learn to program, want to write that book, want to start a company. But rarely do they want it bad enough to do anything about it, including changing their habits.
- khafra 16y ago
  I have to say, he lost some credibility with me right there. I have trouble believing that anybody who watches TV really understands the concept of a busy schedule.
impendia 16y ago
So I just upvoted all of my critics. Fair points all. That said, from a personal perspective, even though I'd like to I can't create more time through force of will. I could create more productive time, say, by developing the ability to worry less about stupid shit. But, ironically, my experience is that the best way to do this is to do occasional meditation, to relax more (and more purposefully) from time to time, and in many ways to take the exact opposite of the author's advice.

Flankk 16y ago

Few things are more valuable than creating something great. Unfortunately the other things taking your time are necessary obligations and responsibilities whereas your pipe dream ideas are not. I think everyone can agree that if you don't have time to work on what you value most then you suck at managing your time. No exceptions.

danilocampos 16y ago

As someone who had to create the opportunity to learn programming once upon a time, I can verify the truth of the quoted remark. It's a crucially important perspective. It's meant figuratively, of course. He's not suggesting you modify the space/time continuum by sheer force of will. Yeah, there are 24 hours in a day. But what's really meant here is that you can reconfigure the management of your time so as to create availability for your new project. It's the idea that you can create a period of time freed from other obligations. Unless you're operating at 100% efficiency, there's always a bit of fat you can trim in exchange for something else. If you're uncompromising in your commitment, you'll find the way to pinch 5 minutes here, 20 minutes there, until you've got a chunk of time to work with and get things done. And until you do that, you'll continue to not have time.

bricestacey 16y ago
How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett is a good reminder on how to find time here and there. It's available for free at Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2274 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2274) or even Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-24-Hours-Day/dp/144952849X http://www.amazon.com/How-Live-24-Hours-Day/dp/144952849X).

jeffclark 16y ago

Don't take it literally, as in "add more hours to a 24 hour day". Think deeper: "spend less time with 'watching TV' as your top priority". LOTS of people want to learn to program, want to write that book, want to start a company. But rarely do they want it bad enough to do anything about it, including changing their habits.

khafra 16y ago
I have to say, he lost some credibility with me right there. I have trouble believing that anybody who watches TV really understands the concept of a busy schedule.

impendia 16y ago

So I just upvoted all of my critics. Fair points all. That said, from a personal perspective, even though I'd like to I can't create more time through force of will. I could create more productive time, say, by developing the ability to worry less about stupid shit. But, ironically, my experience is that the best way to do this is to do occasional meditation, to relax more (and more purposefully) from time to time, and in many ways to take the exact opposite of the author's advice.