Hey, Reader!

You’ve heard me say it a thousand times: tell your time where to go instead of wondering where it went.

That’s true — but there’s a step that comes even before planning.

It’s your why.

Most people rush into planning their days without stopping to ask: why am I doing this thing at all?

So they fill their calendar reactively: 8:00 I’ll do this, 9:00 I’ll do that… and by 10:00 half of it is already off track.

Planning without purpose is just busywork in disguise.

Here’s the truth:

• If you’re a coach, your client call belongs on your calendar because you’re serving your client.
• If you’re writing a book, your writing block belongs there because you’re building something that matters.
• But if you’re just throwing tasks on your schedule like spaghetti on the wall, don’t be surprised when most of it slides right off.

This applies whether you’re an entrepreneur, an employee, or a CEO. If you don’t know the why, the plan won’t stick.

I’ve asked thousands of people one simple question: why are you doing this?

And do you know what happens most of the time? Blank stares. “I don’t know.”

That’s a recipe for wasted time, wasted energy, and wasted potential.

So before you plan, stop and think. Ask why. If you don’t get a clear answer, dig deeper. And if the answer still isn’t satisfying, maybe that task doesn’t deserve to be on your calendar at all.

Tell your time where to go — but only after you know why it matters.

👉 Curious how aligned your actions are with your why? Take the free Clarity Scorecard and find out in minutes.

—Mark

P.S. Want daily productivity wisdom in bite-sized doses? Follow me on Facebook at Mister Productivity and level up your focus.

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