"I don't have time."

The most popular lie in America.

Everyone says it. Everyone believes it. Everyone nods along when you say it.

And it's complete garbage.

Let me be direct with you:

You have the same 24 hours as everyone else.

The same 24 hours as the guy who built the business you wish you had.

The same 24 hours as the guy who got in shape while you got soft.

The same 24 hours as every person who did the thing you keep saying you'll do "when you have time."

You don't have a time problem.

You have a priority problem.

Here's the truth about time:

You always have time for what you actually prioritize.

You have time to scroll. You have time to binge. You have time to consume content about productivity instead of being productive.

You have time. You're just spending it on things that don't move you forward.

"I don't have time" really means "It's not a priority."

Which is fine—if you're honest about it.

But don't lie to yourself. Don't pretend you're a victim of your schedule when you're actually the architect of it.

I used to say "I don't have time" constantly.

Meanwhile, I had time to:

I had plenty of time. I just spent it on comfort instead of growth.

The day I got honest about that was the day things started to change.

Here's the reframe:

Stop saying "I don't have time."

Start saying "It's not a priority."

Watch how that changes things.

"I don't have time to work out" becomes "Working out isn't a priority."

"I don't have time to build my business" becomes "Building my business isn't a priority."

"I don't have time to read" becomes "Reading isn't a priority."

Suddenly the lie is exposed. Suddenly you have to own it.

And once you own it, you can change it.

You have time.

The question is what you're doing with it.

Done negotiating.

-Joel