Do your actions match your aspirations?

I often find myself in a familiar cycle: working my ass off, feeling busier than ever — but going nowhere. Like running on a treadmill. I’m ticking off all the little things on my to-do list, jumping from one task to the next, and keeping myself in motion — but despite the max effort, it’s not adding up to anything meaningful.

It’s so easy to mistake activity for progress, but sometimes you’ve gotta ask yourself: “Do your actions match your aspirations?”

We all have big dreams for our business, and at least some idea of the next big milestone we want to hit. But instead of tackling the big, scary, challenging stuff, it’s easier to stay busy with the little things…

Replying to emails, tweaking the website, fiddling with social media — it keeps us moving, but are we moving forward? If I’m honest with myself, I know I spend too much time hiding in those small, manageable tasks because it’s easy and feels productive.

Every now and then, we need to take a step back, look at where our time is going, and ask: What do I really want? Are my daily actions moving me closer to that, or am I just spinning my wheels?

In TABLE (our private mastermind groups) we’ve adopted a new system of prioritizing our biggest goals, identifying how to measure progress toward them, and regularly reporting on where we stand. It’s a simple system, but it forces you to focus on what truly matters and not just what keeps you busy.

The act of prioritizing alone is eye-opening, but holding yourself accountable to tracking your progress regularly is such an important piece of making sure you’re not wasting time — you’re spending it wisely. And it’s a lot harder to lie to yourself when the numbers are in black and white, staring you in the face.

You, me, and all of the most successful people on earth all have the same 24 hours in a day. The difference between spinning your wheels and moving forward comes down to how you choose to spend them.

We can be hamsters on a wheel, lost in the repetitive grind, or we can be sculptors, carving out our time with precision and purpose.

So, the next time you catch yourself lost in the whirlwind of busywork, stop and ask yourself: Are you running toward something, or just running in place?