It’s Tuesday at 11:30 PM. I’m at the dining table in our apartment. My wife is in bed in the next room. The lights are off, so I can keep the bedroom door open. Jax, our cat, meows at closed doors and needs to come and go. My screen brightness is all the way up. I’m finishing this.
I had planned to sit down and write on Monday night like I usually do, edit on Tuesday, and ship Wednesday morning, scheduled for my 8:05 AM send.
I am behind.
It has been a jam-packed day. I created a proposal to start a new department for my boss, sat through back-to-back meetings, and had no time for myself. Lunch was at 3 PM after I finally pried myself away from my desk, and I just reheated leftovers from the night before. I also accidentally left my dog, Bear, at the groomer for three extra hours after missing six calls between 3 PM and 5:57 PM. I felt awful for leaving him there and was beyond embarrassed. I had never done that before and couldn’t believe it happened.
Despite the craziness, today wasn’t the day I was going to falter. I made a commitment to myself that this year I would publish 52 weeks in a row.
Keeping my word is part of my code. It builds trust and helps you accomplish things that would otherwise feel out of reach. You leap before you look. Sticking to the game plan keeps you on track.
If I get off course or start missing the deadline, I start to convince myself that my word is negotiable. It is not. I will never negotiate with myself. That doesn’t make it easier. Big goals mean doing hard things. It takes real work and real effort. Balancing the day job, family, and a side hustle can be a lot.
But it’s a lot in the best way. I feel like I’m doing something with my life. I don’t always get the balance right, but I keep trying. I have used being too busy as a reason not to follow through, and I have heard it from others. What helps is simple: decide once and follow through, even when it’s uncomfortable.
When I started building 500+, it was because my professional network felt too busy for me. I wanted people who would show up, and I wanted to be that person for others. I still meet plenty who cannot make the time, but I am also meeting more who do. It has been incredible.