Success Advice
“Busy” Is The Worst Answer You Can Ever Give.
“Busy” is the answer a loser gives. The only thing I feel when people say this to me is pity. It’s a damn shame that we allow such a simple word to screw up our life and guarantee we will never achieve anything meaningful.
People are throwing the busy word around way too much. It’s meaning has become lost.
Busy is not a badge of honor either. It’s a joke.
When people drop the busy word, I think of that horrible Shania Twain song “That don’t impress me much Oh-oo-oh.”
Do you want to sound like a bad 90’s song? Of course not.
Why “busy” is the worst answer you can give.
It’s quite simple: when you say you’re busy you’re really saying to the person you’re directing it to that they’re not important – you’re pretty much making them feel like dirt.
Consider people’s feelings before you use the word busy because it’s not that far away from telling people to “F off mate!” which is what you’re really saying.
Tell the truth.
Often the word busy is an excuse or a lie. Tell the truth instead. People will respect you much more for it.
“Being faced with an opportunity that means nothing to you is okay. Tell the requester the real reason and cheer for them on the sidelines instead”
Also, be quick about it. Don’t tell people your life story or hit them with one of those automatic reply’s that has 1000 words in it and makes you sound like a total ass who is in love with themselves.
Just respond with a couple of sentences and be quick, as well as nice about it.
End of story. Thanks for playing.
Busy sounds cool. Busy is your ego talking.
That’s why people use the word. If you’re not busy, then you must not be cool or doing anything meaningful. “Why aren’t you stressed and doing Yoga” many busy people often think quietly to themselves.
My approach is a lot different. I think if you’re busy and stressed then you’re heading nowhere fast. Busy often means that the quality of your work is crap.
Busy means you are a jack of all trades master of none.
Doing lots of stuff, without focus will translate into zero time. Zero time equals busy.
My question to all the busy people is this: If you’re so busy and have zero time, what are you going to do when the opportunity of a lifetime comes by?
In reality, that’s often what happens. A great opportunity comes knocking at your door – often in disguise – and you say no because you are busy. Stupid.
Busy is a lack of discipline.
There’s that ugly mofo word again. It’s in almost every one of my blog posts. Busy is a choice that comes from someone who lacks discipline. Discipline is doing less so you can eventually experience fulfillment.
Resisting the temptation to say yes to every cold email, every Facebook message, every podcast request, every opportunity to speak in front of an audience, etc. is hard. It takes courage and guts to avoid loading up your calendar with stuff you’ll regret later, that brings you no joy.
Diet takes discipline; the gym takes discipline; business takes discipline; success takes discipline.
Wake up! Rise up!
“Embrace the art of discipline so you can avoid the mirage of busy”
Saying no takes discipline and it stops the busy train wreck.
The answer to all of this busyness talk is the word “no.”
No equals more time.
No equals focus.
No is the antidote to busy.
Say no and follow these rules:
– Be respectful
– Explain why and be honest
– Do so swiftly and don’t drag it out
– Don’t complain about it later like a sook
This advice seems harsh and that’s because it is. The trap of busy is easy to fall into and unless I explain it in harsh terms, you’ll probably dismiss it and go back to being busy. That would be a fail.
Busy means you are not present.
To translate that into psychological terms, being busy is not living in the moment which means you’re living in the future, or the past or both. The past can make you depressed and the future can make you anxious. Both these outcomes are very common with people that consider themselves busy.
“Once you throw the busy excuse in the bin, you start to find yourself living in the moment more. You have space. You have time. You can do cool stuff. You can high five if that’s your thing (it might be mine – just putting it out there)”
Confessions of a former busy person.
This advice about being busy sounds spot on, doesn’t it? You know why?
I’ll tell you why: you’re hearing the advice from someone who was the ultimate example of busyness. There were days when I didn’t even have time for a piss I was so busy. I said yes to everything and was paranoid about what people thought of me.
It was this paranoia that drove me to the madness that is busy.
I thought every yes was an opportunity and I didn’t let gut feelings or the way I felt, influence my decision-making ability. Often, I’d say yes and then feel like crap shortly after.
All of the busyness got me nowhere. I became burnt out, pissed off, negative and unproductive.
I thought busyness was being productive and that it would lead to some form of success. It was all a lie. Fast forward five years and I now have empty space, and time to do meaningful work. Win.
You have to stop being so busy. It’s messing with your ability achieve your goals.
If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net
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Personal Development
These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident
Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.
Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.
But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.
Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.
1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task
Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.
After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.
Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.
But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.
2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First
Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.
Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”
For example, if you’re a writer:
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Research your topic at night.
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Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).
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Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.
You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.
3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace
Focus is the foundation of success.
According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.
Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.
Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.
4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life
Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”
This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.
If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.
5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills
Knowledge compounds over time.
Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.
I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.
Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.
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A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.
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A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.
Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.
7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You
I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.
If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.
Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.
Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.
8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions
Good mentors can fast-track your growth.
While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.
If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.
9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations
Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”
Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.
When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.
10. Focus on Your Strengths
Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.
If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.
A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.
Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.
11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs
Your beliefs shape your reality.
For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.
Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.
Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.
Final Thoughts
Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.
Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.
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