Time Has a Speed Limit (And It’s Getting Faster)

James Smith, Executive Director

I’ve always considered time management one of my strengths—schedules, priorities, goal setting, discipline. But at 56, time itself feels different.

It’s not just about checking off tasks anymore—it’s about appreciating how quickly seasons pass and how precious this one is right now. In my 20s, the movie Dead Poets Society left a mark on me with its famous reminder: Carpe diem—seize the day. Make your life extraordinary. That challenge has shaped my thinking ever since.

Now I realize something even deeper: the key to an extraordinary life isn’t about squeezing more into your days—it’s about honoring your time by investing it in what matters most, both at work and at home.

After all, we all get the same 168 hours each week.That was enough time for Leonardo da Vinci, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk… and it’s enough for you and me too.

But here’s the question: How are we actually using those hours? Are we procrastinating? Distracted? Caught up in busyness?

Or are we leaning in—building meaningful relationships, achieving goals, planning well, and living with purpose?

1️⃣ Time Feels Faster Because It Is Faster (To Us)

As we get older, summers, holidays, and milestones seem to arrive faster and faster. If you’re a business owner, a leader, a parent, or a grandparent, you know this feeling intimately.

For me, watching my grandkids grow up feels like watching my own kids on fast-forward. The truth is, time isn’t actually moving faster—it’s that I’ve become more aware of its limits.

2️⃣ The Cost of Waiting

How many times have we said, “I’ll do that next year,” or “when things slow down”?

• The project we mean to start.

• The coffee we keep postponing.

• The dream trip we push further down the road.

Here’s the thing: there is no perfect time. The windows of opportunity close faster than we think—and often without warning.

3️⃣ The “Do It Now” Philosophy

I’ve stolen (borrowed!) a practice from Jesse Itzler:

• Each year, I pick one big, year-defining goal (This isn't really new for me, I've always been goal oriented. But being proactive about it is something I've started thinking more about. A Big, Year-defining thing could be writing a book, starting a business, taking a trip of a life-time, backing the Grand Canyon, writing a play, etc...)

• And I plan six mini-adventures to break routine and recharge. (Learn something new, go somewhere I've not gone before, try something outside the comfort zone. It could be something like go to a Major League BAseball game if I've never done that, take a art class, hike a new trail, etc...)

These aren’t distractions from work—they’re an investment in keeping life full, creative, and inspired. And when my personal life is full and my relationships at home are strong, my work life is better, too.

We must stop thinking of time management as only a work skill. Time is life’s most valuable, nonrenewable asset.

4️⃣ Carpe Diem Isn’t Just for Vacations

Dead Poets Society wasn’t just about poets—it was about choosing to live fully today. As leaders, that means:

• Acting now instead of waiting for ideal conditions.

• Picking up the phone today.

• Scheduling the lunch this week.

• Writing the business plan this quarter.

• Taking the trip with the people who matter while the window is still open.

Conclusion: Your 168-Hour Challenge

So here’s my challenge for you—and for myself: What are you doing with your 168 hours this week? What’s your one big goal for this year and how are you doing toward achieving it? When will you schedule your next mini-adventure?

Time isn’t speeding up—it’s simply reminding us of how precious it is. Let’s stop waiting. Let’s build something extraordinary—today.