After sharing how I choose family over resentment, I know what some of you are thinking: “This sounds nice, Jerad, but what about my goals? My business? My dreams? Am I supposed to just sacrifice everything I want to achieve?”
I get it. I used to think the same thing.
In my 20s, I worked long hours and realized that if I ever wanted a family, something would have to change. But even with that awareness, I had no idea just how much time a family would actually take, especially with today’s expectations around sports, school involvement, and activities. We’re not idle people.
Here’s what I discovered: It’s never been easier to work on your career and move forward. You just have to find ways to be creative.
Where most people believe success comes from the amount of hours and days on the calendar they’re willing to commit, I believe it comes from focus and intentionality.
My career is where it is because I continue to show up and do the work that matters most, knowing I don’t have as much time as others are willing to commit. That limitation forces me to use my time as wisely as I can. Is time still a limiting factor for me? Of course it is.
Choosing family first means less time available for career and personal goals. That means you have to be crystal clear on your goals and figure out how to achieve them with the time you actually have, not the time you wish you had.
That’s how I was able to get my pilot’s license, start distance running, and learn to play drums in recent years, without robbing time from my family. I’m certainly not the best at any of those hobbies, but I get to enjoy them instead of being frustrated by not achieving my goals and mentally blaming my family.
What if choosing your family first is actually the secret to achieving your biggest goals?
When you stop fighting for more time and start maximizing the time you have, everything changes. Your focus sharpens. Your priorities clarify. Your family supports your goals because they know they come first.
The dream isn’t less time. The dream is peace with the time you have.