“We can be great at any one thing in this life if we stop trying to be good at so many things.”

To build a great life, a successful life and a great business or career – we must define our limited view of success and dedicate our lives to making that vision of success happen.

The key word in that phrase is “limited.”

Each of us can be great at something, even good at two or three things. But, as we add more “somethings” to our lists of things we want to be good at, we begin to sacrifice those critical few things that are most important.

I have no idea why God limited our lives to 24 hours in a day and made our bodies need sleep, exercise, prayer and meditation on His word – but He did.

That 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week limitation is what we are all stuck with. Whoever we admire in life accomplished what they did with the same limitation we have – just 24 hours in a day.

The only way we can be great at what matters most is to focus our efforts. We must define our very limited definition of a successful life and build that life brick by brick, skill by skill, habit by habit.

I struggle mightily with creating these limits in my life. I want to be everyone’s best friend, a great triathlete, amazing community citizen, wonderful husband, dad and follower of Christ while being the best business advisor in the world.

Slowly – very slowly – I am realizing that I cannot accomplish all of these. Especially, not right now.

Right now, my family is in an amazing season of life where we have young kids in the house. Kids that still want our attention every minute. Everyone keeps telling me and I’m trying to grasp how short this season will be.

Right now, I’ve got to be comfortable saying no to a lot. No to lunches and coffees I’d love to do. No to business opportunities that are not the next best step toward the business I am working to build.

I must say no for now and know that is not a no forever. I might pick up triathlon again – just not now. I might be able to sit on that charitable board some day – just not now.

There are a ton of good things we could be doing. But if we fill up our lives with these good activities, they will crowd out the essential few activities that allow us to build a great life.

It is our job to keep our businesses, lives and families focused on the essential activities that will lead to our “limited” definitions of success.

We must realize that every time we say yes to one thing, we are saying no to something else. I love this quote from John Maxwell – “We cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.”

What do you need to say no to so you can make more time for the most important?