The Three Words That Were Killing My Leadership
Why "I don't have time" was the most expensive phrase in my vocabulary.
I said it 47 times a day during the busiest period of my Google career.
Then my 12-year-old daughter called me out.
The Wake-Up Call
"Mom, you never have time anymore. You have time for work, but not for the things that matter."
That night, I realized something that changed my entire approach to leadership:
"I don't have time" wasn't protecting my schedule—it was programming my powerlessness.
The Language Trap Every Leader Falls Into
Every time I said those three words, I was unconsciously telling my brain:
I don't control my choices
I'm a victim of circumstances
Other people decide my priorities
No wonder I felt overwhelmed and out of control.
So I tried a radical experiment.
What Happened When I Banned This Phrase
For one week, I eliminated "I don't have time" from my vocabulary entirely.
Instead, I told the truth about my choices.
The results shocked me.
Six months later, our team performance reviews revealed something remarkable: the language change had transformed our entire culture.
The Hidden Power of Leadership Language
In this week's newsletter, I reveal:
The exact phrases that replaced "I don't have time" (and why they work)
How this shift improved our team's project delivery by 23%
The 48-hour language audit that exposes your hidden power leaks
Why choice-based language creates better business results than victim language
Because activated leaders don't happen to circumstances. They create them.
And it starts with the words you choose.
Transform your leadership language, transform your results.
