If someone followed you around for a week, how serious would they think you are about your goals?
That's the question Chris Woods asks every executive he coaches. And it's uncomfortable for a reason.
Chris works specifically with men in corporate roles -executives, sales leaders, senior professionals. These are people who often have significant control over their calendars but convince themselves otherwise.
"We all have the same 24 hours," Chris says. "Don't tell me you don't have time. Because that's bullshit. Let's follow the time."
The Observation Test
Here's what Chris does with his clients: He asks them to imagine a documentary crew following them around for seven days. No edits. No highlights. Just raw footage.
"If someone followed you around for a week, how serious would they think you are about achieving your goals?"
What would they see during your lunch break? What happens after work? How much time are you spending on social media?
Most people can justify their schedule in their heads. But the camera doesn't lie.
The Real Problem Isn't Time
The issue isn't a lack of hours. It's a lack of awareness about where those hours actually go.
"A lot of times, we have kind of trained ourselves to be distracted as opposed to being focused. And it's easy in this day and age to be distracted."
Your brain seeks dopamine. Distractions are plentiful. And before you know it, you've convinced yourself that the goal is impossible because you "don't have time."
But you do. You just haven't been honest about where it's going.
The Trade-Off Nobody Wants to Make
Chris gets real about what achieving goals actually requires:
"Can you just keep adding things on or are there things that are going to need to be shaken out?"
You can't add a major goal to your life without removing something else. That's not pessimism -that's math.
The question isn't "How do I fit this in?" It's "What am I willing to cut?"
The Tracker Test
Chris recommends something simple: Put trackers on your phone. Look at your screen time report. Actually see where your attention goes.
"I'm not telling people they can't be on social media at all," he explains. "But don't tell me you don't have time. Because we all have the same 24 hours and we just decide what our priorities are."
The data will tell you what you actually prioritize. And it might not be what you think.
The Accountability Layer
Here's where the real transformation happens. Awareness isn't enough on its own. You need something -or someone -to keep you honest.
"That's an opportunity to be able to use self-discipline, self-awareness, working with a coach, but then also how can you leverage technology and kind of reminders and filters to keep you on task."
Whether it's a coach, a tool, or a system, you need external accountability. Your own willpower isn't reliable. Your excuses are too creative.
The Path Forward
Here's what to do if you've been telling yourself you don't have time:
- Run the observation test. Imagine that documentary crew. What would they actually see?
- Track your time for one week. No judgment -just data. Screen time apps, calendars, everything.
- Identify the leaks. Where are the hours going that you didn't realize?
- Make the trade-off. Pick one thing you'll stop doing to make room for your goal.
- Add accountability. Tell someone your plan. Better yet, give them permission to call you out.
The uncomfortable truth is that you already have time for your goals. You've just been spending it on other things.
Chris Woods is an executive coach who works with men from early to late career. Learn more at chriswoodscoach.com.