Managing Yourself, Not Your Time

Maggie Ellis

Hey everyone, welcome back to Being Disruptive! I’m Maggie Ellis, and I’m here with the one and only Darren Colby. Darren, you ready to ruffle some feathers today?

Darren Colby

Always, Maggie. Especially when it comes to time management. Or, should I say, the myth of time management. I mean, we all get the same 24 hours, right? No matter how many apps you download or planners you buy, you can’t squeeze in a 25th hour.

Maggie Ellis

Exactly! I used to think if I just found the right system, I’d finally get everything done. But, like, time doesn’t change. It’s us who have to change. I think that’s the part nobody wants to admit.

Darren Colby

Yeah, it’s all about managing ourselves, not the clock. I remember this one time at a client site—true story—I spent an entire day just cleaning out my email inbox. I thought I was being productive, but honestly, I was just avoiding the real work. I mean, who hasn’t fallen into that trap?

Maggie Ellis

Oh, totally. My personal time-waster? Scrolling through Slack channels. I tell myself it’s “collaboration,” but really, it’s just me procrastinating. And don’t get me started on social media. I’ll check one notification and suddenly it’s lunchtime.

Darren Colby

I think we all have those “time bandits.” For some people it’s endless meetings, for others it’s fantasy football or, I don’t know, talking about lunch while eating lunch. The point is, if you don’t know where your time is going, you can’t do anything about it.

Maggie Ellis

So, Darren, do you think people can really change how they approach their 24 hours? Or are we just doomed to repeat the same mistakes?

Darren Colby

I mean, I think it’s possible, but it’s not easy. You have to get brutally honest about your habits. Like, what are you actually doing all day? Are you working, or just being busy? There’s a difference.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, and sometimes it’s uncomfortable to admit how much time we waste. But that’s the first step, right? You can’t fix what you won’t face.

Darren Colby

So, let’s talk about what you actually do once you realize you’re the problem. Setting clear behavioral goals is huge. Maggie, didn’t you do a week without Slack once? How’d that go?

Maggie Ellis

Oh man, it was wild. I went a whole week—okay, almost a whole week—without checking Slack during work hours. I wanted to see if I could actually focus on deep work. The first day, I kept reaching for my phone like a reflex. But by day three, I was getting so much more done. It was like, wow, my brain actually works when I’m not pinged every five seconds.

Darren Colby

That’s impressive. I’m not sure I could survive a day without Outlook. But that’s the thing—using tools and routines can help, if you use them intentionally. I live by my Outlook calendar, and I’ve got this old-school planner for jotting down priorities. It’s not fancy, but it works for me.

Maggie Ellis

I’m a color-coded to-do list person. Like, I have highlighters for everything. It looks like a unicorn exploded on my desk, but it helps me see what’s urgent and what can wait. And honestly, just having a routine—like, starting my day with a quick planning session—makes a huge difference.

Darren Colby

And it’s not just about personal habits. I worked with a manufacturing team that was drowning in meetings. We set strict time limits—like, 20 minutes, hard stop. Suddenly, people came prepared, and output went up. Sometimes, you just need a little structure to force better behavior.

Maggie Ellis

Yeah, and tracking your progress matters too. Like, if you set a goal to cut down on email, actually measure it. Otherwise, it’s just wishful thinking. And don’t forget to organize your systems—if you’re wasting time looking for files, that’s time you’re never getting back.

Darren Colby

Totally. And, uh, don’t try to invent some fancy tool you’ll never use. Stick with what works for you. The point is to make your behaviors work for your goals, not the other way around.

Maggie Ellis

So, here’s where it gets interesting—personality types. I love this part. There’s the Fireman, always putting out fires; the Over-Committer, who can’t say no; the Aquarian, who’s just way too chill; Chatty Kathy, who, well, talks a lot; and the Perfectionist, who can’t let anything go until it’s perfect. Darren, which one are you?

Darren Colby

Oh, I’m definitely the Over-Committer. I used to say yes to everything—projects, committees, you name it. I’d end up hiding in the break room just to catch my breath. It took me years to realize that saying no isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. Once I got more self-aware, I started delegating more, and honestly, my team got stronger because of it.

Maggie Ellis

I think I’m a recovering Perfectionist. I’d spend way too long tweaking things that didn’t really matter. Now, I try to ask myself, “Is this good enough to move forward?” instead of “Is this perfect?” It’s a work in progress, though. Old habits die hard.

Darren Colby

And that’s the key, right? Recognizing your own patterns. If you’re always in crisis mode, maybe you’re the Fireman. If you’re chatting instead of working, well, you know who you are. The point is, you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.

Maggie Ellis

And as leaders, it’s not just about us. If you know your team’s styles, you can help them adapt too. Like, maybe your Chatty Kathy needs more structure, or your Aquarian needs a nudge to hit deadlines. It’s all about self-awareness and helping others grow, too.

Darren Colby

Yeah, and when you get that right, you’re not just managing yourself better—you’re helping your whole team be more productive. It’s not about squeezing more into the day, it’s about making the day work for you and your people.

Maggie Ellis

Alright, I think that’s a good place to wrap for today. Remember, you can’t manage time, but you can manage yourself. And that’s where real leadership starts.

Darren Colby

Couldn’t have said it better. Thanks for hanging out with us, everyone. We’ll be back soon with more ways to disrupt the status quo—without losing your mind.

Maggie Ellis

Catch you next time, Darren. And thanks to everyone for listening. Go be disruptive—just, you know, in a good way. Bye!

Darren Colby

See ya, Maggie. Take care, everyone!