Sliding Doors, Time Blocking, and the Battle for Your Life  (2 Min Read) | Vol. 185

January 9, 2026

Quick Note: Today’s email is about the battle for your calendar. If that battle feels real to you, the First Domino is designed to help. Doors are open until January 14th, with just a few spots remaining. Learn more here →

“Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One person gets only a week’s value out of a year while another gets a full year’s value out of a week.” — Charles Richards

Sliding Doors, Time Blocking, and the Battle for Your Life

Some days play out like the movie Sliding Doors. [Spoiler alert!] In the film, Helen’s life splits into two realities based on whether or not she catches her train home. In one reality, Helen loses her life. In the other, Helen finds the love of her life.

Okay, the stakes aren’t quite so high between 9 and 5. But the difference between a productive or pointless day can hinge on a seemingly benign decision. Do you let “yes” be your default to meeting invites or decline for a time that matches your priorities? Will you dive into your most important work or dip into that inbox? Do you take your coffee with a dollop of doom-scrolling or review your goals for the day? Make the wrong call early, and busyness buries your day. You do a lot of things, but none of them matter.

Small choices speed or steal your momentum. 

The most successful people schedule their days around their priorities. They time block. The right of way always goes to their ONE Thing. It gets booked early before life has a chance to ambush their plans. Because their default answer to everything else is “no,” they have margin in their schedule. Successful people are able to prep, think, and plan, which leads to better decisions (especially with their time.) It’s a virtuous cycle.  

Ultimately, their job is to live their schedule and their calendar becomes the contract. Without it, there’s no real commitment. If it’s not booked, it’s overlooked.

Author Bob Goff once wrote, “The battle for our hearts is fought on the pages of our calendars.” I agree. How we invest our time today shapes both our today and our tomorrow.

One question to ponder in your thinking time: Do I own my calendar or does it own me? 

Make an Impact!
Jay Papasan
Co-author of The ONE Thing, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent & author of The Rookie Real Estate Agent