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It’s Never About a Lack of Time. It’s Always About a Lack of Priorities.

Kim Anthony • October 7, 2022

By Carl Pullein

We all have too much to do and only 24 hours to do it. We cannot change the amount of available time; That’s fixed. We need to look at the other side of the equation — the stuff we have to do. It’s there where we do have some control.

One way we have tried to solve this problem is to use task managers. It makes sense — collect all the things you have to do in a list, and then start at the top and work your way down until you finish everything. Sounds great in theory, but in practice, this leads to overwhelm. It does not solve the underlying problem — too much to do, too little time to do it.

Perhaps, a solution.

Let’s step back. If we accept we cannot do everything, and we cannot change the amount of time we have, what can we do to resolve this problem?

The place to start is to know what is important. How do we do that? Here there is a hierarchy of things that are usually missed, yet, the most productive (and, by consequence, successful) people use this hierarchy every day to ensure the right things are being done. The less important are relegated to the “if I have time” category.

What is the hierarchy?

The hierarchy begins with your long-term vision of the life you want to live. This does not need to be a perfect, crystal clear vision, just some idea of how you would like to live your life. This will involve your career, your family life, the places you wish to visit, where you hope to live, and the hobbies you would like to do.

From this vision, you can extract insights into the person you want to be — or need to be — to accomplish the things you have visualised.

For example, if you visualise living in a home in the countryside, where you can go hiking in the hills every day, spend a few hours restoring an old Land Rover, and read the books you enjoy reading, you have something you can work with.

To be able to do this, there will be several things you need to do now. The first is to take care of your finances. You won’t live in a comfortable home in the countryside if you spend your income frivolously. You have to be saving a sufficient amount each month. Equally, you won’t be hiking anywhere if you neglect your health. Poor diets and a lack of exercise are among the most significant contributors to serious health issues later in life.

You may also decide to go to night school to learn car maintenance. Learning how to weld, rebuild engines and restore drive trains.

The vision of the life you want to live gives you the motivation and direction to develop your skills, abilities, and education, so you can live the life you intend to live.

Areas of Focus

Next comes our areas of focus — the important things to us: Family, friends, our career, finances, health and fitness, personal development, and our mission in life. If any of these areas become neglected, you will become anxious and stressed.

When you haven’t considered these critical areas of your life, you will react to events around you. It leaves you feeling unfulfilled and out of balance with the person you want to be.

When you take time to develop these areas, understanding what each one means to you and knowing what you need to do to keep things in balance, you find you have much more control over what happens to you.

The activities (tasks) that come from these areas are not time-consuming. For instance, in my family and relationships area, I have a task to call my parents every week and have an evening out with my friends and or family. Both are enjoyable activities that involve a few hours each week.

I have thirty minutes of learning each evening set aside for my self-development area. That could be reading a book, an article, or taking a course.

We are not talking hours each day spent working on your areas of focus. These are just a few simple habits that keep you in balance.

Having a vision of the life you want to live and knowing what your areas of focus mean to you ensures your daily actions align with your ideal self. It’s there that you develop a sense of achievement and happiness in what you are doing because you are aligned with the vision of how you would like to be.

Your Core Work


Your  core work is the work you are employed to do. Not the work you volunteered to do.

What often happens in our professional lives is we end up “volunteering’ for work we were not originally employed to do. For instance, if you are employed as a salesperson, your job is to sell your company’s products. It is not to sit in meetings with colleagues discussing the end-of-year party or solving other people’s problems.

One of the best things you can do is list all the activities that directly contribute to the results you are evaluated on. Sales is typically an easy one to do, as you will be evaluated on your sales performance and the relationship with your customers. So what can you do each day that will directly impact these results?

For me, writing these blog posts, recording my YouTube videos and podcast directly impacts the people I want to help. This means I ensure I have sufficient time to do my writing and recording when I plan my week. Only after I have scheduled my core activities in my calendar will I know how much time I have available for meetings and other commitments.


Everything else.

Once you have the activities that will move you towards your vision, keep your areas of focus in balance and ensure the work you are employed to do gets done, you will bring in everything else.

A lot of what drops into the “everything else” category is loud. It’s screaming, and it is demanding attention NOW. It’s challenging to ignore, so what do we do? We just do the task, hoping that things will quieten down once we do it and get it out of the way.

But that doesn’t happen, does it? Why? Because there will always be something screaming and shouting for your attention, and you cannot do them all. If you do, you neglect everything else that IS important — your long-term vision, your areas of focus and your core work.

Now, I can’t prescribe a magic pill to solve this for you. The only way to do this is to accept you will have to become uncomfortable. You will have to say: “No. I’m sorry, I cannot do that”.

If you are not prepared to become uncomfortable here, you will not grow. All growth, whether developing your sales, public speaking or parenting skills, will be uncomfortable initially. That’s the beauty of growth. You never grow by staying inside your comfort zone. You grow by pushing and expanding your comfort zone.

The great thing about comfort zones is they are not fixed. You can expand them at any time. You just have to be uncomfortable for a week or two as you push the barriers outward. For example, learning to say “no” will be uncomfortable initially, but you soon become comfortable with it with practice.

My advice is to stop trying to bend the laws of time — you cannot win that one. Instead, allow yourself some time to visualise the life you want to live, establish what your areas of focus are and get clear about your core work. Then, prioritise the tasks that drive these things forward, and you will find you are a lot less stressed, feel more in balance with your ideal self and get an incredible amount of worthwhile things done.

Thank you for reading Carl's stories! 😊

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By Kim Anthony November 24, 2025
AStory of Representation, Innovation, and the Next Chapter of Urban Economic Power Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) has announced a powerful new chapter in its legacy of economic mobility and community-centered entrepreneurship: Alexia Grevious Henderson has been named President of Magic Johnson Enterprises, effective immediately. Her appointment signals more than a promotion — it represents a generational shift. It affirms the rise of a new class of visionary leaders who understand that wealth-building, community uplift, and strategic innovation must move together. A Leader Rooted in Excellence — and Built for Impact Since joining MJE in 2017 as Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, Henderson has steadily advanced, proving herself to be a builder, a strategist, and a trusted architect of the MJE brand. Most recently, as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, she led: High-level corporate partnerships Fulfillment of national and global brand contracts Integrated marketing and communications efforts that expanded MJE’s influence and reach Under her leadership, MJE strengthened its position as one of the most respected vehicles for community-driven economic growth. Magic Johnson himself affirmed her brilliance: “Alexia is one of the brightest young minds in business today. Her leadership and creativity have elevated our brand, our partnerships, and our mission.” Her track record reflects what the Urban Enterprise Framework celebrates: excellence, service, access, and the advancement of historically underestimated communities. A Career Anchored in Purpose Before MJE, Henderson gained experience with the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins) and began her career with the NCAA in Indianapolis. Her work and reputation have earned her national recognition, including being named: Sports Business Journal’s “30 New Voices Under 30” Diverse Representation’s “Top Ten to Watch” Beyond corporate success, she serves on the board of A.Bevy, an arts and education nonprofit helping young adults find clarity in their passion, path, and purpose — embodying the Urban Enterprise principle that leadership is service. A Powerful Representation Moment for Urban America The Urban Enterprise Framework recognizes milestones like this as more than professional wins — they are community wins. Henderson’s presidency represents: A breakthrough for women in the C-suite leadership A breakthrough for Black leaders shaping national economic strategy A breakthrough for the next generation for urban innovators and changemakers Rooted in Community, Positioned for Global Impact A native of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Henderson is a graduate of Clemson University and holds an MBA from Pepperdine University. She now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Aaron — the heart of a city where entrepreneurship, entertainment, and community-driven innovation intersect. About Magic Johnson Enterprises Founded by Earvin “Magic” Johnson, MJE is a diversified investment company committed to lifting communities through strategic partnerships across entertainment, sports, technology, real estate, and more. Its work aligns deeply with the Urban Enterprise Framework: building access, expanding ownership, and driving economic mobility in urban and underestimated communities.
By Kim Anthony November 17, 2025
In the tapestry of American entrepreneurship, one thread has been tugged and twisted for centuries. It’s the thread of access—or rather, the lack of it. Access to capital. Access to ownership. Access to the kind of financial tools that build legacies and create wealth that lasts. For Black entrepreneurs, this thread remains stubbornly unfinished. Not because of a lack of brilliance, hustle, or vision, but because the capital necessary to scale dreams has too often been withheld. Into that longstanding gap steps the Black Cooperative Impact Fund (BCIF)—an organization that is more than a lender. It is a force. A movement. A quiet revolution wrapped in the conviction that Black economic power isn’t optional. It’s essential. BCIF isn’t simply distributing money. It is rewriting the narrative of what’s possible for Black entrepreneurs in Southern California. It is challenging the old assumptions about who gets funded, who gets to grow, and who gets to build the kind of wealth that outlives them. A Revolution Rooted in Economic Empowerment When you encounter BCIF for the first time, you feel it—an energy, a heartbeat, a purpose. Their declaration comes with clarity and courage: “Economic empowerment is our revolution.” It isn’t rhetoric. It’s strategy. BCIF understands what many overlook: When Black entrepreneurs thrive, everything around them transforms. Families stabilize. Neighborhoods shift. Wealth accumulates. Opportunities multiply. And a new kind of freedom emerges—one built not on survival but on ownership, agency, and possibility. This isn’t transactional lending. This is long-term social change. This is equity in motion. This is self-determination at scale. A Mission Built for Liberation BCIF operates as a community-rooted 501(c)(3) with a mission that is both practical and visionary. They provide interest-free microloans to Black-owned businesses that are committed to building economic power in their own communities. Their work plants seeds—assets, living-wage jobs, generational wealth—that grow into something far larger than a single enterprise. Their vision reaches further: to help close the racial wealth gap by supporting the entrepreneurs who already stand at the forefront of Black economic advancement. The innovators. The creatives. The problem-solvers. The community builders. They have the ideas, the grit, and the drive—but too often, not the fair and accessible capital to match. BCIF’s goal is as ambitious as it is necessary: to become the leading microloan provider for Black-owned businesses in Southern California and to fund 1,000 thriving enterprises by 2040. It’s more than a benchmark. It’s a blueprint—a long-term strategy to transform the economic landscape of a region. What Sets BCIF Apart In a financial world cluttered with red tape and barriers, BCIF stands in a different posture. Their funding model is rooted in clarity, trust, and community. Their loans carry no interest—none. No fees. No predatory terms disguised as support. Just capital that stays exactly where it belongs: circulating inside Black businesses and Black communities. Their focus is intentional. While many organizations speak broadly about “diverse markets,” BCIF centers the Black community unapologetically. Because closing the racial wealth gap requires direct investment—not generic, not diluted, not symbolic. And unlike traditional lenders, BCIF refuses to create hoops meant to disqualify. There is no punishing jargon, no unnecessarily restrictive approval processes. Their model is transparent and accessible, designed to empower instead of exclude. Every loan comes back into the fund, where it becomes fuel for the next entrepreneur. One business’s repayment becomes another business’s opportunity. It is the purest expression of cooperative economics—each success feeding the next, each win lifting the community higher. Why BCIF Matters—For Business, Community, and Justice It’s simple to say, “We support Black businesses.” It’s much harder to build systems that make that support real. BCIF understands that business ownership is one of the most powerful pathways to generational wealth. Ownership changes everything—income, options, legacy. Black-owned businesses also create the kind of jobs that stabilize communities and expand opportunity from the inside out. They also understand that the racial wealth gap is not a coincidence. It is structural. Deliberate. Historical. And so the solution must be structural too. BCIF doesn’t offer charity—they offer infrastructure: accessible capital, community investment, and a circular system that sustains itself. Their model ensures that every loan becomes the seed of another. Entrepreneurs support each other without ever having to meet. It is wealth-building as community practice. How the Model Comes Alive BCIF’s approach to lending is as human-centered as their mission. Black entrepreneurs across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties can apply at any time throughout the year. The screening is thorough but fair, typically taking about four weeks, with approved businesses receiving capital within two. Most of the money donated—about three-quarters—flows directly into loans. The remainder supports operations, ensuring the fund is sustainable long term. There is no profit motive behind these decisions. Only impact. Your Vision and BCIF’s Vision Intertwine If you care about thriving Black communities… If you believe in entrepreneurs who create opportunity where there was none… If you believe economic justice is part of social justice… Then your values are already reflected in BCIF’s work. And there are powerful ways to stand with the movement. You can partner—bringing BCIF into your events, networks, and business circles. You can refer—connecting Black-owned businesses that simply need a fair chance. Or you can amplify—sharing BCIF’s message, because visibility is power and stories ignite movements. A Call to Step Into the Revolution Revolutions don’t begin in crowds. They begin in convictions—one person choosing to act, then another, and another. BCIF is constructing a new economic reality, and you are invited to help shape it. If you’re a Black entrepreneur in Southern California, you can apply for an interest-free loan. If you believe in economic justice, you can invest in the fund that invests in your community. If you want Black economic power to rise, you can share this mission with those who need to hear it. Every voice matters. Every connection matters. Every resource matters. The Final Word BCIF isn’t simply offering loans—they are shifting power. They are challenging the narrative of who gets funded, who gets trusted, who gets to build wealth, and who gets to shape the future. They are proving that wealth creation is not a luxury or an afterthought. It is a pathway to justice. A pathway to freedom. A pathway to a better tomorrow. The Black Cooperative Impact Fund is more than a financial institution. It is a catalyst. A movement. A reclaiming of possibility. And the story is still being written.
By Kim Anthony September 4, 2023
The prospect of running for public office is both exciting and daunting. It offers an opportunity to make impactful changes, but it also exposes you to scrutiny and requires tremendous commitment. If you're contemplating throwing your hat into the political ring, it's essential to think through multiple factors before making your decision. Here are eight critical considerations to mull over: 1. Personal Readiness Entering politics is a life-altering choice, not just for you but also for your family and close ones. The demands on your time, privacy, and emotional well-being can be overwhelming. Questions to Ask : Are you emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared for the challenges? Have you discussed this with your family, and are they supportive? 2. Core Beliefs and Values Politics is an arena of competing interests and ideologies. Having a clear understanding of your core beliefs and values will guide your political journey. Questions to Ask : What causes or issues are most important to you? Are your views aligned with the electorate you wish to serve? 3. Skill Set and Qualifications Being in public office requires a diverse skill set, including but not limited to leadership, public speaking, and policy analysis. Questions to Ask : Do you possess the skills needed to succeed in office? If not, are you willing to learn or surround yourself with experts who do? 4. Financial Considerations Campaigning can be expensive, and public office may not offer the financial rewards that other careers do. Questions to Ask : Do you have the financial resources to run a campaign and sustain yourself in office? Are you ready to disclose your financial status, as is often required? 5. Electability and Public Perception Popularity and public perception play a crucial role in politics. Your history, conduct, and even appearance are often subject to public scrutiny. Questions to Ask : How are you perceived by the community? Do you have any skeletons in the closet that could become public and harm your candidacy? 6. Team and Support System A successful campaign requires a dedicated team for various functions: strategizing, fundraising, public relations, and more. Questions to Ask : Do you have a trustworthy team or know how to assemble one? Do you have mentors or advisors in the political arena? 7. Regulatory and Legal Requirements Different positions have different eligibility criteria, filing requirements, and regulations. Questions to Ask : Are you familiar with the legal requirements for the position you are considering? Do you meet the eligibility criteria? 8. Long-Term Goals and Exit Strategy Public office is often not a lifetime appointment. Whether you serve one term or multiple, you will eventually move on. Questions to Ask : What are your long-term goals? Do you see politics as a career or a stepping stone to other endeavors? What's your exit strategy? The Starting Point, Not the Destination Contemplating these eight points is just the starting point; running for public office is a long, complicated journey that will demand constant adjustment and reevaluation. However, these considerations can give you a solid foundation for making an informed decision. Running for public office is a significant decision that should not be taken lightly. If you are considering this path, taking the time to reflect on these eight considerations will provide valuable insights and prepare you for the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.
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