CEO Mindset Mondays

lat-style digital illustration of an African American woman with curly hair and glasses, working at a laptop in a home office. The background shows a framed family portrait of three older children, a clock, a vision board with graphs and notes, and a potted plant on the desk.If you’ve ever said, “I want to start a business, but I just don’t have the time,” you’re not alone. Time management for entrepreneurs often feels overwhelming when you’re balancing a full life and big dreams. But what holds many people back isn’t just a packed schedule—it’s the belief that you have to wait for “more time” before you can begin.

That belief, often called time scarcity, convinces us that meaningful progress requires giant blocks of free time. The truth? You don’t need endless hours. You need intentional minutes.

I know this firsthand. Before reentering the workforce, I had spent years as a stay-at-home mom. While taking care of my children’s needs, I also had the freedom to work on projects that excited me. Then I reentered the workflow. As an employee, that freedom was gone. I found myself working on projects chosen by others, not the ones that fueled my passion.

I realized that if I stayed on the path I was on, I could easily spend another 10, 20, or even 30 years working—only to reach retirement at an age when I might no longer have the mobility, health or freedom to enjoy it. I didn’t want to spend the next phase of my life focused on company goals while mine sat on the back burner.

When I launched Backbone America in 2024, I was working full-time and raising a family. There were no “perfect moments” waiting for me. I had to learn to build momentum in the pockets of time I already had—and you can, too.

Reframe the Time Scarcity Story

Let’s reframe time scarcity for what it really is: a sign that your time is already allocated—not that it’s unavailable. When you view time scarcity as a barrier, it becomes one. But when you view it as a signal to get creative with your energy and priorities, you take back control.

You don’t need to quit your job, give up your weekends, or pull all-nighters to make progress. You just need to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start using the small windows you already have.

We all have 24 hours in a day. What differs is how we prioritize them—and our priorities often shift based on our situation. I like to think about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It’s tough to focus on building something new when you’re still fighting for security, safety, or stability. I get that.

But sometimes, a small reprioritization can lift you toward a better future.

Time Scarcity Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Start

Flat-style digital illustration of an African American woman with curly hair working late at night on her laptop. She is surrounded by business documents, a sticky note that says "Next Step: Plan Offer," and a poster on the wall that reads "31-Day Business Startup Challenge." The scene is lit by a warm desk lamp against a dark blue background.When I was working full-time as a teacher, I disliked my job with a passion. I needed the paycheck to support my family, and even more so when I became a single mom. But staying stuck wasn’t an option. I decided to work full-time while earning my master’s degree in software engineering—not because I craved extra workload, but because I needed a way out. That degree became my path to a different life.

Later, even after stepping into the IT field and earning a higher salary, I faced a similar choice. I was still managing my responsibilities as a single mom. I had financial stability, but I wasn’t fulfilled. I realized that if I kept pouring all my energy into company goals while only dreaming about my own, nothing would ever change.

I’m telling you my story, because I had to set aside time for what mattered to me.

The truth is, we always find time for what we believe is important. Time management for entrepreneurs isn’t just about juggling a calendar—it’s about asking yourself the harder question: What’s really important to me?

You don’t have to stay stuck at the bottom of the Maslow hierarchy forever. I started by carving out just 30 minutes a day—and that was enough to change my trajectory. However, even 15 minutes a day can start lifting you higher.

Turning Available Time Into Progress

One of the best-kept secrets in time management for entrepreneurs is learning how to act in small bursts. Instead of asking, “How do I find time?” start asking, “What can I do in 15 minutes today?”

Here are a few things I personally do in short pockets of time:

    • Record business-related thoughts in a notebook (sometimes just a few seconds here and there throughout the day)

    • Record a quick video (the filming is fast—editing can be done later or outsourced)

    • Create content (I don’t pressure myself to finish; making progress is what matters)

    • Research tools, ideas, or trends (even five minutes of focused research can spark new ideas)

    • Edit my work (videos, graphics, lead magnets—polishing a little at a time adds up)

These micro-moments matter. They compound over time. Time scarcity loses its grip when you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start doing what you can, where you are. Progress builds momentum—and momentum changes everything.

The 15-Minute CEO Mindset

Flat-style digital illustration of an African American woman with curly hair and glasses writing a to-do list at her desk. A laptop screen and wall poster both show a 15-minute timer symbolizing the Pomodoro Technique. The background includes a clock, a to-do list pinned to the wall, and a red desk lamp casting a warm light in a blue-toned room.Sometimes, finding small windows isn’t the challenge—it’s focusing when you find them.

That’s where the Pomodoro Technique can make all the difference. This simple method uses short, focused work sessions (typically 15–25 minutes) followed by short breaks. You set a timer, focus on just one task without distractions, and stop when the timer ends.

The beauty of the Pomodoro Technique is that it turns intention into action. Even if you only have 15 minutes, you can make measurable progress—without feeling overwhelmed.

When I first started practicing this, I realized how often I would lose small chunks of time to distractions.
Now, even one focused 15-minute sprint can be more productive than an hour of multitasking.

But here’s the real secret: Preplanning makes the Pomodoro Technique even more powerful.

In the previous section, we talked about squeezing in time to make progress whenever you can. I use those squeezed-in moments to jot down what I want to accomplish during my next 15-minute stint. I keep a simple to-do list with small, specific tasks—so when I sit down for a Pomodoro session, I’m ready to go. There’s no wasting precious minutes wondering what to do next. Each minute has a job. Each minute moves me forward.

When I was a teacher, we had a motto: Every minute counts. And it does. Especially when you’re building a dream with limited time.

Here’s how you can use the Pomodoro Technique starting today:

  • Choose one business-building task from a preplanned list

  • Set a timer for 15 minutes

  • Focus on nothing else—no email, no social media, no multitasking

  • When the timer goes off, celebrate the progress you’ve made (no matter how small)

You don’t need giant blocks of time to build your dream. You just need intentional minutes—and the commitment to protect them.

Don’t Let Time Scarcity Steal Your Dream

Time management for entrepreneurs isn’t about clearing your calendar—it’s about making your future a priority, even when life is full. Every business you admire today started the same way: with someone who decided their dream mattered too much to keep putting it off.

When I first started Backbone America, I didn’t have endless free time. I had messy, imperfect windows—lunch breaks, late evenings, early mornings. But those windows built the foundation for a life of self-determination instead of resignation. At the time, it felt slow. Some days, it felt invisible. But looking back now, I can see how every 15-minute pocket of time mattered. It wasn’t about building fast. It was about building consistently.

If you’re still dreaming about your business, that dream still matters. Start where you are. Use what you have. Trust that small steps still move you forward. Progress matters more than perfect timing. I’m living proof of that.

Wrap up Time Management for Entrepreneurs

Flat-style digital illustration with a confident woman in a navy-blue suit standing beside a white silhouette of a head containing a navy-blue gear. The background is bold red with the title “CEO Mindset Mini Guide” in white text above.It’s easy to believe you need more time before you can start. But here’s the truth: you don’t need more time—you need new momentum.

When I come up with an idea, I don’t wait for a perfect calendar or easier circumstances. I ask myself one simple question: How can I make this happen?

That mindset—the habit of finding solutions instead of focusing on barriers—has made all the difference.
I look for pockets of time. I think of ways around obstacles. I work to take down roadblocks so I can move toward my goals.

Time scarcity doesn’t have to define your story. You can choose to think differently. You can choose to start now, even if it’s just fifteen minutes at a time. That’s how I built Backbone America—one focused window of time after another. If you’re willing to make the shift, you can build your dream too.

Need more help shifting your mindset from overwhelmed to unstoppable? Download the CEO Mindset Mini-Guide here!

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