We live in an era of convenience—where everything is designed to save time. If it’s not convenient, we don’t want it.
I get it. We need a filter system for decisions, and convenience has a way to make room for all of the things competing for our time.
In theory.
I started looking at this word recently, and the way we’ve idolized it in our culture.
Convenience is defined as: the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty.
On the surface this sounds amazing. So many things are hard – we need to be able to hit the easy button.
Convenience for the sake of it is another story. When this is the primary filter system we use for making a decision, the tradeoff isn’t worth it.
I don’t think we notice what it’s costing us.
One of the biggest expenses in the world of convenience is community.
Many people are missing it entirely. And for some reason, we’re okay with it.
Community has shaped everything we are, and yet we resist it. Why? Because we perceive it to be a loss of opportunity, also known as more time at our computers, more time working out, more time getting things done.
As Jim Kwik’s acronym “LIE” (Limited Ideas Entertained) suggests, we may believe we’re gaining time, but in reality, we’re losing something far greater: meaningful relationships, deep connections, shared experiences. Much of what leads to results and movement toward the things we want more than anything else.
I had a shot at community this morning. The kind that fills some of my most important buckets: relationships, learning, and connection. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hesitate to dress up and get out of my routine and never ending to-do list to get there.
Because I’ve gotten clear on how I want to spend my time, I knew this event would ultimately fill my cup and override any resistance I might have for breaking my flow.
And guess what? Following through actually informed my flow. My inspiration. My vision and my energy.
One of my favorite organizations brings together women I admire. I got to hear impactful words from a leader I won’t ever forget. It reminded me of all of the reasons I do what I do, and how I want to inspire other people to do that for themselves.
If I had used convenience as a filter, I’d have lost out.
We need to stop and count our costs and ask ourselves: Is this the life I want to keep living?
Back in 2020, we were painfully aware of our need for connection. Leaders, in particular, needed community more than ever to navigate uncertainty. We were isolated in our bubbles and it wasn’t working. We felt suffocated, lonely, and out of touch. Collaboration and shared experiences were missing, and we were not built for that kind of life.
That realization led to the birth of Emerge—a space for women to grow as leaders, form deep connections, and move forward with clarity and purpose. Over the last four and a half years, more than 85 women have experienced transformation through this journey.
They needed community, coaching, and connection to get growth – and they found it.
Is it convenient? From a virtual perspective, yes. But like anything meaningful, it takes time away from the daily.
The most meaningful life experiences I’ve had have been anything but convenient. They’ve taken me away from my routine, my family, my work and everything I make up that I HAVE to do (which is almost always self-imposed).
And every single time I’ve said yes, these inconvenient experiences have lit a fire and energy inside of me that reminds me to move toward whatever I’m being called to.
This is why we created groups like Emerge, and now LEAD (see below for more info!). We see you, because we are you. We know the obstacles, the stories and the LIEs. And we know how to push through them, AND what happens when you do.
So stop saying, “I don’t have time.” And stop making the convenient trade for something smaller that can’t possibly fulfill your life the way you ultimately want it to.
Recently someone pointed out that “later” is one of the worst words in the English language. It delays and deflects from the important.
What do you keep saying “later” to? Whatever it is could mean your next biggest move toward the life you really do want. Quit putting it off in favor of convenience. You’ll never find what you’re looking for.