Obstacle 1: "But everything on my plate is important"
Reality Check: If everything is important, nothing is. Force-rank your activities by income impact. The bottom 30% can always be eliminated, delegated, or simplified.
Obstacle 2: "My manager expects immediate responses"
Solution: Set expectations proactively. Most "urgent" requests can wait 2-4 hours. Batch responses and communicate your focused work blocks.
Obstacle 3: "I don't have authority to change how I work"
Reframe: You have more autonomy than you think. Start small. Even 1 hour daily of focused, high-value work can transform your trajectory.
Obstacle 4: "This feels selfish"
Truth: Creating more value benefits everyone—your employer, your team, and yes, yourself. It's not selfish to optimize for impact.