Hello Reader,

Time seems fixed—calendar days, business hours, deadlines—but moments like this remind us it’s a man-made construct.

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives redefined what counts as a “legislative day,” stretching one day across many to serve a specific agenda. It’s less about manipulating time itself, and more about manipulating our relationship with time—and with that, everything time touches: power, access, fairness, and flow.

Think Back to the Future Part II—Biff gets the sports almanac, rewrites the past, and builds a future that benefits only him. That’s not time travel. That’s control.

Some of us can shift time to work in our favor. Others aren’t given that luxury. And yet, we all feel its effects. Time bends more easily for some—whether by status, structure, or circumstance—while the rest are left to make the most of what remains. But recognizing this isn’t defeatist. It’s clarifying.

Because when you see how time can be shaped, you can begin to shape your own. Not to game the system—but to reclaim your rhythm, your energy, your agency.

It might not change the rules. But it might just change how you play.

Look

In this short clip, Ed Mylett talks about dividing his day into three distinct parts so he can “get more out of it.” I’ll be honest: I don’t recommend this approach for most people. It’s a fast track to burnout if you’re not careful.

But it does highlight something important—the way we frame time can shape how we show up in it. It’s not about copying his method. It’s about recognizing that time is more malleable than we’re led to believe. Watch it here.

Listen

In this episode of The Science of Success, Laura Vanderkam dives into why traditional time management advice often falls short—and what to do instead. She explores how we perceive time, how language shapes our experience of it, and how we can take more control by shifting our mindset rather than squeezing in more tasks.

If you’ve ever felt like there’s never enough time in the day, this conversation might just change how you think about time altogether. Listen to it here.​

(Note: Laura's appeared on APC a couple of times. You can listen to her most recent appearance here.)

Learn

Time may be posted on the door, but it doesn’t always match what happens on the floor. I recently wrote about a moment at the mall—how “open at 10” doesn’t always mean open at 10, and why that small gap between expectation and execution reveals something deeper about how we relate to time.

It’s not just about clocks—it’s about context, culture, and compassion. Read it here.​

The Final Flicker

Time isn’t always fair. It can be twisted, stretched, and skewed—sometimes in plain sight, sometimes behind closed doors. But even when you don’t control the clock, you can still choose how you move through it.

You can resist the pressure to keep up with someone else’s pace. You can reclaim space within the margins. You can slow your steps, shift your focus, and protect what matters.

Because the real power isn’t in owning time—it’s in owning your relationship with it.

You may not control the clock, but you can control how you meet it. That’s where your power lives.

See you later,
Mike

P.S. f this edition resonated—especially the part about shaping your own rhythm—the upcoming READY Retreat was built for exactly that. It’s a three-day experience (plus a live prep session) designed to help you realign your time, energy, and attention in a way that actually sticks. The full experience is $149, and you can learn more or sign up here.

Thanks for reading. Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

Productivityist Productivity Services Inc. | 1411 Haultain Street, Victoria, BC V8R 2J6
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