How many times have you said:
“I can’t afford it.”
“I don’t have enough time.”
“It’s just not possible.”
Most of us have said those things without stopping to ask one simple question:
Have I done the math?
Our brains are brilliant at creating stories. They like to protect us from discomfort, uncertainty, and change. But sometimes those stories aren’t based on facts; they’re based on assumptions.
That’s where doing the math comes in.
Your Brain Loves to Guess
When we don’t know the numbers, our minds tend to fill in the blanks.
A course suddenly feels like it’ll take forever.
A trip feels impossible to afford.
A career change seems financially unrealistic.
We assume something is too difficult before we’ve even looked at what’s involved.
The funny thing is, once you sit down and work it out, it’s often nowhere near as overwhelming as you imagined.
Time Is a Numbers Game
One of the most common things I hear is:
“I don’t have time.”
When I ask, “How long will it actually take?” the answer is often something like:
“Maybe half an hour.”
Half an hour.
Most people can find thirty minutes if something is important enough.
The problem isn’t always a lack of time; it’s that we’ve never measured how much time something needs.
The same applies to studying, going to the gym, meal prepping, or learning a new skill.
Instead of saying you don’t have time, work out how many hours it requires each week and see where it could fit.
You might surprise yourself.
Money Is a Numbers Game Too
Money works the same way.
It’s easy to tell yourself something is too expensive.
But have you priced it?
Have you looked at different options?
Could you save over several months?
Could you travel differently, share accommodation, apply for funding, or ask your workplace to contribute?
Sometimes the answer really is that it’s outside your budget right now—and that’s okay.
But don’t make that decision until you’ve looked at the numbers.
Don’t Rule Out Your Goals
If you’re thinking about starting an apprenticeship or changing careers, the financial side can feel scary.
A drop in income can seem impossible.
But instead of immediately saying no, ask yourself:
- What are my essential expenses?
- How much do I need each week?
- Could I adjust my spending temporarily?
- Is there overtime or extra work available while I transition?
When you understand the numbers, you can make informed decisions instead of fear-based ones.
Time Will Pass Anyway
One of my favourite ways to think about big goals is this:
Let’s say an apprenticeship takes four years.
If you’re 30 now, you’ll be 34 when you finish.
But you’ll be 34 anyway.
The question isn’t whether four years will pass.
The question is what you want those four years to look like.
Will you spend them moving towards something you really want, or talking yourself out of it because it felt impossible before you even checked?
Look for Different Ways to Make It Work
Not every goal has only one path.
If you’re travelling to an event, maybe you can:
- Book flights early.
- Stay in a hostel.
- Share accommodation with friends.
- Split transport costs.
- Find scholarships or sponsorships.
If you’re studying, maybe you don’t need to finish in six months.
Maybe you spread it across a year.
If you’re saving for something important, maybe it’s $20 a week instead of one big payment.
There are usually more options than our first thought gives us credit for.
Facts Beat Fear
Our brains often tell stories based on fear.
Doing the math brings us back to facts.
Facts help us make better decisions.
Facts help us stop catastrophising.
Facts give us choices.
That doesn’t mean every goal will suddenly become easy.
But it does mean you’ll know what’s possible instead of assuming it isn’t.
Final Thoughts
The next time you catch yourself saying, “I don’t have time,” or “I can’t afford it,” pause for a moment.
Ask yourself:
Have I actually done the math?
You might discover that your goal is more achievable than you thought.
And if it isn’t possible right now, at least you’ll know why, and you’ll have a plan for how to get there.
Don’t let assumptions make decisions for you.
Let the numbers guide you.
You might be surprised by what’s possible once you stop guessing and start calculating.
If no one has told you today, I believe in you.
You’re capable of more than you think, and your goals are worth exploring.
Now go and do the math.
This blog is supported by EMU Safety.
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