Living in No Extra Time? How to Use NET to Get Clear, Get Free, Get Going!

There’s a concept I first learned from my mentor and friend Tony Robbins that transformed how I approach time, learning, and leadership: NET time—No Extra Time. It’s a deceptively simple idea, but once you embrace it fully, it becomes a lever that multiplies your productivity, deepens your mindset, and unlocks exponential growth, without needing one extra hour in the day.

And for someone like me, whose life was forever changed in an instant on Flight 1549, I know firsthand the value of moments. Because Moments Matter. How you use them, how you show up in them, and how you prepare for the ones you never expect—that’s where your legacy is built.

Let me break down how I’ve integrated NET time into my life and what it’s done for me, my mission, and those I mentor around the world.

What Is NET Time?

NET time, as Tony defines it, is using time that would otherwise be “dead” to grow. Think about all the moments in your day when your body is busy, but your mind is free—while you’re driving, doing dishes, walking the dog, working out, or standing in line.

That’s NET time. And when you harness it, you can feed your mind, challenge your perspective, and prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for what life and leadership demand.

Before adopting this, like many people, I used those moments to check out. Scroll a feed. Drift in thought. But once I flipped the switch to NET time, those mundane pockets became fuel for clarity, creativity, and consistency.

Why NET Time Mattered More After the Hudson

After the crash of Flight 1549, my life shifted forever. Not just because I survived, but because I was given a gift: a second chance. I had to ask myself, “Now what? What will I do with the rest of the time I’ve been given?”

That kind of question shakes you.

I knew I didn’t just want to speak. I wanted to serve. I didn’t want to just make noise. I wanted to move people. And to do that, I had to grow fast.

Time was no longer something I could afford to waste. That’s when Tony introduced the NET time concept to me directly during one of our early conversations. I remember his exact words:
“Dave, you don’t need more time. You need to use the time you’ve already got.”

That hit me like a lightning bolt.

I immediately began applying NET time in three areas: learning, spiritual connection, and strategic clarity.

1. Learning on the Move

When I travel to speak (which is often), I spend hours on the road, in airports, or moving between events. Now, every one of those hours is an opportunity.

Instead of scrolling, I feed my mind:

• Podcasts from leadership thinkers
• Audio books on neuroscience, human behavior, and faith
• Training from mentors and entrepreneurs I admire
• Even listening to my own past talks, to learn from them, and sharpen the message

This daily rhythm helps me stay current, challenged, and centered—all without having to “make time” for it.

If you say you don’t have time to read or grow, you’re not leveraging NET time. Because the time is there, you just have to reclaim it.

2. Spiritual Alignment in Motion

Faith has always been my compass. And after the Hudson, it became the foundation.

One of the most meaningful uses of NET time for me is prayer, worship, and reflection during movement—whether I’m walking, stretching, or cooling down after a swim.

There’s something powerful about pairing motion with meaning. It’s not just about multitasking—it’s about integrating your mind, body, and spirit into alignment. That’s when you lead from the inside out.

When I work with high-performing executives or military leaders, I often ask:
“Are you reacting or realigning?”
NET time allows me to realign daily, even hourly.

3. Strategic Clarity and Mental Rehearsal

Here’s one that most people overlook: I use NET time for mental rehearsal.

Before keynotes, Mentor Dinners, or interviews, I visualize. I run through scenarios. I anticipate outcomes. I ask myself:

• “What’s the one thing this audience needs to feel?”
• “What can I say that might shift someone’s life trajectory today?”
• “Where might the room get quiet—and how will I respond?”

This is the preparation most people skip. But in my experience, this is where real impact is born.

It’s also how I stay calm in chaos. Because I’ve already “been there” in my mind, and that creates confidence under pressure.

How You Can Start Using NET Time Today

If this idea is new to you, don’t overthink it. Start small. Here’s how:

• Pick one routine activity you do daily (commute, walk, workout).
• Choose a growth input—podcast, book, or internal dialogue.
• Commit to doing it for just 15 minutes a day.

That’s it.

15 minutes a day = 91 hours a year. That’s two full work weeks of learning or transformation—without ever opening your calendar.

And if you multiply that by 3–5 habits? Now you’re operating on another level.

The NET Time Mindset Shift

The real gift of NET time isn’t just what you learn—it’s who you become.

You stop being someone who waits for time. You start being someone who creates it.

You stop letting distractions fill the cracks. You start using those cracks to build something.

And over time, that daily choice compounds into clarity, conviction, and capacity.

From One Moment to Total Transformation

I often talk about the idea that “one moment can change your life.” I believe that. I lived that.

But the transformation doesn’t end with the moment—it begins there. What you do after the moment matters just as much. And that’s where NET time comes in.

Because while everyone else is waiting for time to learn, to grow, to lead, to serve, you are already doing it. One moment at a time.

And that… is how transformation takes root.

Remember:
There’s no extra time. But there’s always enough time—if you live it on purpose.

Let’s get Clear, get Free, get Going.