Precious Time
I am going to touch on something so precious to me that I could write an epic book about it. It is something that we all share equally – not one person on this planet is given more than another and yet it is a resource so valuable that it truly is priceless. It is…time. Yet, we all feel we have limited time, all the time.
I’ve always had a sense of the value of my time and understood that where we invest it demonstrates our priorities. It can be eye-opening to share one’s priorities, do the math as to where we actually spend our time, and realize what has taken over as priority, given the time invested.
This is one reason why I LOVE TO OWN MY OWN BUSINESS. My investment of time is consciously thought out, for the most part. And while I do fall victim to the vacuum that is the internet, I am very careful with balancing my time with my business, family, and other priorities. When I had young kids home from school in the early afternoon, I needed to juggle my business and my family, without neglecting either.
I often ask myself if I am: Nourishing myself with those things that support my well-being; Participating in activities that will develop my career and financial growth; Investing in a quality relationship with my associates, my friends and family, myself…
Turns out, acknowledging where we spend our time can be very intimate. I don’t dare ask where you spend your time, nor will I reveal the details of my own investments (not today anyway). However, I do believe that where we are spending our time is certainly worth contemplation and self-study.
What I deem as important to do with time may not be yours. I do gently encourage you to check in and ask, “Is this worth my precious time?”
Money and power have indeed forever been the indicators for success. However, time well spent…is everything.
First, thanks for Time in a Bottle. I’m old enough to have owned every Jim Croce record (in high school) and this song was one that I played over and over and over again. Also, you’ve reminded me of a wonderful strategy created by my partner in my first business. Twice a year we’d have all the staff (including ourselves) keep track of how they were spending their day. For three days they’d fill out a sheet divided into 30-minute time slots and they’d record what they did in that 1/2 hour. It was so valuable! While it helped the individual to see where they perhaps weren’t being wise with their time, it also helped us to see where the company was investing time – and money. It was vital information in terms of decisions we made for growth. I think I might just pull out one of those sheets and see what I’m doing with my time these days!
Thanks, Mary Jane! I am BIG on time management in business and in my personal life. Indeed, recording our daily activities can be so educational for ourselves and for our companies – a Universal benefit! …a limited resource that can always be managed better for the health of our minds, our relationships, and our businesses!