“Time is the most valuable commodity.” It’s a popular phrase that makes me crazy. I understand the intent. But time is NOT a commodity.
The gift of time is both finite and unknown. And none of it is interchangeable. I like how George Gilder dispels that commodity thinking: “Time is the only resource that cannot be recycled, stored, duplicated, or recovered.”
So, the pertinent question here revolves around whether you’re prioritizing the right things – with your time. Too often, “busy” is just an excuse to avoid being “productive” and/or doing the hard work: “I’m so busy I don’t have time to tackle the real problems.” In other words, being “busy” can also be equivalent to wasting time.
Seneca was highly focused on the importance of what we do with our time. He explains that,
It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested...the life we receive is not short, but we make it so, nor do we have any lack of it, but are wasteful of it.
Investment is the key word! That’s the difference maker. There’s a saying that goes something like this: “All attainments and achievements are conditioned by the full use of time.” So, rather than emphasizing how we “spend” our time (burnin’ daylight), the better priority is on “investing” or making the most of the time.
Are you prioritizing your time on what’s best for your life and business? Or just burning daylight?
Nevil Speer is an independent consultant based in Bowling Green, KY. The views and opinions expressed herein do not reflect, nor are associated with in any manner, any client or business relationship. He can be reached at nevil.speer@turkeytrack.biz
