If you’re like me, you think of yourself as time conscious. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which coordinates universal time (UTC) is asked 50,000 times a second, What time is it? That’s a lot of people who are concerned about time!
How many times a day do you check your watch? 10? 20? 30 times? Or maybe you’re that guy that discovers that your watch is still on Standard Time two days after Daylight Savings Time began. (I may or may not have done that yesterday.)
Most people mark time by how old or how young they are until they get into their 40’s. Then – it happens! You realize that you’ll never be young again – and you begin considering how much time you have left and what your life will mean.
It’s true – we only get one time around
So why do we spend so much time with activities, projects, and events that add minimal value to our life and work? Only to compound the problem by wasting more time on regret and grief over poor decisions and behaviors.
Maybe it’s because, in all our years of rolling around this planet, we never stopped long enough to consider our life’s purpose and the disciplines that would be necessary to fulfill that purpose.
We are limited by time
Most people that know me well consider me to be relatively adept at time management. I can squeeze every last productive moment out of a work day. But, no matter how hard I try, there’s one thing I have never learned how to do – add time to my day.
Not one of us can add even a second to our day. When our time is up – its over!
The question we should be asking then is – What am I doing with the time I have left? What is it that I want my life to mean? How do I want others to remember my life when I’m gone?
Take control
Several years ago, I realized that leaving a positive legacy was not a sure thing. If my life was going to matter – to my family, to my friends, to my colleagues – I would have to begin growing and living on purpose.
The only problem was, no one stepped up with the step-by-step trail guide for my life and work. I had to take personal responsibility for my personal and professional growth – and you will too!
So I did. And I made a ton of mistakes – and you will too. But that’s ok. What’s important is that we are growing – growing from where we are toward where we are headed. From what we used to do to what we were made to do and frrom what is comfortable to what is most fulfilling. From what is convenient to what is most valuable and from what benefits me to what benefits others.
Do something about it
One of the best ways to discover your passion is to write out your career or business vision. I’ve written a simple, step-by-step guide that will walk you through the process. I can tell you from personal experience – this exercise will change your life and your work. This is so important to me, I’m offering you a free copy of my eBook, Creating Your Business Vision, when you subscribe to my blog updates.
Do you really want to make a difference? If you do, then invest the time to uncover your passion – your calling. Then commit to it with everything that’s within you. Never let go – no matter what!
Question: What are you doing to manage your time and live out your calling? Leave a comment.
Michael,
I really like this post. Taking a look back at how we used our allotted time in life can be a real kick in the teeth sometimes. I remember one day putting a spreadsheet together to calculate how many seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, I had left if I lived to be 80 (no guarantee on that one by the way). The most shocking number was days left. It really puts things in perspective.
The other challenge it going overboard and trying to live to fulfilled by cramming as much as we can. I think part of enjoying life can just be sitting still in a quite place with your thoughts.
Anyway, thanks again! Alex @ MyChurchMatch
Great thoughts Alex – I agree.
AWESOME ARTICLE! ! THANK YOU
I appreciate your encouragement. Enjoy your day.