We have all at some point had a conversation that included a variation of the phrase “make the most of the time while you have it.” It might have been our parents or a mentor who said it to us. Maybe we were the ones saying it to a young, single person with limited responsibilities who plays a lot of video games and takes a lot of naps.
Time is a commodity that is difficult to monetize. Sure, we put a dollar amount on our time every day in the form of a salary or an hourly rate, but this is merely about what we charge to sell our time for a service. It has nothing to do with what time itself is actually worth.
We put a valuation on our time when we sell it to others, but we almost never stop to consider what our unpaid, unhurried time should be worth to us personally and professionally. Perhaps we severely undervalue it as a commodity. No matter how much we charge, if we do not have a strong enough personalized time portfolio, we are on the losing end of the deal.
The time that we keep for ourselves is more valuable than any dollar amount we can assign to it. If we want satisfying relationships, a vibrant marriage, a unified organization driven by a focused vision, physical and mental vitality, a meaningful connection with our kids and grandkids, and to make a lasting contribution to the world, time is crucial. If our time bank is under-funded, we run the risk of bankrupting these precious areas of our life and leadership.
For those of you whose business is at a standstill because of the pandemic, the unwelcome pause and the dwindling reserves are anxiety-provoking and energy-sapping. That said, you face a critical choice. You can stare at the uncertainty that is out of your control and wring your hands, or you can refocus your attention on the elements of your personal and professional lives that you can effect; areas that are largely neglected when life is moving at its normal, frantic pace.
When time is abundant, you can attend to team-building and training that you wouldn’t normally have time for. You can recalibrate how your people understand and implement your organization’s core values. You can commit to a 1-hour date with your spouse every day for a month. You can set your phone down and be fully present with your kids for a game, a catch, a silly dance, or a serious chat. You can practice your guitar playing, learn a second language, strengthen your spiritual practices, take up cooking, or build a bird house.
Think of the standstill of the pandemic like getting a redo on your early 20’s, but with the wisdom you possess now. You have all the time in the world to give your best attention to the relationships that matter most to you and the activities that give you life. Very few people reach the end of their days wishing they had made another million or brokered another deal. Many, however, find themselves wishing they had given a great deal more time and attention to their personal and professional legacy values, and to the relationships that sat in the shadow of their busyness and accomplishments. This abundance of time is a rare anomaly. The window will close again soon. Make the most of the time while you have it!