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Once one has passed twenty years of living, with each New Year, hindsight kicks in and when one is a leader that means a look at things, perhaps differently. What might have one done instead? What might one do to improve? What might one do with the time one believes he or she has left? They are all valid questions and can create wistful or longing moments, but the fact that one is able to read or listen to this post, means there is still time to do what matters most. As a New Year arrived just yesterday, consider taking a moment to reflect, and consider any needed changes, on how time could impact your 2017 uniquely.
What is the Value of Time?
Both on the Time Management for Too Busy Leaders webinar last week and in a course entitled What Matters Most that I used to teach more than ten years ago, this poem contributed to the meaning of time and how we attempt to manage it.
- To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a grade…
- To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby….
- To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper….
- To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers waiting to meet…
- To realize the value of one minute, ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane…
- To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has just missed being in an accident….
- To realize the value of one millisecond, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
When Do You Stop Making the Most of it?
The truest, most candid, most honest, most poignant answer to this question is when you literally have none left. If you’re still reading, still breathing, and still thinking about what to do with your time, you still have time left and the time is now. It’s never too late to make the most of what matters most to you. Lead yourself to accomplish, experience, and relish those things. Need some inspiration? Watch the video on the eighty year old body builder turned fashion model who didn’t get his start until after his fifties, Deshan Wang. Read up on the eighty-five year old fashion model and actress whose life sized face is donning Sephora store ads, Carmen Dell’Orefice. Take note of the target market of many online degree programs. They are not targeting twenty somethings.
As this New Year begins in earnest, the temptation to continue leading your activities in the same old routine is real. But, what if…? What if you embarked on that which you’ve been lead to imagine for years. What if you started to lead differently? What if you lead your own life differently? Time is a faithful servant. The question then becomes are you being a good leader of the time you’ve been given.
Monica Wofford, CSP is a leadership development specialist who coaches, consults with, and speaks to leaders of all levels, building their skills, emotional intelligence and authenticity. Author of Contagious Leadership and Make Difficult People Disappear, Monica may be reached at www.ContagiousCompanies.com, www.MonicaWofford.com or by calling 1-866-382-0121.
