Time Perspective
There are billions of people on this planet. And we all have the same amount of time available to us each day.
Now, some folks may be more distracted than others, trying to survive difficult living conditions or finding enough food to eat. If you are not among those people, you need to count your blessings.
With the understanding that both the successful and unsuccessful have the same time available to them, what time usage makes the difference between the two groups?
Using Time Makes the Difference
There is a simple answer. Those that are successful use the time they have to learn a skill, work a job of choice, get an education, and manage their money. They are in control.
The unsuccessful simply work whatever job they can get and enjoy their time off. They make very little provision for their future and then cry the loudest when hard times come.
I know that sounds harsh. However, a coach sounds harsh when he tells you to run laps because you failed to learn a play. Maybe a boss, who is tired of you not following instructions, decides to fire you. That sounds harsh but very real. I have been a boss who had to do just that! It is not fun knowing they refuse to learn what needs to be done to perform the job correctly.
Use Time to Build a Future
We learn skills along with knowledge of our work environment, etc. that will prove to be helpful when opportunities finally come. However, learning takes time. Will you spend the time on your personal development?
We learn to save money. We will grow that money by learning about investing. However, learning to invest takes time. Will you take time to learn how to invest or watch your savings evaporate with high-risk stakes sold to you under persuasive unfounded information?
This is critical knowledge that affects your financial future. Learn it!
Read the Books!
Reading takes time. However, it is one of your best investments of time.
Knowledge will never be wasted. Read. Learn.
Be Inspired!
There are many who have taken the time to share how they came to be successful, that is some valuable information!
It is important to know that money or success, as they defined it, did not come without some difficulty. The real story is in how they spent the time to get through that difficulty.
We Fill Our Days
We usually find a way to fill the time allotted to us, no matter what the project is. So, how do you find the time to do the learning that will eventually bring success?
I have a story to explain. It involves my Grandma Ruth, who was one of the best time managers I ever knew.
Grandma was up by 6 a.m., every day. She helped with milking by hand, until about 7:30 a.m. Then, she went to the house to fix breakfast for my grandpa and uncle. After cleaning up, she strained the milk to set out for the milk truck, collected the eggs, tended to the garden, canned, cooked lunch and supper, made bread, and carried rainwater from a tank at the corner of the house to do laundry.
She was always encouraging to us grandchildren when we tried to help. She would say, “That’s the ticket!”
When she died, I helped go through her things. I found a couple of poems she had on a bulletin board above her peddle sewing machine. One was about managing time:
Of all the excuses by which this old world is accursed,
This “haven’t got time” is by far the poorest, the feeblest, the worst!
If this habit is yours, you should shake it!
For, if you want to do what is pleasing to you,
You will find time to do it or make it!
I was so glad I salvaged those two poems by anonymous authors. She had cut them from a newspaper. So, what was the other poem about, you ask?
It was about making the best use of time and the perspective on what it takes to succeed:
I Won’t is a Tramp
I Can’t is a Quitter
I Don’t Know is Lazy
I Wish I Could is a Wisher
I Might is Waking Up
I Will Try is On His Feet
I Can is On the Way
I Will is At Work
I Did is now the Boss!
My hope is that you will put as much effort into each day as my grandma did.
I try to and it makes a big difference!