Trillions of dollars change hands around the world everyday. More items, services and goods are bought and sold each minute than you could possibly imagine. More currency changes hands than you can possibly fathom.
Money, in other words, is virtually limitless. There’s more money in the world than you could ever need, want, acquire or imagine.
Your time, on the other hand, is limited. We are on this earth for 80 to 100 years in the best-case scenario. Some of us are visiting this world for a much shorter period of time.
So why do we treat our time as if its “free” and unlimited, while we treat money as though it’s a precious, limited commodity?
That’s not a rhetorical question. I believe we treat our time as though it’s not worth anything because we haven’t awoken to the greatness of our time. We’re unaware of how much we can create, and we don’t realize the possible scope and magnitude of our contribution to this world.
If we lack confidence, lack enthusiasm, and lack purpose, our time feels worthless. We’ll fritter away precious hours as though they’re free. We’ll channel-surf. We’ll devote hours to extreme couponing. We’ll handle our own tasks rather than outsourcing and delegating.
We learn to be frugal with our time, not our money, when we become aware of how valuable our lives are. Time is more precious than gold. Supplies are limited. When our time is over — it’s simply over. We can’t earn more.
So how can you awaken to the value of your time?
#1: Have a Purpose
Time feels worthless if you’re not living for anything. Your purpose can be whatever you want it to be. It can be work-related, home-related or anything else. Your purpose might be excelling at your job, or making money, or being a great parent, or being a wonderful community member.
#2: Limit Your Priorities
Stay focused on your purpose by concentrating in one or two areas of your life. Many people never achieve greatness when their mind is “a mile wide and an inch deep.” Ruthlessly cull your priorities so that you’re concentrating on your mission.
#3: Accept What You’re Good At
As children, we’re taught to focus on the areas in which we’re less naturally inclined. If we’re great at reading but poor at mathematics, we’ll get tons of extra tutoring in math, while our natural reading talent holds steady.
As adults, we need to turn that around. Concentrate on developing the areas in which you have natural skill and interest. Outsource the rest.
by Paula Pant



