The most important asset you have is not your talent, or money or experience. It is the time you have and what you do with it !!
- Ask a mom who looks after kids, has a job to do, take care of the house, barely gets time to sleep. Ask them what they would like more in a day?
- Ask a leader who has to make critical decision worth millions immediately. What would they like more?
- Ask a student in the exam hall who is struggling and they know they can do better but the clock is ticking
- Ask a doctor who has been bought a patient in critical condition
For me, one of the best ways I have come to appreciate the importance of that 1 second is Formula 1
- 1 second per lap is the difference between the leader and the last car (YES, sometimes 20 cars are separated by 1 second only)
- 1 second in pit stops can impact your race position (gain or lose race position)
- 1 second delay in tire change when it rains can have a lasting impact on the overall race
- Less than 1 second difference with the car in front of you activates the drag reduction system (DRS) making it easier to overtake the car in front of them.
In good old days, making calls was expensive, if you crossed a minute, that 1 second meant you had to pay a lot for that additional minute. For international calls people would be looking at their watch intently.
Over time, we have somehow reduced the importance of time at our disposal. We take it for granted, we waste exorbitant amount (myself included) on meaningless, non-value added thing. We assume we have forever and we barely give it importance.
This is not to say we need to work like a machine, and everything must work against a clock, but we have to realize and understand its significance.
I always tell all the young professionals I coach, mentor and work with. The first 8-10 years of your career are crucial in building depth.
Not everyone gets great jobs, good bosses, good pay and amazing development. The one thing you do have and can control is your time. Invest rightly and you will reap benefits for life.
As I joke with many friends who promise they will start exercising tomorrow. If you are not doing it today, tomorrow never comes. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Use your time wisely. It is slipping away.
