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"The only thing that stands between a man
and what he wants from life is often merely
the will to try
it and the faith to believe that it is possible."
-
Richard M. DeVos
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Time is precious. Ask the coach whose team
is behind in the final seconds of a game.
Ask the air traffic controller in charge of
scheduling takeoffs and landings at a major
airport. Ask the news reporter who has just
received a breaking story from the AP wire.
Ask the cancer patient who has recently
learned they have only two months left to
live.
Time management is an oxymoron. Time is
beyond our control, and the clock keeps
ticking regardless of how we lead our lives.
Priority management is the answer to
maximizing the time we have. Our days are
identical suitcases—all the same size—but
some can pack more into them than others. No
one has a magical ability to make time, but
if our lives have direction, we can make the
most of the moments we have been given.
Time is more valuable than money, because
time is irreplaceable. “You don’t really pay
for things with money,” says author Charles
Spezzano in What to Do between Birth and
Death. “You pay for them with time.” We
exchange our time for dollars when we go to
work and then trade our dollars for
everything we purchase and accumulate. In
essence, all we possess can be traced back
to an investment of time. Time stewardship
is perhaps a leader’s greatest
responsibility. In the words of Peter
Drucker, “Nothing else distinguishes
effective executives as much as their tender
loving care of time.”
In this [article], we’ll look at five
characteristics of people who use time
wisely. The goal of the lesson is for us to
understand how to maximize the precious
minutes given to us each day.
Five Characteristics of a Wise Steward of
Time
#1 Purposeful
People who use time wisely spend it on
activities that advance their overall
purpose in life. By consistently channelling
time and energy toward an overarching
purpose, a person most fully realizes their
potential.
We cannot reach peak performance without a
peak purpose. Purpose enlivens all that we
do. In fact, I believe the two greatest days
in a person’s life are the day they are born
and the day they discover why. Uncovering
purpose helps to refine passion, focus
efforts, and sharpen commitments. The
cumulative result is to amplify the
achievements of the wise steward of time.
#2 Committed to Values
People who use time correctly underscore
their values with the time they spend. By
acting in accordance with their beliefs,
they find fulfilment. Failure to identify
values leads to a rudderless existence in
which a person drifts through life,
uncertain as to what they hold dear. Clarity
of values is like a beacon of light, guiding
the way through life’s twists and turns.
When extended to an organization, values
inspire a sense of broader purpose. They
make work worthwhile. In an organization, if
vision is the head and mission is the heart,
then values are the soul. Values endow
day-to-day operations and transactions with
meaning.
#3 Attuned to Strengths
People who use time correctly play to their
strengths. By doing so, they are most
effective. People don’t pay for average. If
your skill level is a two, don’t waste
substantial time trying to improve since
you’ll likely never grow beyond a four.
However, if you’re a seven in an area, hone
that skill, because when you become a nine,
you’ve reached a rare level of expertise. As
Jim Sundberg says, “Discover your
uniqueness; then discipline yourself to
develop it.” You are blessed with a unique
set of skills and talents. Find them, refine
them, and let them carry you toward success.
I have identified four main strengths in my
life. I lead well, create, communicate, and
network. That’s it. I stick with those
strengths and avoid getting caught up in
commitments outside of those areas. By
narrowing my focus to four strengths, I gain
the greatest return on my investments of
time.
#4 Choosers of Happiness
People who use time correctly choose
happiness by prioritizing relationships and
recreation. While choosing happiness may
seem simple and obvious, far too many
leaders are trying to prove themselves and
validate their worth. These leaders chase
after power and prestige, and along the way,
their friendships wither, their family is
ignored, and they skip vacation after
vacation. In the end, any success they earn
is a hollow and lonely achievement.
Family and friendships are two of the
greatest facilitators of happiness.
Prioritizing time to cultivate relationships
is a hallmark of a healthy leader. Likewise,
scheduling leisure combats stress and allows
us to delight in the hobbies that bring us
joy. However, in the end, happiness is an
inside job. We are wise to surround
ourselves with family, friends, and fun, but
ultimately we determine our internal
response to the people and circumstances in
our lives.
#5 Equippers
People who use time correctly equip others
in order to compound their productivity.
They realize the limitations of individual
attainment, and they build teams to expand
their impact. By developing an inner circle
of leaders and investing in them, wise
time-users multiply their influence.
Equippers recognize that legacies are
carried on by people, not trophies. They
pour themselves into the lives of others and
watch the ripple effect of their leadership
spread through those they have taught and
mentored. Equippers seek significance over
the long term, which causes them to have a
vested interest in the success of their
successors.
Review
As much as we would like, we can’t find more
time—it’s a finite and constantly
diminishing resource. However, we can learn
to spend time wisely.
People who use time correctly are…
1. Purposeful
2. Committed to Values
3. Attuned to Strengths
4. Choosers of Happiness
5. Equippers
This article is used by permission from Dr.
John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter
'Leadership Wired' available at
www.injoy.com.
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Bronwyn
Ritchie's
