Earlier this week I shared with you a story about how Executive Assistants are Always on Stage, I asked Nancy to send me some writing samples so I could get a feel for her style and if I thought it would mesh with mine. I was back in Nevada that same night – I got in around 6:45. Low and behold, there was an email waiting for me from Nancy with several samples of her work! Talk about being on the ball.Please enjoy this post from guest blogger, Nancy Fraze.
By Nancy Fraze
If you thought this article concerns finance, a bear market or 401Ks, you’d be wrong. If you figured it concerned budgeting… you’d be halfway there. The new economics I refer to are in reference to time. How should we invest the limited resource of time we’ve each been given to yield the greatest return? And, this article is also about love. I think love is at the root of why and how we spend our time. As well it should be.
Fifteen months ago, someone I know dearly discovered that the slight tremor of the right hand wasn’t carpal tunnel; it was a symptom of the same brain cancer that struck Ted Kennedy. After surgical removal of 90% of my friend’s tumor, the following three quarterly MRIs showed the experimental chemo he took was, in dramatic fashion, kicking butt. The tumor shrunk dramatically. There were high fives, tears of joy, and released deep breaths we didn’t know we’d held for months. These miracle MRI results gave my friend true Rock Star status in the world of tumor boards comprised of renowned Neuro surgeons.
I was thrilled, but alone in my own head, I wondered: what do you do when (not if) your time was limited? Would you pray more, love more, do more? Forgive more easily, laugh more readily, and create more memories for those who remain? These questions rattled around my soul many nights. I hugged my husband more tightly and reflected on these issues for many weeks.
Then the dreaded call: the latest MRI revealed the tumor had grown. Specifically, it had developed multiple nodules which would shoot out tentacle-like roots, destroying healthy brain cell activity in its path. The Neuro specialist quietly advised my friend (late 50’s) to immediately retire and oh yes, driving privileges were instantly suspended.
In that moment, my friend and his wife lost many things besides Rock Star status. There would be no gold watch or encore career. No driving Route 66 coast to coast or bouncing future grandchildren on the knee. No golden wedding anniversary and in fact, no retirement whatsoever. The candle was burning down; my friend was reaching the end of the wick.
My reflections brought me to the brink of discovery: I have a limited, designated quantity of time to invest. Where I spent it will determine its return on my investment.
Like most people, I tended to spend time as though I was Bill Gates with vast quantities of months, weeks, days, and minutes in my portfolio. Really, it pains me to admit I’ve invested in things so unworthy of a return… I watch a lot of TV and spend time discussing who will be booted off Hell’s Kitchen that week. I keep a running list in my head of things I really should get to but don’t ever find time to do. For one entire decade I wanted to lose weight before finally getting off the couch and just doing it.
Thinking---and then ignoring those thoughts---took way more energy than it would have cost to just do the work. I have lamented along with many people over the “lack of time” and even said, “I don’t have time” when, truthfully…I have been given as much time as I will ever have. Ultimately I won’t receive one nanosecond more than that. I’ve been granted as much time as anyone else: twenty-four hours each day for an undetermined period of time.
The real issue is that these twenty-four hours allow only so much to be done. It’s difficult to plan strategically for the long range, not knowing if I’ll accomplish it all.
Enter love into the equation. Love motivates. Love energizes. Love invigorates. It’s a verb hiding in noun’s clothing! Love is a better reason than “feeling like” doing something. Seriously, whoever “feels like” getting off the couch to exercise or wisely chooses not to verbalize that well-deserved angry retort, or stays up all night due to concern? Love does. Love in action propels me to spend time wisely.
Our tendency is to view money as the most precious commodity we own. But actually time and love are much more valuable assets. It’s important to recognize time as a limited supply commodity, not an unending resource we tap into at will. (It isn’t).
To be continued in tomorrow's blog posting.