01 December 2017

The Stewardship of Time

"Beware the barrenness of a busy life."

--Socrates

The first precision timepieces, invented by Dutchman Christaan Huygens in 1657, made the ancient Egyptian idea of a 24-hour day visible. Those with access to pendulum clocks and spiral-hairspring watches could begin tracking how they spent their time.   

Nearly four centuries later, the remarkable Apple Series 3 watch allows its users to know what time it is, stay connected, make calls, and receive texts--without being near an iPhone.  

Amazing.   

Think about these things

If the present moment is all we have for sure, what then is the essence of time? How are you spending--how should you be spending--this irreplaceable gift?  

Consider the following ...
  • What are you doing right now that you could drop, and it wouldn't make any difference?
  • Are you taking time to be alone with your thoughts? Those are not lost moments but time well spent--necessary to maintain your equilibrium. 
  • In the coming year, what's the most critical investment of time you can make in yourself? Your family? Your co-workers and direct reports?  
When measuring time, it's not just how you spend it; it's also what you save. Remember the maxim, "In all things, keep something in reserve."

Therefore in managing oneself, perhaps the ultimate in personal or professional success is not wearing the latest analog or digital timepiece but having peace of mind.  


Strategist.com

(C) Bredholt & Co.