The Proper Use of Time - Success Gems

Success Pillar 5 - The Proper Use of Time July 21, 2007

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From the desk of Damien Dupont

As a Success University member, every month I receive an audio CD as well as a DVD shipped to me along with SU’s monthly “Success Express” newsletter.

In May 2007, the audio CD included was Jim Rohn’s and Chris Widener’s “Twelve Pillars of Success”.

This is the fifth and final of five posts which I have written, in sequence, as my personal summary and review of the first five pillars of Jim Rohn’s “12 Pillars of Success”. They are set in the same context of Jim and Chris’ story about two fictional characters, Michael and Charlie, whom they use to illustrate the 12 fundamental principles to achieve Success in Life. Their story is also available in novel form.

If you wish to read my review from the first post, just click the following link: Success Pillar 1 was entitled “Work harder on yourself than on your job“.

Now let’s get into Success Pillar 5: The Proper Use of Time…

Our story finds Michael sitting and talking with Charlie over coffee at Charlie’s favourite hangout, Mag’s Diner. Michael has been expressing his frustration at the lack of progress he is making in his career, and Charlie asked the question as to what Michael’s written goals were for his career. Michael didn’t have any, hence the problem, so Charlie has been sharing with Michael what Mr. Davis has to say about goal setting.

“I can appreciate the truth in what you’re saying Charlie, but the problem is that I am already so snowed under with work. Paying the bills, looking after my family, and spending time with Amy and the kids takes all of my time. I just can’t see where I would be able to fit in the time to strive toward a goal”, Michael explained.

“And you’re surely not alone with that problem Michael. When it comes down to it, the majority of people go through their lives spending most of their time on the “urgent” as to opposed to what is most important”, Charlie said.

“So how do you tell the difference? How do you distinguish between what is important and what isn’t? Surely I have to provide for my family, pay the bills, and spend time with them. Isn’t that important?”, Michael added.

“Surely it is Michael. This said, each and everyday we are presented with choices as to how we spend at least some of the time given us in that day”.

“Mr Davis says that the best allocation of your time for each day is that time which you spend doing something which is inline with, and moves you towards, your overall goals in life”.

“This is the truly “important” time, and I’m sure that spending time building your relationship with Amy and your children forms a part of that. But beyond this and providing for your family, surely there are a few hours in each day that you can contribute towards the achievement of your overall life goals?”, Charlie asked.

“Yeah, I guess so. But there always seems to be something that crops up. Just last week my boss asked me to put in an extra ten hours to fill in for a colleague on leave. The week before that my son tore a ligament in his ankle at hockey practice, and I spent 7 hours with him waiting in the outpatients ward at the local hospital”.

“Life will always throw us curve balls Michael. We have to assume them, but not lose overall sight of the goals we are striving for. As for your boss, could you have told him no?”, Charlie enquired.

“Yeah, it’s not easy but I guess so”, Michael answered.

“You see Michael”, Charlie continued, “you have to distinguish between what you have to do and what is optional. Also, you have to be aware that oftentimes that which is urgent is not necessarily important”.

“Most people spend their time just keeping up with their daily commitments in order to pay the bills and get by. They are investing their time on the urgent, but the urgent is seldom important in the context of moving you towards your life goals”.

“Mr Davis compares the urgent to an oppressive slave-master, and one that will steal the years of your life.

Instead we have to be the designers of our own lives, and become the masters of the precious time God gives us everyday on this earth, and not let time master us.”

“You see Michael, something will always master, and something will always serve. Either you run your days, or your days will run you. Either you take control of your time, or your time and your years will slip between your fingers like sand, and you’ll be little closer to attaining your dreams for life.”

“Michael, I have heard Mr. Davis say on many occasions that we must all suffer one of two things…

Either we have to pay the price of discipline, or we will pay the price of regret. The distinction is that the price of discipline is pennies, whereas the price of regret is a life’s ransom.

These are very profound words Michael”.

“Yeah, I guess so”, Michael acknowledged.

“For most people there are certain things that they long to do, but if they reach the end of life and have not yet done them, they will have deep regrets”.

Charlie continued, “I’m an old man now and in the twilight of my life and it amazes me how fast life has flown by. Fortunately, I have lived a good life and have achieved and done most of the things in life that I had wanted and set out to do”.

“The one sure thing for all of us though is that the end of our lives will come, and sooner than we think. Too many people reach their twilight years, look back and know that they haven’t achieved their dreams, and find that there’s nothing they can do to turn back the clock. Their bodies are frail and unwilling, their time for opportunity is behind them, and they have to pay the high price of regret”.

“Michael, you have to realise that each day of our lives is worth gold and is expensive. When you spend each day, that is one day less that you have to spend. The hourglass of life is ticking down. So be sure to spend each of your days wisely”.

“To do that you need first to set and write out your goals. This will then enable you to distinguish between activities which are important and which will move you closer towards your end goal, versus those activities which are urgent and optional.

Be the designer of your own life Michael, and become the master of your own time”.

Just then the pager on Michael’s mobile phone chimed. It was a message from work about something he had to attend to.

“Well, speaking of the urgent”, Michael said, “it looks as though I have to get moving. Charlie, I sure do appreciate the time that we’ve spent together, and I thank you for sharing with me more of Mr. Davis’ principles”.

“It’s entirely my pleasure Michael”. Michael arose and slowly and warmly shook Charlie’s hand, before he was off to put out another urgent, yet likely unimportant fire.

Postscript: This is the final installment of my review of Jim Rohn’ and Chris Widener’s “Twelve Pillars of Success”. If you wish to learn the other seven pillars, you can get their book.

Alternatively, you can join Success University via the following 14 Day $2 Trial offer page. Jim Rohn is the primary instructor of the Success University Weekly Success Plan.

Jim’s comprehensive plan covers personal development, wealth creation, health, leadership, increasing your memory, a speed reading course, and much more.

It also includes the Twelve Pillars of Success, fifty two weekly email trainings, a 500+ page downloadable workbook, as well as 12 monthly conference calls with guests including Zig Ziglar and Loral Langemeier.

Jim Rohn’s Success Plan has a retail value of $1,101.00 - you really do not want to miss out on this. I cannot recommend it more highly.

Wishing you the best of success in life.
Warmly,