I have some very personal information to share with you, I’m not looking for condolences or sympathy, just an understanding.
I have 5 good summers ahead of me!
I shared this information on a group call the other week and was met with stunned silence until I explained, “and next year, I will have another 5 good summers ahead of me, and by the way, I intend for them all to be good ones.”
The look of relief on the group’s faces was priceless.
But seriously, doesn’t time fly? We are heading quickly towards the next decade, and before we know it will be into the new roaring ’20s, and at some not too distant time in the future, we will be saying, “I can’t believe it’s 2021 already!”
So knowing this, the question to ask yourself is: “What am I going to do with my valuable precious time on Planet Earth?”
It’s a good question as it highlights that the one resource we all have in common is time, and it’s finite, and it’s valuable.
One thing I‘ve noticed in the nearly 2 decades that I’ve been a professional coach (wow that’s 20 years that have flown by so quickly) is that people want results and they want them immediately, they are after the event, the change, the transformation. Nothing wrong with wanting the quick win; however, quite often, it’s a process over time that leads to the result.
Even if it takes 5, 10, 20 years or more to get to where you want to be, begin with where you are now and take the next meaningful step, and you will get there.
Transformational change happens over time, and most people quit before they achieve their goals and desires, and the main reason they fail to follow through is simple.
They don’t want it enough!
If they did, then nothing would get in their way, no setbacks, obstacles, failures (which we call learning opportunities), and certainly not time. It’s a case of WHEN and not IF.
The other night I got home, and my partner asked me how my day had been.
“Fine!’ I replied.
I can't hide anything from her, so she asked me what was up.
I’ve been working on several projects, getting ready for the launch of a new book, a new online course, and still making the time to work with clients and struggling to find the time to submit a grant proposal for one of my companies.
So she asked me a question which I regularly ask clients who say they don’t have the time to do the essential things which make the difference.
She said, “If your life depended upon it, would you make the time?”
Don’t you just hate it when people tell you the truth! If I wanted this enough, I would make the time, so I have.
So if you want your next year to be different to this, and the year after to be even better then get clear on what you want to change, why this is important to you and make it more important than the things which you are spending your valuable time on which simply tick away the seconds, that make up the minutes of your precious life.
Two quick coaching tips to experiment with so you can make the time for the essential things.
Tip #1
Each morning ask yourself the question, “what is the one meaningful thing that when I do it today will make my goals a reality?” – And get on with it.
Tip#2
Buy a towel……and place it over your TV.
AND REMEMBER
“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”
Pope Paul VI
Well, somebody has told you.
What are your tips, techniques, tools that you use to ensure you squeeze the juice out of life?