Deliberate Development

“I am way to busy to get to that today.” This is something we all say a lot. We can’t perceive taking 15 minutes from our crazy schedules for something else. However, if our car broke down on the way into work, we would find a way to get that towed and fixed. This process may take hours and yet we find the time. Why? Because it became a priority. We ALWAYS find time to take of the things we make a priority. Those little fires that pop up where we drop everything to go and handle are our organization’s way of setting new priorities for us. It is not that you don’t have enough time, it is simply not a priority for you.

“I am way to busy to get to that today.” This is something we all say a lot. We can’t perceive taking 15 minutes from our crazy schedules for something else. However, if our car broke down on the way into work, we would find a way to get that towed and fixed. This process may take hours and yet we find the time. Why? Because it became a priority. We ALWAYS find time to take of the things we make a priority. Those little fires that pop up where we drop everything to go and handle are our organization’s way of setting new priorities for us. It is not that you don’t have enough time, it is simply not a priority for you.

We have more control over our time than we think. There are places we have to be during certain times, like the office from 0700-1600; however, what are we doing while we are there. I have met very few people who are productive from start to finish. There are those water cooler moments where you are discussing yesterday’s game or something else. Although, I have learned the best networks and bonds come from moments like these, there are missed opportunities to help others grow or to make a process better. Take control of the moments you have to invest in your area of responsibility.

I wonder how many of my “goals” became wishes. As a young Airman I had big goals that were changed as I grew due to reality and shifting priorities. I am ok with not accomplishing these; however, some died because I was lazy. To reach our goals, we need to find a way to hold ourselves accountable to achieving them. When I have a friend or mentor checking in on my progress, I am motivated to not waste their time and to conquer this goal. What goal can you be working on today?

The other day I just sat on the couch before bed and was surfing Facebook. How much time passed? I don’t know, but it was at least 30 minutes. I saw some pics of my friends kids and some things my nieces and nephews are up to these days; however, most of it was mindless. I watched a video of some hippie dude giving an interview about attacking a guy with a hatchet. This was definitely time I will never see returned. Have you ever experienced something like this?

I once heard that if you only look in the rear-view mirror as you drive, you will crash. There is a reason it is such a small mirror and the windshield is so large. The rear-view is meant to catch a glimpse of what is behind you so you can make better decisions for what lies before you. Stop dwelling on what is in your past. Instead, learn from it what you can and forward march.

Think about if we took our parents advice and ate an apple a day or learned something new everyday. Imagine the benefits of that. Would it make us the smartest or healthiest person on the planet? Probably not, but we will certainly not be worse off. Now, what if we drank three sodas and watched two hours of TV a day? The effects of the things we do as daily rituals compound over time. We can use this to our advantage or to our detriment. The good news is you get to choose.