Time as an asset is less about the 24 hour clock than it is about the leverage your time provides. How much influence do you have in a day? How many other's lives and jobs do you impact every day? What are the things that steal time from you - and lower your leverage to nothing?
Think of energy as an asset. What pumps you up and allows you to focus and work at a high rate? What sucks the life right out of you - and leaves you dragging through the day?
If you're like most people, the top answer to this question is people - our ups and downs and success and failures can be traced, to the greatest extent, to our people relationships.
So, how do we use this knowledge to multiply our own success?
There are three groups of people in your universe of people - first - the 5 percent you click with from the very first time you meet. Second - the 5 percent you don't and won't click with. The third group is your group of possibilities - the vast majority of people you know - or will know.
The first group is easy - we just work well, engage well and communicate well. We want to spend time with each other - we have, as a former boss of mine put it " an ability to come to violent agreement." It becomes easy to spend a lot of our time in this group - when you find a good friend, a kindred spirit at work, a fishing buddy, a loving spouse. And then it becomes so easy to close ranks. To stay in the comfort zone these special relationships provide. And in doing that, so many possibilities for personal growth may pass you by. I don't mean to imply we should coldly calculate the time and energy spent with our special people, but I do mean to stress the need to remain open to other relationships so you can grow - and add to that special group of friends and soulmates. This special group gives you the energy to grow - to become more than you have ever been - treasure them.
The second group presents a challenge. When you meet one of your negative 5 percenters, you know it. Chances of changing the chemistry between you are are poor, but the ability to keep perspective and work effectively with the negative 5 percenters can be critical to your success. Too much time spent with or focusing on this group will suck the energy right out of you, It will take your time and make it seem as if you have none. And yet, how often do we see otherwise rational people fixate on the negative 5 percenters, to the exclusion of the other 95 percent of the population. What a waste! Let the press make their living reporting on this group - they are so good at it. And if you're working for one - get out!
Then there are the 90 percenters - the vast majority of people with whom you work and live effectively. The accomplishment that comes from working with this group can keep you pumped. Think about it. Almost all the people you will ever meet will be possible friends - effective co workers - people you can play golf with, plan with - the possibilities are endless. Your time and energy can expand exponentially with this group - all it takes is optimistic expectations and a willingness to meet other people half way - and learn in the process.
Ask yourself where you spend your time. Treasure your real friends. Then find some more of that 90 percent, and grow. And, starting right now, don't let the negative 5 percent have more than a 5 percent effect on you.
Written by Andy Cox, President
Cox Consulting Group LLC, 4049 E Vista Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85032 Ph: 602-795-4100; Fax: 602-795-4800; E Mail: acox@coxconsultgroup.com; Website: www.coxconsultgroup.com
Copyright 2007 All Rights Reserved
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