An Excerpt from First Thing Every Morning by Lewis Timberlake
If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400—with no balance carried from day to day—what would you do? Well, you do have such a bank...time.
Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it rules off as "lost" whatever you have failed to use toward good purposes. It carries over no balances and allows no overdrafts. You can't hoard it, save it, store it, loan it or invest it. You can only use it—time.
Here's a story that drives the point home.
Arthur Berry was described by Time as "the slickest second-story man in the East," truly one of the most famous jewel thieves of all times. In his years of crime, he committed as many as 150 burglaries and stole jewels valued between $5 and $10 million. He seldom robbed from anyone not listed in the Social Register and often did his work in a tuxedo. On an occasion or two, when caught in the act of a crime by a victim, he charmed his way out of being reported to the police.
Like most people who engage in a life of crime, he was eventually caught, convicted and served 25 years in prison for his crimes. Following his release, he worked as a counterman in a roadside restaurant on the East Coast for $50 a week.
A newspaper reporter found him and interviewed him about his life. After telling about the thrilling episodes of his life he came to the conclusion of the interview saying, "I am not good at morals. But early in my life I was intelligent and clever, and I got along well with people. I think I could have made something of my life, but I didn't. So when you write the story of my life, when you tell people about all the burglaries, don't leave out the biggest one of all... Don't just tell them I robbed Jesse Livermore, the Wall Street baron or the cousin of the king of England. You tell them Arthur Berry robbed Arthur Berry."
Here are six terrific truths about time:
First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.
Second: Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.
Third: Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.
Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time...pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use.
Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.
Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.
I just had to share this with you all because time is the most precious thing we have. We use it or lose it! Respect your time.
Successful people:
1) protect their time,
2) preserve it,
3) prioritize.
Successful people do things in order of their importance.
Plan your day in advance by writing down the six things you need to do the next day in order of their importance. This is what I call the Success Six. Put it to work now, start tonight.
Let me see what you have to say by leaving your comments below.
Terri Pattio ~ MLM Coach/Mentor with a servant's heart
Winning Domain Names ~ That's what we're all about. Branding YOU is TOP priority to us.
Comments
I thought so too Christine and Alzora. Thanks for sharing your thoughts today.
Terri this is one of the best articles I have ever read, Time is the one thing you can not get back. Use it wisely.
I do that as have got The Results Machine where I plug everything in but try and catch up everything in the next couple of days !!
That is what's important you tried Merle. Unfortunately life gets in the way. However when you write it down and check it off as you do it, then you can see what you have accomplished for the day.
Great post Terri and that is so true that he robbed himself. I always try to plan for the next day but nine times out of ten it gets disrupted by children, grandchildren etc. and of course hubby always wanting to go somewhere. But I do try !!