Category Archives: Value

“What you do today is important because…”

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“What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.”

—Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by GotCredit

Photo from Flickr by GotCredit

What is a day worth? If you were to calculate the monetary value of one full revolution of planet Earth, what would the exact value be?

The professional service providers who are my coaching clients often bill out at hourly rates. Just to make the math simple for this example, we’ll assume a rate of $200/hour. One 24-hour day would be worth $4,800.

Add that to the qualitative value you attribute to each day you spend with family, friends, and colleagues, engaged in enjoyable and meaningful pursuits.

EXERCISE:

Based on the scenario above, select a number which represents the value you attribute to a single day. As you look at today and look forward to tomorrow, how will you spend your “life equity” to make the most of this miracle called life?

“You can be the ripest…”

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“You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Flickr by SkySeeker

Image from Flickr by SkySeeker

We live in a world of astounding abundance and variety. Consider the number of choices we have these days in the following areas:

  • Food choices in your local market
  • Television stations offered by your cable or satellite provider
  • Beverage choices at the coffee shop
  • Menu options at your favorite restaurant
  • Mobile apps and social media sites
  • The vehicles we choose to drive

EXERCISE:

How can you spend more of your professional and personal life with the “peach lovers” instead of driving yourself crazy trying to please everyone?

“Don’t step over dollars to pick up a dime.”

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“Don’t step over dollars to pick up a dime.”

—Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Chaval Brasil

Photo from Flickr by Chaval Brasil

Imagine you are in a room and suddenly a shower of money in all denominations falls from the ceiling. You happen to have an umbrella and open it quickly to avoid the downpour of coins clunking you on the head.

The financial storm comes to a halt after a few minutes, and you are given the challenge of picking up as much money as possible in a single minute, using only your hands. What strategy would you use to maximize your payoff?

My guess is that you would leave the coins where they lay and gather up as many bills as you could.

EXERCISE:

What activities do you step over daily, in order to pick up or pursue the lower value, “shiny objects” that take up a considerable portion of your day? How can you pass up the dimes of life and go for the dollars that can make life even more worthwhile?

“Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.”

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“Talk is cheap because supply exceeds demand.”

– Author Unknown

Photo from Flickr by Cindy Mc

Photo from Flickr by Cindy Mc

Unless you live in northern Alaska, the Australian Outback, or on some secluded island, you are probably engaged in our hyper-communicative world. Examine, if you will, all the means by which you are inundated by it and drowning in it.

When I was young, people would say, “A penny for your thoughts.” Even then, the value of talk was cheap, and yet we all believe that what we have to say has value and is worth much more than a penny!

EXERCISE:

Pay particular attention today to the value of what you and others share in your interactions.

See what you and others actually desire or demand. Speaking to those matters will likely generate more golden nuggets and pearls of wisdom, which are in limited supply.

“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”

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“You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”

– Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

551Image from Flickr by teofilo.

We have all heard the phrase, “Time is money”. Yet, how much is your time actually worth?

Explore this scenario I use with many of my clients:

Imagine that you are sitting in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed, and suddenly you feel pieces of paper falling on and all around you. You peek for a second, and notice that this shower of paper is actually money of all denominations, up to $100 bills.

Once this shower stops, you are told you have five minutes to pick up as much money as possible. You can only hold it in your hands – no arms, clothing, bags, etc are allowed.

Exercise:

What will be your strategy to capture the greatest value possible, assuming there is an equal number of bills of all denominations?

How does this exercise relate to the value you create with the time allotted to you each day?

You cannot talk your way out of something you behaved yourself into.”

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“You cannot talk your way out of something you behaved yourself into.”

—Stephen Covey, self-help author

Image from Unsplash by Roman Melnychuk

Actions speak louder than words. They are all we really have to make our dreams of a better future become our reality.

Consider a business leader who consistently touts his core values and corporate vision, yet is seen by his colleagues to act inconsistently with these beliefs. Consider the individual who is constantly discussing his interest in health and wellness, but is often seen making unhealthy eating choices and is rarely seen engaged in physical activity.

Exercise:

Where in life can you bring greater alignment between your actions and your words?

To whom–besides yourself–will you make these promises, and what added support will be required to ensure this new level of personal accountability?