“A day without intention is a day wasted.”
~ Sir Richard Branson
Each morning, I set the intention to do what’s required of me––that aligns with my values and goals. It’s the best way for me to stay focused and on track in achieving what is most important to me. It’s my own philosophy to have balance in all areas of my life––my health, my business, my family, and more. They are my “whys.”
Hopefully, as Sir Richard Branson says, you live each of your days with intention. And if you’ve been doing it long enough, you’ve seen results that affirm the importance of this practice. Living each day intentionally is a master’s philosophy.
However, if this is a new concept, consider these questions: Why do you want to manage your time better? Are your answers aligned with your values and goals––your “whys”? What is your philosophy about time when it comes to your personal life?
You might say something like:
- I want to stop disappointing my kids by missing their soccer games.
- I want to make it home in time for dinner on a regular basis.
- I want to be able to relax and not think about work all the time.
These are all worthy outcomes––all important “whys.” And, they are certainly things you should expect when you understand their importance as a part of your philosophy about time.
One of my “whys” is to help others learn and adopt success philosophies; among them is to manage time better. I spent the last few months creating Master Your Calendar. The program is designed to instruct and inspire fast-paced property managers to get the most important outcomes for the most important people using the least amount of resources (time, money, effort).
This program aligns with my mission to teach and be of service to my colleagues in our industry and for others who need to restore their work-life balance.
Over the years as a property manager, I’ve realize that time passes far too quickly and many of us get lost in the unimportant tasks, most of which could be easily delegated––or perhaps not done at all. Their philosophy might be something like, “He who checks the most boxes wins.”
That’s a philosophy, but it wouldn’t be a master’s philosophy.
Sometimes I see many of us acting on our “why nots.” Kathy Sparrow, a leadership / empowerment coach wrote a chapter called, “The Power of Your Story: Discovering Your Why, Dissolving Your Why Nots” (Ignite Your Leadership, Motivational Press, February 2017). In it she says many of us live life by our “why nots.”
“We do this to gain the love and approval of those around us. By doing so, we end up playing supporting roles in other peoples lives, rather than being the stars in our own story.”
Yet, there is a better way. And that’s to adopt and live by a master’s philosophy.
The Master’s Philosophy
The ground rules of a master’s philosophy are that you be intentional and deliberate about your use of time so its use honors your purpose, your mission.
When you align with this philosophy, life brings you the greatest satisfaction and meaning. And that’s exactly how masters live.
What does a master look like to you? When we think of someone who has mastered their domain of life, we see them as balanced, poised, and in control of their internal and external worlds.
Masters understand what is most precious and guard those assets with their life. Yet, their actions seem effortless. They are totally aligned with their purpose.
Masters have developed a philosophy to live by—a set of non-negotiable rules that work for them and benefit those around them. They are confident and assured of a positive future for themselves and those they love.
Life is too short to live by our “why nots.” We’ve got to guard our time with our life. And we’ve got to take 100% responsibility for how we optimize our time.
Assuming you want to get the maximum return for your effort in the minimal amount time, adopting a master’s philosophy and living by it will assure that you are successful in this endeavor.
Jim Bunch, creator of The Ultimate Game of Life, defines success by putting his lifestyle first and business second.
He says, “Each day, I focus on my happiness, then my health, then my wealth.” That’s how he optimizes his time. If something he’s considering doing is not a “Hell, yeah,” then it’s a “Hell, No!” Jim has a master’s philosophy.
As the New Year approaches, take the time to develop your own master’s philosophy. Review your “whys,” realign with your purpose, and start the New Year off by optimizing the use of your time for the greatest advantage. Now’s your time.
And in our next blog, I’ll show you how to integrate your most important outcomes (what I refer to as your MIOs) into your game plan to achieve ultimate success in 2017.
