Today’s Pearl
Earl begins this pearl with a quote from George Santayana who wrote, “There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval.”
In this stirring context, life itself referred to as an ‘interval’ only reminds us of just how brief and valuable it is. There’s no time to waste. Needless worries about our future or stewing over dumb things we did in the past only wastes time.
The present moment is all we have. Awareness of how we spend time in the moment is the key.
How many times have you looked forward to a future event with such anticipation you whizzed right by all the potentially interesting things that lied between now and then? I know I have. Worse yet was the disappointed with the very thing I looked forward to. I even said “no” to certain things that would have been far more enjoyable. All because I had it in my head the future event would be better than anything else.
I failed to realize my happiness was tied to something in the future. If only it would come, then I’d be happy.
Earl gives the example of the bored commuter who is waiting for life to happen to him. He waits for the train, waits for dinner, and waits for his TV show. He’s operating moments behind reality. While he waits, he misses what’s before him now. He looks past the opportunities of the present for the promises of the future.
If we’re not careful, such future state anticipation can cloud our vision so much that we miss it. We miss out on the very essence of life that presents itself all along the way.
“All we will ever have is today. Yesterday is gone forever. It can never be recalled, and tomorrow never comes.”
–Earl Nightingale
The PM Takeaway
Some of the first thoughts that come to mind as a property manager is our temptation to multi-task. Worse yet, we think we’re good at it.
When we multi-task, we rob ourselves of the richness of the moment—the depth of the interaction, the creative thought to solve the problem, the collaboration to raise service levels to benefit more people.
“To do two things at once is to do neither.”
–Publilius Syrus
Having present moment awareness allows for focused interactions, deep thought and meaningful teamwork to produce the savory fruits of your labor.
5 Minutes to Win It
The next time someone knocks on your office door and you can dedicate five minutes for them, invite them in. Stop what you are doing. Turn toward them, make eye contact and ask them what’s on their mind.
You are fully engaged. You are with them in the moment. You are letting them express themselves and you are actively listening. You are present.
When it’s appropriate, restate what they said to ensure an understanding before rendering a decision or throwing out a solution. This will allow them to be heard and understood. This is a present moment interaction that deepens relationships.
**BONUS**
To add depth to this exercise, try coaching. Instead of giving a solution to the problem, ask them what they would think would be the next best step for all involved. If their idea is beyond the realm of possibility, offer some guidance about parameters within which they must remain (budget constraints, time, personnel, etc.)
Letting them own their input and get your endorsement is one of the most effective present moment interactions.
Feedback
If you got value from this article, please email me HERE. I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and struggles.
Regarding the theme of present moment awareness in the context of ‘time’, I’m pre-enrolling property management professionals in my newest program called Master Your Calendar (more details coming soon). It provides entirely new perspectives and insights on time optimization.
MYC is designed for property managers who confuse ‘being busy’ with ‘being effective’ on and off the job. You’ll learn ways to restore a healthy work-life balance and figure out exactly where you need to be this year, month, week and right now.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks to Earl for inspiring me to pass this message onto you.
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Earl’s Pearls
Dubbed the Dean of Personal Development, Earl Nightingale recorded over 7,000 radio programs and 250 audio programs. I’ve listened to hundreds of his recorded Insight messages since the mid-80s.
I’ve gone through his most popular program Lead The Field a dozen times or more. And I’ve given away numerous copies to people I care about as the pearls of wisdom are timeless and priceless.
So I’ve decided to capture these pearls and translate them into every day ‘property manager speak’ so you can apply them in your life immediately. My reference book for this series is his written compendium of life lessons entitled The Essence of Success.
