T I M E M A N A G E M E N T
a pollster might represent the opinion you would have if you had
an opinion.
You might have listed the elements you think you’re supposed
to list, the elements it’s acceptable or right to value most highly.
You really wanted to list “making a pot of money” as your num-
ber-one priority, but somehow you just didn’t feel right doing so.
You knew that “family” was the “right” answer.
It’s possible that you misrepresented your priorities—on a list
that only you will see, in a book designed solely to help you make
decisions about how you spend your time. It’s possible—but it isn’t
very likely.
If you’d like to go back now and change your list to accurately
reflect your values, that’s ok. It’s your list. But I suspect you got it
right the first time.
Which brings us to the third possible explanation, that you
aren’t putting your time where your heart is.
Why Aren’t You Spending Time on the Important Stuff?
Actually, there are three rather simple explanations, and none of
them requires that you be a beast, a hypocrite, or a fool.
1. time Spent Making Money Is time Spent on the Family
We aren’t just working for HD televisions and more cars. We’re
working to feed and clothe and educate our children, and to keep a
roof over our heads. We’re working so that the government won’t
have to take care of us. We’re working so that we’ll be self-sufficient
even when we’re too old to work (or we’re pushed out of our jobs
because of a mandatory retirement age). We’re working because
we’re responsible and we want our kids to be responsible too.
If you’re lucky, your vocation may also be an avocation, even a
passion, helping you to grow and develop intellectually. You may