Time and Money

“The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it.”

Shoppenhauer

I don’t know if I’m a man of talent, but I am driven by time, even moreso as I get older and, more importantly, as I set goals.  I cannot rely on enthusiasm or even energy, though both are nice.  Instead I’d prefer to rely on a moment-to-moment commitment to reach my goals.  I’ve written about time before.  What I’ve learned is that it’s in the top five most valuable things in life.  What are the most valuable things in life?

In no particular order they are the following:

·      Love (for God, others, and self)

·      Health

·      Time

·      Purpose

·      Money

Money may seem like an odd choice as one of the most valuable things in life, but I don’t see how it can be otherwise.  Even the Bible says, “Money is the answer to everything.”  (Ecclesiastes 10:12)  What is money?  It’s freedom. It’s freedom to make more choices.  It doesn’t solve all of life’s problems – in fact, it can add some – but it does create more choices in how to deal with those problems.  If I had all the money I wanted at this very moment, I know how I’d handle it and whom I’d help.  I also know how I would manage my time, how I would change some things in my life, and leave others the same.

I know I would spend a lot more time reading and writing.  I would spend a lot more time doing what I’m doing now and a lot less time doing what others want me to do.  I would help a lot of people and I would change some physical aspects of my life, but mostly I would spend most of my time living out my Purpose. 

Money is not the end, but the means to an end.  As Forrest Gump said when he found out he suddenly had all the money he needed, “Good.  One less thing.”

That’s why I want a lot of money.  It will be one less thing to worry about.  I’m not particularly interested in buying fancy sports cars or eating out every night at a five-star restaurant.  But I would spend a lot more time reading and writing.  I’d make sure my children didn’t have to worry about going to college.

I started this blog talking about time and wound up talking about money.  They are close relatives.  Money can give s time to do what we want.  Time, used well, can help us make money.  How we use both will determine the course of our lives.

That’s why I Get Started and Keep Going every day….because I don’t want to waste time or money.