I have been reading Wayne Cordeiro's book, Leading on Empty. While his book comes from a Christian perspective, its principles are for anyone regardless of their faith. In his book, Wayne discusses how we spend our time. He states that 85% of what we can anyone can do with no education. 10% of what we do anyone can do with the proper education. Only 5% of what we do is really what only we can do.
Some thoughts I have on this.
Why do we often overlook the 5% and spend all our time on the 95% - stuff that others can do? Here are three reasons I think this is so.
- Tyranny of the urgent. We spend our time on what is perceived as the most pressing.
- It is how we are judged. The 95% is how those around us judge our success. It is more noticeable and brings about the results we have been accustomed to be measured on.
- It is easier. The 95% is stuff that anyone else can do. It takes the most time but is easiest for us to accomplish. The 5% really takes hard work. It is harder to measure and is not often something we come by naturally.
What is your 5%? I am still working out that for myself. I know it includes my wife, my kids, my health, my faith - to name a few. The question I am asking and challenge you to ask is this:
What is it that only you, and no one else, can do?
Then, how can we realign our priorities and educate those around us to understand and embrace this?
One final thought... When people are near the end of their life they will never have regrets on the 95%. They will regret not spending more time on the 5%.
To order the book on Amazon, click here. Stay tuned for my list of my 5%.
Chuck
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