value of time

In talking with teachers this year, it seems everything they are doing takes longer.  From planning lessons to grading, the virtual world seems to take up more of our time.   

Ashley Whillans, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, suggests that we tend to underestimate the importance of time to our happiness.  In her new book Time Smart, she argues that we can make smarter decisions that allow us to live happier lives 

Her research has shown people who take time seriously are happier, have better relationships, and are more satisfied in their jobs. 

Here are some of her suggestions:  

• Shut off your electronics for a day and live in the moment. 

• Spend more time enjoying what you’re doing.  Don’t rush through things that bring enjoyment, like a good meal. 

• Think about your future commitments.  Do not think that you are going to have more time in the future then you do now:  Stop saying yes to everything. 

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Like teachers, many of you have time-intensive obligations.  You need to think about how valuable your time is. 

With that in mind, I challenge you to implement one of the three suggestions above.  Let’s value our time and see if that makes life more enjoyable. 

 

Your feedback is always appreciated

In honor of my Dad

This is my first Thanksgiving in which my Dad is not alive.  In his honor I am reprinting the gratitude letter I sent him last year. 

Dear Dad, 

I am truly thankful for all the support you have given me throughout my life.  When I was younger you let me try things even though you knew they were not going to work.  You realized that there were times that I just needed to learn on my own and could (or would) not take the advice of a more experienced person.  You never said I told you so when I failed but were there to support me and make sure that I learned from my mistakes 

You taught me that winning was a good thing but loving the journey was the more important thing.  How to make the boredom of practice fun by making it somewhat competitive.  I was able to take that with me even in the pizza business when we had contests who could fold boxes the fastest or could we answer every phone call in one ring.  It still makes me smile to picture people sprinting to the phones to get them in one ring. 

You made me realize that money was not the important driver of the world, but people were.  In business my two driving practices were to take care of our people and customers better than anyone else in the world.  I think what allowed me to focus this way was that I was never driven to make a lot of money.  Family and friends were what was important to you and rubbed off on me. 

Thank you most importantly for your unconditional love 

With deep appreciation and gratitude. 

 

Please do not miss the opportunity to tell your friends and family members how much they mean to you.  Just make the call, send the card or a text.  Do not worry if it is worded perfect the receiver will most definitely appreciate the thought. 

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.