This past weekend I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a while. When I say a while, turns out it had been a couple of years which is really sad because we live down the street from each other.
We used to play Xbox (mostly Halo) online together 4 sometimes 5 nights a week. More if our wives would let us.
As we got caught up on the happenings of our lives, it hit me, he was no longer in my circle of five. In fact, my circle has changed so much I had to put some serious thought into who the other four had been.
The circle of five I’m referencing is from Jim Rohn’s famous quote:
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
Back then I was pretty much into one thing; gaining achievements in order to boost my gamer score. Which has been stuck at 48,000 for a long time.
This realization didn’t strike me right away. It hit me when he said there was a certification he wanted to get because it was needed for a promotion at a different company.
It was the same certification he told me about two years earlier.
When I asked him what was holding him back from getting it he said his company wouldn’t pay for it because it was outside of the scope of his role. “How much does it cost?” I asked. “$500” he replied.
$500. Before I continue with the story let me ask you, would you spend $500 on something that could change your life?
Here we were two years later and he was still waiting. Waiting for someone else to give him permission. For someone else to show him the way.
His family had gone on four vacations during those two years. He came back each time to a job he did not enjoy.
I wondered what his life would be like if he’d chosen to skip one of those vacations and got his certification instead. Would he have gotten his promotion at the other company?
FINDING TIME VS. MAKING TIME
After he finished getting me caught up on his life, I told him what I had been up to over the same time frame. When I finished he asked the same question other people do, “How do you find the time?”
So I told him. I didn’t find time, I made time.
There’s a couple of simple truths when it comes to time. First, we each get 168 hours in every week. This is an indisputable fact. Do the math.
I have no more time than you. The difference is simply what we choose to do with our time.
For example, instead of playing video games, I started a blog. While he was saving the Earth from aliens in the outer reaches of space, I was writing blog posts, learning about podcasting and internet marketing.
For every achievement point he gained, I earned a badge listening to books on Audible during my commute.
I’m not telling you this as a humblebrag. I’m telling you to let you know that if you really want something, like a certification that could change your career, then go do it!
Choose to do it instead of the thing you normally do. I promise your short-term sacrifice will change your course, your circle of five and quite possibly your life. Knowing who won the latest reality show won't.
Which brings me to point two.
TIME IS NOT ETERNAL
Like him or hate him Steve Jobs was one of the greatest minds of our time. In addition to seeing the big picture and casting a vision for the rest of us, Mr. Jobs also knew one very important thing that many of us forget when making life or career decisions.
Time is not eternal.
Of the many great quotes from Steve Jobs, one of my favorites is this one.
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
Whether we want to admit it or not, one day our time will run out. We won’t need to worry about “finding the time” anymore because it will be gone.
I’m not perfect by any means. I’m still working towards my ultimate goal which means I’m actively trying to make the most of my 168 hours each week.
I choose to work towards my goal. And sometimes I choose to save the world from the covenant. But at least, I’m making the choice. I’m not waiting for someone to tell me it’s ok.
QUESTION: What about you? Is a certification holding you back? What “reasons” are you giving yourself to not do that “thing” you believe you want to do.
