The Value of Your Time

Many people don’t have time. I wonder what happens with all the time since we have all the same time, don’t we? 24 hours per day and many more in a year.

So, what happens when people don’t have time?

Here’s my thesis: People are lying when they say “I don’t have time”. They would be honest if they said “I don’t have time for you because I’m doing something that I prioritize over you”.

Ouch. That hurts. A K.O. punch right into your confidence. You wanted to talk to that person and he/she said that there was something more important than you.

Do you feel offended? Yes. Is it offensive by that person? No.

That person was even nice to you by telling you the truth. Yes, it could be a way of avoiding people but in this context here we believe in the good and honesty of people.

What if the person said “Yes, sure” and would be lying to you?

Then he/she would be listening to what you want to say, respond here and there but never be fully engaged. The result would be: You being happy that the meeting happened but not satisfied with how it went.

The take-away from today: There’s a reason why people “NO” your request. It’s not because they’re bad people. They simply prioritize different than you. Also, even if they physically just passed by (a few steps from you), mentally they’d be probably somewhere else — being occupied in their head. How valuable is a conversation when the other person that is supposed to listen to you is not mentally there with you? Zero. If you want the person to be all in, let him/her finish his/her things, and the conversation will happen after. Only you and him/her. Full attention. Full engagement. Full satisfaction. Win-Win.

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This was episode 31 of the #weekdaykickoff 🌊