As a business owner, you sometimes get so busy that you forget many of the important things in life. Hopefully, this will cause everyone to pause and remember we all have the same amount of time and an adjustment might be a good thing.
1. A business owner doesn’t really need to be reminded of this first thing. Take time to work. We know it is the price of success and work many hours to make our businesses successful. We also know if we slow down and don’t continue to pay attention to our business, we will be less successful and suffer because of our lack of interest. Work is a joy and a privilege and provides satisfaction and income to live the life we desire.
2. Take time to think. It is the source of power. What happens if you never look for changes or improvements in your business? It is difficult for a business to remain the same for a long period of time, so if it isn’t changing and growing, it is usually going backwards and becoming less successful. I’m sure if you think back a few years, you will realize that many popular items are no longer needed and are not available. Think of the businesses that never dreamed those items would be worthless and unwanted or not needed today. Unless business owners take time to think and change, they will be left behind.
3. Take time to play. It is the secret of youth. If you have children, you realize the importance of play; and it is important to find time to spend with them. However, taking time to play isn’t just for children. Finding something you enjoy that is completely different from work and relaxing to you can recharge you. Thinking your business cannot survive a few days without you is not good. A vacation away from everything will make your work more enjoyable when you return.
4. Take time to help and enjoy friends. It is the source of happiness. This naturally follows taking time to play, as we all need friends. Although some people enjoy alone time more than others, we all need friends. Also, one of the greatest enjoyments in life is being able to help others. Many believe it is a greater feeling to give gifts and help others than it is to receive help or gifts from others.
5. Take time to read. It is the foundation of knowledge. You can learn from the internet, books, newspapers, magazines and other sources. A good book can take you to places you would like to go and completely make you forget your problems during the time you are wrapped up in the book.
6. Take time to worship. It is the highway of reverence and washes the dust of the earth from our eyes. It is good to worship with others, but it is also important to find time each day to study and pray alone or with your family.
7. Take time to love. It is an important sacrament of life. To love and be loved is a need we all share. Watch your employees grow when they realize how much you love and care about them.
8. Take time to dream. It hitches the soul to the stars. Take that dream to your business and make it all that it can be.
9. Take time to laugh. It is the singing that helps with life’s road. We all make mistakes and have days that don’t go as we planned, but it is better to laugh than cry. Don’t stay so serious that you miss all the joy in life. I like to be around people who laugh. Don’t you?
10. Take time to plan. It is the secret of being able to have time to take time for the first nine things. Writing a plan for your business takes time, but it is well worth the effort and sets you free to follow it for success.
Time is something we must escape, find, and think about in whatever quiet limbo we can find in our busy world, because most of all time is life. It is irreversible and irreplaceable. To waste your time is to waste your life, but to master your time is to master your life. Take time for the ten things mentioned and enjoy every moment!
