Time Is A Gift
Unwrap it carefully.
What would it look like if people operated with a complete appreciation of time? More productivity? More chances to do personally enjoyable things? More engaging interactions with people? I would say yes. Here are five things I’ve learned to carefully unwrap time:
1. Be present in the moment. Some people are so zoned in on their cell phone they act as if you’re not even there. We’ve all seen them and some of you may be guilty of it. But did you know that people who interact without their phones share more openly and build more trust? Even the presence of a phone interferes with connecting. It’s a sign that I’m here with you only until I get the next call, text, or notification. Putting your phone away signals that you’re present, focused, and want to appreciate a quality conversation with the person in front of you. Notice the gifts that interaction brings.
2. Arrive early to appointments, meetings, dates, or events. As an Army veteran, the lessons learned from the military are still with me. Be present and settled in before the meeting or engagement is set to start. Schedule arrival 10-15 minutes so things can actually begin on time. Meetings are much more efficient when everyone is mentally and physically set to go at the starting time. Plus, you may make great connections in that 10-15 minutes.
3. Schedule meeting end times and identify work deadlines. Meetings expand to fill every minute you give them. By scheduling an end time, people can properly schedule the rest of their day. It also keeps things productive and goal focused. Work without a deadline is often delayed or forgotten. Deadlines help to keep things organized and on track. Time is valuable and people want that respected.
4. Be prepared, concise, and conscious with communication. Get to the point but be thorough about what you mean. Sending vague emails or texts makes the receiver follow up rather than take care of the issue right away. These delays not only slow things down but clutter their mind and workflow. Also to keep things moving, be prompt when someone needs a response from you, so they don't have to wait. Say what you mean and mean what you say to show you are aware of how important their time is.
5. Protect off hours. Work can easily encroach on personal time. But that encroachment can lead to a host of troubles: mental and physical health issues, chronic stress, burnout, loss of productivity, more mistakes, deteriorating relationships, etc. Making sure you have a full life with time to recharge and reset creates a happy home life and work life. As the legendary Dolly Parton put it, “Don’t get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
Conclusion
Time is a gift. How you treat it determines the quality of your work, your relationships, and your peace of mind. Choose to unwrap each day intentionally, because when you respect time, you truly make room to live––for you and for others.
Jeff Salzbrun is the founder and managing partner of Commercial Equities Group (CEG). As a veteran-owned real estate brokerage, CEG has been involved in thousands of sale and lease transactions, ranging from single offices to 250,000+ square foot buildings. At CEG, we get your deal done. We know space, and we know the CRE business.
