I worked at the same law firm. Clearly, as David taught me, time is our most scarce resource as compared to money.
The trick, I believe, is to generate more time for non work activities by learning how to focus your career/work as narrowly as reasonable and to pursue that focused career/ work in a team allocated tasks structure so that you and you team members can perform as time efficiently as reasonably possible.
This approach does not create time, but allows you to allocate more time to non career/work matters and also enhances through put productivity and therefore revenue.
I love this. If we can focus our efforts on what we are best at doing, and allow other members of our team to focus on their strengths, we all win. When we try to do it all ourselves out of ego or fear of delegating, we are more likely to make mistakes, are less productive, and have far less fun.
When I was 25 and working at that same large law firm, the amount of time left in my life seemed so great that I would've taken the 20% higher income in a minute. At 67, with "enough" money, and being all too aware of the reality of mortality, I'd choose the time. But I also tell my kids, "You're young and strong, so work long and hard to achieve the benefits you desire." The value of time may be relative. If so, because time is life, how we spend our life-time is relative to the time of our life.
I think you have really captured the essence of my blog. Sometimes, it is worth the effort to earn more money, particularly when you are young, starting out, and trying to become a true professional quickly. At other times, the relentless focus on work and money serves you poorly. I have a good friend who retired relatively young because he had worked hard for a long time, and wanted to spend more time at home before both his kids went to college. My hope is my Small Steps & Worthy Questions help us figure out our own right answer.
I worked at the same law firm. Clearly, as David taught me, time is our most scarce resource as compared to money.
The trick, I believe, is to generate more time for non work activities by learning how to focus your career/work as narrowly as reasonable and to pursue that focused career/ work in a team allocated tasks structure so that you and you team members can perform as time efficiently as reasonably possible.
This approach does not create time, but allows you to allocate more time to non career/work matters and also enhances through put productivity and therefore revenue.
I love this. If we can focus our efforts on what we are best at doing, and allow other members of our team to focus on their strengths, we all win. When we try to do it all ourselves out of ego or fear of delegating, we are more likely to make mistakes, are less productive, and have far less fun.
And you don’t assist others to have the time/opportunity to find themselves in the particular work/profession, find their personal niche and succeed.
Exactly
When I was 25 and working at that same large law firm, the amount of time left in my life seemed so great that I would've taken the 20% higher income in a minute. At 67, with "enough" money, and being all too aware of the reality of mortality, I'd choose the time. But I also tell my kids, "You're young and strong, so work long and hard to achieve the benefits you desire." The value of time may be relative. If so, because time is life, how we spend our life-time is relative to the time of our life.
I think you have really captured the essence of my blog. Sometimes, it is worth the effort to earn more money, particularly when you are young, starting out, and trying to become a true professional quickly. At other times, the relentless focus on work and money serves you poorly. I have a good friend who retired relatively young because he had worked hard for a long time, and wanted to spend more time at home before both his kids went to college. My hope is my Small Steps & Worthy Questions help us figure out our own right answer.