The Price of Time
In my younger days I spent many nights at the poker table.
The casino had a nightclub. Men would stumble out, ladies on their arms, all laughing and tipsy.
A stop by the tables, and I'd separate them from their money.
One morning, heading home after long night of winning, it hit me:
The loser at the table that night, was actually me.
My opponents were having fun, I was at work.
I'd leave with the chips. They'd leave with the girls.
I made a pact with myself that day...
To always ask -
Is the *time cost* of this victory, greater than the prize?
Maybe this means doing more of the things you can only do while young...
Saying no to a year of school, and yes to a year of travel.
Saying no to a steady job, yes to a risky start-up.
Or when you're older... and you have even less time - saying no to more work, and yes to your kid who wants to play.
Or going to visit parents, who have even less time than you
Instead of going to a party, when there will always be another.
I encourage you to look at every decision with the mindset that TIME has a PRICE.
Ask yourself, even if something is free - or is making you money -
Is it worth what I will pay for this, with time?