Have you ever stopped to think about the costs?
What does it cost to maintain your current lifestyle? To live in your current home? To own your current toys? What does it cost to keep all the stuff in your life?
When you start to calculate you’ll probably just think of maintenance or storage costs. That would be natural. I have to think hard to see the hidden costs and I think about these things quite often. Well along with the maintenance costs there are the costs of time to move, sort, pick up, clean up, organize, sell, transfer, give away and pass things down. There is the emotional energy that those projects present. You’re making a choice whether you see it or not. You’re choosing to move your stuff from point A to point B versus ……….. Whatever you put in the blank is probably much more important. If you have any passions, any goals, or a faith that’s important to you; then is it worth the exchange? I know a lot of people who do amazing things with their stuff. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have stuff. I’m just asking you to calculate the costs of owning it.
Another area in which we lie to ourselves is the time and cost of our attention. Every phone call you allow to interrupt you, every email, text, twitter DM or Google Chat is costing you something. If you get interrupted 50 times in a given day ( I bet it’s more like 75-100 for many) , then you can’t possibly do your best at whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish. Each conversation must be factored in. Why not really ask yourself if every call is important. Remember a few years back, you didn’t have a cell phone, email, twitter, chat, text or Facebook. You still ran a successful ……………. You have allowed these tools to take over your life instead of mastering them. I have to. Your customers will understand if you return calls 4 times per day or check email 3 times. Why not save up 5 thoughts and then interrupt someone else to discuss them. Try it. You know it’s true and you don’t have to sacrifice customer service in the process. Your service to those you’re focusing on will get better. If you’re struggling with this, maybe, just maybe you’re taking yourself too serious. I do many times.
