If time could be bought and sold, it would be the World’s most valuable commodity.  There’s never enough to go around, even though it’s distributed equally among every creature on earth simultaneously, and without prejudice.  Yet, so many people at the end of the day, week, month, year, or their lifetime feel like they have been cheated.  I don’t want to be one of those people.  Perhaps it’s my age, sense of urgency, fear of death, or a combination of many things that drive the desire to live a balanced and fulfilling life, but whatever the catalyst, I’m grateful for the awareness.

Yesterday, Mike Van Hoozer came and spoke to our EO group.  One of our members asked a great question about how it was possible to have balance as a high capacity, goal-oriented entrepreneur.  Mike’s response was immediate and impactful.  Paraphrasing a bit, Mike stated that goals should never compromise priorities.  My spin would be that if you don’t set and protect your priorities, your goals will set them for you.  Here’s a list of my priorities and partial list of my goals:

Priorities

• Family – I want to be available to my wife and kids, be interested in them and their activities, and support them in their dreams and goals.
• Faith – I want to live a life of inquiry, grow daily in my Faith, and learn to exercise discipline and self control more often than not.
• Provision – I want to provide a comfortable lifestyle for my family and give generously.
• Fit – I want to live a long healthy life, free of disease and pain.  I want to stay active.
• Do the right thing – Part of my purpose.  Aspire to do the right thing and influence others to do the same.

Goals

• Learn spanish
• Play the piano well
• Write a book
• Live debt free
• Give half of what I have away before I die
• Be in a movie
• Travel the world
• Throw out the first pitch in a world series

This is only a partial goal list, but the point is that my growing goal list could easily serve as a detractor for my priorities, and at times does.  We have power over our where, with who, and how we spend our time.  It obeys our every command, but we must protect our priorities.  Today, I’m reminding myself that I don’t want to miss one of life’s Moments.