Ten: Time is the Great Equalizer.

[Preface] Defining Decade author Dr. Meg Jay writes in her book that twenty somethings develop forward thinking capabilities between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-five. Before then, the frontal lobe of a human being’s brain has not yet fully formed. This means human beings do not possess consequential thinking abilities until they are in their late twenties. The irony of this, Dr. Jay writes, is that our twenties are part of the most critical decade of our lives. 

During this period of time, our actions form the foundation upon which we lead our lives. It influences our potential to thrive or fall into a cycle of mediocrity. Fortunately, even when we’ve moved past our twenties and entered our thirties, there is still time to make the critical lifestyle changes that shape our future. In this blog series, I wanted to reflect on my personal experiences and share some of the key life lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Whether you’re a twenty, a thirty, or a forty-something, I hope these insights give you food for thought and a chance to live your best life.

Time is the Great Equalizer.

What’s the value of a minute? How much does your time matter to you?

If you’re like most people, you’re an employee. A well-oiled cog in a much bigger machine. You choose the machine you want to be a part of. And for many of us, we dedicate our lives to that machine. How much is a life worth?

The great challenge for companies today is proving to you that they are worth your time.

In other words, whether you play the role of a customer or an employee, the greatest competition for companies all over the world is being worth the time people choose to invest in them. Make no mistake, you are investing in your company. It is not the other way around.

Time is the great equalizer, it is our most valuable commodity. We can certainly give it… But we aren’t getting any more of it.

I know you’re probably wondering what happens in the next episode of your favorite TV show. After eight seasons, Bran Stark finally has finally taken the Iron Throne but while you were watching Game of Thrones, somebody made money off of your time.

Think about it, while you were watching the show, you spent a $15 a month subscription to HBO… on top of that, an hour of your time each episode… and during that hour someone at HBO made money.

When you watch Game of Thrones, HBO wins. 

You’ve exchanged a significant portion of your life force to see where House Stark goes. Let's reframe this with a question for a minute. If you were to charge HBO for your time, what would that price tag be? 

Time is so commoditized that most people are willing to part with it as if tomorrow is guaranteed to us. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should never watch a TV show, but you should do it knowing full well that you choose to be a consumer. Exchange it with the understanding that there are people who are profiting from your time. 

So long as there are people willing to stand in line for hours to get a $60 autograph at Comic-Con, camp overnight for the latest $700 iPhone, or frequent the same Disney park nine times in three years, time will remain a profitable commodity on someone’s balance sheet. Before becoming a profit margin to someone else, ask yourself how much you would have paid yourself for the time spent.

You owe it to yourself to come to terms with the fact that your life is an investment… and that every single day is meant to be more than just gaining a paycheck, living for tomorrow, and waiting for Friday to come. 

Today, instead of asking yourself “what do I want to do today?”… ask yourself the question, “what am I doing to make my time more valuable?” The value you place on your time is the true measure of the value you place on your humanity. Time is the most rare currency you will ever have. The world’s richest people can never buy their time back, but they can gain something from yours. Claim it and invest it carefully.

You will never be this young again.

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[Foreword] I hope you enjoyed this series. It’s bittersweet to see it come to an end but I’m excited to finally see some of my life’s most valuable lessons put into writing to be shared with you. Perhaps you’ll remember them, perhaps they’ll fade. Either way, I hope what little knowledge I have brings more potential into your life. I wish you all the best in your journey… and please, pay it forward. 

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Ten Life Lessons to Learn While You're Young - Past Lessons:

Lesson One:Borrowed money is borrowed time.

Lesson Two: Invest in the things that get you closer to your dreams.

Lesson Three: Surround yourself with doers.

Lesson Four: Don't Say No to Coffee.

Lesson Five: Speak Only When it Matters.

Lesson Six: Disagree Strategically.

Lesson Seven: Volunteer for Something You Believe In.

Lesson Eight: Say Yes As Often As You Can.

Lesson Nine: The People Who Are Smarter Than You Have Something to Teach You.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the author's employer.