What is TIMELY vs. TIMELESS?

Last week, I was in a meeting with one of our business leaders to discuss a revised organizational vision document. Clarity in vision is important to us (as it should be for any business) and we were working to ensure alignment of the statement and supporting references, phrases, and elements.

In discussing the content, he was quick to highlight elements of the vision that we had included that were timely (important now / next 6-8 months) vs. timeless (important for long-term competitive and comparative advantage). We had essentially co-mingled timely and timeless vision components. Not good or bad – we just did. I had never thought about content through this lens.

I found it particularly interesting as later that same day, I was preparing a presentation for a group on personal branding, setting a “personal” vision for the year, and narrowing the focus – with both timely and timeless priorities.

TIMELY. What are today’s priorities? What are today’s relationships? What are my work, family and community “timely” (aka now) priorities? What must be done now to keep up. To stay connected. To stay ahead of the competition. Things that need to be done short-term.

TIMELESS. New ways of thinking about my career, relationships, and where I spend my time. Relationships for the long-term. Investments of my time intentionally in groups, organizations, and activities. Surrounding myself with people that are FOR me and whom I am FOR.

As a new year begins, there is no better time to pivot. Which personal relationships are timely vs. timeless? Time is the most precious asset and it’s not worth sticking around negative naysayers, energy takers / suckers, peace stealers, compromisers, and dream killers. Are you in a job that is timely…or timeless? Perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to that biding-time-good-for-now-it’s-just-fine role and find a role that truly fuels you. Are you in a timely relationship…or timeless? Everybody cannot go where you are going. Some friends are here for a season while others are timeless.