Time, Talent, & Treasure
“It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | The Little Prince
What do you care most about? I spend nearly every work day meeting with people who are interested in becoming a better version of themselves, and that is always the first question I ask. To be fair, it is an awfully intrusive and sometimes difficult question to answer, and I am often given superficial answers or the “I’m supposed to say this” response.
Using the wisdom of our friend The Little Prince, I could make a case that we can actually observe and measure the things that are most important to you. In his case, time spent (though not necessarily “wasted”) is a signal of importance, and in our ever busy lives, it is probably the most important metric. But why stop there? Your actions will always shine a bright light on the things you value most. Consider these three questions:
Time: When push comes to shove, what comes first in the battle for your time and attention?
Talent: When you are called upon to use your innate abilities to effect change, what arena are they in?
Treasure: If you looked at your bank statement, what do you spend your money on?
Hopefully, your answers to those questions paint a very clear picture of the person and professional you are or hope to become. But what if they point to endeavors, work, and expenses that don’t align with who you are or who you want to be? And what if you find your Time, Talent, and Treasures to be pointed at things that don’t line up with that which you hold most dear?
I’ve spoken to many people in the latter category. While they generally articulate their feelings as “burned out”, I know that the real issue is their internal struggle to find meaning in their work and balance with their personal lives. This realization is often an “ah-ha moment” that leads first to fear and then to the amazing process of self-discovery. The fear resides in a few powerful questions that must be answered:
How do I figure out what really matters?
How will I know when I find it?
What if I never find it?
Once you get over your fear, an honest self-assessment to identify the delta between what you really value and how you use your Time, Talent, and Treasures is a logical first step. It won’t be easy...but once completed you have set the foundation to establish goals and then develop a plan to shift those guideposts in the direction you want to go. Wherever you are in your career (or life), I hope you take the first step towards alignment by CLICKING HERE to register for my complimentary online Personal and Professional Development program.
What’s your rose?
Jason Boaz, PGA, ARWC
PGA Career Consultant
Illinois and Wisconsin Sections of the PGA of America
PGA Certified Golf Professional
Advanced Resume Writing Certification
608.318.5355