It is thrifty to prepare today for the wants of tomorrow.
Aesop
Fl. C. 550 B.C.

Take a moment and think about your life. Are you getting all the things you want? If you’re like most people, the answer is no. There are probably some material things you would like. To get them, you might need a better job. You might also like to improve certain relationships in your life and reduce your stress level by being in greater control of things. But for some reason you’ve come to accept that all these goals are out of reach.

Now here is the real question. How valuable is it to acquire those things you want? How much time and energy would you devote to getting all you desire from life?

Do you have any idea how you spend your time? Would you devote just two percent of your time to having a better life? Two percent seems like a small price to get all you want from life.

First, let’s get clear about how much two percent of your time is. It is slightly under 30 minutes a day: the length of one TV program. If you would devote just 30 minutes a day to self-improvement, you could literally change your life.

Here are some things you can achieve in 30 minutes a day. You could easily read one book a month. You could exercise, dramatically improving your physical condition. You could pursue an exercise method like yoga or tai chi, known to promote relaxation and reduce stress levels while toning the body. Or you might choose a form of exercise you can do while reading, giving you knowledge as well as physical benefits.

What results can you expect from reading one book a month? To be honest, for the first month, it won’t be that much. But after a few months, if you’re selective about your reading material, you will have dramatically improved your knowledge. If you read about your chosen field of work, you’ll increase your value in the workplace. If you select good books on life and living, you will come to understand the things you need to do to improve your attitude and outlook. And as you change your thinking, you change your life.

You can also spend time planning your life. Search for changes you need to make. Look for small improvements that will not only benefit you now but will continue benefiting you for the rest of your life.

It has been said that the most important part of the day is the start — that how you start the day has a significant influence on how the day goes. Make it a ritual to start your day investing two percent of your time in yourself. Like most investments, the growth will seem slow at first, but over time, the benefits will compound.

If you truly want a brighter future, invest a small portion of your time in yourself today. By investing just 2% of your time, you will reap compounded benefits for the rest of your life. It’s a small amount of time, but the rewards will be out of proportion to any other investment you can make.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves that we are underlings.
William Shakespeare
1564 – 1616

Copyright © 2008 John Chancellor