The older I get, the faster time flies, and the more important living with the time I have left becomes.
The idea hit home for the first time following the death of my Dad in 1999.
As he approached the end, one more year of living seemed priceless. Yet, at that point, he was older and more infirm than at any other point in his life. To some extent, the scarcity outweighed the quality.
Wouldn't it be better to recognize the importance of living fully earlier?
In other words, the best way to capture and leverage the value of this year is to live it fully now.
That idea inspired my 2014 TEDx talk, "The Time Value Of A Life Worth Living." It was a reflection on my struggle with the practical realities of juggling my work-life balance during a challenging time. It was about a year that brought my Dad's death, the forced sale of my company by venture capitalists, and a divorce (in that order). Luckily, sometimes, life's darkest days bring the greatest gifts … if you are willing to look for them.
In finance, the "time value of money" refers to the principle that the purchasing power of money varies over time (meaning that money today has more purchasing power than money later). This is partly because the value of money at a future point in time might be calculated by accounting for other variables (like interest earned, inflation accrued, etc.).
I realized that a similar calculation applied to life ... or living.
The above video is 13 minutes long. I hope you'll watch it, but if not, I've added some of my favorite excerpts below.
Many people get stuck moving away from pain, and they forget to move toward opportunity.
When you are stuck, a shift in role or perspective can help you find a new path or possibility.
You can decide to stop playing the games you're playing and find a new—better—one.
The difference between good and great is infinitesimal. People who are good take advantage of opportunities ... but people who are great create them.
Many people see opportunities, but few take action. "Life" (the noun) often gets in the way of "living" (the verb).
Everyone has the same 24 hours each day, but some use them better than others. Some build businesses, transform lives, or create art that will last far beyond their lifespan, while others die without ever truly living.
The average life expectancy for men in the U.S. is 76.
How many amazing vacations do you have left? How many jaw-dropping moments? How many fantastic meals? How many Super Bowls?
What about time with your parents or older relatives? It's easy to forget to call or miss an important event because "life happens," but if you realize you may have already used 95% of your in-person time with that person, doesn't it become more special?
The Time Value of Time
In many senses, time is relative.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand this quote from Einstein.
" When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That's relativity."
It is about more than perception.
Here is something that highlights the relative value of time.
To understand the value of a year, talk to a student who has failed an important exam.
To understand the value of a month, talk to a mother who has given birth to a baby a month prematurely.
To understand the value of a week, talk to the publisher of a weekly newspaper.
To understand the value of an hour, talk to a couple in love who are separated and want only to be together again.
To understand the value of a minute, talk to someone who has just missed their train or plane flight.
To understand the value of a second, talk to someone who has lost a loved one in an accident.
And to understand the value of a millisecond, talk to someone who won the silver medal at the Olympic Games.
Time waits for no one. So it is important to remember to make the best use of the time you have.
A Change of Pace:
When I jog, the beginning and the end are the hardest for me. After finding the right pace and settling into a comfortable rhythm, most of the run is relatively painless. My mind and body switch to nearly automatic modes, and I have time to think about many things.
Work is similar in many respects. Once a team gets into a rhythm, work and progress become somewhat automatic. Breaking inertia is a challenge – but people recognize that it's a challenge. The more insidious problem is failing to recognize that the work rhythm that's comfortable and produces progress is still a rut. It doesn't stretch and challenge the team to strive for more. Yet, stretching is what drives innovation. Sometimes you need to sprint. Other times you need to jog. Sometimes you need to rest ... but you won't get different results if you continue to do the same things the same way.
The same is true about your perspective.
Changing your pace or perspective can be an incredible catalyst to create or achieve something better ... and to better take advantage of the life you have left.
In my TEDx talk, I mentioned "living like you only have a year left," and recognized how much more "life" we squeezed out of the last part of my Dad's life.
How do you replicate that?
To start, think of some of the activities you do, places you go, and special experiences that make you feel like your best self.
Hitting flow-state and creating something new and exciting;
Taking an amazing vacation and experiencing something completely new;
Having a moment with someone you love that makes you stop and say - Wow!
Making a difference in someone's day or giving back to your community;
Experiencing peace and relaxation;
Feeling pure joy.
It's easy to get lost and take for granted these moments when they happen, but when you think about how much time you have left, they take a whole new meaning.
What would it take for you to get the most out of your life, today? How can you maximize the time you have left? Fill it with the best experiences, activities, and people you can.
To start, think about different time frames:
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a year?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a month?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a week?
What activities could you commit to doing at least once a day?
Make those lists ... it is a simple way to get a better return on the time value of your life.
