Today I hopped in my car and sped back to the office. If I wasn’t careful I was going to take longer than one hour for my lunch break. I couldn’t let that happen. With my pedal to the metal I squealed into the parking lot and ran up to my office. I was five minutes late. Ouch.
Fortunately my bosses aren’t sticklers with me on that. In fact, Rob and Jeff have given me the liberty to take off mornings or afternoons and work from coffee shops. If I want to meet up with someone during the day, I’m welcomed to. But I find it hard to take that liberty. And I’m glad I do.
When I was self-employed, I’d walk to a coffee shop, and watch people for an hour. I wouldn’t even think anything of it. I wasn’t responsible to anyone or for anything. And I would easily spend the whole day doing stuff like that.
But now I have to think twice. Will this visit to the coffee shop be beneficial? What value will this add to my life? What value will this add to the company?
I’m extremely grateful for that barrier or accountability during my work day. It ensures I’ll get things done.
Now imagine if I had those barriers for all my life? How many series’ on Netflix would I blow through if I was accountable for every hour of my day? Probably not very many. How often would I wander aimlessly through Facebook – knowing it brought absolutely no value to my life? Probably not very often.
I’m not saying we don’t need time for leisure. That’s important. But imagine if we held ourselves more accountable for the idle moments in our lives. What could we accomplish if we did that?
Thanks. Glad I found this blog. I am self employed and struggling a lot with self discipline. It’s a little better now. That’s hard to get more accountable without a boss.
Thanks. Glad I found this blog. I am self employed and struggling a lot with self discipline. It’s a little better now. That’s hard to get more accountable without a boss.