A question I ask myself numerous times each and every day is, “What is the best use of my time at this moment?”

My answer just a few minutes ago was to write this blog post. I had the choice to do it or not to do it in that moment, and am hoping that my choice to do it will impact you in a positive manner just as it will me.

Let’s face it, we are living in the Information Age and in a “smaller world” than has ever existed in human history. The choices that are available to us have never been so limitless and in many cases have paralyzed so many people who deserve and desire more from their lives but get caught up in this world of confusion and overload/overwhelm.

And they’re not alone. So do I! Yes, I spend time watching useless YouTube videos, TV shows, movies, reading useless news & celebrity gossip, plus a boat load of other non productive activities.

NOTE: There’s a time and a place for fooling around, having fun, or even “wasting time” doing stuff like mentioned above if I feel like doing it. It’s when I’m supposed to be productive and doing those activities is where problems of procrastination and lack of results can arise.

Everyone in this world has access to the exact amount of time each and every day: 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds.

No one gets one minute more or one minute less, excluding the inevitable “last day” that we all share at one time or another in this physical world.

The only difference between each of us, is what we choose to do each of those days we are fortunate to be here and where we choose to invest our most valuable asset: time.

Let me tell you that I have personally squandered this priceless asset of time to the tune of decades at a time on occasion and am not taking a holier than thou approach in this post by a long shot. As a matter of fact, this is a post written mostly as a reminder to me and hopefully will benefit you as well.

You see, this is the year of my 20th Year High School Reunion and to reflect on the fact that it’s been 20 years since graduating high school at 17 years old is just mind blowing to me. Sure a TON has happened since then BUT it has gone by SOOO fast! Literally in the blink of an eye it seems.

At the same time I’m thinking, ” Crap, if that 20 years went by so fast, pretty soon I’ll be going to my 40th reunion and I’ll be 57 years old, and my kids will be 28 and 24.”

It also hits me that my Mom passed away at 52, and my Dad at 56. No one has any guarantees that they’ll be here 20 years from now. The picture from my graduation in 1990 has me, my Dad, my Grandpa, my Grandma, and my Great-Grandpa in it. Me and my Grandma are the only ones still around 20 years later. (see picture above this post)

Bottom line is that I don’t want to wake up 20 years from now looking back on the things I wish I had done, or the things I thought about doing but never took the proper actions to make them happen.

I feel so fortunate and so blessed for all of the experiences I have been able to participate in during my brief 37 years here so far, and look excitedly to the next 20 years and all the amazing and memorable moments I will be certain to create with my family, friends, loved ones, and clients.

A multi-deca millionaire friend of mine told me back on December 31, 2001, that he could attribute ALL of his wealth at that time to one activity and it was the activity of writing something each and every day.

I’ve known the value, I’ve known the importance, yet for some reason have made up thousands of excuses since that incredible conversation to withhold the one key I knew would help me provide value to my audience and clarity for me all in one fell swoop.

Today is the beginning of my next 20 years and I look forward to providing you with extreme value along this journey.

Make Today Great!
Tom Beal

PS – What is something you have known for a long time that you should be doing but you haven’t started doing it yet? (I look forward to reading you comments.)

email