#164 Spell "Love" T-I-M-E

People spell love differently.  They don't spell it, L-O-V-E, they spell it T-I-M-E.  If you want to truly show your love and support for someone or something, give your time.  Your wife, kids, friends, or family… it doesn’t matter.  Why?  Because when you give a person time, that's when they know that you really care.

The Reality

Sure, you can buy people things, but this fails in comparison to giving someone your time.  Time shows you care.  Time shows you love them.  When I take my kid to go fishing or play football, and I’m not on my phone, then they know that you care. 

For example, think about a wedding anniversary.  Did you put any thought into it?  Did you even get a card and write something meaningful?  Showing that you put in the time and thought goes farther than just buying a necklace.

With My Kids

I realized long ago that it doesn’t have to be complicated.  I don’t have to come up with some elaborate game or take my kids to a professional baseball game to show them that I care. 

I focused on always saying “yes” to them.  My son wants to go outside and toss the football or go down to the creek?  Absolutely, no question.  That’s just as powerful.

T-I-M-E

Dive in and give it some thought.  Are you making the effort?  Giving your time shows people that you care that they get better, and that your involvement in their life is not half-ass.  For me?  I’m not the greatest at this always.  It’s just a fact.  I must make a conscious effort to keep this at the forefront of my mind every day. 

This runs deep within me because I never really played catch with my old man.  He never really took time to do these very small things that maybe he didn't realize we're so valuable.  So, I made a pact with myself that my answer was always going to be yes.  If AG wants to play catch, I’m going to play catch.  Rain or shine, it doesn’t matter.

Start saying “yes” to those most important in your life.  It’s a basic, fundamental principle that pays huge dividends.  There's something intimate and pure about just throwing the football, just playing catch, or just being with your parent doing something mindless.

In Business

If somebody on my team needs me to explain something and I keep pushing it off, then I’m showing them that I don’t really care if they learn this or that.  I’m purposefully transparent with my team on the numbers, strategy, and hardship because it allows us all to level up.

Another angle to think about is teaching a team member about something they didn’t even ask about.  Maybe they didn’t realize that they needed to know how to do this or that.  You’re helping them get better.

Strive to Be Better

I’m not the best, but I’m always reaching to be better with giving more of my time.  I encourage you to do the same.  Say yes when you kid asks you to play catch.  Establish your own rules and non-negotiables.  Something so small can be highly rewarding many times over.

Time is the key.  I take my time extremely serious.  I had a meeting with my landscape guy the other day, and he told me that I value my time more than anybody he's ever met.  He knows that I don’t dick around.  If I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it. 

I know how much my time is worth, and I’ve been increasingly more aware of this fact ever since becoming an entrepreneur over 20 years ago.