Jan 12 2009
Twenty-Four Hours
Many years ago, a person told me something that I’m sure they thought was inspirational. Particularly at the time, and periodically since then, I found it…well, almost inflammatory.
“You’ve got twenty-four hours in your wallet. The only difference between you and a millionaire is how you spend those twenty-four hours.”
I suppose that, strictly speaking, it’s true. Kinda harsh, tho, don’t you think? I’m not lazy; few of us actually are. I spend my twenty-four hours, every day, the best way I can see to.
Don’t I?
Don’t you?
Do we?
There’s a mind-shift between leaving home every day to chase the cheese and arranging your life and your expectations to expecting the cheese to come looking for you. Some people accomplish the leap by setting up an entire home office, complete with dressing for work and marking time on the clock, just like they did before they worked for themselves. That works really well if your income is based upon industries that expect to interact with you during banker’s hours, and/or if you are constitutionally a very structured person who needs such. Some people go hog wild when they are cut loose from the clock, tho, and only tend to business when they know they can focus and be completely absorbed by it whether that’s two hours in the afternoon or between 3a and 7a. If they have enough drive, enough love for what they’re doing, that can work just as well.
Working from home is not necessarily easier, less stressful, or more money or prestige. It certainly can be all those things… Mostly, it’s engaging with your present and your future in ways that don’t seem to be required when you’re just trading hours of your life for dollars and, if you’re lucky, benefits.
