What Do You Put Into Your Hours?

I’m constantly amazed how the sharing of innovative, creative thinking among colleagues often results in changing one’s point of view.  I recently had the privilege of reviewing, “The Living Stress Free Program” written by Louis J. Guadagnino (http://bit.ly/lImuC).  While I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read the words and advice offered, there is one portion of the program which had a profound impact on my life.  The Program replaces “the words ‘employment’ and ‘career’ with contribution, because we all have the human need to contribute whether we are currently employed or not.  When we begin seeing our work as contribution, it spontaneously develops a new perspective which, in turn, clarifies a balance between our contribution and the rest of our lives.” 

As I reflected on those words, I began to understand the power of this concept.  If every task performed is indeed a contribution, then how you value your time suddenly becomes increasingly important.  Immediately, I began to realize that even as an owner, I’d lost sight that I wasn’t simply working but instead contributing daily to the results of my company.  It was a proverbial “light bulb moment” for me.  Upon further reflection, I began to realize that this notion could be applicable to everyone, no matter title, profession, location, etc. – we all have the ability to make a contribution on a daily basis both professionally and personally! 

Sidney Madwed summarized this “contribution concept” best: “It is not the hours we put in on the job, it is what we put into the hours that counts.”  Every day we are given a chance to utilize our time to make a contribution yet we often fail to realize it.  I encourage you to reflect on how you spend your time on a typical day and whether that time resulted in a true contribution.  Take a few minutes to contemplate how you will empower yourself to make a contribution.  Once you experience the feeling, you won’t pass up the opportunity again.