Two things are truth-tellers when it comes to determining what you value. In other words, they don’t lie, despite what you tell yourself (or others!).
- Where you spend your time
Yep — you got it. Your calendar is a truth-teller.
: If you looked at your calendar over the last week (assuming every minute was accounted for) where did you spend your time?
: Time is, arguably, the most valuable resource. So, where and how you spend it tells you what you value.
: For example, if you say — “I value health and wellness” — but spent very little time on exercise and a healthy diet last week — and instead, binge-watched Ozark’s Season One and Two over DoorDash delivered Chinese food — well, I dare say you valued catching up on Netflix over your ‘health’ declarations.
- Where you spend your money
And, so is your money — another truth-teller that is.
: Just like your time, if you tallied up where you spent every dollar of your money last week, what would it tell you?
: I’ve been quoted many times by my students when I say, “don’t tell me what you value — show me your financials and I’ll tell you what you value.”
: Same example. If you say you value your health and wellness, yet spent very little on healthy food and some self-care but ate out a few times, bought the Ozark Series, and ordered a few new things from Amazon Prime — I’d say your health fell to the bottom of the list of ’valuable” purchases.
Sure, you can tell me health is important to you all day. But two things will tell me that it really isn’t:
- You don’t spend any time moving your body, working out, making the drive to your healthy grocery store, etc.
- You don’t spend money on healthy food, the trainer, the gym, etc.
… think about it. How could someone tell me “health is important to me” but not spend any time OR MONEY on health…
More often though, the words aren’t “health is important to me” it’s, “I’m not happy with my weight, my skin, my energy levels” you have it. Typically it’s a dissatisfaction or a statement of lack or desire of something they don’t have. Which they think translates to, “health is important to me because I want to be healthy and I’m not”.
Hmmm. You may read that last paragraph again!
I only use health as an example because it resonates with most… doesn’t it?
But do you know what causes anxiety… overwhelm… divorce and even depression?
⟶ MONEY.
People will tell me they want to be wealthy. Or, really, they tell me they’d like to make more money (thinking this equates to being more wealthy — which it does not.)
But, two things will tell me they really don’t:
- They don’t spend any TIME with their money. They avoid looking at it. Spend no time studying it, learning about it, managing it, you name it.
- They don’t spend MONEY getting good at it. Ie. on guidance, training, advice, you name it.
So — here is a come to Jesus moment.
I’ve always wanted to say that! I mean — if you are 100% completely honest what would you discover?:
Seriously, grab a piece of scrap paper (next to all of the to do’s lining a page in your notebook right now — the ones that you’ll likely prioritize over this exercise – OH THE IRONY), and answer the following questions, quick:
*** Write out what you spent your time on over the past 7 days. What would be the top 3 time chunks? — what does that reveal?
*** Write out what you spent your money on over the past 7 days. What would be the top 3 money chunks? — what would it reveal?
*** Do your time and spending habits reflect what you say you value most?
If not… how about trying to spend some time and money on the things you say you care about. If you care about and value your relationship — how about taking some time to buy him or her an unexpected gift and perhaps a surprise dinner date? Don’t ask them where they want to go — you plan it.
And — any guesses where I’m going next… ?!?
If you say you value your money and time (wealth) then how about you consider spending some time and money on learning what you may need to know to build the financial stability and success you say you desire.
Here’s what I know to be true for myself. Where I spend my time and money is the source of ALL of my creation and results (wanted and unwanted).
Same for you? If so —
I encourage you to answer the following questions:
How much time do you spend working in your business each week:
How much money do spend/reinvest into your business each year:
How much time do you spend moving your body each week:
How much money do you spend on your health each year (not including grocery shopping):
How much time do you spend on your relationships intentionally each week (i.e. Date nights, time with friends or family, phone calls, or facetime):
How much money do you spend on your relationships intentionally each year (i.e. intentional getaways with your partner, experiences with friends, intentional gifts, letters, etc.):
How much time do you spend working on your household finance and wealth building each week:
How much money do spend on household finance and wealth building each year (i.e on household financial management software, courses and/or coaches, advisors, investments):
Where do you spend your time (most to least using the exercise above):
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Where do you spend your money (most to least using the exercise above):
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What change are you going to make THIS WEEK after discovering where you spend the majority of your time and money?
Time:
Money:
If you’re thinking it’s time to invest some time and money into building true wealth & legacy, this first step is for us to chat.
