Time may be the ultimate illusion but in the final analysis it’s is all we have. Consider that without it there literally is nothing else, not within our perceivable, physical realm. And with it, seemingly all possibilities exist.

Yet how people “manage”  their time is ultimately what separates those who achieve their ideal future – their success, and those who don’t. On the most basic level, “success” becomes a derivative of time management. But, the question is; do high achievers really “manage” their time or do they do something else? Do they regard time differently?

PERCEPTION & RELATIVITY

“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. Now THAT’S relativity.” – Einstein

Not only is time relative – it’s illusive. Consider, time IS abundant AND scarce. Fleeting AND stands still. In many ways it represents a very pure form of energy. Simply put, TIME IS A RIVER. A force that flows from the moment we are born into this time-constrained world/existence until we return to whence we came. Between those two moments in time (The Dash) is the subtext for all of creativity and life. It’s the subtext for all science, physical formulas reality and individual achievement.

So, the next question ought to be; if we all have the same 24 hours each day, why do some people achieve 10 and 100 times the results and productivity? Well, besides technique and process (management), I’d humbly suggest to you it’s simply HOW high-achievers regard their time.

THE ONLY RAW MATERIAL WE ALL HAVE

One viewpoint I like a lot is shared by Brian Tracy. He has a brilliant analogy for time and people. He suggests that each person ought to view themselves as a FACTORY.  Yes, each new day we all receive a fresh shipment of 24 hours to run through our factory. An opportunity to produce real value each and every day. What your factory produces – what you give and what you achieve in your lifetime (your value) is determined by how you use these 24 hours each day, everyday.

Another viewpoint is this – TIME IS A RIVER and rather than “managing” it we ought to CHANNEL it. We ought to direct it toward our ambitions, interests and endeavors. We should not fight it, feel stressed by it or resist it. We should welcome its force with non-resistance. Recognizing that time is most powerful – well, over time, we should embrace its longevity and strength by employing persistence and patience.

“He that have patience can have what he will.” – Benjamin Franklin

“If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Moving be like water.” – Bruce Lee