As I write this, I am much closer to 50 than I am to 40. I don’t know how much time I have left on this earth, but it is fair to say that there are fewer days ahead of me than behind me.
As I march towards the big 5-0 in a few years, I have been thinking about everything I want to accomplish with the years I have left.
Heading into the new year, I want to be mindful of my time and make the most of it.
Return on Investment (ROI) is a standard measure of impact in business and finance. This is a powerful measuring tool, but it does not work when measuring productivity for a human for one simple reason:
Each of us has a finite amount of time on this earth. Every moment we spend doing something, we use a portion of our life to do that thing.
Money is a lifeless thing. It is merely a tool that facilitates a transfer of value.
A human is a unique living being that cannot be replicated.
Money can be replaced. A human life cannot.
I have devised a new way of thinking about how humans use their time:
Return on Life Expended (RoLE)
This new way of thinking has helped me view quite a few things differently.
WWE wrestling superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is famous for telling his wrestling opponents to “Know Your Role!”
I don’t want to step on the Rock’s turf! Instead of encouraging people to know their role, I am advocating for this:
Value Your RoLE
What does this mean?
Simple.
You live your life in a way that values the finite amount of time you have as a human on this earth.
Below are a few ways to do this:
- Stop wasting time on things that don’t truly matter.
- Focus on relationships, not things.
- Prioritize actions that add value to the lives of others, which in turn adds value to you.
- Take care of your body through proper nutrition, strength training, and movement. The better you take care of your machinery, the more moments you may have in the future.
Your life is precious. You were created for a purpose. You have a destiny.
It is up to you to find your purpose and make the impact you were made for.
Will you?