Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes,
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Moments so dear.
Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?How about love?
How about love?
How about love? Measure in loveSeasons of love…
How do you measure the life
Of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned,
Or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned,
Or the way that she died…
…Remember the love!
You know that love is a gift from up above
Share love, give love spread love
Measure measure your life in love.
Seasons of Love, RENT (click to see clip)
When I contract for work with a new client, our first task together is coming to conceptual agreement on three things:
What are the OBJECTIVES we are trying to achieve?
What are the MEASURES or indicators that we will use to determine how well we are achieving those objectives?
What is the VALUE of meeting those objectives?
Objectives, measures and value form the foundation for how my clients and I work together. They provide both direction to the work and shape of the partnership. They define what is important and in essence, the priorities.
I was thinking about objectives, measures and values this weekend not as they relate to a client engagement but as they relate to life. I had the opportunity to witness a good friend and hundreds of others give of themselves as volunteers to causes that help others. My friend who in addition to his day job as a sales rep is also a DJ. Although he works every weekend in October doing the DJ thing at SeaWorld, he chose to add a 16 hour workday to his already busy life yesterday. He started his day at 6am to be the DJ for Step Up for Down’s Syndrome (click for link) and afterwards rushed to Jacksonville to be the DJ for Halloween Doors and More in Jacksonville (click for link) My friend played music, made announcements and entertained children of all ages and abilities literally nonstop until 11pm.
I asked my friend why he made these sacrifices when he has very little available time. His response was to quote this song from RENT and how he wanted to measure his life. His objectives, measure and values aren’t about being rich, famous or comfortable but about doing his best to love and serve others.
My professional mentor Alan Weiss defines wealth as discretionary time, which I think is a fabulous definition. Wealth isn’t about status or possessions but time. What I witnessed this weekend makes me want to ask myself about what I do with my discretionary time and what my investment decisions say about how I measure the worth of my life.
We all have options on how we spend our days and what measures we use to determine the value of our life. I want to be like my friend and measure my life by how well I love others. How about you? What are the measures you use to determine the worth of your life?
How do you measure the life of a man?
© Betsy Jordyn 2010. All rights reserved.
Ironic that I just went to a funeral yesterday for a gentleman who was described as living life with great enthusiasm and passion. My measures include the the contribution I gave to the lives of my family and friends. Are they better off by having known me? Have I contributed value to their lives?
Good post, Betsy.
As someone who has known you for a year, Dan, I can say with certainty that you make a difference each and every day just by virtue of you being you. I am very grateful to have you as a colleague and friend.
Thanks Betsy. You are very kind. Keep up the great articles. They are thought provoking and timely…