No doubt about it, we are going through some crazy economic and political times right now. As a North American system of business coaches, we work hard to help keep our business owner clients calm, cool, collected, and confident. After all, clients worrying about things beyond their control does no good whatsoever. In fact, needless worry does real harm by diverting vital time, focus and energy away from productive matters.
As business coaches, we are always striving to help our clients maintain a healthy work/life balance, see the big picture and keep a proper perspective. After all, a business is but a means to an end, not the end itself. For all owners, the end should be to have a fulfilling, satisfying a rewarding life. You should be enjoying the journey now. Are you on track for that?
Each day you worry yourself sick or allow yourself to get whipped into a frenzy is another day in your life that is gone. And, we only have so many days to live a rewarding and meaningful life. Case in point. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released their 2008 National Vital Statistics report. This comprehensive report on life expectancy is based on the analysis of 95% of all death certificates from all 50 states from the year 2006. While a bit sobering, this report should get you to think and adopt a big-picture perspective.
Overall, the average American is expected to live for 78.1 years. While 78.1 years may seem like a lot, it translates into only 4,061 weeks in the average American lifespan. When you look at your life in weeks, it gives you a higher level perspective and a sense of urgency to really live life on purpose and with meaning...and NOT to sweat the small stuff.
As business coaches, we are always trying to give our clients gentle wake-up calls so they can correct course before it's too late. Consider the 4,061 weeks in the average life to be your friendly wake-up call right now. How are you living your life week to week? Are you spending your time wisely? Or, are you wasting time worrying about things beyond your control? Are you focusing on the vital few tasks instead of the trivial many? Are you focusing on the people who really matter in your life?
Like all good business coaching, let's create an even greater sense of urgency. Let's face reality. You don't have forever to live, love, learn and leave a legacy...there is limited time on this planet for everyone! In order to better appreciate your precious and fleeting gift of time, let's look at the average expected time we have left to live based on our current age. If someone is 40 years old today, they have roughly 1,981 weeks left based on these statistics - already past mid-life. If they are 50, they have 1,461 weeks left on average. And if someone is 60 years old, they have only 941 weeks left on this earth according to the average lifespan.
Bottom line, we have a limited amount of time on this earth. How many of the 4,061 weeks do you have left? How are you spending your remaining weeks? Should you be living your life differently? Again, let this be your friendly business coaching wake-up call. Stop putting important things off until tomorrow. Stop sweating the small stuff. Stop worrying about what you can't control. Stop letting your business run your life. Love who you need to love, be who you should be, and do what you want to do. As of today, the great news is that it's not too late to change. Thank God you still have weeks remaining. Make the best of them!
Daniel M. Murphy
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System