Print PDF

I stopped wearing a wristwatch the day I resigned from my job at the bank.

Safely tucked into my purse on that Saturday in August, it symbolized my perception of a life of freedom from the confines of a job where I answered to others. Time was definitely on my side… or so I thought!

As a business owner, you soon realize that the work day is a 24-hour clock. And if you are married to your business partner, there is really no escaping.

Over the years I’ve learned many valuable lessons about time. Most importantly: it’s not how much time you have, but how constructively you use it. I’ve always believed there is a time and place for everything. Take the 401 for example; just a road to get from London to Toronto – I think not! I rate it as the best highway in Canada to have a productive meeting (via hands-free device of course). The conditions could not be better – a captive audience for two full hours?! Long uninterrupted conversations between those Tim Horton’s coffee stops are particularly conducive to solving any problems the office throws at you.

Contrarily, there are definitely instances when the time is not right to carry on business:

Taking more than five calls from the office in one hour on a family vacation will likely run you the risk of having your wife attempt to throw your cell phone into the lake, proving once and for all that time does fly! Remember, when renting your next cottage, be sure to consider the distance from the water.

And, with or without a wristwatch, I still continue to race against time, kill time, and sometimes, but not too often, have time on my hands.

Cathy Lawn

Other Sites