Last week I had a post on bandwidth.  So how much bandwidth do you have?  In my experience you have room for 2.5 things in your life.  When I say ‘Things’ I mean big things.   What are big things?  

 

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When I say ‘Things’ I mean big things

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Family.  Family is a very big thing.  If you have kids, then it takes time to take those kids to the store.. it takes time to go to the concert at the local elementary school.  – and if your smart it takes time to make sure you have earplugs for the recorder symphony by the 2nd graders.  Even if you don’t have kids, a relationship is a good thing…

Work.  Work is a very big thing too.  We don’t live in a world where we get paid a livable wage for 30 hours on the job.  It’s actually nearly a livable wage for 60 hours on the job in most places.  This leaves very little for that third thing, so you can’t really do a full ‘thing’.  You c

Your own business.  Running your own business is a big thing.  Business is complex, no matter if it’s manufacturing, services, or sales.  No matter how you do it there is no easy fix.. you have to commit and work hard to make anything happy.  I don’t give a crap what that Mary Kay lady tells you about how many Pink Cadillacs she got from working 3 hours a week.  

School.  School takes time.   Wanna get that masters?  What about that PhD?  Maybe you never got your Bachelors?  Going back to school while working takes lots of time.  

Community Service.  Community service, if done right can take time.  Lots of time.  If you get involved in a charity, and you get really involved, you’ll be board chair before you know it.  

Many of us would like to do all of these things.. I know I would.  I’d like to go back to school and be a Medical Doctor.  I’d also like to get my Doctorate in Philosophy.  I’d like to write a dozen books and have a awesome website filled with rich content.   I’d like to make a video game and lots of affiliated media.  I’d like to be a Senior VP in my organization.  I’d like to spend every weekend completing huge home improvement projects around the house with my son.  

I can’t do all of this, at least not simultaneously.  I can only fit in 2.5 things..  Two things full time and maybe squeeze in part of a third thing.  The key is figuring out what the .5 is going to be.