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The key is in not spending time: Time is lost, even before we start thinking about it. Unfortunately, most times we don’t treat time with the same respect because something else takes priority. This quote by Stephen Covey, makes us pause and rethink about time as an investment for the future. As much as I like the idea of investing time in the future, I’m conflicted with the thought that disregards the present and treats it as a tool for the future.

The key is in not spending time, but investing it

We don’t have to work too hard to spend time. It happens on its own. Even if we don’t do anything, time moves away and before we know, the day is over. I like this quote because it reminds us about the importance of time. It treats time as something that we invest for the future. There’s a certain value to this line of thinking because it tells us what we do today will return benefits in the future.

This line of thinking helps us become more disciplined and treat time as a tool. It makes us consider the present moment and define what gives us the most value in the future. With this, we can prioritise our activities, and focus on things that give us the most benefit. After all, this is what investment is about right? In the investment world, we put our money into areas which give us a great chance of return. We also demonstrate patience so that it allows time for this investment to blossom and give us the right return.

But we don’t do this for time which is an intangible resource. If we treat time as an investment, the investments go into areas that give us the most value. These areas refer to increasing our knowledge and gaining expertise that can benefit in the future. It reorients our thinking from just this moment to what it can mean in the future. The key is in investing time because it can give you more returns than a financial investment can. This investment in knowledge and yourself can help you conquer new things which would’ve seemed impossible not too long ago. So, it’s a reminder to think – where best to invest our time?

The key is in not spending time, but in investing it

Stephen R. Covey Quotes