You are your most important asset

You are your most important asset!

In fact, you are probably your ONLY asset.

It’s the phrase I use in the header of my website, and I’m always surprised at how little people prioritise themselves. 

We prioritise work, we prioritise study, we prioritise all the myriad commitments that we have.

But we almost never prioritise ourselves.  We rarely take the time to think What is it that I want to do?  What makes me happy? What is important to me?

And yet, If you get sick or stressed out, then who is it that suffers? Only you!

Years ago, I worked in an all-consuming role that required me to be “on” 24/7.  I loved it but my goodness it was stressful.  I lived and breathed the job. 

And ultimately, things changed and I was made redundant along with a bunch of others. 

Who suffered? Just me!  I was sick for several weeks, recovering from the stress of the process and the feeling of doom from having been made redundant.

I vowed then that I would always remember that I needed to look after myself.

I’ve seen it happen to others too.  One firm I worked for decided to disestablish a whole section of staff – that department had seen a decline in sales.  And all the people who had worked there for years and years were quite suddenly cast off.  Needless to say, they were devastated. They hadn’t seen it coming and were completely blindsided.

In my mentoring practice, I have often talked to people who are giving everything of themselves to their work and really suffering as a consequence.  It’s great to be committed to your job but please remember that you need to look after yourself as well.

There was this book from years ago (1991 to be precise! I just Googled it!).  It was a collection of sometimes wise, sometimes funny sayings.

My favourite one was this:

“No one, on their death bed, ever says I wish I’d spent more time at the office.”

Funny right? But also, true!

What do people say?  It’s much more likely to be “I wish I’d spent more time with my family.” Or “I wish I’d spent more time on that hobby that I love.”

Stop for a moment and think about where you are at?

Do you spend too much time and energy on work at the expense of the rest of your life?

Like your family? Your friends?

Are you having enough fun?

If this is you, we should talk! Message me - I can help!