Gotta start ’em young.
Last night I saw this Instagram clip of Bob Odenkirk answering the question of who he’s most jealous of. His answer? “Anybody who’s got young kids.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DMtE6dnSrlN/
That’s the goal, that’s the best job of all — being a good, present parent. IYKYK. It’s the best time of life, the most hectic, and you just want a break. But at the end of it all, you wish you’d had more of this time. Someday, the shoes and toys won’t be scattered all over the living room floor. And you’ll wish you had the time back.
With a 6yo and 4yo right now, I’m in the thick of it. And enjoying every minute.
This is the best time of my life, and we’re in the good old days, right now.
Alex Hormozi has broken down this word “Priority”, he doesn’t even like the pluralized version. It makes sense. What is your “priority” - the one thing which takes precedence above all else.
That said, my priority is spending quality time with my children while they’re young. Time which I won’t ever get back, ever.
If time is the most precious resource we have, then how much more precious is time with our children while they’re young, impressionable and want to spend time with us? You only get a few years, then it’s gone. And every day is different than the day before.
Those small requests aren’t small to them. It’s everything. And it’s gone tomorrow. You don’t get that chance back.
Your kid is asking if they can put up the tent and camp out tonight?
The correct answer is “Yes”. Not “later” or “we’ll have to plan it out”.
Because tomorrow never comes. Today is all you have with them. Say Yes.
Sure, it’s more of your energy. It will drain you faster. Say Yes anyway, and have fun. These are the moments they will remember fondly, and so will you. And you will miss them. And you’ll miss them (e.g. not experience them) if you say “later”.
Say Yes to your children.
Freedom being the goal, not money, how can we design a life where we have the most freedom? Some would say money will give you the ultimate freedom, and that might be true. But if that means I lose the time w/my kids while they’re young, is it worth it?
Filtering everything thru that priority lens helps to filter, focus and prioritize the actual goal, and thus the strategies we implement to achieve the goal.
This is high-level but that’s the point – all high-level planning should ultimately direct your monthly, weekly and daily goals and tasks.
Try and design your life such that your daily actions roll up into your weekly goals. Weekly => Monthly. Monthly => 6, 12 months. Year into 5, 10 year plans.
You do this by first figuring out what you want in life, and writing down that Vision of your future life. Then create Goals which stem from it (maybe 2-5 max). Then Strategies to achieve those Goals. Put up realistic timelines for achieving them, narrow those down ’til you get to monthly or weekly.
I’m not going to suggest that your priorities should be the same as mine, but if you have young kids, I would hope that you prioritize your time w/them, b/c when it’s gone, it’s gone.