What's Your Wake-Up Call?

"Sometimes it takes a wake-up call, doesn't it, to alert us to the fact that we're hurrying through our lives instead of actually living them; that we're living the fast life instead of the good life." -- Carl Honore

"What's your wake-up call?" That's the question recently posed by the president of my local networking group. Actually it was more of a theme we were to use to craft and deliver our "60 second commercial" for the upcoming meeting. The intent was to come up with a bold, attention-getting statement designed to capture attention and magnify the impact of what we had to say in the remaining 50 to 55 seconds -- and it's important to have good one. But, I couldn't help but think about what may be the larger and more important consideration for such a question. While we are certainly alive, are we really living? While we appear to be awake, are we really sleepwalking through our routine? Are we due for a wake-up call?

I believe we have a tendency to find a certain stability or status quo in our surroundings, in our relationships, in our occupations, in the very freedom and liberty we currently enjoy. However, most of us have lived through at least one unexpected event or change that has rocked our world -- personally or collectively. Chances are we've experienced both and most likely we've experienced these events more than once. In fact, the older we get, the more likely we are to be able to list and recount a number of such events. To some extent, such things are "seniority driven" and if we stick around long enough we're going see some things, feel some things, and be changed by some things. But isn't the expectation of attaining that "seniority" a form of, or evidence of our stability-based thinking? Judging from the way most of us seem to go about our lives, I'd have to believe the answer is -- yes.

The truth is, we may not have the time we think we do. Worse yet, those we profess to have prominence and critical importance in our lives may not either. Inherently we know that nothing is permanent and everything is subject to change -- naturally or unnaturally. People, situations, possessions, surroundings -- literally everything we see and touch can, and at some point will be, gone or forever altered. We know it, but do our decisions, priorities, and actions reflect our knowledge? Again, it is as if we are asleep. We can't remain in our slumber -- at some given time the wake-up call is coming. Why not wake up before the alarm and make some important changes?

In my workshops and coaching sessions, I will often ask my clients to list their top three priorities. I will then ask them to carefully reflect on what they've written down and then ask them how much time they are really spending on the very things or the very people they deem to be most important. For many, it is a startling revelation -- a wake-up call. Let me ask you to do the same thing.

Take a moment and list out your top priorities. Take a look at what you've written and consider these points:

1. Are these really your most important priorities, or have you lost track of what and who is really most important?
2. What is the true cost of fulfillment in terms of your time, treasure, your health -- your relationships?
3. Assuming these are your top priorities, how much of your time and treasure are you investing on a daily and consistent basis?
4. If you knew everyone and everything that is important to you was going to be gone tomorrow, how would it change your today? Who? What? When? Where? How?

I can tell you that from my experience the top priorities, whether they are initially listed or not, ultimately end up being people, personal health, and lost time. Most everything else can be purchased or replaced.

What's your wake-up call? Will you answer it -- or will you let it ring? Choose!

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a DISC Certified Behavioral Consultant.