The Importance of Keeping Our Priorities Straight

It all started with my daughter's excitement for the Sadie Hawkins dance at her high school. She had meticulously planned her costume alongside her boyfriend, opting for a Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley theme. They had searched tirelessly for the perfect outfits and couldn't wait to enjoy the dance. Since my daughter would be driving, she requested to borrow my wife's new car, a request which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We snapped a few pictures and sent them off, as they were planning to grab dinner at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, approximately 35 miles away, before heading to the dance.

As my wife and I started our grocery shopping, an unexpected phone call changed the course of the evening. It was our daughter, her voice trembling with distress. Amidst inconsolable sobs, she revealed the devastating news of a car accident she had just been involved in. The vehicle was a wreck, leaving me desperate to know if everyone was unharmed. Regrettably, her response conveyed a different reality. Nearly paralyzed by worry, she divulged her location and the recent arrival of the police at the scene. Without a moment's hesitation, we abandoned our shopping cart and headed towards Salt Lake City, consumed by anxiety.

As we approached Salt Lake City, the sight of the congestion ahead only heightened our apprehension. Flashing lights from the emergency vehicles illuminated the street, hinting at the gravity of the situation awaiting us. At that moment, nothing else mattered but reaching our daughter's side. Finally arriving at the accident site, relief washed over me as I saw my daughter and her friends standing alongside law enforcement officials. The wrecked car demonstrated the severity of the collision, with deployed airbags serving as a testament to the impact. Fortunately, the injuries proved less severe than initially feared, restricted to superficial burns on my daughter's hands and knees from the airbags. Fortunately, no one else was injured during the incident. The car had done its job of protecting the occupants. Other couples were accompanying them in separate vehicles, providing them with additional space. This fortunate turn of events meant that my daughter and her friends were able to proceed with their plans for the rest of the evening.

After that fateful night, I have been doing a lot of soul-searching and contemplating my recent path. It saddened me to realize how my work had recently engulfed me, leaving little room for what truly holds significance in my life. Engrossed in this self-examination, I have begun jotting down the aspects that truly matter to me, and the revelations have been nothing short of eye-opening. It dawned on me that amidst the chaos, I may have overlooked numerous precious moments, and it took a terrifying incident such as my daughter's accident to jolt me back onto the right path. And as an executive coach working with others to improve their lives, I realized that I needed to get back on track myself. 

Many times, we find ourselves consumed by the tasks and responsibilities that demand our attention daily. We believe that these urgent matters require immediate action, leaving no room for delay. However, have you ever stopped to consider the consequences of this constant rush? We may have successfully managed to address urgent matters, but upon reflection, we realize this happened without conscious planning. It simply unfolded before our eyes. At the close of the day, we often found ourselves prioritizing certain things over what truly mattered.

Have you ever had that feeling, that something wasn't quite right, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? Well, here's the revelation: we have unknowingly allowed those perceived urgent matters to take control of our time, overshadowing and overpowering everything else in our lives.

So how do we ensure that we make time for those things in our lives that are the most important? Here are some tips:

• Organize your day - Start your day right by setting priorities for the day ahead. Create a list encompassing vital elements like spending quality time with family, pursuing hobbies, maintaining fitness, or simply giving yourself a breather. For maximum effectiveness, I recommend jotting it down on paper instead of a digital platform. Surprisingly, a study involving university students and recent graduates has shown that writing on physical paper boosts brain activity, resulting in enhanced productivity. By efficiently organizing your day, you can seize control over your life.

• Free up time - Discover the art of delegating tasks and reclaim your valuable time by engaging in non-work related activities. One effective approach is to lean on your colleagues for support, whether it be by assigning them more responsibilities or even considering the assistance of a virtual assistant. Another option is to advocate for the introduction of an intern or additional colleague to help alleviate your workload. Embracing delegation not only allows you to prioritize your time, but it also encourages better communication and acceptance in the workplace

• Look beyond your job title - It's time to shift our perspective on our careers. Instead of solely identifying ourselves based on company names or job titles, let's focus on the skills we possess that can be applied in various contexts. While it's natural to closely associate our identities with our careers, this mindset can leave us vulnerable to difficult transitions such as burnout, layoffs, or retirement. These situations often lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and despair as we struggle to redefine ourselves without our previous job roles. As a job coach for a professional network group, I have the privilege of assisting individuals who are currently unemployed. What I frequently observe is that many of them find it challenging to determine what truly matters in their lives. This struggle becomes especially evident among those individuals who failed to establish clear priorities before experiencing job loss.

• Learn how to say no - Amid our hectic schedules and endless obligations, it is not uncommon for us to keep piling on more tasks. Unfortunately, this tendency not only takes away precious time from what truly matters, but it also sends a signal to those around us that they are less significant than our overwhelming to-do list. However, refusing to give in to this overwhelming pressure by mastering the art of saying "no" can lead us to say "yes" to the truly important aspects of our lives.

By reclaiming some personal time and diversifying our activities and relationships, we can cultivate a more balanced and resilient identity that aligns with our true values. It's essential to broaden the scope of our accomplishments and interests beyond the confines of our professional lives. Investing in personal growth, exploring new hobbies, forming meaningful connections, and engaging in activities outside of work can contribute to a more fulfilling existence. This broader perspective allows us to thrive even in the face of career changes, empowering us to adapt and find purpose beyond traditional professional roles. After all, how many job titles have you seen carved into someone's headstone?

This week, I have intentionally slowed down. I have put aside those things that I felt were urgent and must be done regardless. I have found that I have been much more productive getting back to my routine of planning my daily activities. 

I had a profound realization that shook me to my core - the realization that our loved ones can be taken away from us in an instant. It served as a powerful reminder that life is fragile and unpredictable. No matter how successful our careers may be, nothing can compare to the value of the relationships we have and our well-being. This realization has inspired me to make a conscious effort moving forward to prioritize the things that truly matter in life.

Rich Baron serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Global Coaching Project at John Mattone Global, where he also holds the title of Master Certified Intelligent Leadership Executive Coach. With over 30 years of rich experience in cultural transformation, operational leadership, executive roles, and coaching leaders at every level—from emerging talents to seasoned CEOs—Rich has a demonstrated track record of success.

Rich co-hosts "Mainline Executive Coaching ACT," a podcast that is recognized by Feedspot as the leading Executive Coaching Podcast worldwide. The podcast's acclaim is based on an evaluation of numerous factors, including web traffic, social media followers, and timeliness. It boasts an impressive following in more than 85 countries and over 850 cities globally.