We helped the top Rykoff-Sexton people develop their own mission statement, operating values and life goals, and we gave them a way to monitor the balance in their lives. They found this was not a typical time-management program where they learned to be more efficient, but one where they were asked to separate out what was important from what was urgent, and then focus their lives on making sure that important things really get done-things like their relationships, their health and their spirituality. One of their top salespeople told us: "I've won every sales award possible over the years and have been sent to beautiful places to celebrate, but this is the first time that I am taking home more than a memory. I have learned some life skills here that will improve the quality of my life." What are you doing to see if you are caught in a rat race? What are you doing to help your people look at their lives? Do you think companies have a responsibility to help people balance their lives, or are people just an asset that is there to be used?

The way you answer these questions has a lot to do with your attitude toward the human resource aspect of organizations. Margie and I were thrilled with the opportunity given to us by Mark Van Stekelenburg and his Rykoff-Sexton folks. What are you willing to do to help yourself and others sort out your lives and make sure that the epitaph on your tombstone doesn't read, All Used Up . . .