There is a difference in life between acting out of obligation or inspiration. Inspiration is shaped by having some possibility in mind—seeing the connection between how you are spending your time and a desirable future that doesn’t exist right now.

There’s a story about golf pro Byron Nelson, who experienced a lull in his career after being the very best in the game. Then his enthusiasm returned, and once again he was on the circuit playing tournaments.

When asked about his comeback, Nelson replied that he’d always had a dream to build a wonderful ranch. One evening, he realized that golf was his path to that possibility—each tournament he won allowed him to buy more cattle or build more fencing.

Compelling futures are like that—they inspire action. Effective people, groups, and organizations work hard to make sure they are spending their time on things that matter.

Consider the time in meetings to be precious. Ensure that anyone who requests time on the agenda is respectful of the group’s time. There are so many demands on our time and energy; imagine how differently we might spend our time if we asked ourselves these questions each day:

“What am I creating with how I am spending my time?”

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