Are Your Relationship Accounts Overdrawn … Maybe Even Bankrupt?
Human connection is the currency of a RichLife … daily investments add up in a big way!
by Beau Henderson
Many people start out with the good intention of providing for their family. They believe “If I’m out there working hard, earning money, then I am taking care of my family.” But somewhere down the road, relationships with family members start to suffer.
It starts out small with longer hours at the office, missed dinners and forgotten baseball games. Eventually it results in broken marriages and children who grow up not really knowing who their parents are.
Making money never equals taking care of your family if there are casualties along the way
I hear many stories from my clients: “My dad didn’t attend any of my sporting events.” “My mom had no idea who my friends were.” “No one even knew what I liked or wanted.” Money is necessary, yes, but there must be a balance. Children can grow up in a wealthy home with all the stuff money can buy, but what they long for and crave is a close relationship with their parents.
No amount of money can create or replace the human connection
My father died at an early age, but he left me with many wonderful memories. From the time I was five years old until high school, he was my football coach. This is a man who was running a business almost seven days a week and yet somehow he made time for me. This cost him no money, only an investment of time. Because he thought I was worth that, I grew up knowing he cared and that I was important to him.
As a parent, you can rationalize that by working you are spending time and energy caring for your family, and this might very well be your intention. But this way of thinking is a trap that can lead to bankrupt relationship accounts. Make time now.
It’s easy to forget that relationship withdrawals add up, too. Because family are the people you count on every day, these relationships can become taxed, over-drawn, and maxed-out. If you wait too long, you’ll find these accounts closed and the very people for whom it was all for no longer there.
In order to achieve balance between work and family, relationship accounts need to be replenished with regular investments. One must become a good steward. Small investments now with whatever time, energy and money you have are better than waiting.
Invest in what I call a RichLife Term Policy. By setting this in place, you will insure that the people closest to you will be there to enjoy and share in your future successes.
TERM is an acronym for:
T – Time If we invest our time in things we really don’t care about, or things that aren’t taking us toward our goals, that time is wasted. – Take a look at “time leaks” in your schedule and replace them with relationship investments.
E – Energy The same is true with investments of energy. Our energy should be invested in the areas that bring us closer to our definition of a RichLife. This includes time with family. -Sometimes we stay in old relationships that no longer suit us. Take a look at relationships that you find draining, and set up clear barriers. By being a better steward of your energy, you will have more to give to the relationships that do matter.
R – Relationships Be a good steward of your relationships. The last thing you want is to make the mistake of bankrupting your personal accounts with the people you care most about. If you do that, all the money in the world will not help.
Action Challenge: Set aside a block of time to invest in a relationship important to you. This can be as simple as taking a walk or a planned date night. Give yourself the goal of how much and by when: I plan to invest in my relationship with _______________by spending ____________________(amount of time) with them doing ___________________beginning on______________________. EX: I plan to invest in my relationship with Sam by spending 30 minutes playing catch this Saturday morning.
M – Money Being a good steward of your money in the simplest terms means: –Living below your means -Paying yourself first –Giving back There is no better investment than giving back to the people we care most about.
You are never too young (or old for that matter) to start enjoying The RichLife
Take a minute to share in the comments below!!
Take a minute to stop by our Facebook Page and say "Hi" right on the wall!!
Seeing YOUR face and reading YOUR RichLife comments makes my day!
Beau,
I love the picture of you with your Dad. It is no wonder you are as thoughtful as you are. Sounds like you learned from the best.
I love spending time with my family and friends, but it is easy to let pursuit of business override sometimes. I like your acronym TERM. Great reminder, and your Action Challenge. Thanks.
Another great article Beau. As someone who is launching out in her own business, it is so easy to get caught up in everything that has to be done, all the while missing out on what is really important. Thanks for the reminder and challenge. I wonder how many families would be "healed" if everyone really took the time to invest in those relationships?
"In order to achieve balance between work and family, relationship accounts need to be replenished with regular investments." This is the cornerstone to a happy fulfilled life. Thanks for sharing this, especially as we near the holidays when so many families are apart.
Nice article, Beau! Planning really does make a difference with making these special times happen.
Very nice!
AJ
We used to "have" to take time off on weekends because things closed on Sundays. We used to "have" to stop working at 7-8 p.m. because no one was around to answer the phone. Technology in the form of iPhones, email, etc., has made it possible to be "on" 24/7. So what you're talking about … having relationship accounts that are either overdrawn or bankrupt … is all too easy today. Thanks for this wake-up call, Beau!
Beau, you have the absolute best TERM Life. Very well written article and so wise. Thanks.
Powerful reminder Beau! Thanks so much for reminding us what is truly important and that we really need to have balance in our lives!
TERM life! Great article, Beau! Sharing this with our Dynamic Marriage class, family and friends! Blessings to you and yours as you live a truly RichLife!
Great acronym for term! I'm a workaholic and need to slow down and enjoy time with my family & friends! Thanks for sharing.
Your article reminds me of a quote by David O. McKay that I heard many times during my growing up years: "No success can compensate for failure in the home." So true. Without our families and the important relationships in our lives, nothing else really matters. Thank you for another inspiring and uplifting message.
Great article Beau! Relationships must be build with everything is what I am learning from you, it's not just people! Thanks for sharing!
Beau – thanks for sharing this. Many of us forget about the "Human Connection" & how important it is.
Oh my goodness relationships are so very important and they begin in the home:) Thanks so much for sharing this truly enlightening post and I love your acronym!!:)
Another great article, Beau! I so agree that relationships are something to be cultivated, nurtured and held close to your heart. Thank you for sharing the part about your father. Thank you!
Love this…without relationships all other investment or growth is meaningless. I love the 'baby step' challenge you've given us–to take a real chunk of time and consciously invest in a relationship. Such a concrete and practical yet incredibly rewarding step!
Great article Beau! Love your TERM 🙂 Thank you for inspiration and amazing reminders. May your day be filled of TERM!
I couldn't agree with your post more!!! Your time, attention and energy are the best gifts you can give any loved one. As a business owner, I have had to walk tat very fine line of working to meet a deadline and spending time with my girl and my honey. Sometimes it can be really tough – and you always think, "Well my relationships are ok, I can always spend time with ____ tomorrow". Well when you rack up too many "tomorrows" your relationship is in trouble!
I absolutely loved your article, Beau! My motto always has been, "You can always go back to making your career or business even better, but you can't go back to raise your kids." Relationships are so important and so are the memories that we make along the way. I especially love your acronym. Thank you, for sharing from the heart, my friend 🙂
Wonderful post. I totally agree with Susan Preston!!! 🙂