Start Living in Prime Time by Denis Waitley

Prime time is that  period between 6 and 10 p.m. during which most of the general public watches  television. Commercials in prime time are the most expensive, approaching a  million dollars per minute. Your real success in life will take a quantum leap  when you stop watching other people making money in their professions  performing in prime time, and start living your own dreams and goals in prime  time. Time is the ultimate equal opportunity employer. Time never stops to  rest, never hesitates, never looks forward or backward. Life’s raw material  spends itself in the now, this moment, which is why how you spend your time is  far more important than all the material possessions you may own or positions  you may obtain. Positions change, possessions come and go, you can earn more  money. You can renew your supply of many things, but like good health, that  other most precious resource, time spent is gone forever.

Each yesterday, and all  of them together, are beyond your control. Literally all the money in the world  can’t undo or redo a single act you performed. You cannot erase a single word  you said. You can’t add an “I love you,” “I’m sorry”, or “I forgive you”, not  even a “thank you” you forgot to say. Each human being in every hemisphere and  time zone has precisely 168 hours a week to spend. And some of the most  precious hours occur in prime time.

Consider this: most of  your daytime hours are spent helping other people solve their problems. The  little time you have in the evenings and on weekends is all you have to spend  on yourself, on your own dreams and goals, and personal development. Some  thoughts to ponder:

• Have supper with your  loved ones at least two to three times per week. It’s the best time for casual  conversation to listen to what those close to you feel is important in their lives.  Mealtime is a time to dialogue.

• A television set is an  appliance. It should be used, at most, for two hours at a time. It should be  off, unless specific programs of interest are selected. It should not be used  as a one-eyed baby sitter. For the most part, TV exposes us to negative role  models.

• Instead of watching  television why not read a good fiction or non-fiction book, write a letter,  engage in a hobby or craft, call a friend or someone in need of encouragement  on the phone, network on your computer, go out to an ethnic restaurant, a home  show, an entrepreneurial show, a musical recital, a play, a fitness class, or  cultural event. Take an art or photography class. Use prime time to live the  kind of life others put on layaway.

Action Idea: If you and  your family/friends watch TV, try not turning it on for one week. When you do  watch TV, reduce by 50% the amount of time you spend watching it. Concentrate  your evenings and free time engaged in hands on, real life experiences, you can  touch, feel, smell and engage all your senses in. Instead of virtual reality,  insist on the real thing.