God has given each of us talents. He wants us to use them, not bury them (Matthew 25:18). And it’s okay to use your talents to earn a good living and participate in your community.
What annual salary do you believe your skills are worth to a quality organization? $50,000? $100,000? $250,000? More?
Take that amount and divide it by 2000. The result is what you think your God-given talent is worth per WORKING HOUR. (We’re assuming 40 hours per week, with two weeks off per year for vacation.)
| ANNUAL TALENT VALUE | HOURLY TALENT VALUE | |
| $1,000,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $500 |
| $250,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $125 |
| $200,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $100 |
| $80,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $40 |
| $36,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $18 |
| $20,000 | ÷ 2000 = | $10 |
With that hourly value in mind, how are you wasting or investing your time?
AT WORK
- The $200 worth of “work” time you spent on facebook… was that a good investment?
- The 90-minute lunch breaks that are worth $150 each, or $750 per week… are they too long?
- If you were your boss, would you hire someone like you… and pay them what you say your talent is worth?
AT HOME
- If you’re worth $100 per hour during the day, is it a good idea to watch $500 worth of television at night?
- There’s certainly nothing wrong with catching up and relaxing. Recharging your batteries is critical. But be efficient with your time.
- Consider alternative activities like prayer, reading, personal development, exercising, and spending quality time with your kids.
IN THE COMMUNITY
- Are you giving enough of your time to your church, your favorite organization, or to your community? What are your daytime talents that can be used to help them during your off hours?
- Are you giving too much time in those same areas? Some people volunteer too much. Maybe you’re a great volunteer, but your kids haven’t seen you in days and the house is a wreck!
Research shows that many people could benefit from some modifications to their schedule and habits. Make the workday more efficient, and keep your off-time balanced and goal-oriented.
SHOULD YOU BE EARNING MORE?
Or should you just be more efficient? If you’re not making enough income, then maybe it’s time to change your thinking. Spend a week acting / feeling like you have a higher hourly value and you’ll be amazed what you can do with your time, with whom you choose to interact. Would a CEO be playing video games for three hours? Would a Regional Manager drive across town to save 2¢ per gallon of gas?
THE BOTTOM LINE
God wants you to use your talent and be efficient with your time to benefit the community as a whole. By simply being AWARE of your talents, time and efficiency, you can make better decisions, which determine your direction in life. Ultimately you make an impact on your happiness, various levels of success, esteem, and how you are able to give back to your family, community, supervisor and yourself.