On the day Joe was born, Uncle Louie was the first visitor, the first non-parent to hold him, the first to feel tiny fingers fold around his thumb. At that moment, a primal love captured Louie’s heart. With no children of his own, Uncle Louie showered all his fatherness on Joe.
On the day Joe graduated from college, Uncle Louie gave an amazing gift. He created a trust that gave Joe $86,400 dollars every day. Joe had complete discretion in how to use the money with one catch. Joe had to spend the entire amount every day or the trust would cease.
Dumfounded Joe tried to envision how to use this incredible resource. How could he steward something so generous? How could he convert the trust and honor from his Uncle into a legacy of his own? At first, Joe took care of the basics. He paid off his loans, purchased a home, took care of his parents, and invested in graduate education.
In graduate school, he found his dream. He would start his own pharmaceutical research facility to explore medications for obscure diseases overlooked by larger companies. This was a dream worth pursuing, worth investing Uncle Louie’s gift. Though it would take years--even with the generous daily amounts--intentional planning and conscious focus would build his dream.
Yet, Joe was also tempted by the luxuries he could now afford. Expensive meals, trips to foreign countries, and elaborate gatherings for friends became a mainstay. Though Joe knew he strayed from his master plan every time he focused on one of these, he had little concern. There was always tomorrow’s money. He would get back on track tomorrow. . . .
Twenty years later, Joe ran into Jeff, a physician who had helped develop the dream for the research facility and whose expertise Joe had counted on to spur new research. Embarrassed Joe realized he had not even spoken to Jeff in years. First the six-month safari in Africa, then the months of travel through the Amazon, then a tour of Europe kept Joe out of contact. “Jeff! How are you? What are you up to?”
“I’m great, Joe. How are you? I’m sorry I can’t stop. I’m running late for a board of directors meeting. We’re about to announce a new drug eight years in development. We have a lot to pull together before the press conference this afternoon.”
“Really?! Wow, that’s great. Which company are you with?”
Jeff blushed. “Actually, mine. Your passion for this research was contagious. When you left the country, I decided to give it a shot. Thanks for the inspiration. Gotta run. Call me.”
As Jeff hustled down the street, Joe stood dumbfounded. He had every chance to make his dream come true. The resources were available every day. Yet, their very availability had blinded him to the passing of time. Now his graduate education far behind, support team scattered, and his youth spent—had he blown it?
We may all wish we had Joe’s “problem” of how to spend $86,400 each day. Yet, in reality we face the same dilemma.
Each of us is given 86,400 seconds per day. We spend every one of them. Do we spend them on our dreams? Or, blinded by the availability of tomorrow’s time, do we squander today’s?
We have dreams for our families—the lessons we long to teach, the memories to make, the legacy to leave. Our children reside with us briefly. For our dreams to become reality, we must wisely invest every day. This morning your family was given 86,400 seconds—how will you spend your day?
This month’s topic: How will you spend today's 86,400?
