Hello, everyone. As the year winds down, it’s a natural time for reflection. It feels like only yesterday we were setting goals for the start of the year, and suddenly, the holiday season is upon us. The sheer speed at which this year has flown by is astonishing.
As we pause for this end-of-year reflection, I want to talk about the deceptive, comforting thought that runs through our minds almost every day—the silent lie we tell ourselves: "I have time."
It's the quietest, most costly form of self-deception. We believe we have an infinite supply of 'tomorrows’.
Think about it. We’ve all been there:
- As a student, it was, "I'll start studying tomorrow." And then, in a blink, you look up and it's exam day. The stress of the last-minute rush always outweighs the ease of consistent effort.
- Here at work, it sounds like, "I'll begin that complex project next week." We convince ourselves we'll be more focused then. But what happens? We end up working late nights, rushing the final deliverables, and sacrificing quality and our health at the deadline.
These moments teach us a valuable lesson: It takes far less energy to keep going than to restart after a long pause.
There is another area where this mindset is far more dangerous, because the deadline is invisible until it’s too late.
I am talking about our long-term personal goals, like financial security and retirement. The thought, "I’ll start saving later, there’s lots of time. I'll worry about that when I'm older," is perhaps the costliest form of procrastination. Because in the world of compound growth, a year lost in your 20s or 30s is disproportionately more valuable than a year saved in your 50s.
This mindset is particularly costly in the area of tax saving and financial planning. Many of us wait until the final weeks of the financial year to rush our investments. But here is the critical lesson: The time you think you have today is the most valuable resource you will ever possess for building your future. Don't wait for a milestone—the milestone is today.
So, as we look ahead to the new year, my challenge to you is to recognize and defeat the illusion of time.
The most effective strategy against time flying by is not to manage your time, but to manage your start. Don't let the thought "You think you have time" become the year-end regret.
I wish you and your families a restful, rejuvenating holiday season. May the New Year bring you and your families health, happiness, and the courage to take those critical first steps.
