Do You Have a Few Minutes?

Smart Cleaning School

"Do you have a few minutes?" Have you ever been called and asked this? Have you ever been at a store or church or at a business meeting and asked this? I'm sure you have. Does it ever take a few minutes? NO! In fact, is your definition of a "few" minutes the same as the other person's? Nope. I believe this is one of the most dangerous questions known to man! You might say. "Ken, you're being dramatic." Oh, you think so. I have been on 90 minute phone calls that derailed my day because the caller wanted a "few minutes". I have stayed at business meetings 45 minutes longer and missed out on other important things because of a "few minutes". At this point in my life and especially after reading the "7 Habits of Highly Successful People", I can now start to recognize this question for what it is.

A giant time-waster!

That's right. People determined to talk your ear off with no respect for you time will use this manipulative question to get you to help them. You agree because you're gullible and want to help. And sure, why not? It's only a few minutes. But it's not a few minutes. It's 2 hours! If we say yes to other people's "few minutes", we say no to ours. Let me say it this way. Is your time with your family important to you? Every time you say yes to a Time Waster, you say no to your family. This is blunt and hard to accept. It may come off as rude. You may think less of me and wonder what happened to the nice Christian Ken that always shares happy stories on this podcast. Please, don't think that. Just step back and start analyzing where your time is going. Learn to recognize people that are emotional vampires in your life. They will absolutely suck the life out of you if you allow it.

Okay, my rant is over. I did my best to be true to my own advice and not waste any of your time. This was my shortest episode ever and surely a few minutes!