For Love of a Quarter

How much is your time worth? It seems like I only recently realized that mine is worth more than $0.25…

I received a notice from the library that I had a book due back by Wednesday. On Monday evening, I tried to renew it online, but was told it was unrenewable. Now this was a problem for me, as I looked at my schedule and realized that the only time I would have to return the book on time was that very evening.

I did not want to run out to the library that night. I was busy. I was tired. I had a lot to do. (and there were probably a few other good things for me to whine about)

But what was I gonna do? So I decided to carve 20-30 minutes out of my night to go return the book that night.

*sigh*

Than I had a simple little thought:

The late fee is only 25 CENTS!!

$0.25 to be able to do what I want that night and not have this interruption get in my way.

25 cents!

I don’t hesitate to throw an extra 25 cents into the parking meter when even when I *know* I won’t need the time. Just in case…

I have a giant container in my apartment that probably has $100 of loose change in it…

I will consistently toss leftover quarters and other change into the “donation” jar after buying my morning coffee…

25 CENTS!

Now I do believe there is a social imperative to returning library books on time. Ok, “social imperative” may be too strong a term, but I couldn’t think of a better one. I just think it’s important. Returning library books on time is one of the things that separates us from the animals.

But I figured returning it one day late, and by noon on that day, wasn’t a big deal. Especially if it made my life sooo much easier.

My plan was clear, simple, and awesome: Stay at home, do my work, and return the book one day late. $0.25 is well worth it.

Here’s the lesson:

Rethink the things you are “supposed” to do

My story of deciding to return the book one day late for a quarter may seem obvious to you. But I would bet there are lots of decisions you make (we all do) that, if you stepped back and looked at them, you would realize just how counter-productive they are.

For me it was rearranging my evening to get a book back “on time” and save a quarter.

Step #1 in the step by step processing to improvising with anything is to focus on outcomes first. Remembering the big picture is vital; getting caught up in the process is focusing on what you should be doing is a great way to be incredibly inefficient.

What are yours? What are some of the things you may be doing that you are doing because you feel you should, or someone else tells you should, that you would be much better of not doing?

Reprioritze those things and make decisions based on what’s really going to serve you and life will get a whole lot easier.