Rule # 32: 15 minutes

Rule # 32: 15 minutes

I have been modestly successful in business starting a dozen companies and selling them from time to time. I get asked what the secret to success is a lot, and find my kids are always looking for the magic formula that will jump start them in the right path. I wish I could say there was an investment or course that would give them an advantage, but truthfully the answer is less challenging than that.. it comes down to 15 minutes.

In my first ” real” full-time job at Harleysville Insurance I noticed virtually everyone showed up about on-time at 8:30 am  and that the same people generally left within minutes of when work ended at 5 pm.  Yes there were a few people that came in very early or stayed very late, but 99% of the people were gone by 5:15 each day.

I also realized that the vast majority of the executives were there a little later or a little earlier- but it wasn’t like they were there till 9 pm at night… it was just a little more than the masses were doing. So I decided that I would never just get up and leave but wait till I was done what I was doing and organize my desk for the next day. That extra couple minutes at beginning and end of the day allowed me the advantage I needed to compete better at my job. It also drew attention from my bosses, they noticed me.

Of course I wasn’t subtle about getting noticed, often stopping at Dunkin prior to coming in, and grabbing 2 coffees rather than one. Nothing builds relationships like stopping by and asking if a boss would like your extra coffee or bear claw. Its the 15 minutes, the coffee, the time, the little differences that matter.

Tom Brady’s 600+ wins make him the GOAT of the game and possibly of all sports. Yes, he did sell his soul to the devil for the wins and Gisele- that’s a given. But as much as I loathed this guy in the past I see a lot of the 15 minute rule in him. During Covid he was training in the off season, he has a consistency about showing up and making a marginally greater effort than others.

This guy doesn’t run fast, have the best arm or the agility of most modern quarterbacks. He just puts in the extra 15 minutes in his game, he shows others that he is committed to the game, the team and the win. The team respects him.

I still hate him but I too have learned to respect him.

And I guess that’s what the 15 minute rule is about. Doing what is necessary to earn the respect of those you work with. The marginal differences, the few extra minutes with your head in the game makes all the difference.

This rule fits work easily, but it fits your personal relationships even more clearly.   The thing that your family wants from you most is you. Your undivided ,focused attention. If you give of 15 minutes of focused engagement with your partner and separately your kids each day your life will change dramatically.

Your family will respect you for being there that 15 minutes. Its easy to think the engagement is too big, and that you are already feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands – but that extra small bit of focused time earns respect. And after you have their respect all things are possible. Without it even the big wins will feel empty and meaningless.

 

 

 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply