Looking back, I realize I’ve always had a bit of an obsessive nature. Doing things well, doing them right, and doing them once have always been important to me. Recognizing that time and energy are resources we can’t recover once spent makes me value them more, and it often leads me to pause and consider how I’m using them.

In business, time is money. We need money to run the business. So what is the true value of time? Great question, right?

Taking the time to see things from others’ perspectives is a valuable way to measure the impact of your time. For example, I spoke with a buyer today who was adamant about not living in an HOA. They asked about a particular up-and-coming area, so I dug into the available documents and answered a question about HOA fees. As we discussed the details, my client was surprised to learn that HOAs and restrictive covenants aren’t the same—and that sometimes, restrictive covenants can be even more limiting. He looked at me and said, “Thank God I have you.”

That moment captured the true value of my time: being able to guide others and protect what may be the biggest investment of their lives.

Setting boundaries allows your time to earn interest by focusing on activities that bring a true return on investment. This “return” often goes beyond just financial gain—it can include things of special value that money can’t buy, like friendships and opportunities to build lasting relationships that enrich our lives with abundance.

Creating an environment of transparency, trust, and willingness to spend time advocating for clients takes planning and the ability to think on your feet. Sometimes we lose our balance but we always recenter and bring our focus back to what matters most: Helping Others.