This is a three-part series primarily focused on young adults ages 17-25.
Part 1 of 3: The Top 10 ‘Gut Check’ Questions.
Part 2 of 3: Schedule 60 Hours Spanning 7 Days.
Part 3 of 3: Why do we call the Top 10 questions a ‘Gut Check?’
Part 2 of 3: Schedule 60 Hours Spanning 7 Days.
To get an idea of where you stand, calculate the number of hours per week you spend on the success-focused activities represented by the Top 10 ‘Gut Check’ Questions in Part 1. Overton Leadership Associates believes that a mentally, emotionally and physically capable young adult should schedule 60 verifiable hours per 7-day week across one or more of the activities represented by the Top 10 questions. After scheduling the 60 hours, the goal should be to complete as close to 60 success-focused hours as possible every 7 days. Now that you have surveyed the Top 10 ‘Gut Check’ Questions and calculated the number of hours of Top 10 list success-focused activities you complete per week, are you a young adult on a Pathway to Success?
You may be wondering how we arrived at the 60 hours per 7-day week figure for the success-focused activities in accordance with the Top 10 list? Here’s how we did it. Knowing that there are 24 hours in 1 day, that means that there are 168 hours in 7 days (24 x 7=168). If we plan for 8 hours of sleep per day, then we can deduct 56 hours per week for sleeping (8 x 7=56). That leaves 112 waking hours per 7 days (168-56=112). Since the activities identified by the Top 10 ‘Gut Check’ questions are success-focused, Overton Leadership Associates recommends that a young adult schedule (and complete) an average of 60 hours of the available 112 waking hours pursuing success-focused activities. Finally, we have 112-60=52 meaning that there are 52 unscheduled waking hours available every 7 days. If we break that into a schedule for a single 24-hour day, then we have 8 hours’ sleep, about 8.5 hours of success-focused Top 10 list activities, and around 7.5 hours for unscheduled activities. Realize that the number of hours allocated to any specific activity does not need to be the same every day, nor do you need to lock yourself into 8.5 continuous hours of success-focused Top 10 list activities each day or complete 8.5 hours of success-focused Top 10 list activities every single day.
Before you say to yourself, ‘It’s impossible for me to complete 60 hours of the success-focused activities in accordance with the Top 10 list in a week,’ we understand the hesitation. We recommend you use the building block approach, meaning that you start where you are and just add 1 more hour each week.
Additionally, we understand that completing 60 hours of the success-focused activities in accordance with the Top 10 list will not occur every week. For example, a full-time employee who normally works 40 hours per week may face an unexpected work deadline that requires 48 hours at the job during a particular week. Therefore, the individual will have less unscheduled time during that very busy week. Conversely, a family emergency may require double digit unscheduled hours thereby reducing the number of hours that you are able to sleep. That’s just life so an individual should endure those atypical weeks and then get back on the 60 hours per week success-focused activities in accordance with the Top 10 list schedule as soon as possible.
One last thing…Do not misinterpret what is stated above. Greatly exceeding 60 hours per week spread across the Top 10 list success-focused activities is not necessarily better, nor is it healthy, nor is it sustainable. Overton Leadership Associates does not recommend that a young adult become a workaholic to the detriment of his/her health nor do we recommend that an individual casually stroll through life without ever having any important accomplishments. The goal is a balanced approach to success instead of going full tilt into a single activity. Lasting success is never easy or quick. Therefore, the sooner you make the decision to ‘get the ball rolling’ in the direction of success, the better. Remember that you are not a young adult who is, ‘just trying to make it,’ you are destined to be a responsible leader in your family, your community, and in the organizations in which you choose to join. Let’s get it done! Want to learn more? Click on Part 3 of 3: Why do we call the Top 10 questions a ‘Gut Check?’
Herb