Would you rather have $100 today or in 30 years? Understanding the _Time Value of Money_ is Personal Finance 101. But would you rather have 100 hours today or in 30 years? You make that decision every time you stay late at the office. Every time you skip a family gathering. And every time you put off your hobby. The Time Value of Time is a troubling conundrum for ambitious professionals. ## 1\. Not all hours are created equally Unlike money, time is not a fungible commodity. You can’t box it up. You can’t store it. As I approach the mature age of 44, I’ve had my bouts with [pre-hypertension]() and [pre-diabetes](). But I’m still pretty healthy and active. My kids still think mom and dad are the “coolest people on earth” (aka in [the Magic Window]()). And all four grandparents still dote on them regularly. In 30 years, this picture looks __nothing__ like it does today. Heck in 5 years, it looks pretty damn different. (And crap, in 3 years _we’ll have a teenager_.) Yup, an hour today – might never look the same. ## 2\. So we should just YOLO it? Herein lies the conundrum. You [bust your ass]() today. You invest in [your career](). You [delay spending money](). You optimize for the _Time Value of Money_. You make your time and [money work for you](). But you’re trading a __guaranteed today__ , for an __uncertain tomorrow__. Tomorrow could absolutely look better. But one thing’s certain – it will look different. ## 3\. And there’s one more trap If you’ve ever said to yourself: _Once I save for college, THEN I’ll be less stressed._ _Once I run a triathlon, THEN I’ll have more confidence._ _Once I get promoted, THEN I’ll feel like a human being worthy of love._ You know how [the when-then trap]() plays out. And that’s _yet_ _another_ reason that those future hours may not deliver on their promise. ## 4\. So now what? I’m constantly battling _enjoying today_ versus _investing in tomorrow_. It helps me to recall the advice from the spiritual teacher Frank Ostaseski: > _“Have a plan, hold it lightly.”_ We can get too attached to our plans. Too attached to our outcomes. And too attached to our future hours. That we miss the beautiful hour staring us in the face. ## Here’s how we can help you * [The Life Operating System](): Your home base for personal productivity. It combines tasks, notes, project management and a CRM in one place. * [Supercharge your Productivity](): Learn how our $10K Work method can help you improve your mind, career and relationships. * [Apply for our Group Coaching:]() Are you an executive or founder undergoing a career change? We’ll give you frameworks and accountability for this transition. * [Train Your Team on $10K Work](): Is your team busy, but not seeing the results you’re looking for? Request customized team training to leverage their efforts. * [The RadReads Newsletter](): Sign up for 5 actionable insights each Saturday for a life well-lived.