Veteran Lesson X: Great Leaders Go the Extra Mile (Ten Veteran Lessons for Every Day)

Topic: Leadership

The final veteran lesson, just as the final repetition in a workout brings about the gains, provides the punch to set you apart from the pack in your walk of life.  In Lesson VI, I addressed the shared currency of time afforded to everyone.  Of those 86,400 seconds, at least 25,000 should be spent asleep; some will be spent doing routine activities, such as bathing, eating, exercising, or shaving.  A predictable amount will be spent on occupational duties, and on personal or family obligations.

For the sake of the exercise, imagine 80,000 seconds are used up on sleep and the tasks listed above.  What is to be done with the remaining 6,400 seconds (just under 1 hour, 47 minutes, the length of a flight from Dallas to St. Louis)?  Those who are underachievers, or those who run with the pack, are going to spend that time watching TV, or binging on the latest video games or shows.  They will play on social media or drink empty calories.