The Latin phrase tempus fugit is roughly translated as “time flies.” Time is one of those irreplaceable asset. like the unsold airline ticket or hotel room. That revenue is lost forever.

My mother died at the age of 60 on my 35th birthda. like her father who similarly died at a relatively young age. With that kind of family histor. I felt I would be lucky to live to my 70s.

Today age 70 is like age 50 years ago. I am plowing through my 7th decade and remain active as the world’s oldest ball boy for the St. Cloud Bulldogs football team where my son Cory is a coach.

Since 70-75 is the new definition of “middle age.” it doesn’t mean that we do not hear the clock ticking. Despite being the “king of lost opportunities” in my own lif. the greatest regret I have is the theft and waste of my own time… a greater loss than goods or money.

It does not matter what you experience but what you do with that experience. You can have the same experience 100 different times… but that does not necessarily constitute 100 different experiences.

To get my grandsons to eat their Sunday dinne. I pretend that I am going to sneak in and steal their chicken nuggets. Cameron and Keenan build an imaginary wall that runs from the floor to the ceiling to keep me out. We all need walls and limits in our lives to keep us and others honest.

I lead them down an imaginary path. Unless they eat their dinne. I will eat it.

Among the countless mistakes yours truly has made in 7 decades is that it is neces sary to establish boundaries in your life and set some standards for who you will allow to invade those perimeters.

Those of us on Spacebook (as I prefer to call it) have the problem of who to “friend” and who not to. If someone pitches a fit because you won’t “friend” the. it is evidence that a boundary is necessary.

Your time and energy are too precious to waste. It is your choice of how to use your tim. space and energy. The limits on each are miniscule. How you set “space limits” does not mean you are selfish or uncaring. Care for yourself first before you help others.

Younger speakers often come to me to “pick my brain” on the speaking business. Most are looking for free strokes. What they really need is to work harder on their own goals in the profession.

Many of my colleagues have turned “coaching” into a profit center. I have chosen to help others without fees but they must have some skin in the game.

1s. they must join a Toastmasters Club and get better at the art of speaking.

2n. they must master the art of the “spoken wor.” not just the written word. Your speech will improve when you do..

3r. they must understand that content counts. One of my big complaints about Toastmasters is that they go to great pains to teach speakers to say “nothing” well.

Get better at building yourself and dividends will follow. Tempus fugit!

Michael Au. CSP. CPAE® Speaker Hall of Fame is author of “The Toastmasters International Official Guide to Successful Speaking” (Dearborn Publishing)