Why I Walked Past $400 (And You Should Too)
Part 1 of Time vs Money: The Golf Club Parable
If some creepy rich dude offered you $1.2 billion for the rest of your time on earth, would you take it?
Hell no!
But a $100 discount on an off-brand 55” TV the day after Thanksgiving? Sign us up to shiver all night waiting in line!
Do you see the problem?
We find the idea of selling our lives ridiculous, but we willingly give away chunks for a chance to buy something we don’t need at a discount.
Unfair comparison? Yes.
Here’s the point: We’d never trade away our entire life, but we nickel-and-dime ourselves to death one hour at a time.
The Golf Club Lesson
On my daily walk, I saw something that illustrates the importance of time vs. money.
Four sets of youth-sized golf clubs in excellent condition at my neighbor’s curb available for free. Resale value: $60-$100 per set.
My neighbors must be so filthy rich they don’t care about money. They do live on the lakefront side of the road, after all.
Then, something shocking hit me. I walked by without any desire to grab them and resell them. I went past $400 without blinking an eye.
Is $400 now pennies to me?
In my dreams.
That’s still a lot of money to me and isn’t an amount I’d spend without serious consideration (unless it was groceries...then yeah...it’s just an average shopping trip).
Old me would have picked up all four sets and stored them in my garage for resale.
Old Me: The Time Trader
Here’s how things would have played out with old me trying to resell these golf clubs:
30+ minutes inspecting the clubs.
30+ minutes researching their value.
30+ minutes taking pictures.
1+ hours writing the perfect Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace post description.
30+ minutes remembering how in the world to even post in those places.
I can feel my blood pressure rising just writing this—and this is the easy part.
Once it’s listed, you’ll deal with endless emails or messages asking questions or trying to bargain. BARF.
Then there’s the meeting with the buyer. Do you drive to a neutral location? Send a serial killer stranger your address? Then you’re forced into an awkward conversation. Multiply that times four buyers 🤯.
In the end, $400 cost you 6+ hours of free time, creating distraction, anxiety, and mental drag.
Yes, a $60+ effective hourly rate isn’t bad (assuming you get $100 per bag), but what’s the bigger cost?
Why It Matters
It’s not about laziness or privilege. It’s about clarity.
Flipping golf clubs isn’t a sustainable future. It’s a distraction.
Investing our mental energy in long-term goals leads to great achievements. But if we chase every small opportunity, we’ll struggle to find time for what truly matters—our “why.”
I’ve developed my “why” statement and read it every morning. It aligns me with my goals and focuses my attention on the things that move the needle.
Instead of chasing distractions, here’s what I’m chasing:
I live life on my terms, embracing freedom, flow, faith, and family without overwhelm.
My purpose is to elevate others by solving meaningful problems, clarifying complex ideas, and helping them unlock their potential.
I thrive in creating systems, simplifying deep concepts, and empowering others to experience joy, connection, and impact.
Success means abundant time, freedom from anxiety, and financial stability that lets me prioritize family, creativity, and authentic living.
I’m learning to protect my attention.
Along with time, it’s my most valuable resource.
That means saying no to “golden” opportunities that don’t align with my goals. Doing less to achieve more.
Those who can ignore distractions and focus on their goals will achieve great things.
You
What about you?
Are there any opportunities that old you would have chased but now ignore?
Did this article make you think of a small time-wasting task you should quit?
I’d love to hear what struggles you’ve overcome or are still facing.
Thanks for taking the time to read!
If you enjoyed this article, do me a favor. Share it with just one other person you know who would benefit from reading it.
If there was a specific part that really connected with you restack it so others can benefit too!
Walking by these golf clubs gave me more ideas that I will be sharing in parts 2 and 3 of this series.
In part 2 we will look at hidden time traps—how you waste your time without realizing it.
Part 3 will explore how to value time as a leader—how every “yes” has a hidden cost.
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