The Diluting by 1%

I see your point.

However, it is important to remember from time to time that the only reason why we're doing anything in life (including making money online), is ultimately to improve our relationships with the people we care about and who care about us.

That said, I believe it is NEVER, under ANY circumstances worth sacrificing "relationship time" for the "business time". ~ If you don't water your plants, they're all going to die, no matter how many of them you plant.

Tony, you are right that time is a finite resource, and in my opinion "time management" is a misnomer. Although "it is impossible to sustain connections with all at the same levels", as you say, it is entirely possible to be more intentional with your connecting, and actually foster key relationships with less time, at various levels.

For example, I have five children, 2 still at home. They are a priority in my life, and so I have a commitment to spend 15 minutes minimum in my day focused on each of them, no exception. As a person of faith, for me this always includes a prayer, but my sons or daughters may or may not even be aware of the time I am spending focused on them. However, because of my relationship with them through the years, they have learned that they are a priority, and that time I invested on their behalf advocating with a teacher, or facilitating an appointment, or buying and sending an inspirational book, may manifest good in their lives years later.

They are in the top tier of my contacts, a permanent "sticky", if you will. My husband, parents, best friends, etc. also fall in that group. The second tier are the key people who are pivotal in fulfilling my life's purpose. This category is much more fluid, and I have learned to be quite jealous of this group. There are absolutely no "negative Nellies" permitted to abide here. I literally keep a physical reminder of these people on my desk, as inspiration and motivation to achieve my best in each day. This group will receive an email/phone/written correspondence from me at least 2x a week, often focused on our common activity/interest but also just to strengthen the relationship.

The next tier would be those people I think you are referring to in your post, the ones who I still care for, but with whom daily/weekly contact on a one-to-one basis would be a physical impossibility due to the sheer numbers. These are the ones to whom a Facebook note or phone text can be priceless. Even more powerful: a personal card, delivered old-school snail mail. Although these people may not be a part of my daily schedule, I still value the relationship, as zannix refers to, and am intentional about the ways I communicate this to them. I cycle through this group at 5-10 people a day, usually in my early morning quiet time, and takes only 15-20 minutes of my time, (one percent) which I consider a valuable investment. Again, whether the person knows I have spent the time in their honor or not is not the focus. It is the purposefulness of my actions that brings joy and value to my life.

Thanks, Tony, for the value you bring to the world. You are frequently included in my one percent time, in gratitude for the good you create and to expand your influence for greater good.

Blessings!

Thanks for the valuable posts guys, these are both thought provoking addendums to my own rambling and are very much appreciated.

Have a great weekend.