What Is an Hour of Your Life Worth?

We usually judge work by the big number: total income, total revenue, the size of the company. But try looking at it another way. What does it cost you in hours, and what are those hours taking from you?

A bigger business can be a worse deal for your life. If it earns more but swallows your evenings, your marriage and your health, the real return may be lower than the smaller one that lets you be at the dinner table.

Solomon had a line for this: “Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” A smaller handful with peace beats two full hands with stress.

And Jesus asked the biggest version of the question: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Before you take the next opportunity, ask what it will cost in hours, people and peace. Then decide.