Free Up Some Time By Just Managing Yourself

In 1981, I was asked to write a Happy Birthday message for Bob Lefevre’s 70th Birthday. Bob’s basic message was that each individual has a full time job managing themselves. As such, individuals need to worry more about their actions than the actions of others.

You can learn more about Bob and his philosophy by visiting his Wikipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_LeFevre.  The things Bob said are more accurate than the things that others have said about him and his philosophy.

Below is the letter I sent to Bob:

September 11, 1981

Mr. Robert LeFevre, Jr.
18036 Cross Road
Prunedale, CA 93901

Dear Mr. LeFevre:

I want to wish Bob LeFevre “Happy Birthday.”

I bought a pig in a poke when I got Bob. With just the scantiest of information, I scheduled him for a week long seminar for thirty of our key employees in 1975. We, or course, were surprised, delighted, entertained, enriched, and rewarded.

While Bob doesn’t bill himself as a business or time management consultant, he really performed that function for me. He helped simplify my life and my business. His philosophy and his wisdom brought a lot of things together for me. It became apparent to me, which I had no control. He pointed out that I had a full time job just managing myself. It was wonderful to find out that if I only managed myself, a lot of other things would fall into place.

Not that the dragon of interference into the affairs of others is easy to slay. On occasion I still find myself starting to cross other people’s boundaries. I then sit back and try to remember Bob’s premises and logic from his seminars and can generally let the folly of others pass me by.

Bob’s message has been good for me and for my business. He has given me a better framework in which to work and live. He’s saved me a lot of time and needless effort. HAPPY BIRTHDAY  BOB!

Very truly yours,

 

John F. Roscoe