完美時機的重要性
By Rick Box
想要在商場上取得成功，優質的技術和服務是不可缺的。創意的執行、有效的領導，在大多數情況下，都是我們可以管理的因素。但是，我們經常忽略的一個因素是時機。特別是「完美的時機」。
丹尼爾˙平克(Daniel Pink)在他的著作「什麼時候是好時候：掌握完美時機的科學秘密。註1.When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing」中，闡述時機的重要性，因為它影響了生產力，最終影響了我們的成功。「華爾街日報」的一篇文章總結了他的研究結果，指出分配一天工作時間最佳的方式。
平克的研究發現：我們在一天中的某些時候比其他時間更聰明、更快、更有創造力。神經科學家羅素˙福斯特(Russell Foster)聲稱「在確認這些結論後，一個人每日表現變化最好和最差的差距，相當於一個人喝酒前和喝了合法酒量之間的差距。這好像是一個驚人的對比，但很可能非常準確地評估什麼時候我們能把工作做到最好。
對我個人而言，我知道自己寫作的最佳時間是清晨。在一夜好眠之後，我的頭腦思路最清楚，想法更快更流暢。當然，並非每個人都是適合早上工作的人，有些人是在下午，甚至深夜工作效率最好。關鍵是要自我察覺什麼時候是你工作效率最高的時候，你要確保這段時間不會受到不必要的干擾。
在讀聖經時，我發現一件有趣的事情：聖經非常重視我們是否有效地利用時間和時機。例如，「凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時」（傳道書3章1節）。有很多種方式可以應用這一個原則，其中一個就是我們要利用工作效率最好的時間來完成我們的工作，要花時間好好做計劃，每一週或是一個月也要安排休息的時間。
另一段經文，以弗所書5章16節也告訴我們「要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡」，強調愛惜光陰的急迫性。這並不說時間本身是邪惡的，但時光飛逝，不好好利用時間可能會導致我們無法實現預期的目標。讓我們在生產力和效率到達頂峰時，白白錯過了追求目標的機會。
從耶穌基督的榜樣，我們發現他也訂出做某些事情的具體時間，包括禱告和與父神一起獨處的時間。在那個時代，大家都很需要耶穌:無論是要觀察他的、想引起他的注意力來滿足自己特殊需求的人，所以他身邊整天都擠滿了人。也由於這個原因，他甚至離開門徒獨自度過了許多清晨。
馬可福音1章35節告訴我們：「次日早晨，天未亮的時候，耶穌起來，到曠野地方去，在那裏禱告。」我認識的很多人都開始意識到，我們需要通過專注與上帝的關係來開始新的一天，我們需要祂的指導、智慧和力量來開始一天的工作，以及因應即將來臨的挑戰。
正如諺語提醒我們的：「時機就是一切。」工作有時、休息有時和玩耍有時。此外，我們也要留時間與主耶穌緊密的連結，以及保持不斷成長的關係。
版權所有2018 非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊物主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx最新出版的書提供用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。
回應與問題討論
萬事都有定時。時機的重要性和你的工作有甚麼相關，請分享你的答案？ 確實大多數人在白天某些時候會感到最有生產力和創造力，你也是嗎？如果是，對你而言，一天當中的哪些時候是最有效率的？你要如何善加利用？ 在結束一天的工作之後，你是否自認已經充分地利用了這一整天？當你覺得自己原本可以做更好的安排，卻沒有好好地抓住時機時，是甚麼樣的心情？ 耶穌明確訂出禱告和靈修時間(人稱「安靜的時間」) 這對我們有什麼影響？
注意：如果你有聖經，希望閱讀更多和這個主題相關的信息，請參考下面的經文:
傳道書3章1-8節
3:1 凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。
3:2 生有時，死有時；栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
3:3 殺戮有時，醫治有時；拆毀有時，建造有時；
3:4 哭有時，笑有時；哀慟有時，跳舞有時；
3:5 拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時；懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；
3:6 尋找有時，失落有時；保守有時，捨棄有時；
3:7 撕裂有時，縫補有時；靜默有時，言語有時；
3:8 喜愛有時，恨惡有時；爭戰有時，和好有時。
約翰福音7章1-9節
7:1 這事以後，耶穌在加利利遊行，不願在猶太遊行，因為猶太人想要殺他。
7:2 當時猶太人的住棚節近了。
7:3 耶穌的弟兄就對他說：「你離開這裏上猶太去吧，叫你的門徒也看見你所行的事。
7:4 人要顯揚名聲，沒有在暗處行事的；你如果行這些事，就當將自己顯明給世人看。」
7:5 因為連他的弟兄說這話，是因為不信他。
7:6 耶穌就對他們說：「我的時候還沒有到；你們的時候常是方便的。
7:7 世人不能恨你們，卻是恨我，因為我指證他們所做的事是惡的。
7:8 你們上去過節吧，我現在不上去過這節，因為我的時候還沒有滿。」
7:9 耶穌說了這話，仍舊住在加利利。
哥林多後書6章1-2節
6:1 我們與 神同工的，也勸你們不可徒受他的恩典。
6:2 因為他說：「在悅納的時候，我應允了你；在拯救的日子，我搭救了你。」看哪，現在正是悅納的時候！現在正是拯救的日子；
歌羅西書4章5-6節
4:5 你們要愛惜光陰，用智慧與外人交往。
4:6 你們的言語要常常帶著和氣，好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。
彼得前書3章15節
3:15 只要心裏尊主基督為聖。有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔、敬畏的心回答各人；
IMPORTANCE OF PERFECT TIMING
Rick Boxx
A lot of things go into the realization of success in business: Quality workmanship and service. Execution of a novel idea. Effective leadership and direction. Those, for the most part, are factors we can manage. One factor, however, that we often overlook is timing. Especially, perfect timing.
In his book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Daniel Pink addresses the importance of timing as it affects productivity and ultimately, our success. A Wall Street Journal article summarized his findings, pointing out ways Pink suggests for better allocating our time at work throughout the day.
His research discovered that we are “smarter, faster and more creative in some parts of the day than others.” Confirming these conclusions, Russell Foster, a neuroscientist, claims, “The performance change between the daily high point and the daily low point can be equivalent to the effect on performance of drinking the legal limit of alcohol.” That may seem like a startling comparison, but it is probably very accurate for assessing when we can do our best work.
Personally, I have learned that my best time for writing is early morning. My mind is fresh after a good night”s sleep and ideas seem to flow more quickly and smoothly. Not everyone, of course, is a “morning person.” Some people do their best work in the late morning, in the afternoon, or even late at night. The key is to realize when you are most productive and make certain to safeguard that time from unnecessary distractions.
In reading the Bible, I have found it interesting to find that it places a high premium on our effective use of time – and timing. For instance, we are told, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). We can apply this principle in a number of ways, but one of them is that there is a best time for us to pursue our work, meaning we should strive to schedule other important, but non-work activities for other times during the day, week or month.
Another passage, Ephesians 5:16, emphasizes the urgency for “making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” This does not mean time in itself is inherently evil, but time passes quickly. Not capitalizing on the time we have can result in failure to achieve desired goals and objectives. At the very least, we will have missed out on the opportunity to pursue those projects when our productivity and efficiency levels are at their peak.
Looking at the example of Jesus Christ, we find that He also designated specific times for doing certain things, including prayer and time alone with God the Father. Jesus was much in demand, and at all hours of the day people were thronging around him, whether as observers or seeking His attention to address specific needs they had. For this reason, He devoted many early mornings to time alone, even from His disciples.
Mark 1:35 tells us, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Many people I know realize how important it is for them to begin the day by focusing on their relationship with God, knowing they will require His direction, wisdom and strength to carry out the work and deal with challenges they face later on.
As the adage reminds us, timing is everything. There is a time to work, a time to rest, and time to play. Also, a time to ensure that we sustain a strong, growing relationship with the Lord.
Copyright 2019, Unconventional Business Network (formerly Integrity Resource Center, Inc.) Adapted with permission from "Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx," a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments emails, visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book and inspiration for their new ministry name, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God”s Way.”
Reflection/Discussion Questions
When you think of the importance of timing – perfect timing – as it relates to your work, what comes to your mind? Most people do have certain times during the day when they feel most productive and creative? Have you found that to be true for yourself? If so, what part of the day is that – and what do you do to ensure you optimize the use of that time? At the end of the workday, do you ever evaluate whether you have made the most of your time that day? How do you feel if you conclude your time could have been better spent – that you failed to practice “perfect timing”? If even Jesus made certain to set aside time for prayer and spiritual renewal – what many people would call a “quiet time” – what does that say about us?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; John 7:1-9; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 3:15
