This week the dudes from the Storehouse Mastermind had a very interesting and informative conversation. We were discussing both sides of the financial freedom coin, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of financial freedom. The conversation went in several directions, but I was most intrigued when we talked through the merits of hiring out activities characterized as chores. I often hear how we should focus our limited energy and time on tasks commensurate with what we believe to be our hourly rate. The argument goes something like this: If I spend my time doing $25/hour tasks, but I think my time potential is closer to $200/hour (or whatever number you determine), then I should focus on the latter. And this seems to make sense, on the surface. While I agree in principle that I should focus on activities that are most productive and hire out the rest, sometimes there is great value in “the rest.”
The question posed that changed the entire dialog was “do we lose some of the most fundamental relational opportunities and life skills by hiring everything out?” The question was prompted by the argument that hiring out house cleaning, lawn mowing, and meal cooking in order to maximize “productive” time may actually be counterproductive to achieving our highest and best as husbands and fathers. As a recent example, I was recounting a mowing experience I had with my 5-year-old son. He was insistent on spending a few hours with dad, and eventually on pushing the lawnmower himself. This was no easy feat as he could barely reach the bar and did not have the leverage to push the mower. But through sheer determination, he mowed, on a hilly backyard, even turning the mower 180 degrees at the end of each row. A few questions I had to work through:
- Was the yard perfectly mowed, with straight lines and consistent grass blade lengths? No, it was not.
- Did any of the above really matter? No, it did not.
- Did my son and I enjoy hours of together time, laughing and loving on one another? Yes! And what a blessing that time was, especially for me.
- Did my son have a huge sense of accomplishment, not only in doing something hard, but also in knowing how proud I was of him? Yes, absolutely.
- Did Noah have a greater sense of empowerment and confidence as a result of something I may characterize as a lower cost job, something I could hire out? Yes, and he was beaming with pride and joy.
A few more things to consider:
- How much joy do you and your family and friends experience in the kitchen or at the grill?
- If you don’t teach your kids basic life skills like cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry, who will? Will they be better adults with or without these skills?
- Is productivity and the highest use of your time always measured in dollars?
I am not offering a moral quantification to any tasks. I am simply offering that we should think deeply before we outsource activities that are more meaningful than they appear.
Now go mow your lawn!
Written by David Gutierrez
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