| What is your EvE Ratio (a term coined by Tom | | | | with Entertainment; add up the average amount of |
| Murphy)? Simply put, it is how much you spend on | | | | money and average amount of time you spend each |
| Education and personal development Vs | | | | month. |
| Entertainment each month? Sadly, the typical person | | | | The final step is to compare the numbers. Ideally |
| spends about 100 times as much time and money on | | | | these numbers will almost match; meaning you spend |
| entertainment as they do improving themselves. | | | | nearly equal amounts of time and money on your |
| Human nature drives us to predominantly move | | | | personal development as your recreation. In reality, |
| towards pleasure and away from pain. Obviously, | | | | most will find that the entertainment numbers far |
| entertainment and recreation bring great pleasure. | | | | exceed education. |
| This is why we are naturally drawn towards tension | | | | Once you know what your EvE ratio is, you have to |
| relieving instead of goal achieving activities. | | | | ask yourself a very serious question: |
| The EvE ratio helps you quickly and easily create a | | | | Is that OK? |
| measurable value that can be used to gauge your | | | | This is a personal choice. If you are happy with the |
| progress in personal development. And if we can | | | | ratio and with your current place in the world, then |
| measure something, we can manage it! | | | | that is great. There is no need to change. |
| To determine your own EvE ratio you must do a | | | | However, if you feel something is missing in your life |
| quick analysis of all the things and activities you | | | | and that you are not achieving all that you are |
| spend your time and money on for Entertainment. | | | | capable of, then you must take action to change |
| They may be: | | | | your EvE ratio. |
| - Television (cable or satellite costs) | | | | The easiest way to do this is to start small. Begin |
| - Movies | | | | allocating a percentage of the money you spend on |
| - Sporting events (live or on TV) | | | | entertainment to be spent on educational materials. |
| - Vacation | | | | Plan a specific amount of time each day or week to |
| - Internet surfing (non-work related) | | | | devote to your personal development. If you devote |
| - Night life (happy hours, dance clubs, etc.) | | | | just 1% of your time, you will only need to spend 15 |
| - Hobbies | | | | minutes each day investing in your mind (and your |
| - Etc. (expand or contract this list as it applies to your | | | | future!). Gradually increase these amounts over |
| life) | | | | weeks or months until you reach your desired EvE |
| Now add up the average amount of money you | | | | ratio. |
| spend on these activities each month (just | | | | The purpose is not to give up entertainment and |
| guesstimate). Then do the same for the amount of | | | | tension relieving activities, it is to find balance. I |
| hours you spend. | | | | personally place a very high value on recreation |
| Once you have your numbers for Entertainment, | | | | (evidenced by my passion for mountain biking, |
| determine the Education and Personal Development | | | | kayaking, and other outdoor recreation). But, I also |
| values. These things and activities may include: | | | | make sure I learn something new every day and I |
| - Non-fiction books | | | | focus on continuous learning and personal |
| - Seminars/Training Classes | | | | development as part of my daily routine by watching |
| - Professional development (skill building for your | | | | videos on iLearningGlobal.tv, listening to inspiring and |
| primary job) | | | | educational CDs in my car, and loading my MP3 player |
| - Educational CDs, DVDs, or MP3s | | | | with audio from Jim Rohn, Chris Widener, Brian Tracy, |
| - Online Learning (distance learning programs, | | | | Bob Proctor, and many, many more. By doing this I |
| iLearningGlobal.tv, Success University, etc.) | | | | am able to turn education into entertainment and |
| - Magazines like SUCCESS, Inc., Fast Company, | | | | boost my EvE ratio at the same time! |
| Business Week, etc. | | | | Did you ever notice that LEARN contains the word |
| - Formal classroom education | | | | EARN? Coincidence? |
| - Etc. (expand or contract this list as it applies to your | | | | Remember, it's your time, your money, and your |
| life) | | | | choice...CHOOSE WISELY! |
| Do the same exercise with your Education as you did | | | | |