Gary Ong | September 2nd, 2021

I hear this request all the time. It is often followed or preceded by, “I am so sorry for interrupting your day.” This can come from an employee, a mentor, a random high school student, or a friend.

Life at a startup is hectic. We go from one task to another, from one goal to the next, all the while engulfed in our problems, our worries, and our life. So when someone says,

“Can I get just one minute of your time?”

We have every excuse possible to say no. Often, instinct tells us that we should.

But, I’ve come to appreciate these little moments very much. They are a break from the incessant world view that everything in my life is about me. It’s a minute that I get to use to brighten someone’s day and make someone else’s life better. It is a minute to share their concerns, their problems and their joys. So, when I get asked, can I get a minute, in all cases, I always give the same answer,

“Of course.”