What's Your EVE Ratio?

 

I recently spoke to Tom Cooper of the Brighthill Group on the TalkingWork podcast. He's a PMP who is now a speaker, trainer and coach who focuses on personal and professional leadership. Tom asks, "What's your EVE Ratio?"

If you're not sure what an EVE ratio is, you're not alone. I didn't know either. It's the ratio of investment you make in education vs. entertainment. Tom suggests (and I wholeheartedly agree) that project leaders need to be investing regularly in their careers and leadership skills. If we content ourselves with the investment our companies are willing to make in us, we are being shortsighted.

I try to spend time every month either reading books, attending webinars or other events to help me become better at my job—and I'm willing to pay for it myself. Particularly with tight budgets and organizations less willing to pay employees for personal development, it's important to continually make that investment in yourself. For example, over the last couple of years I've become a huge fan of Audible and take advantage of my commute each day to keep up to date on thoughts and ideas that will make me better at what I do. That being said, my EVE ratio is probably still weighted on the entertainment side.

Tom kindly shared his list of books, webinars, seminars and podcasts with the TalkingWork audience. We also want to make his Leadership Reading List available here.

Have you ever considered how much time and money you invest in entertainment vs. education? I'm pretty convinced that if you're not willing to invest in your education and career, nobody else will either.