I could hardly believe the guest list as I scrolled through the names:

George W. Bush, then President Bill Clinton, Gerald and Betty Ford, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Rev. Billy Graham, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Kevin Costner, and many former heads of state from around the world.

The George Bush Presidential Library was opening the following week on campus, and I had waited several hours to get one of the few tickets reserved for current students at Texas A&M University.

The opening ceremonies would start midday on November 6, 1997, several months into the first semester of my sophomore year. Unfortunately, I had a conflict that day - - an accounting test. With my ticket to the ceremony in hand, I visited my accounting professor’s office for a quick chat and a request. I wanted to find a different time to take the test so that I could attend this historic event.

He wouldn’t budge and let me know plainly that I would receive a Zero on the test if I did not take it at the assigned time. I gave my best attempt at reasoning him, but alas, it was obvious he wouldn’t budge. I was trying to be a rule follower during that stage of my life and reluctantly decided to take the accounting test that day instead of going to the library opening.

Looking back, I know that I made a mistake. I should have skipped the class and then dealt with the consequences rather than show up for a test to get a decent grade in Accounting Something-Something. See, I can’t even remember the number of the accounting class, that’s how little the test impacted the rest of my life.

Twenty-seven years later, I like to use this memory of George Bush Library opening as a filter when deciding how to spend my time. I find myself weighing the potential outcomes and opportunities that could come from out-of-town trips, conferences, speaking gigs, and any other use of time outside the normal workday demands against the potential outcomes and opportunities of time spent with my wife and kids, especially on evenings and weekends.

I don’t regret the times I’ve politely passed on joining boards that meet in the evenings or said “No Thanks” to speaking gigs that sound great but require time away from home with little or no pay. I know that I likely “missed out” on valuable new relationships that could have led to new clients and speaking gigs when I choose to go camping with my son and the Troops of St. George instead of facilitating a leadership workshop that weekend.

What examples do you have of wishing you would have skipped something that sounded important at the time to actually engage in something of more value?