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Being Busy Does Not Equal Being Productive
by Gary ~ March 8th, 2010
Hi, maybe I can help you with something here… TIME MANAGEMENT. If you take a couple of minutes to read this I’m sure the ideas you will get will save that time MANY times over and make you FAR more productive.
Being “busy” can destroy your ability to get things done. Let me say that again…
Being “busy” can destroy your ability to get things done.
How many people do you know who are so busy being busy that they never seem to get anything worthwhile done? Does that describe you, maybe even just a little bit?
Being busy all the time, through necessity, is a curse. Being busy all the time, for the sake of it, is just sheer madness.
Continual busy-ness eventually leads to stress, particularly if results are minimal. You see, it will get to a point where something has to give way. It’s like filling a balloon with air. Eventually no more air will fit inside the balloon and it will do the only thing it can. It will burst.
It’s OK to have busy periods through each day, each week, each month and each year. However, you also need time to relax. Time to re-charge the batteries.
People who are continuously busy over long periods suffer from two main problems:
1 – they have difficulty saying “no” to anyone
2 – they have difficulty delegating tasks to others
Let’s look at each in turn.
First, those who cannot say “no.” I have a saying: “You can’t save the entire world.” No matter how good your intentions are, you cannot be everything to everyone.
Make a list of those who need and DESERVE your time. They are the ones you should give priority to. Anyone else comes next – if you have the time to spare.
A wise man once said, “work always expands to fit available time.” It’s true. But it is only true if you ALLOW it to happen.
You can always do the odd favor for someone on the odd occasion. Learn to say no in a nice way. Here is one such way: “If I get all my own work done, I will consider your request.” What does that really say? It says your work is important. If you get it done you will help. Naturally, if you cannot get it done you cannot help. It’s a soft way of saying no. Usually the asker will then go and find another person to ask.
By saying no you actually help other people to grow. Imagine if you always said yes to tying up your daughter’s shoe laces. If you never said no she would still be asking you to do it at twenty years of age. By saying no you make her learn to do it for herself. Remember the old saying about giving a hungry person a fish to eat versus teaching the hungry person how to catch their own fish to eat? well…
… there are some people in this world who not only want you to PROVIDE the fish but they want you to scale it, clean it, cook it and serve it up to them for dinner with a side salad. And if they don’t like it they will complain to you. Do you know those type of people? I do. We all do.
By saying no we can free up more time for ourselves and those who need or deserve our time the most. Do not become a slave to the wants and demands of others.
Turning to the second problem, delegation – learn to enlist others to perform tasks that they are better equipped, or have more time, to do.
If you run all over the place attempting to do everything yourself you will never have sufficient time to do anything properly. Delegation is the art of a true leader. The secret to successful delegation is to build the importance of the task into the mind of the person you are delegating it to. Then, when they do it, thank them and praise them sincerely for the things they did well.
Don’t ever think you are irreplaceable, PARTICULARLY at your employment. Somebody gave me a definition once of irreplaceability in the workforce. It went something like this: “Get a bucket of water, roll up your sleeve and thrust your arm into the water. Now pull your arm out. The time it takes for the water to settle back into position will be about the same time it will take to replace you!”
Learning to say no and being able to delegate will allow you to perform the tasks you really want to do and really need to do yourself at a much higher level of proficiency.
AL Williams wrote a book called “All You Can Do is All You Can Do But All You Can Do is Enough!” (ISBN: ). Catchy title, isn’t it?
In his book, Williams says: “Don’t worry about things you can’t change. Focus on making your part of the world better, because when they click your lights out for the last time, you can’t have any regrets.”
Like I said earlier – you can’t save the whole world. Don’t even try.
If you want to be more productive, try to re-organize the way you plan your time. You can do this by:
- making a list of things requiring your attention,
- prioritizing the list,
- doing essential things first, non-essential things last,
- after every third task, rewarding yourself in some small way,
- continuing to work your way through the list in sets of three.
At the end of the day review your list. This is important because it will allow you to see how MUCH you have done and achieved. I do this all the time! Achievement will drive you forward to more achievement.
So, now you don’t have to be busy, busy, busy and get little done. You can just be busy achieving what you want.
Best Wishes to you,
PS1: As usual, all comments and questions welcome!
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“You cannot teach a person anything, you can only help them find it within themself.” – Galileo (1564-1642).
Your JOURNEY to now has created the LIFE you are living.
Improving yourself will enable you to fulfill your DESTINY.
************************************************************************************
March 9th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Hey Gary,
Wise words mate, I remember I wrote a blog post a while back about the ‘3D’s’
DO
DELEGATE
DUMP
If you can prioritise and delegate and dump what you should not be doing then you should in theory get on better with the task ….
I am sure blog hopping was on my dump list at the minute HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Oh well that blows the ‘3D’s’ theory out the window
Speak soon
Tommy
March 9th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Tommy – I like that – Do, Delegate & Dump.
Thanks for visiting – and commenting.
Gary
March 9th, 2010 at 9:37 am
Thank you for reminding me of dividing to-do-lists in sets of three – the Gestalt-law of nearness works!
March 9th, 2010 at 11:10 am
Gidday Garry,
Yes that’s me, Mr busy. I figure it is my nature as a Sagittarian ie I am a bad loser and cannot stand failure. A Chinese proverb says, “The ox is slow but the earth is patient”.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:17 am
There was a time in life when I was a business manager, a toy maker, internet marketer, farmer, technician and Rotarian. How I can’t remember, suspect we had longer days. Today, at 65+, i learned to say “NO” gracefully and focus on things that really matter, gained more respect and achieve what I want. The list does it every time.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Hi Gary
An excellent post which tells everyone what they SHOULD be doing although I have no doubt it will be ignored by many.
Richard
March 9th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
@ Jorgen – Glad to be of service. Gestalt – the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
@ Richard – “Gidday?” Are you an Aussie? LOL! I do like that saying – made popular in Oz by a certain well-known, often frosty Aussie Rules football coach.
@ Henry – I think as we grow older we start to question things that have been thrust at us as “fact” far more critically. There is a saying in Internet Marketing – the “busy fool.” I have been there and so have MANY others. I have learned to do what is important to me and then, if there is time, to assist others. But one person cannot serve hundreds – unless, of course, we take advantage of automation – like I have here in getting this message out to so many. I hope it is helping people.
@ Richard – hi mate. What people SHOULD do as opposed to what they WILL do is akin to what they NEED versus what they WANT.
Thank you Jorgen, Richard, Henry and Richard for taking the time to share your thoughts here. I appreciate that very much and so do my readers.
Gary
March 9th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Thank you from someone who just recently learned the power of saying “no”. I still have a long way to go and appreciate being reminded that I don’t always have to be DOing something.
By the way, I loved your ebook “How to Write the PERFECT STORM of an e-book”. It inspired me to finally write my first ebook.
Looking forward to learning more.
Linda Colgan
Massachusetts, USA
March 9th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Hello Gary,
Excellent post and just what I needed as a reminder that I was slowly drifting away and getting busy busy and becoming less productive. Last week I had a 16 hour work day and when contemplated it was only 5-6 hours of pure productivity.
As for helping the world I have been the culprit so many times. I guess I still am but your post addresses this problem perfectly and reminds of an audio recording by Jim Rohn I used to listen to all the time [ was send to me by fellow Internet Marketer Randy Smith ] and Jim Rohn says
‘ You can help a thousand but you can’t carry 3 on your back’
What a great message and we can relate this to your blog post. You are helping a thousand by having a Blog and people reading informative stuff but once you start helping each person individually A. Its gonna take up all your time and B. The thousand people that you are helping will suffer as a result of you giving someone individual attention too.
By YOU I mean we all in general of course.
But yea just what I needed as a reminder.
Thanks Gary. Talk soon.
Maddi
March 9th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Hi Linda – excellent! Saying no can feel so GOOD sometimes. Plus, as I identified above, it actually HELPS the other person.
I’m so glad that you liked my Perfect Storm manual. To know that it has assisted you to write your own e-book is a GREAT feeling. Thank you for telling me that. It makes up for all the cretins who signed up for it and then IMMEDIATELY unsubscribed. Those people just don’t get it, do they? In order to receive you must first give. But all they do is take, take, take. Sad huh? Oh well… I guess they will figure it out… one day… *sigh*.
Gary
March 9th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Hi Gary,
Here i am stopping by your blog again!! Love it!
I tried the list thing…kept losing the list!! Maybe that should be the first thing on my list everyday is to keep track of that darn list!
I am in John Thornhills Masterclass and he makes my list for me! I do what he says and after that…I check out y’alls blogs!
I am working full time and my daughter just had a baby boy last Friday, so I am a busy girl. I really like it that John makes my list! Now if he could only change diapers and lived a little closer….
Oh Well, It’s all good. =)
Take care and I look forward to hearing from you!
Love your blog!
Lisa (GOOD Christian girl) =)
March 9th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
@ Maddi – First, thanks for the compliments.
Jim Rohn had many wonderful teachings. It was a great pity that he passed away just recently.
I think that if an employer was able to measure accurately the PRODUCTIVITY of his or her employees then they would get a great shock. So many people goof off at work. Just because they clock in a certain number of hours per week that does not equate to the actual hours worked. If that were the case I fear that MOST people would only be paid around 25% of their wage or salary.
And it’s the same in our personal lives. I try to screw the maximum productivity I can from my working time. Then I have relaxation time. But I try very hard not to mix the two.
You make some very good points and have added to the knowledge and discussion here. And for that i thank you.
@ Lisa (the GOOD Christian girl – LOL) – Ha! Lisa. Yes you share the same first name of the “infamous” Lisa I met at the Kokomos Bar in Las Vegas (refer the last post on this blog) but you don’t need to keep reminding me. I know you are the “good” Lisa.
Thanks for the compliments. I really appreciate knowing that I am providing my readers with value.
Oh… congrats on being a Granny. (you probably didn’t need me to remind you huh?)
Gary
March 9th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Gary your awesome, That is exactly my problem. I’m busy beyond belief but rarely get past checking out 200+ Emails a day. How many people minimum does it take to make productive progressive steps in IM? I’m spending 8+ hours a day and have many ideas and courses but don’t have time to review and impliment… HELP?
Thank You Kevin
March 9th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Hi Gary,
Wise words from the “temple” as usual, and very timely.
I was just about to take on something else when I read your blog post. You saved me money and time.
It’s true no-one is irreplaceable although we all like to think we are. That’s probably why so many parents have a hard time when their kids grow up.
By the way, I took your advice and actually did my first ever bit of outsourcing last week. It was very liberating AND you’ll be pleased to hear I ditched a lot of those unread e-mails.
I’m still on your list though.
I daren’t get off – you’re bigger than I am!
Take care
Jean
March 9th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
@ Kevin – What you have described is CLASSIC information overload. Most of us in IM have been through it… several times. LOL! It’s the perception that the “KEY” might be in the NEXT email or piece of information. ie we don’t want to MISS anything.
Unfortunately, many of those emails are useless – attempting to get you/us to buy something that we do not need. Then, we have something else to examine and investigate. Result? More info overload and a lighter wallet/purse.
Here’s what I do. I scan the emails, I dump those that are just “yada, yada,” I then flag the ones that I want to come back to later. When I come back (LATER) I repeat the process and only examine the ones that I feel will really help me.
Write yourself out a plan Kevin. Include in it a list of things that you NEED to know. Clear some time every day to work your plan and LEARN the bits that you need to learn. The rest is just a DISTRACTION for you.
@ Jean! TEMPLE my dear NOT temple! Just kidding (sorta – LOL!).
Well, thank goodness I arrived in the “nick of time” for you.
Fantastic that you made the DECISION to ditch the unread emails. I offer you similar words to Kevin above. In fact, I was thinking of both of you while I was writing that. I’ll bet Malcolm is happy (SIDE NOTE: I met Jean and Malcolm in Las Vegas in January 2010 at the Internet Marketing seminars organized by Alex Jeffreys).
The thing about lists… stay on the ones of people you know and like and trust – and who you feel can assist you in your quest. I have people who come and grab every free e-book that I write then unsubscribe. I find that very disingenuous. They see the value in taking all they can but don’t even want to trade their puny name and email address for all that value. I NEVER do that.
You see (not saying this specifically for either of you) – life is a two way street. The people who do that are prepared only to take will always fail. They just have not reached even the most basic point in life where they understand that.
Anyway, I’m beginning to sermonise and pontificate and get off the point so I will stop. I might do a blog post on it later. In fact, I think I will.
Oh – and Jean – I will still do that project with you. I’m still just treading water with my projects ATM. So, just a little more time and I will see my way through. I haven’t forgotten.
Thanks for your comments Kevin and Jean.
Gary
March 10th, 2010 at 1:09 am
Good article. I enjoyed reading that. I was thinking whilst reading that it didn’t apply to me.
Then I read the comments about emails! Guilty as charged. But I don’t like to say no to the lists I subscribe to!
Guess I will have to, and make my ‘to-do’ list daily, just so as I can stay focused and actually get my blog up and running properly. I must start adding content regularly, or no-one will even know I exist!
Thanks so much for the inspiration and motivation.
Warm Regards.
Jackie
March 10th, 2010 at 3:27 am
Hi Jackie – LOL! Gotcha huh? (re: the endless emails we all receive – I get ‘em too! LOL!)
If you are wanting to learn how to add content to your blog then you could easily apply the information that I offer in my Perfect Storm manual. Or… do a search above (top RHS) on why this blog is so popular (usually between 800 to 2,000 visitors per day). In that blog post I explain EXACTLY what I do.
All the best.
Gary
March 10th, 2010 at 3:48 am
Great post Gary! I DO know those people that want, want, want and never give and sometimes I DO have a hard time saying no. The key word is “boundaries” and setting them. By having those boundaries, you can make better use of your time and be more productive! Now why I am guilty of this at times, I think some people feel worthless if they are not constantly staying busy. I am working on that, but it IS a work in progress for us Type-A personalities!!
March 10th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Hi Julie – inspired to write (hypergraphia? LOL!).
I have a “nice” remedy for that and I describe it in detail in the back of my Time in Motion ACTION Planner. Basically it’s called tasking. When somebody asks you to do something for them then you ask THEM to do something for you – like a trade. LOL! I call it “tasking.”
We all get sucked in at times. And I agree – we do feel guilt when we are doing nothing to advance ourselves.
Thanks for visiting and making your comment Julie.
Gary
March 10th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Plenty of wisdom in those words as usual – funnily enough I find myself getting ‘busy’ largely due to the varied nature of different commitments I have. I am going through the process of one of Tommy’s things DUMP now as its happens which will free me up to spend more time on this business hopefully adding value.
Speak Soon
Pete
March 13th, 2010 at 2:24 am
Hi Gary
Love your site and blog. Is there a saying along the lines of “if you want something done ask a busy person”. I agree with all you say. I like you definition of “tasking”. Will try it and see how I get on. Love the pupsters.
As you see my name is Sue McDonald and I live in Australia. I am at present doing the Newbie course with Mark Terrell who originally did the course with Alex a few years ago.
It’s interesting learning and like everyone that starts these types of courses we all want to make money and have more time to ourselves. I hope you are making a great living and if you have time over the next few weeks and you could take a look at my blog and leave a comment, I would certainly appreciate it.
Kindest regards
Sue
March 13th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Sorry I have been absent for a while – I’ve been BUSY!!!
Yes, I know all about busyness – as a wife, mum, taxi driver (for the kids) there is always so much to do. Add onto that a new job (temporary agency work) which requires me to drive a 95 mile round trip each day, takes up 2 1/2 hours and leaves me too tired to do much when I get home, it is easy to get bogged down.
So what have I done about it?
Well I have unsubscribed to several email lists. Those I still receive I scan and delete all but a few which I think will contain useful information, or will help to build me up. As I open each remaining email, I scan it quickly (a skill I try hard to teach my students!) and decide if it is worth reading, otherwise it is then deleted. After that I spend a few minutes reading and following up information in the remaining emails. I try to do that just once a day (unless I get interrupted).
Second, I went and got your Time in Motion Planner printed off. I’d been meaning to do it ever since I downloaded it – but I was too BUSY. I started to use it but then became too BUSY with my new job. I hear the planner calling to me again!
Third, I am using the time I have to sit in my car listening to motivational CDs – the latest is a seried on the Power of Visualisation by Lee Pulos. The only trouble is I cannot relax and do the exercises whilst I am driving!
Finally I try to make sure that I have some time each week to do something enjoyable – I went to the theatre with my son last week and tomorrow I’m off to a music competition with Lizzie and her choir. It’s also Mothering Sunday in the UK tomorrow – hopefully I will get breakfast in bed – or at least a cup of tea…
It is so easy to be BUSY but not really get anything done and I have certainly been guilty of that. But each time I try to take a step in the right direction, I know that I am gradually working through something that has not built up overnight, so will not disappear overnight. We have to keep taking small steps forward, knowing that sometimes we will feel like we are going backwards too. We just musn’t beat ourselves up over it and take the next babystep to freedom.
Now, which job shall I do next?
Hilary
March 16th, 2010 at 4:06 am
@ Peter – what you will find is this – as your circle of friends, colleagues and acquaintances expands (as it WILL) – you will come under increasing pressure to do all sorts of things for all sorts of people. Do this, do that, join this, join that, promote this, promote that… etc, etc.
Some will be grateful, some won’t care less and some will consider you a sucker. You need to sort out who is who and who you want to “invest” your time in. We all need each other to some degree.
There are givers and takers in this world and you need to delineate them.
The people who waste most time will be those who want answers to all manner of questions. When you answer those they will send you a NEW list and on and on. These people are after FREE consultation. Once they believe they have drained you they will move on to others.
Guard your time and put it where it is of BEST use. Sometimes you will feel like putting other people’s needs in front of your own. But, when it’s all said and done, you still have to pay your OWN bills.
Thanks for visiting Peter.
Gary
March 16th, 2010 at 4:31 am
@ Sue – yes, that saying is well known to me. Asking people who have a LOT of time on their hands to do something will get you NOWHERE. That is WHY they have a lot of time – basically, coz they do so little.
I seem to be getting a few of Mark’s people coming here and also via email. It makes me wonder if somebody is sending them.
If I get time (LOL) I will see what I can do.
@ Hils – YUK! A 95 mile round trip? EVERY day? Huh?
You are doing well if you are listening to something that will make you more knowledgeable or motivated – rather that the latest Lady Gaga ga-ga. I can’t believe the crud that so many people listen to on the radio or watch on the IDIOT box.
Yes, we must partition our time for different tasks. Sometimes it’s very difficult. But we can always prioritize. ACTION Planner…
Thanks Sue and Hilary.
Gary
March 16th, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Hi Gary
Yep – I’m now into the 4th week of travelling every weekday. It’s a temporary position though so I know it won’t be for ever – and anyway I plan to be a successful Internet Marketer soon…
We’re off to Brett McFall’s Warp Speed weekend in London on Friday so we’re really looking forward to that, though we haven’t done as much work on our websites as we would have liked – action planner needed again methinks!
Just started on Earl Nightingale’s “The Strangest Secret” – Over an hour each way means I get to do plenty of listening to uplifting CDs!
Hils
March 17th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Hi Gary,
Thank you! I am a very proud Granny (dang! am I THAT old?)
I just wanted to tell you that I love your writing style and I have got more info from your comments than the actual post!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!!
Thank you! Your blog is amazing!!
Lisa~
March 29th, 2010 at 2:52 am
Hi Gary,
I think that you’ve hit on the sour note for virtually everybody. Being busy and hardly getting anywhere seems to be a complaint of most people, me included.
I’m a bit surprised that you still struggle with the problem too even though you know the solution to it.
As with everything, doing what we know is always harder than just knowing it.
I was going to ask for some advice and help from you but now that I know that saying no is not a problem for you, I’m not sure that I will. (Just kidding).
I’ll send you an email and see what you respond.
I always enjoy reading what you write and can’t wait to read your comment on my blog again, one day.
I hope you can find the time, no pressure, within a couple of weeks or three?
Talk soon,
Vance
March 30th, 2010 at 5:49 am
Hey Gary
Great post on time management. So many run around like chickens with their heads cut off and never really get much done. It is true both offline and online.
Hope you are getting things straightened around from the storm damage. If I lived a few thousand miles closer I would walk on over and give you a hand.
Thomas
April 1st, 2010 at 7:34 am
Hi folks,
Gee – I can’t believe that I neglected to reply for so long. I’ve been so busy that it seems like I blink and it’s already next week. I’m sorry about that.
@ Hils – listening to motivational and inspirational CD’s on those long journeys can be so valuable. It turns “down-time” into productive time because you are feeding your mind with positive thoughts and beliefs. I know what it is like to travel long distances to work. I did it for many years and shudder even at the thought of it now.
@ Lisa – You? A granny? OMG. You look FAR too young for that. [How'd you like that? LOL!] I’m serious when I say that. Thanks for the compliments. I just write what I think. Sometimes it gets me into trouble. But at least everyone knows where I stand on things. I am very much black or white with little gray between.
@ Vance – Yep, I’ll mosey on over when I get a few minutes. I’ve just been crazy busy with some promos, adswaps, writing a couple of manuals and a new book. There never seems to be enough time in the day – mainly coz I am always moving ahead and taking more and more on.
@ Thomas – Ha! Thanks for the offer. We have had over $600 million worth of storm damage here. What a mess! Over 4,000 vehicles written off already with hail damage. They say it could be 10,000 by the time they are all assessed. I had one of my palms torn completely out of the ground and a heavy metal “witch’s hat” – that used to cover my brass flue heater pipe on the roof – simply torn off and thrown 50 yards into my next door neigbour’s swimming pool. The damage everywhere was just collosal. Mother nature reminding us all that she is omnipotent indeed.
Thanks for commenting Hils, Lisa, Vance and Thomas. I appreciate your visit.
Gary