Are You Busy, or Are You Effective?

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You know the conversation. We all do it. It goes something like this:

“Hey Jason, how’s it going?”

“Great, but really busy,” I reply. “How are you?”

“Oh, me too. Super busy, but good.”

Sound familiar?

We honor busyness. Some would say that we glorify busyness. We think it validates us. It’s easy to hide behind. I’m not judging. I do it too.

I’m working to rid the word from my vocabulary. The reality is that I/we get distracted.

I have observed that the most productive, effective, compelling, happy, faithful, and successful people in the world right now are the ones who are ReMembering—re-prioritizing their lives in the present moment.

ReMembering isn’t about looking at the past; it’s about focusing on all that we choose to give to the here and now.

Harvard Business Review reported the results of a study called “The Multitasking Paradox.” Using software, study authors recorded the number of times a worker shifted focus in an average day. One worker the study highlighted switched tasks 496 times in one day, resulting in a mere 33 percent of productive work time.

The point is to eliminate busyness for the sake of busyness. We all have an infinite number of ways to fill our time, but greater fulfillment and success come when we give our focus, attention, and best selves to the highest priorities at this moment.

If you could only focus your attention on five things today, what would they be, and how would you give them your attention?

Don’t honor busy. Honor priorities.

Don’t be busy. Be effective.

Travel gracefully,

Jason BargerJason Barger is the globally celebrated author of Step Back from the Baggage Claim, ReMember and the newly released book Thermostat Cultures, as well as a keynote speaker and leadership consultant. He’s also striving to be an above average father, husband and friend.

Follow him on Twitter @JasonVBarger

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