Posts Tagged ‘Keeping up with your business…’
Addicted to Busy
This topic will either make total sense to you… or not. That is because if you are “bent” to have this addiction you will get it right away, and if not, as with any other addiction you just don’t get it. I am writing to those who “get it” and/or those who have to live and work with those who “get it”.
Addiction is being compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming. Busy is habit-forming. The first step with any addiction is to “own” it. I first realized I was “addicted to busy” about eight years ago. Someone said something very simple to me, “you know, you do not have to do all this, you bring it on yourself”. I found myself pondering that thought. It was not the first time I heard something like that, but it was the first time it hit home with me. I realized no matter what I do, whether it is volunteer work, doing something for my family, or job related, I had a tendency to do more than necessary. In some ways that is a good trait, but as with most strengths it can become a weakness.
I began to do some self-observation activities and discovered much of my self-worth was built upon what I accomplished, thinking busy somehow meant important and how this made me look in the eyes of others. I also realized when I didn’t want to deal with something; I would get REAL busy in another area i.e. something at home, in my marriage or another work issue. If I was busy, I should not have to deal with “it” right…? This is a poor way to measure self. As with any addiction, it is never satisfied.
I have found that it is helpful when I find myself in this place of “addicted to busy” to do the following:
- Reflect on why you need to be so busy
- Do some self-observation activities– this is where you observe what you are doing, make notes about it and later reflect on why/s to determine if it is an activity or behavior you want to continue
- What is being fulfilled inside of you by being busy?
- What is missing that you need to fill it up with “busy”?
- Set a goal that reflects valuing and feeling important without being busy – i.e. spend an hour having a conversation that has nothing to do with work or read a book for fun. I say set a goal because I suggest only setting 1 and mastering it – anymore and you are digressing back to being busy but this time with these goals
- Create accountability – tell someone you trust what you are doing, give them your goal and permission to hold you accountable
- Once you have “mastered” this one goal, go back through 1-6 and do it all over again
The beautiful thing about life is that we are always growing and learning… we never “arrive”. Aren’t you glad….?! It is a journey. Practice enjoying doing nothing – “Concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary.” — Ray Knight
I would love to hear from you. If you have found yourself “addicted to busy” or know someone who is write in and share other ways to overcome this addiction.
A colleague of mine shared something with me regarding being “addicted to busy”. This is a quote from her daughter – the most interesting part is that she is 12 years old “A day not laughed is a day wasted, no matter how much work you got done.” Hmmm, “from the mouth of babes….” ?
Business As Usual?
Maintaining the Yard
Michelle Braden
Life/Business/Team Building Coach
Like a finely manicured yard, so it is with your business or department.As leaders, we drive hard to get our organizations and teams running smoothly.The poignant thing is, the grass keeps growing, the weeds keep coming and everything needs watered.Like it or not your business (just like your yard) is a living being.We have to maintain and continually grow and develop.
Several years ago, I lived in a subdivision in the lovely little town of Venice.This was a beautiful community.I have never seen such finely groomed and landscaped yards.Of course, everyone who lived there seemed to be retired, or somehow had much more time on their hands than I.All the villagers despised our yard.Working full time, two children, sports and community service often left our grass a little too high for our fellow citizen’s comfort.They kept their grass about ¼ and inch from the ground, so anything looked high to them.We did not plant flowers or carve our bushes into dolphins.I did, however, have a dehydrated fern hanging on the porch.This disparaged our “Leave it to Beaver” neighbors.As in many life experiences there is a more meaningful lesson to learn.This situation was no exception. I learned a lesson far greater than ‘how to teach your neighbors to loathe you.”I discovered if I would constantly maintain my yard, it would not require as much work.If I could motivate myself (or bribe my children) to work in the yard every day (as my diligent neighbors did), even a short time each morning, I, too, could have a handsome yard.Instead, I chose to wait and only do the yard when I had to (which usually made for an all day event) and when I was done, it still did not look nearly as good as the neighbors.
I trust you see the parallel between a poorly kept yard and your business or team. Maintaining customer service, relationship with coworkers/employees, budgets, evaluating what is working, what is not, communication, conflict resolution and the like is easier in the long run than having to give a major overhaul.We work so hard to get the “machine” running smoothly doesn’t it make since to maintain it?We know the rules, similar to automobile maintenance:change the oil, rotate the tires, check the fluids, brakes, timing belt…. You know the drill; all make the automobile run longer.Simple as this principle seems, I am often amazed how many business owners and managers sweat blood and tears to achieve a level of excellence, then think they can sit back and enjoy the ride.Unfortunately, this does not work in any aspect of business.“Business is like an automobile.It won’t run itself, except downhill” unknown.Don’t let drought occur or weeds grow up and destroy all your hard work.An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Business is like an automobile. It won’t run itself, except downhill.
- Unknown
