Instead

So this is inspiring me tonight (from Seth Godin)

What would have happened if you and your organization, instead of working on today's crisis, built something worthwhile for tomorrow?

What would have been discussed instead?

What would have been designed instead?

The urgency of the day feels like an appropriate reason to step away from the important thing we might have been doing instead.

Weeks or months later, we don't even remember what that urgent thing was. All we have to show for it is the thing we didn't build.

I think many of us spend most of our working time in what Covey calls the third quadrant - urgent tasks that are not important, tasks that cry out for our attention but do little to move us toward big goals or ideas that we want to focus on. For me, email is a huge distraction. HUGE! I really wish there was a way I was only allowed to check email twice a day, I am sure I would by 100% more productive!

Next, most time is spent in quadrant 1 - things that are urgent and important - of course that needs our attention!

The time that feels the most valuable to me is when I can focus on strategies and values - big goals, looking at where I am compared to where I have decided I want to be, thinking strategically, looking at the big picture, reflecting deeply. This time yields focus, direction and clarity that gives much needed direction in every other task and question and decision that comes along.

The problem is I feel like I am always battling to get to #2 and there is just not enough time to get there! Giving up TV would leave more time! Just reflecting on this model gives me determination to make some changes, but sometimes it just feels like I am playing a game of chess against myself!