Do not Multitask while Operating Heavy Machinery. November 22, 2009
Posted by Alessandra in : Alessandra, Entrepreneurship, People, Productivity , trackbackThe number of things I have on my To Do list is probably unhealthy. I’ve never been good at that thing called focus. My mind more or less resembles a file cabinet being tossed through a hurricane. I’ve gotten a lot better, though. I’ve moved “learn how to swordfight” to next year’s list and removed “hunt antelope with a bow and arrow” and “look like Salma Hayek” entirely. Prioritization, here I come.
So when I asked myself exactly what it is I wanted to do, I decided to rid myself of all distractions, hunker down, and focus on the one thing that would allow all my other goals to follow. For me, it was starting a business. And eventually not being dependent on a paycheck, which is a catalyst for most of the other things I’d love to do.
Starting a business is the one thing that I’ve chosen to focus on right now. There are tons of other things I would love to be learning and doing right now, but I’ve found that most of them are simply distractions and slow me down. Because multitasking is the art of screwing up several things at once. More seriously, multitasking isn’t just about putting the email away, it’s about learning how not to be overwhelmed and knowing where to start.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my social life and its current non-existence lately. Right now going out feels like a kind of multitasking to me, and that absolutely destroys productivity. It takes your focus away. When I get going on something, it’s better when I don’t stop till it’s done. I’ve never been good at “balance”. But focus is what’s more effective than balance when it comes to getting things going. Focus is what moves you forward. Balance keeps you in the same place.
Don’t get me wrong, (going out and) meeting people is very important to me. Talking to people who are important to you keeps you grounded, and meeting new people often inspires you and takes you in new directions. But if you’re not in a position to take advantage of these new opportunities, if you’re just going out boozing because you had a bad week at work as usual, then you’re not in a position to capitalize on any of this. You’re not in the right place. There’s a time for everything.
And hey, I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk to people. Teamwork is essential. It allows you to blame someone else when something goes wrong…
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