#Busy March 30
We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
One goal of this post is not to sound judgmental about BUSY people.
I have observed during COVID-19 self isolation practices many people are experiencing lots of anxiety. Yes, the fear of the virus can be attributed as a cause but there is something else in play. I believe one of the underlining causes of anxiety is that many people have had to deal with not being BUSY.
When we stay BUSY it masks an important question. The question, “is the life I am living significant”? Some avoid the answer because they tell themselves my life can’t be insignificant if I am BUSY.
One of the best leadership stories about being busy or working hard involves a Porsche stuck in a muddy field. The Porsche has many features but one of them is not exploring muddy roads. This owner in this story decided to take a shortcut on his journey and found himself with car that was very BUSY but wasn’t moving. Activity versus accomplishment.
The Porsche mired in mud gives it everything it has to get out of the hole. It’s tachometer is providing the highest readings and is BUSY as the engine roars but the car does not move. The speedometer is at zero and the odometer stands still.
Sometimes just working hard or being BUSY is not enough. The Porsche is engineered to get us someplace not to be BUSY or just revving its engine. The Porsche was not designed to be driven on dirt roads. It doesn’t count that the Porsche’s engine is BUSY. It lost it way getting off a paved highway.
Sometimes we are faced with a detour or take the wrong path. We find ourselves frantic and BUSY trying to go somewhere else.
I came across a reference to an article written by Tim Krieder in the New York Times called The BUSY Trap. I encourage everyone to read it.
Just like the owners of the Porsche in the story we will eventually navigate our way out the COVID-19 mudhole. When we get on our way we need to remember a lesson. We need to avoid the BUSY trap that just has us spinning our wheels. Our lives and the Porsche were both designed to enjoy a journey.
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