by SJ Barakony | Featured Contributor
Putting Productivity ahead of Busy-ness in Business
“I’m so busy!”
“How are you? How’s business? Busy!”
There are mild variants, yet, the theme is constant: The individual is … say it with me now …. B-u-s-y.
Since when did our nation’s backbone, entrepreneurs, decide that this status was the end all, be all, in conversation, let alone in practice?
Let’s reframe. First, though, empathy & grace are necessary.
I know: There’s a LOT on your plate; I’m sure many of these are on your calendar, scribbled on sticky notes, and/or are pop up reminders on your smart device: Payroll. Review insurance coverage. Talk to the V.A; accountant; and/or financial advisor. Respond to client messages. Etc …
Still, we shouldn’t aspire to busy-ness; when we stop, if merely for a moment & reflect, we realize that as entrepreneurs, we’re solution providers & producers.
Thus, the more we produce, the more pro-ductive we are: it’s productivity which we should strive for, a 1:1 replacement for the ‘busyness’ that is our default answer to so many questions.
Painting a picture to aid in this mindset shift, we revisit the 1st few words …
Time = Gold.
… and now can move to implement this truth in our business first ( self-leadership ), then, model it for staff + customers, lastly, replicating it to other entrepreneurs in our network.
Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy can’t be wise.”
― Lin Yutang
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Precious Metals
Gold :
Time is an irreplaceable asset, just like gold. Gold is finite & very rare: Its value has held firm for thousands of years & once was used regularly in commerce worldwide. Just like there’s always been a 24 hour day, the amount of gold available for mining is constant; fluctuation in the ‘price’ of gold is due to the underlying currencies, just like your productivity ties to how well you lead yourself.
Silver :
Money is a reflection, a flag, which signals how much value you’ve added to the marketplace; your monetized service, product, &/or specialized knowledge is your entrepreneurial bridge b/w problem identified & solution provided. We look to silver now, as its value is also stable, yet it’s more abundant in nature than gold. So, with an abundance mentality x growth mindset, you know you can grow your share of this not fixed pie.
Two must read books
Without a shred of doubt, I wholeheartedly recommend both. Each has a high ceiling of potential energy which can be tapped to lead to dramatic improvements in your productivity & reduced busy-ness.
He passed away over 6 years ago, gone & not forgotten as a pioneer; through his off the charts levels of contribution, we have much to tap into. The 4 quadrants is something to study often, & implement in short order.
Covey’s Time Management Matrix, in the written word
Or perhaps you’d learn better from a visual?
Suggested ‘Twitterverse’ Follows
A Helpful Guide to Becoming Unbusy by Joshua Becker
How to Stop Being Busy All the Time from Gus Razzetti
4 Ways to Break Free From Being “Too Busy” penned by Rikki Rogers , culled from The Muse
Leverage = Legacy
This concept is transformational. Pulling from the vastness of the internet, here are two marvelous resources. Once you take this small two-step seriously, my advice is to keep going!
Systems Thinking?
Its powerful. In a previous post, you learned all about the power of principled self education.
Here’s a superb opportunity to practice what you read by visiting Donella Meadows ‘s website.
And if you haven’t yet bumped into this infographic, please, I implore you, dive in over the next 24 hours. Your income can become systems driven wealth through active application of this business truism.
In my ongoing discovery, I’ve repeatedly shared these maxims with those whom I mentor, in coffee 1:1’s, & elsewhere: Why? They’ve allowed me to run multiple business ventures at the same time, all while making strides towards being productive = gold = time & (more) passive = silver = money.
Next steps:
What can Westminster Abbey teach about implementing this content?!
Action Time
As with anything you choose to read, listen to, or watch, the truest formula = what you do next, how you proceed, & why?
Reflect, through meditation, prayer, yoga, or in a moment(s) of silence on this post, please, & thank you for reading!
In short …
- A producer is productive; a consumer is busy. ‘Busy’ shouldn’t be a status, symbol, or state of being for the wise entrepreneur
- Time = gold. Money = silver. Prioritize your irreplaceable asset; focus on it and not on money (income, wealth) as #1.
- Review the links to invest in 2 highly recommended books
- Covey’s quadrants/matrix is a terrific tool in and by itself
- Suggested Twitter follows & some of their scholarly tweets. #MustReads
- Understand systems & leverage in your entrepreneurship education
- Leadership starts with self
SJ Barakony is a serial entrepreneur, futurist, & connector.
He lives in Ohio & is the Founder of Service Before Self Leadership: An Educational Solutions Provider.
He offers four highly customizable solutions to encourage families, individuals, faith institutions, & business owners to create & cultivate lifelong learning cultures in our homes & workplaces.
He’s been a guest on an educational podcast; been interviewed for an online small business community; is a guest blogger for Innovate NA; and has been an invited speaker five separate times for HECOA.
He believes strongly in youth & social entrepreneurship: He continues to serve two chapters of the YEA program (student mentor, mock judge, ad hoc consultant ) & has co-facilitated a session of the SeaChange Accelerator program.
He serves as the TDD for Cleveland & Columbus (Ohio) for the H7 Network.
He also recently became an educational advisor for Tessr.io, a startup in the exciting world of blockchain/cryptocurrencies that will be establishing a cutting edge educational foundation.