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Episode 478 – the busy dilemma

• The word busy has gotten a bad rep
• I feel there was a time when busy was cool
  • It signaled importance
  • Only an important person has a lot going on
• But today, I try to avoid the word at all costs
  • When my climbing partner asked if I reviewed the routes we are going to climb, I contort my face, I mumble something, but I try not to say what actually happened – that I didn’t have time
  • When my trainer asked me for the 20^th time if I am finally going to write a Yelp review for him – I say “I will” for the 20^th time, but in the back of my mind I know its so low on my priority list that it will probably not get done this week
  • When friends reach out wanting to get together for coffee, I say Sure, Soon, knowing that soon is way out in the unknown future
• I am busy
• But I try not to use the word.
•  
• Because when I say that I am busy then you will interpret it as if I am to busy for you
  • Not busy for everything else I make time for, but to busy for you
• I struggle with the word busy because its both good and bad
• Its good to be busy when youre busy with the right things
  • Being busy but getting something done feels good
  • Last night I raced home from the gym
  • I had a goal in mind
  • Something I really wanted to get done that had been pending
  • And I did
  • I got it done
  • I shipped it
  • It felt so good
  • I left my phone in the other room ignored all the text messages and calls that came through
  • I was to busy for those people that tried to reach me
  • Was that bad?
    • Because I ignored them
  • Or good?
    • Because I got my stuff done
  • I think busy is always bad for the other person or the goal you are to busy for
  • And I know it because it makes me feel guilty having to say no
    • Today I said no to a friend asking me to house and dog sit while she is on vacation
    • One month
    • You may know that I love dogs
    • I talked about dogs on this podcast before
    • Spending time with a dog is like therapy for me
      • It calms me
      • It brings love out from inside of me
      • Warm fuzzy feelings
      • I feel happy when I am with a dog
      • They make me smile, sometimes laugh out loud
      • They make me feel important, worthy, enough
    • I also enjoy staying at other people’s homes
      • A different view from their windows
      • A new neighborhood to explore
      • A change to my routine which keeps my brain fresh
    • But this time, and for the first time, I said no
    • It wasn’t easy
    • I debated it over a week
    • But staying at other people’s homes is also an additional time investment
      • All my podcasting equipment is at my place
      • My clothes
      • Basic things I need
    • Usually the homes I stay at are in close proximity to my house, making it easy to stop by every other day or so
    • But its always extra time
    • Extra drive time
    • A change to my schedule, especially when there is a dog that has been inside waiting for me all day while I was at work
    • Like I said, I don’t mind the change once in a while, but a month is a pretty major commitment for me
  • It didn’t feel good when I said no
  • But I am busy
  • I don’t just go home after work with nothing to do
  • Weekends I am out and about
  • I have to guard my time and my priorities
  • and its in moments like these
    • when my busyness is put in question
  • that I find some peace and resolution in this short blog post from Seth Godin
  • it reads:

Ask a busy person

You might know one.

The busy person has a bias for action, the ability to ship, and a willingness to contribute more than is required.

The busy person is wrong more than most people (if you get up to bat more often, you’re going to have more hits and more strike outs, right?). Those errors are dwarfed by the impact they create.

Being a busy person is a choice.

It might not work for you, but you could try it out for a while.

We need more busy people.

• Thank you Seth for understanding me
  • I want to say yes to dog sitting
  • I want to accept all the coffee and dinner invitations from people that matter to me
  • I want to write reviews for all the people that gave me great service
  • I want to spend hours every day practicing knots used in climbing and studying routes
• I am more than willing to contribute more than is required
• But I can’t
• I am busy
• I am busy living my purpose
  • I am busy at work because I have a commitment with my employer who in return pays me for my work and that money affords my living and my adventures
  • I am busy keeping my body healthy in the gym and in my kitchen
  • I am busy pursuing a dream of bringing my voice out into the world to help others
• Our busy are our priorities
• But we all don’t always manage our busy well
  • I should be studying the routes I am climbing beforehand – I need to make the time for that
  • But I know that the extra time needed to drive to a house that’s further away and walking a dog every morning and night would hold me back from fulfilling my goals
  • I know it was correct to say no
• Its not always easy to decide but my encouragement to you and all of us is this:
• Ask yourself this question:
• Is your busy helping you become a better person and thereby contributes to making this world a better place?
• If the answer is yes, then you don’t need to justify your business anymore
• Do the best you can to make good decisions
• To balance work and fun
• Friends and business partners
• Work and play
• We need both
• I consistently talk about climbing which is my play
• And I talk about podcasting speaking and I share my bites of motivation – which is my purpose
• And sometimes I make time for coffee or dinner with friends
• Or write a review or Thank you note
• It all works together
•  
• But living your purpose does require sacrifices
• Don’t feel guilty about them
• Do your thing
• And when the results of your busyness ripple out into the world and touch others – then you know it was all worth it

Much love