How Much Time Do You Have?
Just Say Hello
I thought it was time to put aside my "busy" schedule to contact a few people I hadn't talked with in a while. There was no agenda, it just a quick note to see how they were doing.
Quite a few of them mentioned how they were "busy", working too much but doing just fine.
Work No Play
It got me thinking of how we live like our time is infinite.
Why don’t we take more chances or go for things we want? Perhaps we think it'll be too difficult to complete? Maybe it’s easier to stay where it’s nice and comfy? Maybe we're just too "busy"?
How About Now?
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. But let's hope we get there. We have a lot of busy and important things on our to-do list.
It all sounds dramatic but have you ever stopped to think about the time you spend waiting and wishing and hoping and worrying instead of doing?
Busy Busy
One of my clients says that "busy" is a victim word. We use it as a crutch or badge of honor. We also use it as a shield to hide from things we don’t want to do, chances we don’t want to take or fears we don’t want to face.
Now What?
Watch Ray Zahab speak at TED2009 about his trek to The South Pole. He is also one of three men who ran the entire length of the Sahara Desert. You can say this dude is focused.
Then think about it. How much time do you have?
I know I am.
knealemann.at.gmail.com
"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."
Joseph Campbell
image credit: impossible2possible.com | highpointswim.com
video credit: ted.com
Busy is a "victim" word? Hmm. I don't know that I agree with that. If you hold that up as something to keep you from going after the things you want in life -- both in business and personally -- then, maybe. What, however, if you're actually busy going after the things you want?
I don't have a lot of interest in climbing Mt. Everest or driving in the Dakar Rally, but I live my life the fullest and do my best to take nothing for granted.
I work very hard at building my business. I give my best for my clients. I also love my family and friends with great ferocity and never skip an opportunity to tell them so. I enjoy my life.
One of my favorite movies in the world is The Shawshank Redemption. The main character, Andy Dufresne, said it best, "Get busy living, or get busy dying."
Am I busy? Darned right. Busy living my life.
Melissa DelGaudio said... September 30, 2009 7:12 AM
Love the Ray Zahab video and loved "Running The Sahara". I don't think I'll attempt either of those feats but I will pick up the phone and call a few friends today.
Nate said... September 30, 2009 7:45 AM
RT @knealemann New Post: How Much Time Do You Have? http://bit.ly/UHFbW #business #relationships #life
Gabriella said... September 30, 2009 7:51 AM
Good stuff.
Gordon said... September 30, 2009 7:59 AM
Hey Kneale, well again you kicked my ass and I got the sense you were kicking your own ass as well.
Thanks and have an awesome day!
Sally said... September 30, 2009 7:59 AM
As a #TOCommuter, my answer is Not Much recently.
Sionne said... September 30, 2009 9:01 AM
I've been talking about it practically nonstop since I read it, but Don Miller's new book, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" talks about living your life like a story. A lot of the same principles as what you're discussing here, Kneale -- stop doing the boring things that make up a story no one wants to tell, and go after the big things that are difficult but grand.
Great post. I hope we can all work to use our time toward a great story. :-)
Christina said... September 30, 2009 9:23 AM
Hey Kneale,
Thanks for this. I called three people this morning and caught up with people I hadn't spoken with in ages. It made my day!
Helen said... September 30, 2009 12:35 PM
Hey Melissa,
I completely agree! Busy is a valid word to use if you're busy working toward what you want, helping people you want to help and filling your day with valuable activities.
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:37 PM
Hey Nate,
Yeah Ray is a machine but only 9 years ago he was a pack-a-day smoker and enjoyed an adult beverage on a regular basis.
We don't need to split atoms or cure deseases to find purpose but his story certainly gives us reason to be secure in knowing we can do anything we set our minds on doing!
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:38 PM
Thanks for the RT, Gabrielle!
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:38 PM
Thanks Gordon.
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:38 PM
Glad to hear it, Sally. Know this - I kick my own when I write these posts. We can all learn from each other, every day!
Cheers
km
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:39 PM
That is fanastic, Helen. Which reminds me, I have more calls to make! km
Kneale Mann said... September 30, 2009 12:39 PM
You're timing is great - this month's Yoga Journal mentions the idea of 'internal busyness' and the concept that some of us are truly busy going from one thing to another - or as one of the comments mentioned 'going after things you want' - but most of us are actually just spinning our internal clocks/brains on all the things we think we should or haven't done.
According to the magazine the test is simple:
Take 5 minutes to breathe and if you can't clear your head and your brain is spinning on all the things you should be doing then your internal busyness is actually getting in the way of your external effectiveness!
Guess the morale is take five!
Great post!
Cynthia Young said... September 30, 2009 12:40 PM
Too busy right now, but I'll learn to deal with it. It's the life I chose!
Tracey said... September 30, 2009 1:19 PM
no. not too busy. This is displayed by the amount of things I actually get done daily!
Davida said... September 30, 2009 1:20 PM
Is that mirror you're holding up for moi?
Candace said... September 30, 2009 1:21 PM
Great stuff!
Bill said... September 30, 2009 1:22 PM
BeinhackerNice blog, Kneale. Love the message. I'm spending some refresh time pondering that same question: "Maybe we're just too busy..." Thanks for sharing.
Samantha said... September 30, 2009 1:23 PM
Cynthia,
I often say that to clients and colleagues - do you want my "business" or do you want more "busyness"?
Let's not confuse activity with progress.
Thanks so much for taking the time to send along your comments! km
Kneale Mann said... October 1, 2009 7:43 AM
Hey Tracey, there's a difference between busy and livin' life to the fullest and having a blast.
If you're enjoying it then what's the downside?
We need to come up with a new phrase like "funbusy".
Kneale Mann said... October 1, 2009 7:44 AM
Davida: Nice!
Kneale Mann said... October 1, 2009 7:44 AM
Post a Comment