VERYBIZY

Interesting article from Mark Sanborn on Leadership I struggle with this a lot, it seems that if you aren't busy then you aren't being successful.

VERYBIZY
That is what the license plate on the mini van said. I was in the parking lot of my bank. The woman driving was moving fast. As soon as she parked she jumped out of the van in her workout attire and started striding briskly across the lot.

Our culture seems to think being really busy is a badge of honor. I probably thought that way too not long ago. I don't any longer.

Being busy is no badge of honor; it is simply a statement of fact. Early philosophers believed that all the great stuff of life came from liesure (not the kind of amuse-yourself liesure we typically think of, but the space to think, reflect and pursue the finer things in life).

There are two questions I'd ask Ms.VERYBIZY if I had the chance. First, why? Why so busy? Sure, modern life, especially parenting, has many demands. But being very busy doesn't necessarily mean you're a good parent. Maybe you and your kids are overinvolved. Maybe your kids wish you weren't so dang busy. Someone wiser than me once said that the greatest danger in life isn't failure but succeeding at something that doesn't really matter. And being very busy is a warning sign that we might be headed that way.

Secondly, are you happy being very busy? If you choose that lifestyle, and enjoy it, more power to you. But my observation is that many very busy people resent being very busy. They act like martyrs of their own lifestyles.

Ms. VERYBIZY might be a great parent, productive adult and genuinely happy person, but her license plate got me to stop and think for a moment.

What kind of VERYBIZY are you?