Your busyness doesn’t mean you’re being effective. Effectiveness is about “WHAT”, not “HOW MUCH”.
This quote is a reminder of the importance of focusing on the quality of our actions, rather than the quantity. At its core, the message implies that merely being busy or appearing productive doesn't necessarily equate to effectiveness or meaningful output.
Imagine this: you're a painter, and your goal is to create a masterpiece. You could spend your entire day mixing paints, cleaning brushes, preparing canvases - that's being busy. But at the end of the day, if there's no painting on that canvas, all that busyness doesn't amount to much, right?
Likewise, in our professional and personal lives, we often fall into the trap of 'busyness'. We jam-pack our schedules with tasks and activities, believing that the more we do, the more effective we are. In reality, we might just be treading water, caught up in a flurry of activity without making any significant progress. We might be working hard, but not necessarily working smart.
So, when the quote says, "Effectiveness is about 'WHAT', not 'HOW MUCH'", it's emphasizing the importance of the value or impact of what we're doing. It's about ensuring that the tasks we're engaging in are directly contributing to our overall objectives and goals. It's more about the thoughtful selection of tasks and the strategic allocation of resources than about the sheer volume of tasks performed.
For instance, if you're a writer, writing ten pages of irrelevant content is less effective than writing a single page that brilliantly advances your story. In the business world, having three impactful meetings can be far more effective than attending ten meetings with no clear purpose or outcome.
To truly be effective, we must learn to differentiate between mere activity and meaningful progress, and focus our energies on actions that bring us closer to our goals. So, the next time you find yourself rushing from task to task, take a moment to stop and ask yourself, "Is this really the best use of my time? Is this bringing me closer to my goals?" Remember, it's not about how much you're doing, but rather, what you're accomplishing.
Is there a historical example that illustrates the message of the quote?
One example is the story of Archimedes, an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, and inventor. According to historical accounts, Archimedes was given a problem by the king of Syracuse. The king suspected that a goldsmith had cheated him by replacing some of the gold in his crown with silver. He asked Archimedes to determine whether the crown was indeed adulterated without damaging it.
Archimedes pondered over the problem for a while but was unable to find a solution immediately. He was consumed by the problem and became so engrossed in it that he forgot about his daily routines and responsibilities. One day, as he was taking a bath, he noticed the water level rising as he got in, and he suddenly realized a solution to the king's problem. He was so excited that he ran naked through the streets of Syracuse shouting "Eureka!" (meaning "I have found it!").
Archimedes' example demonstrates the message of the quote in that his effectiveness was not determined by how busy he appeared or how much time he spent on the problem. Instead, it was the quality of his thinking and the insight he gained during a moment of clarity that made him effective. His focused and strategic approach, rather than mere busyness, allowed him to solve the problem effectively.
This historical anecdote highlights the importance of prioritizing quality and meaningful actions over a mere display of busyness. It serves as a reminder that effectiveness is not solely determined by the quantity of tasks completed or the time spent on them, but rather by the ability to focus on the right things and find innovative solutions.
* If you’re seeking extra motivation and inspiration on your journey of personal growth, I recommend taking a look at my SMART growth goals page, This page offers thousands of goal ideas that can assist in the establishment of new aspirations and the attainment of greater heights in one's life. In fact, it was instrumental in my creation of a list of 100 goals, which I pursued for a decade.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
