STOP! multi-tasking!
February 20th, 2008 by expatinspirerI’ve been absent from the blog for a while. And for that apologies. But while I was away I had an aha moment I’d like to share with you all.
The reason I was away from Flowers was because I was writing a book and had a deadline to meet. My publishers wanted the manuscript. Actually, my deadline was 10th Jan. But on 6th Jan I realised I’d do a crap job if I raced to meet that date and asked for an extension. They gave me another month! I was ecstatic. Now I would have time to do the book and loadsa other things. So I bunged a few extras in my diary and felt quietly confident about 10th Feb. Then, around 4th Feb I thought ‘oh no, I’ll do a crap job if I race to meet that date’ and asked for another extension. Let me say here and now that that is the first time I have EVER asked a publisher for an extension. It is just not done. Nice kind publishers gave me another week and I ate another slice of humble pie and decided to wipe my diary clean of everything except my book. That was when the aha moment came along.
The moment I stopped trying to be Superwoman and to do it all I made a space in my head large enough for a good idea. And suddenly, with 7 days to deadline I decided to add some new material to the book - which meant I had to interview people and do even more work. BUT my idea was a brilliant one. And, had I not had the time to focus on just the one job I would never have had it.
In the end I submitted my manuscript 3 days early!
In focusing on one thing at a time I could not visit the blog. One day I was still in my pyjamas at 5.30 pm. But I did a better job than I would ever have done had I carried on multi-tasking.
As my dear friend Robin says: ‘I can do anything, I just can’t do everything.’
So, superwomen and supermen out there - what do you think?
Jo, expat inspirer
Oh and watch out for Career in Your Suitcase 3rd edition due out end April!
What do I think? Sounds like you’re just bone idle to me, delaying on deadlines and staying in your pyjamas all day. Disgraceful.
Lol, top work Fish fella.
I think you are rather cool…. Jo…
and clearing a space in our minds is what it is about I guess focus…
My friend said once… The impossible is done now but miracles take a bit longer…. this is the problem these we keep trying to do everything all at once and get not very far … but if do things one at a time we can acheive so much more and feel so much better about..
Congrates on the publishing well done on your launch.. look forward to reading about it…
Blimey Fertile Fish, erm, welcome to GO! Smell the flowers - do share your master class in time management. Pareto’s principle is it?
Welcome back Jo, we can well relate to the dealine thing and how we totally underestimated not only the writing process but the editing, re-editing, re-editing.
Ideally we see flowers as a part of everyones day but it’s nigh on impossible to stick to this when other deadlines press, fellow founders The Pilgrims are facing the same challenges right now.
‘Anything and everything’ rings true and its a case of a ruthless focus, priorities and not over committing / promising things that cannot be delivered AND sticking to the stuff you enjoy.
That ruthless focus is the key but still remembering to smell the flowers.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Jim and Em and Aussiecynic.
As for fertile fish - well, hurrump the REASON I STAYED IN MY PJS WAS BECAUSE I WAS TOO BUSY TO GET DRESSED! Actually I often say things like ‘I wont get dressed til I have done such and such’ or ‘I wont check my emails til I have written a chapter’ or ‘I wont have a coffee til I have blogged at flowers’.
it’s the stick and carrot principle
as for Pareto - well, I think I usually spend 80% of my time on emails - just in case one is important - and 20% of my time doing useful things like earning money. My STOP! multitasking week switched things to the other way round and did I deserve that coffee that day!
Fair play and thanks for sharing…
We’ll take a share of the 20%, OK?
Expat if it makes you feel any better.. Moppet (aussie jnr) and I often have PJ days.. holidays or weekends you would find us both still in our PJ at 6.00pm that evening.. and neither of us bother… unless I have to go to shop… although it is a funny when you go the shops and the mums are in Nighties and PJ running in to get something for kids at the supermarket on their way to the school… Yes this does happen and some even wear fluffy bunny slippers…. not a good look….
LOL
You need GO! Smell the Flowers pyjamas Jo, so you don’t feel left out when you are to busy.
great wheeze Mike - jigsaw pyjamas maybe? No, maybe that would have a different effect?
Jigsaw folk type founders are Purple 13 here…Mike cant do everything ya know but he’s a wizard with the old film footage of founders - do check it out if yuo get the chance…
Anyway PJ’s are cheating…
I’d best turn the AC down…
Things are starting to change shape and colour.
Dam that twister mat, dammit.
I am trying to multi task at the moment - run a B&B, organise kids and keep the husband fed and happy - I am running almost on empty at the moment. We have had an influx of tourists over the last couple of days, the kids seem to be as busy as me, and the husband is at work. I think I need some wine!!!!!!!!!
Kellie sounds like a girls night at the pub…is needed
Actually, I just read that multi tasking does not work - it is official. If we do too much at once we end up doing them all less well. The wine, I am afraid, Kellie, will make you even less efficient - but at least you will have a smile on your face. Now, which would choose?
Hum. It’s official eh? Who’s the ‘expert’ this time?
Sorry Expat Inspirer, I’ll differ with the authorities.
Multi-tasking works for me. I’m the kind who’s at her best when the adrenaline is pumping, i.e multiple deadlines running in parallel at work, clients breathing down my neck. Throw in a couple of personal matters to sort out, and you can bet I’ll be delivering at my best on all fronts then.
As opposed to having all the time in the world and trying not to get bored with only one task to focus on. That’s Bridget for you.
Different strokes eh?
Deadlines never get extended in the Auto industry. Start of production (SOP) is set at the start and thats that. You meet SOP or you get huge amounts of fines from the car company AND you lose most of the future business you are/were targeting and probably only get a small extension to SOP.
Often we get late changes, issues and delays but we have to work them out and hit our target.
Multi tasking and time management are essential. Most of the time planning is the key. You plan your time and tasks but you also plan for as many eventualities as you can, least ways I do which is probably why I’ve managed to get moved up and up through the company I
work for.Generally you can find a way, asking for more time has to be the last resort and even then is rarely given.
As such I’m simply thinking you need to work heavily on your planning and personal discipline or revise what you actually commit to.
Gareth - once again you have proved that you don’t need a life coach!
You could easily become a life coach yourself.
Here’s to your continual success and progress in your company
Good points Gareth and Bridget. Maybe I need to practise that nasty word ‘no’?
Yes, but what will the hubby say, when you keep saying NO?
Who cares????
Come on Arvind, I didn’t mean that …..