Busy vs. Producing
I had lunch with a good friend today. She was telling me how she was contemplating starting a new company.
“Why?” I asked.
“Well, my current company isnt allowing me to do what I want to do, and there are lots of people telling me that there is opportunity out there.”
“Sounds a lot like the advice so many people got before heading out to California to mine gold.”
We continued to talk, and I began to get a picture of what her current job situation sounded like. Tell me if this sounds familiar:
- In order to get “all your work done” you eat at your desk;
- In order to “finish your work” you take work home, and spend hours at home working;
- You “love” what you do; you just often feel “unappreciated” at work (because they just take for granted “how hard” you work);
- You think that if you quit “they will be in a bind, and realize how valuable you really are”;
- and so on.
On the other hand, so many people that I talk to say to me, “Micah you never work. You are always on IM, twitter, and the like. When do you get stuff done?”
And, I always respond the same way:
“Why are you so interested in how much I work rather than how much I produce?”
Isnt that really what matters?
Being busy doesnt make one more effective. Working constantly doesnt make someone a better employee.
Only production does.
For some, that means extra time on projects. For others, that working in spurts of high productivity.
But, at the end of the day, production is all that matters.
The statement “Time is Money,” is one of my least favorites. Time is not money. Production is.
As a startup or new business owner your focus should be solely on production.
Hire people that produce, not people that work.
Spend your time on efforts that lead to production rather than work.
At the end of the day, investment doesnt come to those that are busy.
Success only comes to those that can produce.
So what did my friend decide? I dunno. I know she will make the right decision, but I am unsure what that decision will be. I am excited to hear though…
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Micah – I'm with you 100%. I prefer to work smarter than harder, which equates to getting more done without clocking hours, staying “late” or telling everyone how much you work. Get results and that says enough.
Your radical ideas make me uncomfortable. I like sitting at my desk from 9am to 5pm, with 45 minutes of lunch time to consume my double-mocha frappachino and protein-infused green salad with a splash of oil and vinegar dressing. I get 5-stars at every review cycle because co-workers, and I quote, “Love working with me” and “am always helpful and available to answer questions” and such.
…
:) I agree; though, time is related to money, because money is production/time, and that ratio determines your cut. Mmmhmm!
This is seriously the best post i've seen in a while. Production, not work. If what you produce is fun, you will never work :) Just my tip.
-Jeff
The environment you work in can dictate the realities. I agree with what you are saying, but in a Federal government setting Work trumps Production. I am but a contractor; the perception of value to my customer is how “utilized” I am during working hours.
But thats the exact issue that I speak of. Your value has nothing to
do with what you produce. Its the busy time. So if you work for 8
hours and accomplish little, its better than working 1 hour and
producing lots. Its one of the major issues with our valuing of workers.
The environment you work in can dictate the realities. I agree with what you are saying, but in a Federal government setting Work trumps Production. I am but a contractor; the perception of value to my customer is how “utilized” I am during working hours.
But thats the exact issue that I speak of. Your value has nothing to
do with what you produce. Its the busy time. So if you work for 8
hours and accomplish little, its better than working 1 hour and
producing lots. Its one of the major issues with our valuing of workers.