Choosing VALUE over VOLUME
Lately all my clients are talking about time.
Not having enough of it mostly.
Lamenting full calendars and overstuffed lives.
When we dig deeper it usually ends up in a conversation about feeling like they can’t turn off their minds or the constant “to do” list.
There’s often a sense that their busyness means that they’re accomplishing things. Productivity is the buzzword but the feeling is emptiness rather than the satisfaction that comes from good work that’s well done.
I’ve started to probe about the value of the items on the list.
…Who benefits from the work…
what the desired outcome is…
what will be gained at the end… that kind of thing.
I’m often met with sheepishness.
Days are full of email and Slack + text + IM…. but not much time for real work.
Much of the day is full of rework, rehash and rehearse.
In my client circles, I’ve started a bit of a revolution to create time for DEEP WORK (thank you Cal Newport).
Deep work requires a revolutionary tactic- no email, no phone, no texting, no distractions. DECIDING on what to work on based on VALUE.
It’s like going to a silent meditation retreat and handing your devices to the group leader.
We choose a 90-minute block and agree on the project to be worked and the outcomes for that block.
Then we take a few deep breaths and just
DO THE WORK.
When the timer goes off, we check in.
How was the experience?
What did we accomplish?
What got in the way?
How do we feel?
What’s the next action?
It’s freaking magic.
But not really…. it’s the simple application of mindful focused attention on what matters most in that block of time. Without the usual head clutter that gets in our way…
Of course, you can also try to “get caught up” on the weekend… or some other fallacy…. but we all know that this simply doesn’t work for long.
To do sustainable good work, we have to DECIDE what’s important and PRIORITIZE the deep value stuff over the dopamine hit of the quick win.
The deluge of volume will ALWAYS be there to pull at our attention.
The deeper work requires the direction of our most exquisite attention and mindful focus.
It requires our willingness to suspend the belief that “Hustle culture” gets us anywhere and look more deeply at what we really want to create in our Work + Life.
It’s almost always depth that’s missing.
Whether you’re building a business, working in a j-o-b, raising a family or just filling a day after retirement, there’s a constant negotiation between busy-ness and value.
We can fill our days and our time and feel mostly nothing…. or we can take a more intentional path.
This deeper approach isn’t just for work…. it’s the same values exercise when deciding whether to take on a board position because it “looks good on paper” vs. saying no because it will take time away from being with your aging parents.
There’s not a right or wrong answer…. just a decision on what matters most to YOU.
Try out this mantra and let me know what you think…
Choose Value over Volume.
See if it moves the needle on the depth of your life + work.
