I like getting things done. “Do or don’t do, there is no try.” Yoda is often in my head. But not all “things” need to be done. Management guru, Peter Drucker’s guidance is simple and clear. “Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” Getting the right things done is more important than getting random things done well. Sure, emptying the trash and deleting a pile of emails (also trash) will feel good but these things can wait a bit. These, and many more, are weak excuses for cutting it close.
I’ve become expert at cutting things close- appointments, rendezvouses with friends, scheduled swim times are all fair game. I’m almost always on time. So what’s the problem? Cutting it close is the wrong thing. Being good at it doesn’t make it any righter. It is stressful. It encourages riskier driving. It highlights my irrationality. “How dare that driver in front of me try to make a lefthand turn onto Providence Road in rush hour.” Whoa- that’s exactly what I’m planning to do as soon as he gets out of my way.
Mending my cutting-it-close ways has involved a lot of trying and not much doing. Hopefully this confession will lead to more doing. Doing the right things well, being “efficiently effective”…that’s cutting to the chase.