Slow Down

Do you find yourself being a little bit busy this time of year? This is the time of year for being busy. It could be worse because you could be like me. I’m still waiting for the Fourth of July and the fireworks to show up. I vaguely remember Labor Day because that’s when the balloons flew over my house. I live close to a park where they hold the balloon festival.

I find I’m not alone in the feeling that time is flowing too fast. Many others tell me the same thing. I believe that this is either an alien conspiracy, or I’m doing so much that I’m not able to pay attention to any single thing. I am not sure which. Although, I have never met ET.

When the artists of Europe dealt with cubism in the late 19^th and early 20^th century, they were sort of having the same problems and concerns. They felt that in their new mechanical age things were moving so fast that you could not get the full picture of any one scene. All that someone could see would be a slice of a view as they whisked by it.

I’m retired, and I have this problem. I can just imagine what someone with kids still at home, working a job, and trying to manage everything is facing right now. I can only do one thing for you, and it sounds crazy, it did to me the first time I was told to do it, and I can tell you it does work.

The trick to being on top of things is not to speed up. The real method is to slow down. Rather than pushing to meet an ever-demanding agenda, make your schedule work for you.

You know how much time you have, and what you can accomplish. You also understand if you speed up and only do a mediocre job or come in late with the project, you’re going to be in trouble anyway. So just take on what you can do and do it the best you can. If it is essential for you to do and you don’t have the time, ask for an extension up front. If it is something that will take you from other vital tasks, politely decline the request.

Your supervisors will respect you for your actions. Remember, if pushed, you can always go to your supervisors, show them your schedule and ask for their assistance in what priority should be assigned to which project. It shows that you’re willing to work with management and be sure that your tasks have the time needed to be done correctly.

Of course, this is just an opinion from the mean old Master Sergeant.

Thank you for being with me today. I hope to be with you again soon.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof