2 ½ Hours

Yesterday I spent 2 ½ hours with a grieving mom. Those 2 ½ hours were the most rewarding and least stressful hours of my whole day. Those 2 ½ hours reminded me why I do what I do. Those 2 ½ hours also reminded me what I am, and more importantly, what I am not supposed to be doing with my day.

A few months back Randy & I were challenged to dramatically cut back on the “busy work” of church life. There have been several days that I wanted to ask this messenger if he wanted to come deal with the nonsense I deal with every single day. Every. Single. Day. It just doesn’t end – ever.

But you know what? I don’t have to give it my attention all day long. I get to choose what I give my attention to. I get to choose when and how often I read my emails. I get to choose to read that text or answer my phone. I get to choose to control my day or let everyone around me control it.

Ohmygoodness. Haven’t I taught that principle to subordinates over the years?! Freakin shoot me now. I know better than to let anyone control my time. For crying out loud, as a very young adult, I learned at the Burger King PTWE class (People, The Winning Edge) to not even do what your BOSS tells you to do the first time he tells you to do it. Not to be disrespectful  but because a lot of times, a boss will come up with some great idea in his head but later change his mind and decide it is crazy . . . after you are already off running with his “great idea.” Now you have wasted time on your hands. So when you are asked a second or third time, then most often, it won’t become a crazy idea. Most often.

So Michael, Scott, Pete or Cass – if you ever read this, please know that if at any time I seemed or seem to ignore  you the first time, it’s not my fault. Blame Burger King. (We’ll cover taking responsibility for our actions in a later blog. LOL)

Here’s the thing – when what should be 20% of your job becomes 80% of your job, it is time to relook at your schedule. Sure, there are “have to’s” that are busy work. But you and I get to schedule those into our days. Every job has aspects of it that might not be in our talent or desire tool box but we still have to do those things. But for crying out loud, let’s not give those things our best hours. And yes, eventually we have to answer our emails. Even the stupid ones. But we get to schedule when we do that too.

If my job is people – people should have 80% of my time. At the same time. if your job is administrative – paperwork should have 80% of your time and you might need to tell a co-worker that you have work to do.

You and I get to control our schedules and if we choose not to – someone else will. I don’t know about you but I am tired of letting the craziness control my day. Once I am done kicking myself in the you-know-what for failing to take my own advice the last few months – I am taking back my calendar.

So if you are waiting on an email from me – you might just be waiting til Monday!