Over the years, I’ve noticed a word that often pops out in our conversations: “busy.”
It’s a badge of honour, a default response when asked how we’re doing and a proof for our dedication. But recently, I’ve come to realize that being “busy” isn’t something to be proud of. In fact, it might be the most boring thing we can be.
Let me explain.
The Trap of Busyness
For a long time, I was guilty of wearing “busy” like a medal. My calendar was packed with meetings, my inbox overflowing and my to-do list never-ending. I believed that being constantly busy was a sign of productivity and success. But as the years went by, I began to see that busyness wasn’t synonymous with effectiveness. It was simply a trap - a way to feel important without actually accomplishing anything meaningful. Being “busy” can be a convenient excuse to avoid the uncomfortable work of prioritization. What for? Everything seems urgent. We’re caught in a cycle of reacting rather than leading and that’s when busyness becomes not just boring, but also dangerous.
Shifting from Busy to Purposeful
The turning point for me came when I started to ask myself a simple question: “Am I busy, or am I productive?” The difference between the two is profound. Productivity is about creating value, movement and making a lasting impact. Busyness, on the other hand, is often about filling time, appearing occupied and staying on the hamster wheel. I began to reassess how I spent my time and energy. I realized that being busy had caused me to lose sight of what really matters - our people, our mission and my long-term goals that were to lead me to success. I started to strip away the non-essential tasks and focused instead on what would truly move me and my team forward.
The Power of Prioritization
Prioritization became my new mantra. I learned to say “no” more often, delegate tasks that didn’t require my direct involvement and schedule time for deep work - those projects that require focus and creativity. I also started blocking out time for reflection, strategic thinking and simply being present with my team. These aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re essential to leading with purpose. This shift hasn’t been easy. It required me to change long-held habits and challenge the notion that being busy equates to being valuable. By focusing on what truly matters, I’ve found more clarity, made better decisions and ultimately felt more fulfilled in my work since then.
Embracing What Matters
As a company, we need to collectively shift from celebrating busyness to valuing purposeful work. This means encouraging each other to prioritize, to focus on outcomes rather than output, and to recognize that sometimes, the most important thing we can do is to step back, reflect and think. We should be asking ourselves: Are we spending our time on the tasks that will drive the most value? Are we creating space for strategic thinking? Are we supporting each other in finding that balance between doing and being?
In a world where busyness is often equated with importance, LET’S BE DIFFERENT.
Let’s embrace purposeful work and find fulfillment not in how busy we are, but in the impact we’re making.