15 comments (+ Add)
Don’t Do It All, Part Three
Have you ever had a short work week (maybe three days to do five days of normal work)? Even though you had less time, you still got everything done.
If you did, chances are you:
- Delegated a few things you’d normally do.
- Made some decisions quickly that you’d normally delay.
- Decided not to do something you’d normally do.
- Worked faster because you were more focused.
Instead of working longer hours, maybe we should work less and get more done. Decide that you’ll leave the office at 5:00 (or pick your time) no matter what. Stick to it and watch your productivity rise.
Visit 
Here’s how an economist would look at the issue, Craig (disclaimer: I’m a recovering economist - on the 12-point plan):
Total Output = hours worked productivity
Most people I know focus on only half of the equation - the hours worked part (e.g., I worked an “x” hour day today”). That’s an outgrowth of our industrial age mindset (e.g., working on the assembly line). Knowledge workers - people like you and me - should be focusing on ways to work smarter (raising our productivity). As managers, we should encourage our colleagues to find ways of doing things better with less time. After all, the only truly sustainable growth in the long run is growth fueled by rising producitivity.
ps: I’ve been reading “Soul Cravings.” It’s a wonderful book! Thanks to you and Bobby for the recommendation.
Craig,
Do you know fellow Edmond author, J.G. Marking? I read that he helped your fellowship out with some inspirationals and some curriculum. Anyhow, the reason I ask is because he discusses something similar to this in his book, “A Voice Is Calling.”
The gist of it being that “slow and steady may win the race, but fast and frantic is the pace.
“Where, then, in all of our efforts to ‘get stuff done,’ can God possibly be…unless we make a conscious decision and deliberate effort to put all that other stuff aside and realize that Christ is not something to fit into our schedule.
He is our schedule.”
It’s intense.
(The main reason I ask is because I wanted to know if you had met, a la, Elvis meeting Nixon…not really sure which one of you is Elvis,
Thanks for taking on this topic as it is the exact thing a blog is for I think. Telling people “your take” in a brief way. Thanks also for Steve’s comment. I think this truth particularly came home to me in practicing Sabbath (Eugene Peterson and Marva Dawn inspired me). When you get used to really not working at all on one day of the week, you start to gain a bit more discipline about the other days.
Jessica, I’m not sure if I met Marking or not. I did meet someone recently who did some writing for us, but don’t remember his name. I just ordered “A Voice Is Calling” from Amazon last night because everyone keeps talking about it.
Craig,
Thanks for the reply! Marking is really close friends with John at Life.
Not to go on a tangent about the validity of the online medium for reaching others, but I find it really interesting that “A Voice Is Calling” pretty much went unnoticed for a year because of the fact that Marking was 22 when he wrote it, 23 when published, an unknown without a major ministry platform and it was published by a very small publisher, VMI.
Yet, in the last two months it has really started to pick up steam, thanks almost entirely to what….you guessed it:
The Internet. From blogs, to reviews, to discussion boards.
And some people say it’s not a valid ministry tool.
Just like your post topic: It’s all in how you use your time and your efforts for productivity.
Craig, awesome point, man. Sure appreciate this right now, especially with all that’s going on in our lives. It’s like it just gets busier and hours just stretch into long hours. =) Will apply this starting today. Thanks for the inspiring words!
please note that a ” ” symbol is missing from the equation in my comment above. The equation should read:
Total Output = hours worked PLUS productivity
thanks!
Christian, Welcome to the blog. Love your photography. You even made Bobby look good!
Craig,
That was, in fact, me. I believe John introduced me by my first name and not my pen name…(and right now you’re all wondering just what that is,
Thanks for the support, emotionally and, well, financially!
Also, I enjoy your blog daily as it is a great litmus test to gauge how effective the messages we hear and the lives we share with one another aid us in becoming passionate, reflections of Christ…in the day-to-day reality of life.
Regarding your series, I think it is very interesting to see the seldom seen correlation between our work and our spiritual life, in regards to focus and discipline and the overall health therein. In the end, it simply comes down to priorities and honest, self-actualization.
As discipleship hinges upon desire meeting discipline, our tasks in work depend upon the focus required for the task, the discernment to recognize where we should and should not invest our efforts and, ultimately, the discipline to realize that we are finite creations with limited abilities and limited time. But herein lies the beauty of this truth because I believe it is the beauty of the Church itself.
When we fully realize the full limits on what we can’t do and the amazing extent of what we actually can do, we can then appreciate the role that the body of Christ’s believers play in our lives, spiritually, professionally, etc.
We are here for each other so that we can all, individually and communally, accomplish our utmost for Him, in our weakness and our strength.
Thanks again.
I think this may be a bit of a generational thing. I know my grandparent’s generation worked like a dog, and that was symbolic of success. My grandpa told my great-grandpa that he realized he had spent most of his life working, and not enough time with his family. He had decided that weekend that he would slow down and spend time with his family, work less for more. 2 hours later he collapsed… after 8 days in a coma, he was dead. My point? I think that generation measures success partially by hours worked, and really struggle with this concept of less for more. I’m 29 and I totally buy it. In Randy Frazee’s book Making Room For Life, he talks about this concept and it really resonated with me, I am getting more done in less time. But some people who are 45 I’ve talked to about it really struggle with it. I think my generation is doing some things different and there can be some tension at times. What do you guys think?
J.G., I’ll find your real name quickly!
People keep reviewing Chazown and telling me I should read your book. I just ordered it. You should have given me a signed copy! 
Craig,
Believe it or not, I actually showed up at Central and gave the individuals at the front desk a signed copy a few days after I met you, with a very heartfelt message about your genuine heart and passion for God in it,
I honestly don’t know what happened after it left my hands. I hope this doesn’t get anyone in trouble.
But somewhere, there is a copy of my book inscribed specifically for you, feeling lonely, oh so very lonely.
I think you’re right Larry. Yet, the tensions between the generations surpasses ideologies about work and success, especially in the body of Christ’s followers today. The older being usually reluctant, if not a little scared, to relinquish responsibility and ideas to a younger generation they have difficulties connecting with. And the younger, who consequently often feels overlooked and unimportant, struggle to actively pursue responsibility and authentic faith, even though my generation may be earnestly eager to make a difference.
I think we’ll see more and more of this in the coming years. Hopefully though, we’ll actively keep Christ at the forefront of this issue and in the end, better serve and love God and others because of it.
And Craig, Chazown is a tremendous, equipping tool to really allow anyone to see that change and growth can happen, it just requires a lot of…effort, kept in perspective
God be with you all.
Just found my signed copy in my bookshelf! Thanks! I’ll start it and give my amazon one away.
Thanks for the blog post and putting the time into it Craig! I was introduced to your church through a friend during your money series. I quickly though moved over to your past series on Disciples. During that series you mentioned mentoring someone One-on-one. Is this something you still pursue even in your “over run” schedule? Being a disciple of Jesus and what that means has become a focal point in my life along with Matthew 8:22, “Pursue life! Follow Me!” (MSG)
Thanks for your ministry and your time! Changing the world one disciple at a time!
Ray
I really appreciate this discussion topic a lot! As a college student at a Christian university, it feels like I’m always being encouraged to “slow down” the pace of life… yet that often seems so impossible! With 17 credit hours, a couple of service positions, and a floor of guys to connect with in my dorm, I always seem to be short on time.
But I have noticed something. No matter how much I have to do and no matter what time of day it is, I try to sit down and have my quiet time. With that little bit of refocusing (even 10-15 minutes), the rest of the day seems so much more purposeful. No longer am I scrambling because I have so much to do; I’m scrambling because I know that getting the menial things accomplished frees up more time for slowing down and tuning in to what God’s teaching me.
It’s a struggle, but slowly I have more time to stop and chew on some of the ideas that get bounced around my head throughout the school day. One hectic, crazily productive day at the start of a week is worth putting up with in exchange for a smoother, quieter rest of the week. We need to run, but we can’t forget the words from Isaiah 30:15b -
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength…”
Seek these out, and suddenly running doesn’t seem quite as bad as it once did.