Define: Efficient: Productive of desired results.
Define: Effective: Producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect
Define: Effect: Something that inevitably follows an antecedent (such as a case or agent)
www.Marriam-Webster.com
Recently I was listening to the audiobook The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. I’ve listened to and have read this book before. Yet this time, the discussion on being efficient or effective stood out for a moment. It is not the first time I’ve heard this concept. Most people – myself included – get stuck in the doing, in staying busy.
Sometimes we stay busy in order to avoid facing other issues. Being busy is often perceived as a badge of honor in our society. In Tim Ferriss’ book, he discussed that when he was in sales, if he hit the phone diligently from 9 to 5, he experienced – like most phone sales professions, – the dreaded gate keepers. But, he also figured out if he made calls from outside the “traditional” work hours, he often reached the decision maker directly and the result was a dramatically higher sales. In fact, he went as far to say that i roughly 2 to 3 hours outside the “traditional” work hours, he would out perform senior sales leaders with their 9 to 5 hours.
When you are planning your activities for the day, lets focus on what will have the most impact. Would you rather be the person that can count the paper clip boxes the quickest (absurd example effective – unless your in inventory management), would you rather focus on the activities that will have the most impact on your bottom line.
Hint…You CAN DO BOTH..and I recommend it