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GET MONO, GET WOODEN
Wednesday May 4, 2016
Remember when MONO meant my record wasn’t stereo?
Then MONO meant someone had mononucleosis. A new meaning has arrived …
MONO, as in mono-tasking.
An article I read suggested: disconnect from multi-tasking – try MONO-tasking. One task, completely completed. Worked through, finished – ignoring other tasks, other distractions. I liked this idea – wondered, if I tried, what difference I would see?
Attempts so far provide reality-clarification! No matter how much I shut out ‘everything’ to drive one task to completion. At least thinking about it has brought about some change of thinking …
For example, working on a file, making notes about whatever-else is yet to be done, or next, or when before putting it on another pile takes on new meaning vis-à-vis when I determine to ‘finish this entire thing before going on to that next other thing.’
Phones ring. Clocks tick. Dozens of things beg for my attention. Can’t ignore them. But prioritizing/triage is different with my MONO approach. If I start it, I finish it. If I can’t finish it right now I set it aside to finish it when I can allocate the time. Maybe I’m just rearranging the deck chairs on an overloaded boat …
Old-school approach.
But it has given me a fresh step. Seems like I’m saving some time. Clearer, is my quality of attention given to my task. (ie: why put dishes in the sink when putting them in the dishwasher and tidying up the whole kitchen truly completes the job?). John (legendary basketball coach) Wooden nailed it: “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
Mark Kolke
P.S.: in the forestry world the ‘fire season’ has begun in earnest, driven by winds, warm temperatures and very dry fuel – and one near Fort McMurray turned into town yesterday forcing evacuation of more than 60,000 people (one neighbourhood lost 80% of its homes) to Edmonton and to oil sands camps. Officials fear today could be worse. Most fortunately, no reported injuries or deaths … fingers crossed!
written / published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 10C/50F, clear and breezy – Gusta seems to be ‘back to normal’ and showing off her fresh-trimmed fur coat; I’m happy too, good things are happening on many fronts … tic tic tic ..
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