Is Busy the New Stupid?
“Busy is the new stupid.” Did Warren Buffett coined this phrase? I’m not sure, as I couldn’t find any evidence of that. But that’s not the main point here. What I want to talk about today is why people around us always seem so busy.
One common trait among unsuccessful individuals is their constant proclamation of being busy (I’m also talking about myself because I’m always telling myself ‘no time’). However, truly successful and intelligent people understand the significance of outsourcing tasks. As Lee Ka Shing, Hong Kong’s billionaire business magnate, investor, and philanthropist aptly stated:
“When an emperor is busy, it means his general is useless.
When an army general is busy, it means his organisational skill is lacking.
When the head of a family is busy, it means there will be problems soon.
When a boss is busy, it means he has not hired capable people to help him.”
Historical Perspectives
Throughout history, influential figures in politics and business have not dedicated all their time to minor details. Instead, they prioritised activities such as meeting people, socialising, learning, analysing markets, and strategising for the future. These leaders recognised that being consumed by meaningless tasks diminishes the value of their leadership and purpose.
One notable example of an influential figure in history who did not dedicate all his time to minor details is Winston Churchill, a key political leader during World War II. During a time of great crisis, he focused on making high-level decisions, providing inspiring speeches, and formulating grand strategies to navigate the challenges of the war. He delegated many administrative and logistical details to his subordinates, allowing him to concentrate on the broader aspects of leading a nation through a tumultuous period.
Churchill’s ability to prioritise and delegate effectively contributed to his success as a wartime leader. His example highlights the importance of leaders focusing on strategic thinking and decision-making rather than becoming overly absorbed in minor details.
Wisdom from Bill Gates and Warren Buffett
Bill Gates, a prominent figure in the world of technology and business, emphasised the importance of self-reflection when faced with a busy schedule. He once said that if you are very busy now, you should ask yourself these questions:
- What am I busy with?
- Does my work contribute any value?
- Can someone else do the work that I am doing now?
- Why am I so busy?
Gates encourages individuals to assess the nature of their busyness and its contribution to overall goals. He also states that you should ask yourself 4 crucial questions to assess the quality of your life:
- Did I devote enough time to my family?
- Did I learn enough new things?
- Did I develop new friendships and deepen old ones?
- Do the people I care about love me back? This question is inspired by Warren Buffett.
Another time, when Bill Gates and Warren Buffett went on a show, they also discussed a bit about being busy. Buffett pulled out his scheduler, which is a tiny little pocket calendar. He showed everyone on the show that he had only a handful of meetings scheduled. Gates then said that there are times when it is alright to let yourself not be busy and it’s ok to sometimes sit and think with no phone, no meetings, and no books.
“It should not be a sign of success that you have no space in your diary, yet it seems that is how we define ourselves in the business world.” — Bill Gates & Warren Buffett
The Dangers of Constant Busyness
Being consistently busy can lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and a loss of focus on crucial aspects of leadership. Effective leaders understand that their time is a valuable resource and should be invested wisely. In contrast, those who are perpetually entangled in day-to-day tasks may find it challenging to envision and pursue long-term objectives.
Steps to Overcome Busyness
If you’re always super busy, it’s important to take a moment to think about why. Being honest with yourself can help you figure out why you’re so busy and what you should do next. Maybe you need to rethink what’s most important, make tasks simpler, or get help from capable people.
The Art of Delegation for Large Teams
Delegation emerges as a key strategy for successful individuals who recognise the limits of their time and capabilities. Effective delegation involves entrusting tasks to capable individuals, allowing leaders to focus on strategic decision-making and high-impact activities. By distributing responsibilities, leaders can harness the collective strengths of a large team and achieve greater efficiency.
The Art of Delegation for Solopreneurs and Small Teams
Solopreneurs like myself, or entrepreneurs with a small team can also face challenges in managing all aspects of their business on their own. But effective delegation can help us leverage our time and skills more efficiently. I’ve been a solopreneur since 2017, and here are some of the steps that I’ve taken to delegate tasks.
(1) Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
What are you good at, and what are you not good at? Recognise areas where you may lack expertise or find tasks challenging.
(2) List Your Tasks
List down all your tasks and categorise them based on urgency and importance. Mark out the high-impact activities that will directly contribute to your business objectives.
(3) Identify Tasks that Can Be Delegated
Mark out the tasks that do not need your unique skills or knowledge and can be done by others. This may include administrative tasks, routine activities, or specialised functions, all of which can often be outsourced to others.
(4) Build a Virtual Team
Finally, you can hire freelancers or virtual assistants for the above tasks that you have marked out. Use online platforms to find skilled professionals for different projects, which may include data entry, email marketing, graphic design, content writing, or social media management. I have a small team with a part-time editor, who is my ex-classmate, and a programmer that I found from an online platform. I’ve been working with the programmer since 2017, and we’ve built trust over the years. Sometimes, I also use a virtual assistant with micro-tasks such as data entry and organisation of digital files.
Digital Tools — You should use digital tools to help you manage the entire process of delegation. For instance, tools such as Trello, Basecamp, Asana or Slack can help to streamline collaboration and task management, making it easier for you to coordinate and communicate with your virtual team efficiently.
Define Tasks—Before you start, you should clearly communicate your goals, deadlines, and any specific requirements, and also provide detailed instructions and expectations for each task to avoid misunderstandings.
Set Realistic Expectations — Be realistic about the time and effort required for each task. Avoid overloading yourself or your team members with unrealistic expectations.
Establish a Communication Plan — Regularly check in with your team to ensure tasks are progressing as expected. Maintain open communication channels to address any questions or concerns promptly.
Evaluate and Adjust — You should regularly review the effectiveness of your delegation strategy, and adjust your approach based on feedback and the evolving needs of your business.
Delegating effectively requires trust, communication, and a strategic approach. By leveraging the strengths of others and focusing on high-priority tasks, solopreneurs can achieve greater efficiency and success in their business endeavors.
Getting to success is about more than just staying busy. It means being smart about how you do things. Sharing tasks with others and focusing on the most important things are really important for success.
Do you agree with me? Is busy the new stupid? What do you think? Tell me about it in the comments below.
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