The difference between busy work and the work that moves the business

Most owners have two kinds of days. Days where they clear a list, and days where they actually move something forward. The problem is that the first kind feels productive even when it produces nothing that matters.

Busy work is anything that refills. Answering the same questions, updating spreadsheets nobody reads, attending meetings with no decision, tweaking things that are already fine. It feels necessary because it is familiar.

Moving work is different. It changes a number, opens a door, removes a constraint, or makes next month easier than this month. There is usually only one or two of these items on any given day.

The trick is to protect the moving work first. Put it on the calendar before the busy work finds its way in. Give it a full hour, turn off notifications, and finish it before you open the inbox.

At the end of the week, ask what actually moved. If the answer is unclear, your schedule is running you instead of the other way around.

Back to all writing