“Time is money.”

We’ve all heard the infamous quote from Benjamin Franklin. He’s one of history’s most revered individuals.  We’ve even found a way to make his stance on his “13 Virtues” into a means of feeling a sense of accomplishment in our daily lives. He was smart, articulate and an innovator.

But I’m sorry, Ben. Your quote no longer applies.

Now, I’m not saying that aspects of it don’t apply – there is a certain basic need to ensure time is not wasted or it will cost money. There’s no argument there. The truth is that time that isn’t well spent can also cost you money – sometimes even more so – because there’s going to be something lacking.

Focus.

Without focus, thoughts and ideas are scattered. Actions remain incomplete. Projects wither and die. I’ve had it happen to me on several occasions in the past; I’ve had so much on the go and no sense on where I’m going that I end up either lost or nowhere at all. And that’s nowhere to be.

I’ve also heard arguments that the only way one can achieve focus is to avoid multitasking. This is a bit of a fallacy. The truth is, you need to be able to show that you can handle many tasks – and yet can focus on one task at a time. This allows you to remain both viable and reliable, which are two very valuable qualities to have in your arsenal.

The only way anyone can achieve this on a consistent basis is by putting a system in place that allows both to occur. GTD does this admirably well, provided that you “get clear” when adopting it. Taking the right amount of time – focused time – to fully and properly put the system in place will get you on the road to being more productive.

If nothing else from this sinks in (which means you REALLY need to focus), remember the following quote, courtesy of yours truly:

“With consistent focus, you can start bringing in consistent “benjamins.”

Now I’ve got your attention…

Mike Vardy is a regular contributor to GTD Times. With his great sense of humor and self-professed productivity expert credentials, we hope you enjoy his perspectives on GTD!

Tags: Community Contributions, Getting Things Done, Mike Vardy - Community Contributor //
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