August 10

On Mosquitoes

What are you actually paid for? More importantly, how much time do you spend doing that thing versus the hundred other things that often fill your day?

If you looked at where most creative pros’ time goes, you’d think they were paid for answering emails or sitting in meetings. But in reality, you’re being paid for the value you create each day. This is the bet that your company is making: that you’ll provide more value for them than what they are paying you.

David Allen wrote, “Mosquitoes can ruin the hunt for big game.” When you spend your day swatting away mosquitoes, you might miss the big game that’s right in front of you. The big idea. The dots waiting to be connected. The intuitive leap that requires just a small amount of focused energy to get to.

Are you allowing those small, pesky tasks to prevent you from cre- ating the value you’re actually being paid for? If I looked at where you spend your time, what would I think your job is?

Yes, we all have to do things we’d rather not do. However, make sure that you are blocking significant segments of time for the work that you’re actually accountable for.

Don’t let the mosquitoes ruin your hunt for big game.

Small, pesky tasks can add up to big creative blocks.

QUESTION

How can you block time off today to spend uninterrupted on your most important work?