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Thoughts on the value of downtime
Tom Stimson, Tom Stimson Blog, 3rd March, 2009
I generally find myself to be very busy. There are always 20 things on my immediate to-do list and rarely time for the projects that take a lot of thought and quality time. When I talk to leaders of companies, I hear much the same. Even in a down economy with 30% plus drops in revenue – people are busier than ever. Most will tell you that they work from a sense of urgency, trying to get more done in case the last task is the one that will make a difference.
My projects have spaced apart a little more this year, but I sense that it’s not because there is less demand for my services. On the contrary, my inquiries are up. My clients and prospects are struggling to find the time in their schedule and their team’s to fit me in. They need what I offer, but feel they cannot risk not being available for every little opportunity that might pop up. Business downtime seems to be at a premium these days.
I know the value of taking the time to sit back and think. I teach it, advise it, and in times like these – I practice it. Business downtime is not the same as personal time. Thinking about work is not the same as thinking about life, family, friends, or personal goals. Some types of downtime work better for me than others. This past week I traveled to Phoenix to attend the Business Leadership Conference hosted by NSCA (and sponsored by InfoComm). This event involved two days and three nights of networking, keynotes, and seminars. I do all three of these things for a living, but in this case I was just another attendee. This is my favorite type of business downtime - the results were cathartic and motivating.
I don’t connect with every speaker or topic, but I often find one tidbit that propels me on a thinking journey. I have ten pages of notes that have nothing to do with the seminar content to prove it. The subject matter and presentations also provide inspriation and challenge me to sort out my time management obstacles and prioritize my long terms goals. In short, I recharge the left side of my brain by listening while the right side plays with each new idea.
You may have your own way of retooling yourself. I have been known to take a day to go sailing or spend a long morning at the Karate studio. This will clear my head and help me focus on that to-do list. But attending a business seminar really clears the decks and prompts me to higher levels of contemplation. My to-do’s are shrinking faster, my long terms projects are bubbling to the top, and I have the time and energy to start yet another ongoing idea outlet – a blog. So thanks for reading. Let me know how you spend your business downtime.
Tom Stimson
The Stimson Group
