45. Busy vs. Effective
I caught myself saying it again this week.
“I’ve been slammed.”
It sounded productive. Responsible, even.
But when I stepped back and looked at the week honestly, something felt off.
A lot got done.
Very little actually moved.
That’s the quiet trap. Busy feels like progress. It fills the day, calms the guilt, and gives you something to point to.
But effectiveness is different. It’s uncomfortable. It forces a harder question.
What actually changed because I showed up?
I’ve been noticing this more in leadership rooms.
The busiest people are rarely the ones creating real leverage. They’re in everything. Responding. Attending. Fixing.
Constant motion.
The effective ones look different.
They pause longer.
They say no more often.
They leave space where others fill.
But when they act, things shift.
A stuck decision moves.
A misaligned team resets.
One move replaces ten.
That’s when it clicked for me.
Busy is about motion.
Effectiveness is about consequence.
We’ve been trained to value motion because it’s visible. You can report it. Track it. Talk about it.
Consequence is quieter. It shows up later. Often outside the room where the work happened.
So we default to what feels safe.
We fill the day.
Here’s the reframe I’ve been sitting with.
If your calendar disappeared tomorrow, what outcomes would still exist because of you?
Not tasks. Not messages.
Outcomes.
That question changes how you look at your day.
Because effectiveness isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the few things that make everything else easier or unnecessary.
And those things usually sit just outside comfort. They require clarity. Decisions. Sometimes courage.
Here’s what I’m practicing right now.
At the start of the day, I choose one thing.
Not the most urgent. Not the easiest.
The one that would make the rest of the day feel lighter if it moved.
Then I protect it.
Some days it’s a conversation I’ve been delaying.
Other days it’s a decision I’ve been overthinking.
Sometimes it’s simply saying no.
It’s uncomfortable.
But it works.
Because once that one thing moves, everything else either accelerates or becomes less important.
If you try anything this week, try this.
Before opening your inbox, ask yourself:
“If I only moved one thing forward today, what would matter a week from now?”
Start there.
You’ll feel the difference.
And if you’re in a season where everything feels full, I’d like to hear how you’re thinking about this.
What’s your one thing this week?
— Jonathan
P.S. Full calendars create the illusion of progress. Clear decisions create movement. If you’ve been feeling the gap between the two, it might be time to pause and look at what’s really driving outcomes. Reach out to me - I’ll guide you.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is intended for general informational and reflective purposes only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Please consider your own circumstances and consult an appropriate professional before making decisions.
