Ken Blanchard is a genius at expressing insights in simple ways. One of his key concepts in "Putting the One Minute Manager to Work" is this:

DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING - SIT THERE!

Too often, many of our problems arise from acting before thinking. In the frantic pace of today's marketplace it's easy to get caught up in the activity trap. We confuse activity with productivity. We think "I'm so busy, I must be accomplishing something!" In reality, we may just be spinning our wheels. Like sitting in a rocking chair, you can expend a lot of energy and create a lot of motion... but still not make any progress.

Progress and productivity always require thought! The Bible says this:

• "A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn't and even brags about it!" Pr. 13:16 (LB)

• "A good man thinks before he speaks..." Pr.15:28 (LB)

• "The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won't face facts." Pr. 14:8 (LB)

• "A wise man is cautious and avoids danger; a fool plunges ahead with great confidence." Pr.14:16 (LB)

Unfortunately many parts of your work seem to conspire to keep you from thinking! Pressures... deadlines... appointments... and interruptions fill your day so you have no time to think. You stay so busy swatting mosquitos that you have no time to drain the swamp.

Nothing is as important to your job as thinking, yet nothing is harder to find time for. The solution is to SCHEDULE "THINK" TIME. Make a daily appointment with yourself to simply think about your work. Think about what you do, how you do it, and the results you are getting. "Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts." Pr. 24:3 (LB)

Your mind is like a muscle. It develops with use. The more you develop it, the more productive you will be. And productive people will always be in demand as we move into the 21st century. Your brain is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God. Think about it!
Until next week...

FOL#51