Saw the Wood
Common sense from Jack (my grandfather) for overcoming distractions
I love this 1999 article by Ram Charan and Geoffrey Colvin with CNNMoney. The premise of the article is simply that CEO’s fail not because they are evil or dumb. The thesis is:
The failure of most CEO’s and business is poor execution.
Poor execution is typically caused by lack of focus, originating from distractions. There are many more opportunities to be distracted now than, say five years ago. The usual culprits we can all identify such as your smart phone, texting, wasting time on time on the internet and so forth.
The opportunities for distraction are going to increase as data starts transmitting in new and innovative ways. Wearable tech will connect us in ways we are only now imagining.
For a great article on overcoming distractions, I recommend John Coleman’s Harvard Business Review article here. Or, consider the advice of a man who didn’t complete the fifth grade and owned a ranch in Oklahoma.
“Son, saw the wood in front of you and when the sun goes down your work will be done.” James “Jack” Neeld.
Jack was my grandfather and he (along with my grandmother) raised me on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. Jack’s approach to life was rather simple. Wake up early, do each chore in turn until each is complete and then go to sleep when the sun goes down.
Let’s take Jack’s advice into practice effect today:
1. Wake up Early. When was the last time you worked without pressure or distraction from anyone or thing? Yeah, I couldn’t think of an answer either. If you get up early, you can enjoy something. You can enjoy making the perfect cup of coffee, actually read the paper (or my articles) or simply focus on what you believe is a priority. Paul Dejoe hit the nail on the head with this article at fastcompany.com on this topic. Also, see Kevin Purdy’s fastcompany.com article for further reading. Protip: Do not check your email for the first hour you wake up.
2. Do Each Chore in Turn. Making a list is simply expressing your priorities on paper. If you express your priorities on paper, you are much more likely to complete the tasks. The following books can back up that thesis with the proper data: Getting Things Done by David Allen or Do It Tomorrow by Mark Forster. This is not exactly brain surgery. If you write it down, the task has a greater percentage change of being accomplished.
3. Go to Sleep when the Sun Goes Down. I suspect a few readers will take an exception to Jack’s advice here. There are several examples of successful people who were and are notorious night owls, i.e. Thomas Edison, Kate White (Cosmo editor-in-chief) and Patrick Allen with Groopt. I find one consistent comment throughout however, that night is for regeneration. I am personally a night owl, finding my rest from three girls with the solace of dark. I seldom do “real work” late at night. I write (this article for example was written at 11:26 PM) or do things that are hobbies or that I find relaxing. Remember the old economic maxim of “pay yourself first”? Do this with your time in the evening. Pay (or reward) yourself with regeneration activities, whatever those may be.
Jack didn’t get past the fifth grade but he had a lifetime of experience that can apply to all of our lives. He was a really, really good man who worked for one company (Mobile) his entire life prior to turning into a rancher in his retirement. I find myself applying his folksy, common-sense advice in many aspects of my professional life.
