busy work

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. Lucille Ball

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/lucille_ball_122757

I have little time or opportunity to be lazy.

the author at his Navy Retirement
Senior Chief is not “age”

Thirty years ago I busied myself in my military career. For the last twenty years, life got busier, with family, church, home upkeep and careers- Navy Reservist and the private sector. While the kids were still kids, we adjusted going to after-school ball games, track and field meets, and school meetings. Our church had regular events on weeknights and we accepted the call to become Bible study lay leaders and me, to lead the ushers for Sunday services.

older couple on a bench at the beach
Photo by Monica Silvestre on Pexels.com

As I get closer to a planned semi-retirement this summer, I think I was underestimating the transition. In the Spring, my spouse and I started a business. While I am presently a technical expert for my employer, with our business, she is the technical expert – nursing, scheduling and marketing, while I am the Chief – the one who implements the plan, manages the books, and overcomes potential obstacles.

Where I was thinking that I might have more opportunity to catch up on household projects, putter in my garden and hang out with some other retirees, I may consider myself fortunate to take the dogs on longer morning walks and perhaps get to the gym more. Our new-business forecast is good. While I will spend much fewer hours commuting, our first year in business will be focused on work, process improvement, business development and delivering results. Satisfying clients leads to repeat business. A stable business leads to more leisure time. I can then tackle the home projects and the hobbies I have been wanting to do.

friends meeting for coffee and prayer
church of the semi-retired

I think of the Lucille Ball remark. Busy people get things done. After all, if we do not benefit our clients, paraphrasing an old saying, I’ll have plenty of time to spend, but none of the money to do so.

2 Comments

  1. I had never heard that quote, but it is very insightful. I’ve noticed at work that the busy people get more and more things added to their plates because, duh, they’re the ones that get things done.

    I’ve seen many a good employee get burned out in this way.

    On the other hand, they never look bored ….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “burn out” is definitely a hazard of too much taken on by individuals. Engineering in particular seems to rely on a small pool of highly motivated and intelligent – and often younger – workers to work long hours and days on multiple projects. Few have the luxury of being bored! And as you know, taking time off is often difficult because the work -and email – that pile up while you are ‘resting’. But then less-skilled workers are often motivated to take more on, to get promoted and make higher wages also.

      Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.