#156 — Puttering Along

Podcast: Play in new window | Download



I am not good at doing nothing. Sitting idle isn’t for me. I’m not happy unless I’m doing something. Hearing that, you might think that I’m a paragon of productivity; a man on the move; someone who gets things done. You would be wrong.

I’m a putterer.

While some men invest their energy in creating vast business empires or building monumental bridges, I can happily spend an entire day trying to get just the right wallpaper for my computer desktop. To the casual observer, it looks like I’m hard at work, hunched over my desktop focused on the screen with the intensity of a hunting tiger. In reality, I’m carefully weighing whether I want the AC/DC logo or the kitties frolicking among the daisies as my background.

Looking genuinely busy while accomplishing nearly nothing is the key to a really effective putter. If it looks like you’re idle, somebody is going to come along and insist that you accomplish real work. This is especially true at your job.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Like this excerpt? Want the whole story? Listen to the audio version by clicking the ‘Play’ button at the top of this post. If you’d rather read it, you can find the full text at http://myfavoriteshortcomings.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/puttering-along/

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Notes:

• This episode marks the third anniversary of Short Cummings Audio and you know what I did to commemorate it?Nothing.Really.I’m such a guy I can’t even remember to mark the anniversary of my own podcast.  I do want to think you all, though, for your support and encouragement these past three years.  I honestly couldn’t have done it without you.
• You can find my book (My Favorite Shortcomings) on Amazon.com at:
  http://tinyurl.com/l3tdd5
• My reviews of the Hunt for Adventures books (as well as a compendium of all that I’m reading and have read recently) can be found at:
  http://www.shelfari.com/kevinleec/shelf
• Finally, don’t forget to check out (and comment on) my book proposal to you at:
  http://www.shortcummingsaudio.com/bookproposal/