This is not a productivity post. Seriously.
This? This is a post-it-note. More specifically, this is my post-it-note. Like you, I’m known to reply with a well intentioned “good, thanks!” and the mandatory “busy, but good” accompaniment that follows.
There are 5 pillars at the core of my toolkit that I use daily to manage myself and to lead others. When my level of “busy, but good” reaches a certain point, I take the opportunity to zoom out and check in with my pillars. They live on a post-it on my desk.
Hint: my point of intervention is not when the check engine light comes on; it’s an ongoing practice aligned with a series of learned intervals.
You’ve likely heard the quote, "we don't rise to the level of our expectations; we fall to the level of our training" either directly from Archilochus or reshared by Tim Ferriss, James Clear, Seth Godin, Simon Sinek, or other thought leaders of systems thinking.
My middle school math teacher would likely be astounded to learn that I, of all people, continue to use something that she taught me on a daily basis. Despite my love of snowboarding, no; it is not y=mx+b.
These pillars and core tenants make up the blueprint of my toolkit. Each of the pillars of my toolkit are the culmination of initial learning, trial, error, and refinement. If they’re helpful to you, I encourage you to add them to your own.
The transitive property of equality
The 6 concepts of systems thinking
The law of diminishing returns/marginal utility
The 3 Models of Emotional Intelligence (with specific attention paid to the 4 branch model from )
NOLS’ 4-7-1 leadership model
Lead with empathy, follow up with curiosity.
The PSIA AASI Teaching & Learning Cycle.
Susan David PhD on Managing Conflict and Emotional Agility.
Again, this is not a productivity post. This is an open API post (Accessible Pillar Insights).
With regard to maintaining these pillars and the overall structure of my toolkit over time, honorable mention goes to Brad Stulburg’s approach to the Art & Science of Mastering Change and to Andrew Huberman's description of Using Neuroplasticity to Change Your Brain.
We are the sum of our experiences. Your "busy" is only as “good” as our systems and the tools we use to maintain them.
What’s in your toolkit?
When routinely revisiting my pillars, I use GPS (Grace, Pace, Space) to navigate any needed tweaks to my level of “busy, but good”. You can use GPS, too:
Give yourself some grace.
Adjust your pace to meet your needs of the moment.
Create the space you need to be effective.