Are You Addicted to Urgency?  

 

A couple of years ago, I read a fascinating book by Stephen R. Covey and A. Roger and Rebecca R. Merrill. called, First Things First. 

 

The book was first written in 1994, but it's even more relevant today. Technology is driving this huge sense of urgency that is evident with the growing number people talking and texting while driving--despite the dangers of doing so. 

The book is designed to be a "workbook" with various exercises, questions, and activities. Dutifully, I took the "Urgency Addition Quiz."  It included statements like: 

• I only do my best work when I am under pressure.
• I rarely take a break and often work through lunch.
• I feel guilty when I am taking time off or relaxing.    

 

You rate your response to the statements, then tally your scores at the end. Sure enough, my scores seem to indicate that I am addicted to urgency. So, what's wrong with that? I'm highly productive, yet I can also feel stressed. What I've learned is that most of our stress is fueled by urgent things, not necessarily important things. 

By focusing more on what's important and tempering my tendency to attend to urgent but not important items, I feel less stressed and more control of my life. For me, that's a great result. If you're interested in learning more about time and stress management, attend our "Maximizing Your Time" workshop on September 14 at 8:30 a.m. 

  

When we ask this, we usually get a "No" or silence with people looking like they're thinking, "Really, did I hear that right? I wish!"

 

Tiffany was a guest speaker at an HHRA (Hospitality and Human Resource Association) event in Denver on July 27. She spoke to human resource professionals on the topic of "Motivation, Rewards, and Recognition."   

Afterward, Tiffany said, "It was a treat to speak with such a smart and engaged group of HR people. We had a variety of interactive discussions, so it was a fun opportunity for them to learn from each other as well." 

 

Here's what the HHRA participants said:

"Very valuable workshop, I appreciate how interactive it was." 

- Mark

"Loved the real-world examples of what works and what doesn't."

 - Steffanie

"I loved your energy, your passion, and your focus. You have a good sense of when to allow participation."

 - Rebecca 

 

"Tiffany, your energy and positive attitude are contagious!" 

- Marcey

 

 

Speaking of motivation, check out the video Drive adapted from a talk by Daniel Pink. 

 

Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us