Some of my busiest days result in nothing getting done.

There’s a big difference between being busy and getting things done.

What Busy Looks Like

I have these days where I answer e-mails, respond to voicemails, take calls, answer questions, and let every interruption grab my full attention.

At the end of days like that, I’m worn out. I feel like I’ve done a thousand things, yet my task list looks exactly like it did when the day started. I’ve been busy but not productive.

I can easily spend a week dealing with the deluge of interruptions and be no further along on projects that matter.

What Productive Looks Like

What kind of blows my mind is how, once in a while, I have these amazingly productive days. I start off the day doing the big thing I set out to do. It gets finished. I move on to the next item and then the next. As I wrap up, I realize that I’ve checked off some big stuff that matters. I’ve actually been getting things done.

Did the e-mails, voicemails, calls, and other interruptions stop while I focused? Nope, they just piled up and, incredibly, some of them resolved themselves without my involvement. I’m able to spend a few minutes dealing with what’s left and head to dinner.

Every time I have one of these highly productive days, it reminds me of how much time I waste popping from interruption to interruption. I kick myself each time I look my unproductive busyness in the face. I hate realizing how much time I’ve lost.

I’ve learned the hard way that being busy has little to do with results. Being productive is what matters. Focusing on the big stuff, pushing through, and getting it checked off the list is what puts points on the scoreboard.

Are you busy, or are you being productive?