Thomas Edison was not only an inventor - he was a scholar.
Yes, the very same man that invented the phonograph - which is like the Marlin to the Nemos of CDs and iPods; the motion picture camera, which is like the Mufasa to the Simbas of DVDs and YouTube; the light bulb, which is like the Triton to the Little Mermaids of lamps and porch lights; and more than 1,000 other things, which is like the Pongo and Perdita to the 101 Dalmations of civilization - was also a brilliant thinker, observer, and author. (And unlike me, I'm sure, wouldn't use Disney characters to connect his creations.)
As proof of Edison's multi-faceted talent ... and more specifically, to his gift of thought and penmanship ... check out this awesome display of insight, and wordsmithing. Edison wrote:
"Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment - and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing."
C'mon now: tell me that's not one of the greatest, spot-on, you-got-that-right, quotes you've ever read!? It's also timely, given the dynamics of today as it relates to the assumption of "entitlement." You know - people thinking that they deserve things because, well, they just deserve them because they think they're "busy"- regardless of having the right busyness and the right perspective, attitude, aptitude, mindfulness (i.e. PAAM).
In other words, it's imperative at work, and for the most part, at life - that we have tangible purpose behind our busyness. Work and life are too important, too valuable, too short, too special, and if I may, too God-given - to just "dial-it-in" or just "go-through-the-motions." That type of busyness is not only a waste - it's wrong, and detrimental.
Busy for the sake of just being busy is bad.
Purposeful busyness is good.
Posts
