The Best Advice: Don’t Confuse Productivity with Work@@

One afternoon a co-worker and I sat mulling over the opportunities for growth and improvement that we had the ability to pursue in our respective roles in finance and marketing of the organization where we worked. As we spun dreams of “what could be” we talked about how pursuit of those dreams would lead to tangible gains for the business.

We talked about how it would be to work in an organization that – just by fulfilling its mission – made the greater community better. We talked about the benefits that change could bring about for both the employees and customers of the organization. We envisioned just how big it could become.

After the better part of an hour had passed, I stood and said regretfully, “This is great, but I should really get back to work.” She looked up at me and said these memorable words; “Don’t confuse productivity with work.”

"Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Dreaming the dreams we dream for what our businesses can become – envisioning how to transform our organizations into the best versions of themselves – this is how an organization goes from ordinary to extraordinary. It’s just as much part of the work of building a business as are the tasks we must do to keep the doors open, the register ringing, the web traffic moving, the pipeline filling and the sales selling.

Even the act of sharing the possibilities with one another was important. It made the dream grow in proportion and yet seem more reachable, all at the same time, because we both saw how it was possible.

Without the dreams, minus the vision, productivity is just so much work.

Your business is more than the tasks that need to be completed today, this week, this month, this quarter, this semester, this season, this year. Sure, tasks have to get done, but equally important is that the mission and vision of your business get done in the process!