A 'Not to Do' list for 2014
- By Eugene Clark
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 1, 2014
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Revelers depict a sparkling 2014 in this long-exposure photograph taken in Nanchong, Sichuan province, on Dec 30. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Last year, I mentioned the value of individuals and organizations of developing a "not-to-do list." As our lives become busier and busier, it is easy to get distracted by the unimportant, but urgent, matters while giving insufficient attention to the important, but not urgent, tasks.
So instead of the popular to-do lists of New Year's resolutions, here is my Not-to-Do List for 2014:
1. Talk too much. In today's world, there seems to be a premium on talking, with the result that we too often talk past one another and fail to listen. So, next year, I will try to listen more -- I mean really listen, totally focused and not turning to look at my mobile phone. I won't email and multitask while I am talking on the phone, or even worse, when I am driving.
2. Attend useless meetings. Most people would acknowledge that we could do with fewer meetings. But meetings could be more productive and fruitful if people focused on getting more out of the meetings we do have. Everyone should come to meetings on time and prepared, with full understanding of the purpose of the meeting. Obviously, only the essential decision-makers need to attend. They should be engaged in the meeting, not daydreaming or on their mobile phones. All decisions should be written down so that follow-up actions are clear and people don't leave the meeting either without a decision or having different versions about what was decided.
3. Send too many emails. Most people would acknowledge that they send and receive too many emails. We should really ensure that we copy only those who really need to know. Think very seriously and be very cautious about hitting "reply all." Consider having a day a week when no emails can be sent, unless it is an emergency.
4. Watch too much TV. I confess to being a TV addict. This year I will try to be more purposeful in what I view and make more of an effort to choose greater quality programs and less "fluff" so that I can focus more on people and using my time productively. As playwright Tennessee Williams reminds us: "In the time of your life -- live! That time is short and it doesn't return again. It is slipping away while I write this and while you read it, the monosyllable of the clock is loss, loss, loss, unless you devote your heart to its opposition."
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