Insight - Busy Being Successful? - By Michelle Libby

I attended the second annual Sebago Summit on Tuesday hosted by the Sebago Lake Chamber of Commerce. The keynote speaker was Kevin Hancock. He spoke to the topic of the summit, “The Power of Partnership”.  He said something small that got me thinking, “Being busy is not the same thing as being successful.” 

I’ve been pondering that statement ever since. When someone asks me how I’m doing I say “busy”. I’m always running from one thing to the next it seems. I am a busy person, but is that making me successful? Is that keeping me where I want to be in my career? 

Sometimes the busy is my job. However, sometimes the busy is doing things that might not be moving me in the direction I want. 

Being busy watching one more episode of the show I’m watching on Netflix, isn’t the busy that’s going to create success.

It makes me reevaluate success and the way to get there in a new manner. If you have a business and your employees are busy, bustling around, typing things into their computers, you should be successful. But, are they being productive? Are they doing things that will move the company forward to create success?

How is success defined? Is it success equals money or success equals fame or does success mean you can pay your bills and eek out a life. 

One definition of success is “an event that accomplishes its intended purpose.” Another is “The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one’s goals.” Both of those definitions have second variations hinted at success being the “attainment of wealth, position, honor, or the like.” 

Busy on the other hand is defined as “Actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime,” or as a verb, “To keep occupied.” 

This last definition makes me think about homework that is often described as “busy work“. 

If we don’t call it busy, what do we say when someone asks “how are you?”

I could say what my son says, “I am well.” Psychologically that might help with the harried feeling that comes from being busy. But what if I am busy, running from meeting to meeting, place to place? I could say “things are hectic, and that makes me successful in what I am doing” as long as I am doing my work and not watching TV or playing games. 

We all want some form of success whether it is a goal like basic necessities, or a  goal like buying sick companies, healing them and selling them for a boatload of money. 

I will try not to be busy next time someone asks “What are you doing?” I could answer, “I’m being successful.”