Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Ever "spread yourself too thin" or do you know your limitations and don't take on more than you have the energy to deliver?
RosieG

Ever "spread yourself too thin" or do you know your limitations and don't take on more than you have the energy to deliver?

Example.

You play tennis. Singles and Doubles.

Obviously playing both saps more energy than choosing only one. If it were you what would YOU do?

Play the match that is most meaningful to you or play both just to see how you will do?

Posted - September 2, 2019
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Responses


  • 7280
    Not anymore---but it took a long time for me to be able to do that.

    The greater one's intelligence and the readier our fellow feelings, the more likely we are to see 10 things worth our active attention while those less endowed may see only one and we thus are more likely to take on many more responsibilities than we should.

    (    That is from the book The Intellectual Life---required reading by me and all other incoming college freshmen 56 years ago.) This post was edited by tom jackson at September 3, 2019 2:13 AM MDT
      September 2, 2019 11:04 AM MDT
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  • 113301
    My Jim is like that tom. He is interested in EVERYTHING! He has a bajillion projects going on simultaneously and gets distracted diverted very easily. Sometimes he will finish something but not before he has started 10 more. I am the exact opposite. I am TASK oriented and I guess that's why I became an Internal Auditor. You cannot do the job even adequately let alone well if you are unable to focus on the thing at hand and FINISH it. When we first met it kinda drove me nuts. But meanwhile I fell in love and well you know what happens. Now I just accept him as he is. We are very different in that respect but we are very alike in the areas that count. Now I'm not saying I'm not curious about EVERYTHING. I think by now you know I am. But that isn't the same thing. Thank you for your reply and the book title. I've never heard of it but it was required reading? This post was edited by RosieG at September 3, 2019 1:11 PM MDT
      September 3, 2019 2:18 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    Well, listed as required prior to the freshman convocation, but there was never any kind of test on the contents.

    I think it was presented as a resource for those with whom it would resonate.

    I frequently have many projects going on as well, but the primary problem I've had in the past is realizing that I was the only person qualified to move something forward and then volunteering.

    Generally, that's probably not a good reason to get involved unless the situation can be easily rectified and the project completed satisfactorily.
      September 3, 2019 1:17 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    If you enjoy being helpful and believe you can bring a certain expertise to a task I totally understand why you would volunteer. Same with explaining things to people. You WANT to help them understand so you take time and pains to explain at whatever level they can understand. I think to be a good teacher (whether or not teaching is your profession) requires WANTING to help people understand. So you volunteer for more than you have time to do. I think the intention is admirable and I bet sometimes you surprise yourself by your ability to come through more often than you thought you could. What the world needs is more people who want to be helpful. I think they used to be more plentiful. Maybe I thought wrong. Thank you for your reply tom! :)
      September 4, 2019 1:53 AM MDT
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