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A big part of living in the twenty-first century is adapting to the fast pace of our environment. Those who are not able to move quickly are left behind. That is why many employers today are looking for people who are able to “multi-task”.

Today, I am multi-tasking. As I write this blog for your enjoyment, I am also trimming the shrubs that sit beside my garage. It is hot and messy, but I am confident that I can clear my mind enough to write and work on the bushes at the same time.

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This is really very simple because the two tasks are so different. For example, if I were to attempt to write a letter to my parents and write this essay at the same time, it could be more confusing. I may accidentally include a paragraph about how my cell phone dropped in a fountain of water while my son and I were playing miniature golf.

While such an anecdote may be hilarious to my parents, I know you really have no interest. Please do not be confused. I am not really telling you about the cell phone, which did turn into an expensive paperweight of no further value as a communications device. I am just using the story as an example.

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Just remember to keep your electronic devices, such as cell phones away from water.

Although, you would not think there would be such a problem at a miniature golf course.

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But my point is that by trimming the bushes and writing, the two activities are so different it is difficult to be distracted. At my workplace, I often complete reports while listening to conference calls. It is the same thing as what I am doing now.

The reports are simply plugging mindless numbers and the conference calls include mindless people who nattering on about who knows what. Might as well do two mindless things at the same time, right?

Not that these two projects are mindless. I want to do both of these very well.

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I don’t remember if I mentioned that it is hot today. I am in the shade though and there is a bit of a breeze so it is not terribly uncomfortable.

But that really is not what I am writing about today. I am really writing about how productive we must be in today’s society. We have to work hard and work fast to accomplish great things! We cannot be content to simply come to work and do a simple job. We have to have ideas that will help the company, and help your self, move forward. We have to find ideas that will help everyone grow.

And how do we do that? We need to be thinking about what other people need! Sounds simple right? Like right now, I need a new pair of gloves. This pair is worn and my hands are starting to bleed.

So, it would be simple to run down to the hardware store and get some work gloves, right? Except that at this late hour of the day, the hardware store is closed. So I’m not going to get gloves today.

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They may have some gloves at the convenience store which is still open. They are always open.

But getting back to ideas, people need more than just the ability to do a job. The other day I was at the convenience store that might be selling the gloves for my hands that are not bleeding that much now, but still hurt a little. In line with me was a young fellow I remembered from my workplace.

Here is a great example of what I am trying to say. This fellow could do the job we asked him to do, but he could not see the big picture. Of course, when he worked for us, he was only nineteen. We really should not be hiring people at that age. People at that age can not see past their wallet. They can not see the big picture.

He had a few ideas about how to make his job easier. Eventually, he stopped coming to work. I figured he wasn’t cut out for the job.

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A few weeks ago, I heard he reapplied, but our human resource department turned him away. Anyway, he was good at the nuts and bolts of the job, but he had no real ideas.

Anyway, I saw him and asked after him. He told me he had enlisted in the Army.

He ships out in eight weeks. At any other time, this wouldn’t bother me so much. Still, in the world where we live today, this worries me. Were there truly no other options?

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That’s what I mean about ideas. A good idea makes the difference.

A good idea keeps your job. A good idea keeps you safe.

Anyway, these bushes are looking a lot better. I just have a little more to go. Tomorrow, I’ll swing by the hardware store for some new gloves.

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The more I think about it, the more I think multi-tasking isn’t always the best way to solve some problems. Some tasks need more thought.

Sometimes we need to stop what we are doing. We should think about how what we do affects other people. We need to listen more, even to the mindless people, because in some cases, the process is more important than the end result.

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Anyway, I am just about done with these two jobs at about the same time. The bushes are looking good.

As for my blog, I think I will go inside, wash and bandage my hands, and start again.