The Big E – Engaging, Effective, Efficient

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92 – May, 2025

By Elaine Lessig

In this hustle bustle world, who has time to sit back and smell the roses? We seem to go from pillar to post without taking a breath. Whether in our personal lives, with our professional obligations, or just the time to get some sleep, we push through knowing there is always more to do with little opportunity to do it. Somehow finding that space, between one task and then quickly onto another, becomes nearly impossible. Which one gets cast aside to create space for more? How does that pile of papers on the desk, laundry sitting on top of the washing machine, or the constant need to shop for food ever get accomplished? Honestly, it is hard to say.

Try as we might, staying on task inevitably places obstacles in our way at every turn. You go to your van to start loading it with the supplies you need for a five day cluster. Before that, all the dog food containers and water jugs were filled. When it comes to the moment to load them behind the dog crates, the weight of the biggest water jug turns over the dog food container. And there you are playing fifty-two pickup with ten pounds of dry dog food. By the time you get most of it back in the container and vacuum the crumbs, you know the time you lost means more traffic on the interstate. The dogs and the rest of the necessities are in the vehicle. The key is in the ignition, foot on the brake, engine started, and off you go. As you feared, traffic is moving slowly–really slowly.

The stress of the traffic and the late start linger in your brain. “What could have been done better? Should the van have been packed the night before? The container with the screw top would have been a wiser choice than this one with a simple lid. Leaving before dawn should have been the goal. Now the trip will be longer and include a pit stop for the dogs. Where is the safest place to let them potty? Enough, you say to yourself. At the next exit, there it is–the perfect spot to walk the dogs, get a bite of lunch, and enjoy a hot coffee. The effect of taking that stop becomes obvious. Refreshed, the last part of the drive was actually enjoyable. A good cup of coffee and a great podcast playing on the radio saved the day. Better planning would have, too.

Click here to read the complete article
92 – May, 2025

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