One of the better quotes I came across was Attitude Determines Altitude. That essentially means that the fundamental principles you believe in ( towards the role of business, technology, education, moderation, character, vice, industry and family in your life and how you define your success) will determine where you will arrive, and what level of happiness you can attain.

I was thinking that one of the cardinal thing that you can use to gauge people is their attitude towards ‘busyness’. How much do they believe that hard work, or the appearance of hard work contributes to their success, or to their image.

It does seem that we are now a generation who, if we could not impress them with our accomplishment, now choose to impress people with their ‘busyness’. We are a generation who would fidget to be addressed as ‘Your Highness’ or ‘Your Excellence’, but do seem to be flattered to be addressed, ‘Your Busyness’.

I am guilty of such myself, though I think that was hardly my intention, and I have to ask myself whether this is really the impression I want to be giving. But lately, I have been noticing people who say on the phone, ” I’m so sorry. I know you are busy, but could i just have two minutes of your time,… “, or people who send me email saying, ” I know you are busy, but did you have time to read the email I sent two days ago,….” or people you meet in functions that says, ” I know you are busy, and I really appreciate that you could come to our …. “.

I am busy, but is it really a PLUS for me to make people think I’m that busy? I know there were some activities that I wanted to participate, but friends did not bother informing me because they genuinely thought I could not spare the time. There were probably business ventures that I would think some friends would have put in front of me if they knew I had more leisure, but did not, because they know I am now involved in several already. But hey, have you heard of people who owns eight cars, and who would not want to buy one more if it is really the right design at the right price? I’m sure I could juggle my time if it was worthwhile, but no, I am not asked, because I seemed to be overloaded already….

What I’m saying is that at the end, will impressing people about our busyness be a positive impression that we hope to create? Or is it just a seemingly effective cover up for our being unable to get certain things or commitments done? If I am late in arriving, would it be great to let them think it was really because I was so busy at the office …?

Many people won’t mind exagerrating their ‘busyness’, or how many projects they are already involved in or the long hours we put in. How many of you would not mind giving the misimpression that you really worked only half as hard as you would want them to believe.

In short, many people wear their busyness as a badge of pride. Not being busy does seem to be equated with not accomplishing anything. The question I really want to ask is, “ Is it worthwhile to give that impression?”

- The Not to Do and Not to Know List
-Being busy without prioritizing
-Being Productive
-Email as an organizing tool

-Importance of Execution

Our blog is featured in the Carnival of Creative Growth Edition 4,  and among the stories that is listed is this blog is below which tries to examine reputedly the world’s number 1 rated restaurant.  What does it get to be excellent?

The restaurant is not in any major mall or thoroughfare, and it opens only 6 months a year.  Yet, it opens for booking less than a day, and they are suddenly fully booked for their whole opening duration.  It highlights two things: more than ever, people look for and reward excellence.  The other thing is that in order to continue to maintain that excellence, the chef spends the other 6 months trying to research better food and menus.

anja merret - chatting to my generation » Searching for Excellence

The number one rated restaurant, in the world, is called El Bulli and it is situated down a lovely driveway in Roses on the Costa Brava, about 160km north of Barcelona.