I just wrote a post about trying to multitask.  Here is a story that is a grim reminder that we can only do so much ….

I can understand that.  Two years ago, I bumped a car while trying to dial out from my cellphone.

I know we try to do a lot of things, and I read that many people shave, comb their hair, even put on makeup while driving to work.  Many of course, also eat and drink.  Ocassionally it happens, but if it becomes part of your routine, maybe it is time to rethink …..

Hit by Train While Text Messaging

David Pescovitz: Zacharia Smith, 18, of Cincinnati, Ohio was hit by a train as he walked across the tracks on Monday, but fortunately survived. The gates were down. Witnesses report that Smith appeared to be sending a text message while he was walking. He’s listed in serious condition. From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

I liked to think I am productive, and most of the time I try to cram and do as many things as I can.  It is like a personal victory to be able to juggle as many balls as possible without letting any fall. 

On retrospect, that is fine for menial tasks.  If I am able to do 5 menial tasks at a time, then those menial tasks must not need much concentration and brainpower to do.  If that is so, maybe one of our employees, or assistants should be doing it.  Would I say I am maximizing my worth by doing easy tasks 20 or 50% faster than my people? 

Or should I be focused on doing the things that my people cannot do, and if they can do it ( even albeit slower or slightly less good than I could do?), they should.

Anything worthwhile doing is worth doing well, and is well worth done well by concentration, not while juggling 3 balls in the air.  After all, what will move your plans forward is not the many small tasks you can do, but the few challenging tasks you focus on — something that needs concentration and think time.

Chopsticks picked up in new China scare - Yahoo! News

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Beijing factory sold up to 100,000 pairs of disposable chopsticks a day without any form of disinfection, a newspaper said on Wednesday, the latest in a string of food and product safety scares.

Counterfeit, shoddy and dangerous products are widespread
in China, whose exports have been rocked in recent months by a
spate of safety scandals, ranging from pet food to medicine,
tires, toothpaste and toys.

Officials raided the factory and seized about half a
million pairs of disposable bamboo chopsticks and a packaging
machine, the Beijing News said in a story headlined “Dirty
Chopsticks.”