I’d like you to think back over this past weekend. No, really…do it. This won’t work unless you do.
Okay, now that you’re done that you probably realized that you spent a good deal of time doing a lot of nothing and another good deal of time making things happen and accomplishing tasks of some sort. I’m also guessing that the combination of the two was not planned; you didn’t map out when you’d do little and when you’d do more. You just did it and not it. That’s what weekends are for, to get the things done you have time to do and to do little in and around those things. That, my friends, is why the weekends are usually the best way to get going on the long and winding road to Eventualism.
Eventualism allows you to put in that little bit – as opposed to that little bit extra – to get the job done. All signs point to leading an eventual life. My lawn, for example grows in an eventual manner. It’s only fitting that I mow it in the same fashion. I’d be disrespecting its growth otherwise. I also don’t edge my lawn…I let it grow because it’s like leaving bangs for my yard. With that logic in place, I also understand that this part of my lawn will also be the first to recede, so I’ll keep it as long as I can. After all, I don’t want an insecure yard. And I know that balding lawns run in my neighbourhood.
Another example would be doing the dishes. We have several place settings, so by eventually washing the dishes we allow a balanced rotation to take place. It wouldn’t be fair to the dishes lower on the stack if we never got around to using them. It’d be like having a bullpen with two or three pitchers you just never use. So basically, our dishes are like the New York Yankees bullpen – but sturdier and less costly.
Nonetheless, the tasks get completed. It all gets done, or as David Allen would say “The work all gets made.” By taking the time to do the work, the illusion of it being done well is created. Once you do this often enough, eventually your quality of work is seen as “fine” or “okay” when compared to others. But since you’ve been setting the bar at such an average height for so long, they view any job you complete as good enough. Don’t fall into the trap of picking up the pace when you’re assigned something you’re passionate about, like comedy writing or something. Instead, savour the flavour for as long as you can. These tasks don’t come around as often as you’d like, so milk them for all they’re worth.
With all of this in mind, forge ahead this week in the most eventual way you can. Nothing says “I’m ready for a fresh week” than arriving for work a few minutes late. Take a step further and increase it slowly each day over the course of the week, or even on consecutive Mondays.
Either way, you’re sending a message…one that will eventually be heard loud and clear.
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