When you’re under pressure, you don’t want to waste thinking time. The more streamlined you are in terms of planning and organising your thoughts, the less you have to dither about and the more time you have to get on and do what needs doing.
Of course, the idea is not to run around randomly doing stuff. Lots of us are inclined to do this, because it makes us feel busy and therefore productive. But busy isn’t necessarily productive. You can run around randomly until you’re exhausted and still not get anywhere.
So you have to invest some time in thinking, to make sure that when you start doing, you do the right things in the right way, and don’t waste time on things that don’t need to be done, or at least not now.
The people who understand the value of thinking in an organised way are the ones who put in the least effort for the maximum effect. They are the people who run large families, hold down senior posts, and still have time to socialise, volunteer and indulge their hobbies – all with a calm, cheerful demeanour – because they’re not wasting any time through unorganised thinking.
If this doesn’t describe you, and you wish it did, don’t despair. There’s no magic spell. You just have to learn a few tricks of the trade. Read on.