Stop

Today, I tried multi-tasking with meetings. One on my phone and one on my laptop.

I knew from experience that such an approach would make me ineffective in both meetings, but I had to try. Both meeting organizers made it clear that my presence meant more than my contribution.

Fifteen minutes in, I decided to politely ask each organizer to record their respective calls, as I needed to step out. Thankfully, they obliged without a fuss.

Stepping out gave me an energy rush. I had to take a walk to celebrate my new found freedom.

I have a book gifted to me by a friend called “Kill Bad Meetings.” I have to make time for it, after “The Selfish Gene.”

I am thankful for the ability to stop what is not working.

A second look

I have never written an exam where I did not have enough time to answer all questions, with some to spare for a review of my answers.

But most times I do not review my answers.  I just exit when I’m done. It almost feels like a review is a waste of time. It did not help that in school there was some bragging rights for leaving the exam hall early.

However, the exams I do better in are the exams I have the humility to go through my answers again.

In every review I am always shocked at some of my sentences or how different my answer is from what was in my head. It almost seems like I am reading the work of another person. Then I wonder how I manage to do well without reviews.

A second look is a differentiator between my sure self and my best self.

– Osasu Oviawe