We are all busy all day. But what are we doing?
A lot of time and effort is spent solving problems that are either not important problems in the grand scheme of things, or are not going to move the needle, or are far secondary to other things you could be working on.
Even more wasteful is trying to solve a problem that you are causing. The problem is an effect of something else you are doing or not doing. Trying to solve the root problem that if solved, would make the downstream problems go away, would be a better and more productive use of your time.
For example, if I am always trying to get more productivity and discipline out of my front-line workers, I could be fighting that forever. Instead, if I hire better, work on incentives, and empower natural leaders among them, I could make the incessant problem evaporate.
If I am always working on trying to fix a poor culture (and productivity and customer service) with all sorts of gimmicks, what if I changed out the sour manager they all have to work with each day with one who they will love and want to be better for?
Ask – what is the REAL problem?
What problem is causing these problems?
What problem is the most valuable one to solve?
Then get to work on it.
The art of studying circumstances.