Efficient vs Effective

Our day to day lives are often dictated by the minute–gain one here, spare one there. Surely if we can do something in less time and with less effort that’s a good thing right? Not so fast. Everything has its tradeoffs. What are you trading for an extra few minutes in the morning? Presence? Peace? Well-Being? If so, you are trading effectiveness for efficiency. 

Efficiency is great on paper. Its advantage is measurable and immediate. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is often illusive. Its advantages are difficult to measure and positive results can be delayed. The advantages of effectiveness, however, far outweigh those of efficiency.

Effective people not only perform better at work, in the gym, and with their families, but they enjoy life a hell of a lot more too. Effective people focus on important things rather than just urgent ones. They are unwilling to spare those precious morning minutes.