Thursday, May 30, 2019

Losing Track of Time

Do you ever lose track of time?  Is there some activity that engages you so completely that you forget lunch or, supper or, even that you need to sleep?  What is that activity that engrosses you so completely you forget where you are?

For some people it is work.  I have worked with a couple of people through the years who would become fixated with solving some problem and would literally work around the clock to come up with an answer.  They were computer programmers.

I recall more than once coming into work to find them asleep with their head on their arms at their desk where they had worked all night to complete some project.  I told them to wake up and go home and get some rest.  Their behavior was driven by multiple factors including:  1) a desire to resolve a problem for a customer, 2) a desire to solve a problem simply to prove they could and 3) a focus on the problem so intent that the passage of time and bodily needs became irrelevant.

I think there are lessons for all of us in such behavior.  1)  We need to find the things about which we are passionate.  2)  We need to hone our desire to meet customer needs.  3)  We need to realize that we can overcome any obstacle if we will zero in on finding solutions.  4)  We need to learn to focus.

I'm usually pretty good with #2 and #3, but fail at #1 and #4.  How about you?  What makes you lose track of time?

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