Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

April 4, 2007

A Sense of Urgency

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:16 am

I've been thinking . . .

my sense of urgency.

When I was a publisher, I placed a high value on my sense of urgency. Everyone in my book of “those who are good at this” had a sense of urgency about the work we did. We tried to trim any schedule while still delivering top-notch quality.

Urgency is a highly personal relationship between a person and the work. It is a decision on how quickly something needs to be done in order to be done well.

Urgency means meeting the schedule with outstanding work.
Urgency means coming in early so that the next guy has more time to do what he needs to do.
Urgency means focusing on the task at hand, focusing to do it well on the first and only try.

When you work on unrealistic schedules that drive revenues that support your paycheck, urgency is value that is worth cultivating.

I taught my team in publishing that urgency is a merit skill.

Then I came online. I found it unfortunate and frustrating that folks didn’t seem to have a sense of urgency. I heard my urgent voice saying why don’t folks care that things slip and take longer than they need to?

Then I looked again at my sense of urgency. I started to realize that I had learned to be urgent about everything. Everything must get done. There were musts and shoulds, where I needed none. When I unpacked the word urgency I found the words responsibility, control, and oh no! . . . oh yes! stress.

Over time, I’ve adjusted my steps to walk when I don’t need to run.

I’m urgent only when time makes a real difference to the outcome.

I wish I had been a blogger before I was a publisher. Having known this would have made me a better manager.

Sometimes I truly do need a sense of urgency Sometimes I truly am better off without one.

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44 Comments to “A Sense of Urgency”

  1. April 4th, 2007 at 8:36 am
    cat said

    This is so true in the design world as well. Everything is urgent. Everything is rush, rush, rush.

    There is real pride in being able to do the impossible.

    Problem is, in the design industry where there are too many clients rushing, trying to fit into the same schedule, the professionalism goes out the window, the door, or even seeps through the floor boards. Dead.

    And the stress.

    Well, stress I can do without. I used to thrive on stress. I used to be proud of my turnaround time. My clients could depend on straying from their schedule because I would work insane hours to make up the time.

    I used printers who had the same work ethics. We didn’t have lives. We had excellent reputations.

    For good reason, the design world is not the only one laying the claim to “Fast, cheap, and good — pick any two.”

    Now a days I’m too old to be urgent :-)

  2. April 4th, 2007 at 8:58 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Cat!
    I’m right there with you. But I guess you already know that. We had the same saying here the words we use are “Quality, Schedule, Budget — Pick Two” I worked for one guy who know how to get all three . . . he burned out the people. Turnover in that company was 33% a year. Productivity was once evaluatec as the highest in the industry. Go figure.

  3. April 4th, 2007 at 9:14 am
    Robert Hruzek said

    Hmmm… I’ll comment later… sometime later… when I get a “round tuit” :-D

    No, really, this is probably one of the great “off-putters” for me. If someone is so busy, and things are so urgent for them all the time - well, they obviously have no time for me! (Gee that sounds rather self-centered, doesn’t it?)

    What I mean is, when would you have time to just… be. That’s when you can be YOU! (And are usually the most likable.)

    Two possible ways to handle stress:
    a) run in circles, scream and shout
    b) count to ten; then run in circles, scream and shout - if you still need to

    I know which way I’d choose!

  4. April 4th, 2007 at 9:19 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Robert,
    I’m talking about running around with our heads cut off. I don’t think that cat is either. But we are talking about an over-focus on getting the work done in a time-centered fashion.

    And you’re right there needs to be time for just sitting back to “be” and breathe.

    My urgency was always highly strategically planned to avoid circles and get things done right the first time. There just was no extra second for anything else. :)

  5. April 4th, 2007 at 10:03 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi all

    ( how on earth do I create the longest smiley ever for this? ;-) ;-) ;-) etc, etc, etc.

    You sound like me (not how I was, but how I’ve been and still - mostly, I am learning, yes I am, yes I am - am now) and I’m not even a publisher (oh, hold on, officially I am).

    I thought it was called being IMPATIENT, but it is a sense (urge?) of urgency!

    Life gets better when you loose a bit of that I’ve noticed and yes, as I said before, I am learning that ‘new skill’ (but tend to ‘regress’ once in a while)

  6. April 4th, 2007 at 10:06 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Life does get better when you let go of that urgency. Few things are really tied as closely to time as we might think they. :)

  7. April 4th, 2007 at 10:18 am
    Karin H. said

    Few things are really tied as closely to time as we might think they.

    ;-)
    funny you’ve put it that way. Lisa has promised me a link to a post of her about a conversation with a writer (another coincidence?) why time is a non-problem. Boy, am I curious how that works?

    But you’re right. I felt a lot of urgency today (too many items on too many lists, workmen outside digging up the road, lots of noise, customer car park not accessible, not enough sleep last night, early breakfast meeting) that I felt that ugly word creeping up my shoulders: stress!

    So I looked outside, saw the sunshine and like ‘Turtle’ Bob says: counted to ten and didn’t even start running.
    So, everything will have to wait till tomorrow (work that is). ’cause tomorrow is another day
    ;-)

  8. April 4th, 2007 at 10:48 am
    andy said

    I believe a lack of a sense of urgency goes hand in hand with incompetence.

  9. April 4th, 2007 at 11:07 am
    Michael A. Stelzner said

    Liz - Good observation.

    I think it comes down to this.

    Online, everything wants my attention.

    I am only human and time is fixed.

    I get divided and distracted to the point of total unproductivity.

    My solution: Fully unplug.

    Going offline now…

    Mike

  10. April 4th, 2007 at 11:49 am
    Tariq Khan said

    Liz,

    With what you have learned about a sense of urgency and its place, how would you manage now?

  11. April 4th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
    Valeria Maltoni said

    Hi Liz:

    This caught my eye ad I wrote about sense of urgency in marketing and what it communicates about the brand at the beginning of February: http://conversationagent.typepad.com/conversation_agent/2007/02/sense_of_urgenc.html

    I made many of the same points, from a different perspective. For example, the distinction between reacting and responding, etc.

  12. April 4th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    I think that we are often pulling in the same information and independently comeing to the same conclusions. It makes sense since we are on the same playground. :)

  13. April 4th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Michael,
    It’s surprising what I don’t miss when I go outside without my computer. Unplugging is one of the best secrets. But then I don’t suppose you’re reading this. :)

  14. April 4th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tariq,
    I start by trying to stay in the moment of whatever it is that I am doing. Then when I move on to the next thing I take a breath and figure out what is most important of what is left. Same action once again. As I go I forgive myself for what cannot be done.

  15. April 4th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Valeria!
    I love your point of view. Thank you for bringing over. I can’t wait to read it. :)

  16. April 4th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Andy!
    Welcome!
    It’s a lack of urgency could point a problem. it could also mean that there nothing pressing to be accomplished. Slow and steady worked well for the tortoise. :)

  17. April 4th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
    John Feeney said

    Over the years we have taken the approach, somethings we cannot do. We generally find someone in this chain reaction, who started
    this descent, has only one goal to see how far they can push others.

    Experience teaches limitations. After the smoke clears, you find your efforts were far more greater than the result. You cannot reclaim
    the effort. When your tired of working harder than you start to work smarter.

  18. April 4th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
    start a clothing line from scratch said

    Great blog I was lead from steve olson’s blog and I like what your doing here…haven’t read much of it yet but just wanted to introduce myself to the blogging community

  19. April 4th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi John!
    Welcome! I’m not sure I know what mean by “the descent,” I only know that sometimes trying to be urgent when there’s no need can get us looking in the wrong direction.

  20. April 4th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi “Start a . . .”
    Welcome!
    Nice to meet you! It’s fun to meet someone who’s not shy to comment as soon as you arrive. :)

  21. April 4th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
    Tariq Khan said

    Thanks, Liz (re 14)! :)

  22. April 4th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
    Jeck said

    I see this quite often. I’m a massage therapist, and besides my office practice I do onsite chair massage at various businesses around town. I hear more complaints about “this has to get done–NOW” from clients at the printing biz and the stock broker’s office than any other business.

    It is amazing what a 15minute chair massage can do for a person. 15 minutes to decompress during the day. Some people don’t feel they can take the time for it…they just don’t get it. That is, until they finally experience it for themselves. Then they are hooked.

    A 60minute massage is a mini-vacation.

    This stress and urgency is great for business. Thank you.

  23. April 4th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
    start a clothing line from scratch said

    Nope no problem at all…Liz…I see you have quite a following..hopefully my blog can one day reach the success of yours..any tips for a beginner?

  24. April 4th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jack
    Welcome!
    You’re singing a song I so like. If we would just take time to take care of ourselves for a few minutes we could go forward for hours longer with more power. :)

  25. April 4th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
    Steli said

    Hey everybody,
    great post Liz :)
    There is a saying in germany: “he who is in hurry should walk slowly ;)…”

  26. April 4th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Steli!
    Thanks that’s one of my sayings.

    Whenever you want to run, that’s when you should walk. :)

  27. April 4th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
    Carolyn Manning said

    Wow, Liz;, I know what you’re talking about. I realized my sense of urgency when and while I was waiting tables. It aggravated me that no one else had it.

    Now that I’m letting myself take my writing to whatever hilt it’ll go, things are starting to take on a different perspective. I’m coming into my own; does that make sense?

    I’m at a point in my life where I need to quiet the urgency and let me be me.

  28. April 4th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Carolyn,
    I think you’ve hit the word perspective. Some times we just don’t need to be urgent. We can stop and look the window to reflect on what we are about to write. :)

  29. April 4th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Start,
    I didn’t mean to skip you the second time. I actually went over to your blog and was looking around and then got involved in a telephone call. (It wasn’t urgent.)

  30. April 4th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
    Tanya said

    Hi Liz, great site. Thanks for your insights, they’re always worth the visit.

    There’s a thread going on over here: http://blog.instabloke.com/2007/04/how-to-interview-your-future-blog.html in response to your post at Problogger. If you have seen it, and you’re choosing to ignore it, sorry for sticking my nose in. If you haven’t, I thought you deserved the opportunity of defending yourself and putting the record straight.

  31. April 4th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Tanya
    Welcome!
    Thank you for the visit!
    I appreciate your looking out for me. It’s always nice to have a friend. :)

    You’re not a stranger here.

  32. April 4th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
    GP said

    yikes… this must have been written for me :) My Type A persona constantly kicks in with that git ‘r done now feeling … I’m constantly trying to be a step or 3 ahead :)

    Since moving to Montana, i’ve definitely gotten better about it… but sometimes when I’m not feeling that sense of urgency… i’m thinking ahead, thinking… “what’s wrong”?

    The quest for balance continues
    GP in Montana

  33. April 4th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
    ME Strauss said

    HI GP,
    I promise I wasn’t really thinking of you when I wrote those words. But I guess you still see yourself in them.

    I’m glad to hear that Montana’s big sky has given you lots more room to breathe. Breathing slows us all down to a friendlier pace. :)

  34. April 4th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
    Carma Dutra said

    Jeck was talking about massage and I strongly advise anyone to make a regular habit of a full body massage every 3 to 4 weeks. Yes I am hooked.

    My masseuse has the hands of a goddess. It’s almost like an out of mind experience and having your sense of urgency doused in cold water. This is a time when I have several visions come to me.

    Of course I don’t lose my entire sense of urgency status but this helps to deal with it. Taking Yoga is good too.

    As GP says, it is a quest for balance.

  35. April 4th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
    cat said

    Carma,

    “a regular habit of a full body massage every 3 to 4 weeks”

    You got my attention. I have a massage every Monday, from 3 - 5pm.

    He’s an amazing artist with his hands.

    When I’m having a stressful week I go in for the 90 minute foot massage as well. Only he doesn’t stop at feet. It’s all the way to the knees, then the arms, the head and across the back.

    Heaven. And yes, highly recommended.

  36. April 4th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
    Carma Dutra said

    Whoo. My legs are turning to moosh. It all sounds good to me.

    My goal is to work up to a weekly session.

  37. April 4th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
    cat said

    I’ve resisted massages, sort of. But I have a friend and colleague who comes out here three times a year and drags me to the spa downstairs.

    Even after two years, each time I didn’t get it. All that pain? And for what?

    But I kept trying. Well, when she was here mostly anyway.

    Then there was a change of ownership. The change brought new employees.

    It was only then I knew what all the fuss was about.

    But the reality is that he has magic fingers. The rest were (to me) going through the motions.

    Stress - gone
    Sense of urgency - gone
    Neck pain / back pain - gone
    Leg aches - gone
    Feet - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, nice

    Highly recommended for a business owner needing to do something to relax, to breath, to do something nice for themselves. For their clients even.

  38. April 5th, 2007 at 5:24 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi all

    Just wanted to say: what a jewels of sentences I’ve seen here:
    John: “When your tired of working harder than you start to work smarter”
    (I’ll forward that one to my mentor, he’ll love it).

    Valeria: “Reacting or responding”
    Another great one to ponder on. (Will read your post later on)

    G.P. “but sometimes when I’m not feeling that sense of urgency… i’m thinking ahead, thinking… “what’s wrong”?”
    Know exactly how that feels - ‘treadmill’ ‘reflex’ - not good

    Thanks for passing them on guys.

  39. April 5th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
    ME Strauss said

    @April, Cat, Carma,
    You three almost have me talked out the door and down the street to get a massage and I don’t even need one! I look the window and see the blue, blue lake and I know the world is beautiful. I’m going to read a great writer instead for about an hour. :)

  40. April 5th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Karin!
    You do so much by finding the gems in others. :)

  41. April 6th, 2007 at 10:22 am
    cat said

    “You three almost have me talked out the door and down the street to get a massage and I don’t even need one!”

    Liz, having a massage is like eating chocolate.

    You don’t know how much you are missing until the melt starts :-D

  42. April 6th, 2007 at 10:53 am
    ME Strauss said

    Oh Cat,
    I know the value of a great massage. I truly am not feeling the need for one. I’m ready for some plain old ordinary sleep. :)

  43. April 6th, 2007 at 11:03 am
    cat said

    Liz,

    I’m with you there on the sleep thing. Yup, I’m jet lagged again. And it didn’t help that it was a bank holiday, adding two hours to the driving time.

    Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

  44. April 6th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Tired + Traffic = Terrible

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