Ep. 17 - Busy Is Bullshit

Before we dive into why ‘busy is bullshit,’ let’s explore a bit more about the lesson from my book, Words Fucking Matter. This week’s highlight and moment of gratitude go to Sergeant First Class Davis, a fellow army veteran, who recently picked up 10 copies of the book for a book club with army reserve soldiers. I’m truly grateful for the support I receive from those who resonate with my content.

As I’ve been networking more, people often approach me saying they read my blog or watch my videos and find inspiration. I always ask what they’ve taken away from it. Just like Sergeant First Class Davis, many connect with the lesson about productivity. In the army, we’re always busy, but it’s essential to differentiate between being busy and being productive.

Here’s a fundamental truth: 90% of people are consumers, 9% are contributors, and only 1% are creators. As a creator, I appreciate those of you who actively engage and contribute. It’s a reminder that not everyone interacts, and that’s okay. Busy, as I emphasize, is a state of being, not an action. Society tends to glorify busyness, but it’s crucial to evaluate the results of our actions.

This is one of the core lessons from my book—the “anti glossary,” you may say, of a list of words that don’t serve us. The one I want to focus on today is “busy.” Busy is bullshit. It’s non-quantifiable and often leads to a narrow, tunnel-vision perspective. I use the analogy of working out because, like our bodies, we need to care for our time and energy.

Being busy without being productive is a trap. To break free, you can delegate, automate, or eliminate tasks that don’t contribute to your goals. It’s not about time management but time prioritization, rather. We all have the same amount of time; it’s about making the most of it. You can’t manage time, it keeps on going, however you can prioritize what you do during certain times of the day

I used to spend hours creating content, now as it pertains to this show I spend 15 minutes a week. By delegating, automating, and eliminating, I’ve become more productive. The key is intentional rest and reset—taking time to relax, exercise, or pursue activities that bring joy.

In the army, we prioritize four functions: eat, sleep, shit, shower. These are productive, necessary activities. I challenge you to do a two-week time study, identify unproductive busyness, and reclaim that time.

When you master eliminating unproductive words and habits, you’ll notice others using them. Use it as an opportunity to ask questions and understand what they truly mean by being busy. Life is simple; figure out when you’re being busy and take steps to be truly productive.

So, as always, remember my battle cry: Do the fucking thing, tell the fucking world, and show the fuck up. See you next week!