underworked & overpaid

talking to one of my lunchtime running buddies, i mentioned how things are a wee bit hectic at work. not overwhelming by any means, just hectic to the point where you've got to make an intentional choice about what to work on and realize that some stuff may not get any attention. some stuff does not get done well - some stuff does not get done at all.

this is new to me - this concept that there's work that just doesn't get done - that things roll off the bottom of the to-do list before they can be accomplished. he said - perhaps you've never been challenged in your job before. now, that's an interesting perspective. i am not sure if he was kidding around or what. is that what it means to be a fully-challenged worker - that some stuff doesn't get done? does a fully challenged workforce leave work undone? i am not sure. i mean, he could have been yanking my chain - telling me it was my problem - that i should work harder. but he didn't act like it, and he'd usually act like it if he were kidding, and it is a point of view i can comprehend - i just don't agree with it. the point of view i'd summarize as - a fully loaded workforce will leave some tasks undone and by natural selection, the most important tasks will get done.

firstly, i believe that fully loaded worker gets his work done, and if there's work that's not getting done, it's because that worker is overloaded. secondly, who can count on natural selection to get the most important tasks done? when i've got a lot to do, i'll often start with the short-term tasks, just to get them out of the way. things at work right now are so hectic that small or short or easy tasks keep coming in by email all day, so the whole day is consumed by the short tasks. the long term stuff isn't getting any attention.

in conclusion, speedy & i are running 10+ miles in the morning. wanna go?