President Obama and Productivity

President Obama and Productivity

by | Oct 1, 2013 | Featured Articles, Presidential History, Time/Life Management

Mixing two of my interests (Presidential History and productivity), I was intrigued by this Vanity Fair article on President Obama. I’m quite sure it was part of the 2012 election public relations strategy, but I did find a few interesting approaches from the current President to streamline decision making, keep himself focused, structure meetings, and working with people. Just two short excerpts: Routine and Its Impact on Decision-Making This time he covered a lot more ground and was willing to talk about the mundane details of presidential existence. “You have to exercise,” he said, for instance. “Or at some point you’ll just break down.” You also need to remove from your life the day-to-day problems that absorb most people for meaningful parts of their day. “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits,” he said. “I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” He mentioned research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one’s ability to make further decisions. It’s why shopping is so exhausting. “You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can’t be going through the day distracted by trivia.” The self-discipline he believes is required to do the job well comes at a high price. “You can’t wander around,” he said. “It’s much harder to be surprised. You don’t have those moments of serendipity. You don’t bump into a friend in a restaurant you haven’t seen in years. The loss of anonymity and the loss of surprise is an...
An Ordinary Pastor’s Study (redux)

An Ordinary Pastor’s Study (redux)

by | May 10, 2011 | Featured Articles, Ordinary Pastor, Pastoral Ministry

Over a year ago, I wrote The previous article discussed essentials for a pastor”™s study. In this one I want to think through the benefits and drawbacks of having a study primarily at the church or at home. For some this is not an issue. Either the church does not provide a place for a study (especially for church planters), or someone does not have the space at home for a study.  I have served four churches in my almost 23 years of pastoral ministry.  In two of the churches I kept the totality of my study at the office the church provided me. I did not have any place in the homes I lived in for a separate study.  In the last two churches, I have maintained both a home and a church-based office and study.  Even with very young children (and at times, a lot of them), I”™ve found it most helpful for me to do the bulk of my serious Bible study, thinking work, and sermon preparation at home.  For meetings, planning, administrative work, etc., I love using my church office.  Here”™s a look at the benefits and drawbacks of keeping the bulk of my study at home. Benefits Concentration. Years ago, I heard John Piper in a Q & A session indicate that he kept his study at the church for a few months, but found out that it didn”™t work for him to concentrate and so he moved it to his home.  I have found it easier to have uninterrupted concentration at home as opposed to the church office. At my office, I want...