Distracted From What (hold on gotta check my FB) Really Matters
Picking up Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport I was intrigued. What exactly was Deep Work and how would it apply to me. (I’ll be back later). Ok, I am back I had to check facebook. Newport argues, and rightly so, that the best work is done without distractions. (hold on I have to go check my emails). Hey I am back again. Deep Work is defined as “Professional activities performed in a state of distraction-free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. These efforts create new value, improve your skill, and are hard to replicate.” [1]
We live in a world that seems so out of control busy and yet are we really that busy? My day at the office seems to fly buy, but ask I was reading this book I started to take stock of the things I was doing. Checking emails (mostly junk), checking facebook for updates to our church site (not necessary), reading blogs from other pastors (not really necessary but enjoyable), spending time on games that I tell myself are to keep my mind sharp (I tell my self), spending time in meetings that seem to go nowhere, talking to people to come into the office (in a church that is a constant stream), reading for my doctorate (is that for my research or the class), you get the point. Yet, do you notice what is not in there? Two things that should be way more important in my office time that are not there. Spending time in scripture, and spending time in prayer. I do these things but I do them at home, where I am not disturbed or distracted. Seems like most of my time would be considered as a distraction. One thing kept coming up in this book, the people who were good at Deep Work did not work extraordinarily long hours. This intrigues me as there are some very famous people who are work extremely long hours. You see this from a quote a CNBC article “Entrepreneur and New York Times-bestselling author Grant Cardone was deep in debt before building his building his multimillion-dollar fortune. What sets the self-made millionaire apart from the rest of the population, he says, is how much he works: “Most people work 9-to-5. I work 95 hours [per week]. If you ever want to be a millionaire, you need to stop doing the 9-to-5 and start doing 95.” That comes out to about 14 hours of work a day.“[2] So I am not so sure that the 8-5 routine is always the best but I have done the 90+ hours a week and the strain on the family life is not worth it either.
As a pastor I am expected to be “on call” 24-7, that is part of the expectations. When there is trouble I am usually one of the first called. I have even cut short a vacation because of idiocy. (that came across as a little harsh, I noticed this after I spent some time reading an article) I then came across “The Principle of Least Resistance” [3] (I am back got distracted). Leslie Perlow conducted research with Boston Consulting Group which found they were able to satisfy their customers better when they were not as connected with them, i.e. calling back at the drop of a hat, immediately returning emails etc. [4] This completely intrigues me. How can I do a better job by not responding quickly? Well, it is because I am actually doing the job I was hired to do. I was not hired, as Newport puts it, to be a human sorting machine, but to do the work I know I can do. If we are able to become Deep Workers we become better at our jobs.
I know this to be true, when I worked in the computer industry as an inside sales rep, I was able to keep up with all of the updates and nuances of the industry, when I became a sales manager and was pulled in 32 different directions on a daily basis, my knowledge suffered. Conversely, as a youth pastor, I was my churches IT director, missions minister, Upwards coordinator, along with all my youth minister responsibilities and I never felt like I was doing a good job, as a senior pastor I get to spend way more time in scripture, reading (both for this program and otherwise) and I feel like I am more effective. It is funny how it works out.
We as a society cannot help but be distracted by the wonderful device we all carry and are addicted to, our smart phones. Funny that they are called a smart phone when it feels as if it is dumbing us down. As Alex Luckerman writes “Companies like Facebook are aware of this psychology and have poured their resources into getting and keeping you on their platforms. For example, the first four things on your Facebook feed might not be that interesting, but it’s the fifth hilarious post that keeps you scrolling. There’s always the potential to swipe your finger again and find another high-quality meme, BuzzFeed listicle, or Tasty video.” [5] As a pastor I have to understand I cannot lead in the way God intends me to lead if I let to much of the outside distract me from what He has called me to be. I sometimes think these magnificent little devices are the perfect Spiritual distraction, I watch the congregation during my sermons and to many times I see someone on their phone, a smile on their face and that soft glow lighting them up. Are they listening to the Holy Spirit or Mark Zuckerburg. I wonder.
[1] Newport, Cal. DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. GRAND CENTRAL PUB, 2018. 3.
[2] Elkins, Kathleen. “Self-Made Millionaires Agree on How Many Hours You Should Be Working to Succeed.” CNBC, CNBC, 15 June 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/06/15/self-made-millionaires-agree-on-how-many-hours-you-should-be-working.html.
[3] Newport, Cal. DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. GRAND CENTRAL PUB, 2018. 56.
[4] ewport, Cal. DEEP WORK: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. GRAND CENTRAL PUB, 2018. 56-57.
[5] Luckerman, Alex. “Alex Luckerman.” Vanderbilt Hustler. October 26, 2017. Accessed October 12, 2018. https://vanderbilthustler.com/featured/your-attention-is-a-valuable-currency-you-ought-to-think-about-how-you-spend-it-more-carefully.html.
About the Author
Jason Turbeville
A pastor, husband and father who loves to be around others. These are the things that describe me. I was a youth minister for 15 years but God changed the calling on my life. I love to travel and see where God takes me in my life.6 responses to “Distracted From What (hold on gotta check my FB) Really Matters”
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Jason,
Thanks for making me smile on your introduction. It was great seeing you again in HK.
Your congregant looking at their phone, just might be their digital Bible they are reviewing as you preach? I know I use mine in church, highlight, make notes, etc right on my phone. Remember the days when we used pay phones, then radio phones, then big brick-size cellular phones, then smaller cell phones, then palm pilots, and finally smart phones. The world and leadership needs will not wait for anyone trying to slow down progress. It is a paradox for sure, but if we compare the awesome creative power, supreme knowledge, and information abilities of the Trinity- why should we be worried? I think you manage your distractions well my friend.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Mike,
I do agree that they could be using their phones for bibles but these are the same folks who come to me asking how to make it work. It is frustrating when after church I am looking at fb (I know) and I see that they posted or liked something in the middle of service. That being said, I know I cannot stop the tide of time, just wish they would put it down.
Jason
Jason,
Funny title! You hooked me there.
Amen to your comment, “Two things that should be way more important in my office time that are not there. Spending time in scripture, and spending time in prayer.” Wowza, that was powerful.
It made me think of Jesus withdrawing to a quiet place, often, to talk to God. And usually early in the morning, before the day got way out of hand…
Thanks for the reminder Brother, and let us hold each other accountable to this “soul care” that CANNOT be achieved through those dumb smart phones.
Jay
Jay,
You got it brother, I sometimes wonder if I could just throw the phone away but man, it would be hard. I started this week turning it off for two hours during the day and just concentrating on reading and writing and prayer and it was awesome. Hope all is well.
Jason
You asked the question, “Are we really that busy?” I think this is exactly our problem in this modern age; we are all not just burning the candle at both ends, but we are lighting extra candles to burn as well. It is no longer the time of having a few extra hours at the office, but instead, we have extra jobs, advanced education pursuits, travel plans, larger families, socialization, and a series of personal projects that we are just not prepared to let go of. Once you add a clock and a calendar to regulate all of those things by, life is less enjoyable and more stressed. We need to learn to find balance in the force young padowan.
Good post Jason. I like it when you get feisty. Good reflection of your own contest and how we are moved away from what God call us to do but the tech that we think will help us.