To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing. — Elbert Hubbard

If you don’t want to be criticized, don’t be a [presidential debate] moderator. There’s no way to do it without being criticized. — Jim Lehrer (retired PBS news anchor and veteran of 12 presidential debates)

When it comes to doing work that matters, criticism is a cost of doing business.

The more our work is in the public eye or affects the lives of others, the more we can expect to be criticized. And while some criticism is honest, well-meant, and useful, some of it is just nasty.

Here’s the situation:

You’re deep into a complex task that requires your full concentration, and you’re doing a great job staying focused. Suddenly, you remember something you need to do.

• You still need to email that client back with an updated quote.
• The car needs new tires before the big road trip, and you should compare prices.
• You want to send a sympathy card to a friend.

Deep down, you know you shouldn’t abandon what you’re doing to switch to this simpler, more urgent task, but you’re afraid that if you don’t do it right now, you’ll forget. You try to turn your attention back to the complex task at hand, but the thought pesters you. What if you forget? Better just do it now.

If you’ve got plenty of time, this post may not be for you.

But if you struggle to carve out time in your busy day for the important stuff, I have a suggestion. You may cringe (as I did at first), but hear me out: it is easier and more rewarding than it sounds. And there’s no need to commit, as it’s easy to try out for a few days.

Reader, two things are true:

1. I’m busier professionally than I’ve ever been. The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy for me.
2. I wish to deliver value to you regardless of how busy I am. As one reader put it in my 2017 Reader Survey (which you can still take, of course): “I get more out of the posts that give me some concrete steps to take for improvement as opposed to a more vague life lesson.”

I agree completely! I know I prefer to read blogs that provide specific tips and recommendations instead of general advice, and I hope to provide you with such a blog.

Here’s a note I wrote to myself a couple years ago. I read it when I’m exceptionally busy—so busy that I’m not sure I can actually get everything done (like a week before the semester begins, for instance). If you’re anything like me, this will sound familiar:

When you get busy, you start spending your “doing” time thinking about how much you have to do and trying to decide what you should do first (causing you to be less productive than usual).