Busy Isn’t Productive. Impact Is.

You probably know someone who’s always busy—constantly rushing, juggling tasks, and barely pausing for a break. Maybe that person is you. And let’s admit it: it feels good to be busy.

Ang dami mong ginawa, ang dami mong tinapos, and by the end of the day, you feel like you’ve earned your rest. But here’s the hard truth: being busy doesn’t mean you’re productive.

Even procrastinators keep themselves busy. Why? Because it eases the guilt. It feels better to say, “I’ve been doing a lot” than to admit, “I’ve been avoiding what really matters.”

Not All Work Is Created Equal

Let me share a personal story. There was a time when I was working 15 hours a day. I was blogging, sending emails, attending meetings, and doing everything I thought was important. At the end of those days, I was exhausted but frustrated. Why? Because despite all my effort, I wasn’t moving the needle.

Contrast that with another time when I worked just four hours. During those hours, I focused on high-impact activities—writing a proposal, preparing for a client pitch, and following up on leads. The result? I closed a deal worth hundreds of thousands of pesos.

Output doesn’t equal impact.

The Pareto Principle at Work

You may have heard of the Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule. It says that 80% of results come from 20% of activities.

In simple terms:

• Not everything you do has the same value.
• Most of your time is spent on things that don’t significantly contribute to your goals.

For example:

• You can write blog posts for eight hours that don’t get ranked or read.
• Or you can spend one hour writing personalized emails to prospective clients. Most emails might not get a reply, but one response could lead to a deal that changes everything.

It’s not about how much you do—it’s about doing the right things.

Why People Love Being Busy

So why do we keep ourselves busy with low-impact activities?

1. It feels productive. Checking tasks off a to-do list gives you a quick dopamine hit.
2. It’s comfortable. Busywork doesn’t challenge you or push you out of your comfort zone.
3. It avoids the big, scary tasks. It’s easier to answer emails than to write a proposal that might get rejected.

The tasks that scare you or stretch you are often the ones that create real impact.

From Busy to Impactful

Let’s take Miguel, a project manager at a mid-sized firm in Laguna. Miguel used to start his day answering emails, attending meetings, and putting out fires. By the end of the day, he felt drained but unfulfilled.

After a coaching session, Miguel changed his approach. He started his mornings by identifying the three most important tasks that would move his projects forward. Instead of jumping into his inbox, he spent the first two hours tackling those priorities.

Miguel finished projects ahead of schedule and earned a reputation as a reliable leader.

Miguel didn’t work more hours—he worked on what mattered most.

How to Choose Impact Over Output

Here’s how you can start focusing on impact instead of busyness:

1. Identify Your High-Impact Activities: Ask yourself: What tasks directly contribute to my goals? These are the 20% that produce 80% of your results.
2. Plan Your Day with Intent: Begin each day by identifying the top three things that will create the most value. Focus on these before anything else.
3. Eliminate or Delegate Low-Value Tasks: Not everything needs your attention. Delegate or automate routine tasks whenever possible.
4. Measure Results, Not Effort: Track outcomes instead of hours. Did your work create value? Did it move you closer to your goals?

Focus on Value

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that “the more I do, the more I achieve.” But in reality, it’s not about how much you do—it’s about what you do that makes a difference.

When you shift your mindset from busyness to impact, you:

• Free up time for what truly matters.
• Feel more fulfilled because your work creates results.
• Stand out as someone who drives value instead of just ticking boxes.

Do Less, Achieve More

Try this today:

1. Write down everything you need to do.
2. Highlight the top three tasks that will make the biggest impact.
3. Focus on completing those three tasks before anything else.

You’ll find that even if you don’t finish your entire list, you’ve made progress where it counts.

Being busy feels good, but creating impact feels better. Stop measuring your worth by how much you do. Instead, focus on how much value you create.

Remember: Busy isn’t productive. Impact is.

Jef Menguin

CSW | Workshop | Scorecard

Share this article with someone who needs to hear this message—and let’s create a workplace culture that values results over busyness.