Are You Busy or Truly Productive?

I have a question: are you getting everything done that you want, or are you just too busy?

If you’re too busy, you’re probably doing what I used to do—I didn’t set goals. My wife used to say, “What are you doing in the office so late?” because I’d stay at the office doing paperwork, going back and forth without real direction. She’d joke, “You’re working harder than the President of the United States.”

It was funny at first, but the truth was I wasn’t being specific with my goals. I was just doing everything, even things I shouldn’t have been doing.

The Alice in Wonderland Problem

There’s an interesting exchange in Alice in Wonderland between Alice and the Cheshire Cat. Alice asks for directions, and the cat replies, “Where do you want to go?” Alice says, “It doesn’t really matter.” The Cheshire Cat responds, “Well, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”

That’s exactly how I felt—busy, but without clear direction.

The Power of Goal Setting

Goal setting is extremely important. Today, I aim to help people become less busy and more intentional. For the past 12 years, I’ve been studying with Dan Sullivan, who taught me the importance of quarterly goal setting through EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), developed by Mark Wickman.

Each quarter, I write down five specific goals—what we call “rocks.” That’s 20 goals a year. Imagine the impact of intentionally accomplishing 20 things annually that you weren’t doing before.

These goals can be simple, like stretching more, drinking more water, reaching out to people in the community, writing a pamphlet, starting a book, or bringing in more new patients. But the key is making them very specific and time-bound. For example, not just “lose weight,” but “lose 5 pounds by [specific date].”

Accountability Matters

Once I set my goals, I share them with four or five other people, and they share theirs with me. This creates accountability.

I also have a workout partner, Dr. Stu Zarich, chief of cardiology at Bridgeport Hospital. For over 30 years, we’ve met twice a week at 6 a.m. to work out. His commitment has shaped his success as a leader, teacher, and physician—and it’s shaped mine as well.

My father taught me an important lesson that hung on my bedroom wall: “Your life will work to the extent to which you keep your commitments.”

Most people don’t keep commitments because they lack accountability. But when you commit—especially to others—you create the structure needed to succeed.

From Dreams to Reality

Tony Robbins once said, “Goals turn the invisible into the visible.”

We all have dreams—being a comedian, playing professional basketball—but without goals and action, those dreams remain fantasies. Goals must be reasonable, attainable, and tied to a specific timeframe.

Zig Ziglar put it well: just setting a goal is already halfway there.

When I was 30, I told a friend I wanted to write, teach, and travel the world educating people. He laughed and called me an egomaniac. Forty years later, I’m living that vision—not because of luck, but because I set goals, worked hard, and stayed committed.

A Future Greater Than Your Past

Dan Sullivan says, “You want to make your future greater than your past.”

At 72, I’m not thinking about retirement. I feel like a kid in a candy store, setting new goals that excite me and give me confidence with each accomplishment.

Even my wife recently set a new goal—learning piano in her 60s. After just two weeks, she already knows middle C and is full of joy. That’s the power of starting something new with clear intention.

Why It All Matters

If you’re too busy, slow down. Take time to write down your goals, share them with others, and commit to achieving them. At the end of three months, you’ll be amazed at what you’ve accomplished.

As healthcare providers—or in any profession—we can all fall into the trap of being overwhelmed or wasting time. But when our goals are tied to improving ourselves and the lives of those around us, the results are powerful.

Be the gift. Set goals. And go out there and make it happen.