I am Daniel Whyte III, president of GLM Omnimedia Group, and this is Episode #90 of the “Get Things Done!” podcast. The simple purpose of this podcast is to help you get things done every day so that you can accomplish something worthwhile with your life. I am a firm believer that God has put each person on earth to do something great for His glory.
In this podcast, we are going through the book “Doing It Now” by Edwin C. Bliss. I had just finished speaking at a meeting in Philadelphia many years ago, and as I was walking through the airport, I picked up this little book and read it in its entirety. It is one of the best books that I have ever read on the subject of productivity, getting things done, and avoiding procrastination, and along with prayer and the power of God, it is one of the reasons why I have accomplished so much in my life. Today, I will continue sharing with you some of the principles that Edwin C. Bliss talks about in his book.
As we begin, let me give you this reminder from the Word of God. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Our quote for today is from James Cameron. He said: “People call me a perfectionist, but I’m not. I’m a rightist. I do something until it’s right, and then I move on to the next thing.”
Today, in the Get Things Done podcast we are looking at Part 16 of Step 11: “Manage Your Time.”
That sporty little sermon leaves just one remaining item on your list of the Terrible Ten: “perfecting.” How does it relate to management of time?
Perfectionism causes procrastination in two separate ways. One way, which we discussed in connection with fear of failure, results in immobility. Many people think that anything short of perfection is failure. Not wanting to fail, they avoid it in the only way possible under that definition: they refuse to try. They may refuse outright, or to deceive themselves or others they may hide their refusal behind the mask of procrastination.
So one manifestation of perfectionism is simply not trying. The other, which concerns time management, is exactly the opposite. The person does undertake the task, but spends so much time perfecting every aspect of it that there isn’t time left for other activities that are equally (or more) desirable.
You seem to be advocating that people be satisfied with something short of their very best. Those extra efforts that may take additional time sometimes make a big
difference. They may seem like trifles, but as Michelangelo said, “Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.” You appear to be willing to settle for mediocrity.
Not at all. Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity. A more sensible alternative is excellence. Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding; striving for perfection—in practically anything—is both neurotic and futile.
Oh, I suppose if you were Michelangelo, painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, we might make an exception—although even there I think there comes a time when you
must say, “I could add another angel here, and I could touch up Jeremiah’s beard a bit, and I could remove Adam’s belly button to avoid some awkward speculation about how it got there, but it just isn’t worth it. That’s good enough!” (In addition to that quotation about perfection, I believe Michelangelo is also credited with saying, “The secret of art is knowing when to stop.”)
Few houses are so clean that they couldn’t be a little cleaner, few letters so well worded that they couldn’t be refined a bit, few gardens so immaculate that they contain not a single weed. But if you squander your limited supply of time striving for perfection in those things, some other activity must suffer. Ask yourself what other things you might accomplish with that same time, and ask whether you really want to pay the price.
Author Gail Sheehy put it this way: “Would that there were an award for people who come to understand the concept of enough. Good enough. Successful enough. Thin enough. Rich enough. Socially responsible enough. When you have self-respect, you have enough; and when you have enough, you have self-respect.”
To add anything to that would be . . . well, more than enough!
Lord willing, we will continue this discussion in our next podcast.
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Now, let’s pray our prayer together —
Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare Thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore Thou those who are penitent; According to Thy promises declared unto mankind In Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
Now, the greatest secret to getting things done with your life for the glory of God is to have the Lord Jesus Christ in your life. When you have Jesus in your life, you can say with Paul in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, here’s how.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9-13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
God bless you, and remember: if you have something to do, there is no better time to do it than now.
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