Ngahi Bidois: Keep busy adding value

I am sure we are all familiar with the conversation that goes something like this:

"How's it going bro, have you been busy?"

"Yeah man I am really busy aye bro, yep really busy."

"What about you, are you busy?"

"Yep busy as too bro, busy as."

"Bro, is that good busy or just busy doing nothing?"

"Ummm, actually I'm not too sure to be honest. Ask me next week."

There are definitely times when I think that I had a busy day or week in my businesses - but when I asked myself what I really achieved I found I was just busy doing nothing of significance.

Then just when I think I'm sinking in quicksand of insignificance along comes a week and a bit like my next few days. Friday, I fly out to Queenstown to be a keynote leadership speaker for an Australian organisation.

I am also their gala awards dinner MC, which is a black tie event before I return home on Sunday. I get a break on Monday before chairing a Maori Lands Trust hui in Taupo on Tuesday. On Wednesday I fly down to a Wellington conference to speak on Maori engagement before flying home that evening and then on Thursday I fly to Fiji to speak to another group of leaders from Australia. I return home on Sunday. I am busy as.

I know those nine days will be "good" busy too, because of the hours of planning and preparation that have gone into each of the upcoming business engagements, including several client briefs over the last 12 months.

Lots of mahi has also been completed with the Maori Lands Trust over the past month in preparation for the Tuesday monthly hui.

Organising the flights, transfers and accommodation has taken lots of effort from many people.

However, the main reason I know those nine days will be a good busy is because I will be meeting and hopefully adding value to the lives of many people. In my humble opinion good busy ought to include making positive contributions to the lives of other people.

Na te mea, ko te mea nui ko nga tangata. The most important resource is people.

So how busy are you? Is that a good busy or just a doing-nothing-of-significance busy? How deep is your quicksand? Hopefully, your good busy also involves making a positive difference for others.

As for the outcomes of my nine days of busy-ness. Ask me in 10 days!

Ngahihi o te ra is from Te Arawa and is an international speaker, author and consultant. His book is available at Mcleods book store and the Lakeside cafe in Rotorua. His website can be viewed at www.ngahibidois.com