Never let them see you sweat. -Phil Slott

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I'm busier than you are. I have a full time job, a wife in medical residency, two kids, a startup, two music projects, a podcast and Hubski to help run. I'm wayyyy busier than you are.

What's that you say? You have four kids, a startup, work two jobs, have a grandmother that lives with you that has cancer, you're a Deacon at your church and you are a freelance writer?

-Okay, you win.

Geez. I guess when it comes down to it, most of us are pretty damn busy. I mean, it's all relative, right?

But there is something that separates a successful person from the rest of us busy humans. A successful person rarely complains about how busy they are.

They are the duck on the pond.

A duck on the pond appears to gracefully and effortlessly glide across the water. But the truth is, beneath the water that ducks little webbed feet are paddling at a feverish pace. You may not see it, but they are working hard.

Today I was on a conference call and someone showed up 15 minutes late. When they arrived they apologized and proceeded to list all the many reasons why they were busy. We are working on a new training program that is supposed to launch next thursday and we just hired a new person to oversee.... blah, blah, blah.

What I heard was, "my time is more valuable than yours. I don't possess the time management skills to perform my job. I make excuses. I am weak."

You have friends to commiserate with, don't bring it in to the workplace. If you are overwhelmed by your position, let your leader know in a professional way.

Don't be late. Don't complain about how busy you are and don't make excuses. We are all busy. Get there on time.

Be the duck on the pond.