“There can be no economy where there is no efficiency” (Benjamin Disraeli).
By definition, efficiency reduces waste, and for that reason, it is an essential habit to acquire. When our resources are scarce, reducing waste is obviously important, but when they are abundant, as they are for many of us in the modern world, it is no less important to use those resources efficiently. It is hard to understand the need for caution when we are abundantly supplied with the raw materials for our work, but abundance is never an excuse for waste, and we must always get the best out of every moment, every dollar, and every ounce of our strength.
One place where efficiency and good management is particularly important is the area of Individual Talents and Abilities. Since these are intangible qualities, it may be difficult to see them as “resources,” but that is what they are. For example, think about something like intelligence. The more intelligent a person is, the more efficiently he should use his intelligence, wasting it as little as possible in unworthy activities. Susanna Wesley wrote this prayer: “O God, be pleased to grant me that great freedom of mind which will enable me… to manage the general affairs of life so wisely that I may not do wrong or neglect the improvement of my talents.”
Stephen R. It has often been pointed out by teachers like Covey that “efficiency” should always be tempered by “effectiveness”. We can climb the ladder of life with all the proficiency in the world (good technique), but if, when we reach the top, we discover that our ladder is leaning against the wrong wall (wrong vision), we are in trouble.
Working efficiently and effectively requires old-fashioned quality Intelligence. There are no shortcuts to this – except our willingness to listen and learn the wisdom of those who have gone before.
The thing to remember about efficiency is that we are only in this world for a short period of time. Whatever contribution we want to make to the lives of those around us, we have only a limited number of days to do it. Then again, it makes common sense that we work as efficiently as possible. If by working efficiently, we can reach the end of our lives performing more well than by working any other way, then this is a powerful argument for learning to be efficient.
“The right to efficiency – the power to do” (Nicholas Murray Butler).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
