A Key Principle

The Principle of Priority says:

1.  You must know the difference between what's urgent and what's important.

2.  You must do what is important first.

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Some of us run our arts organizations like the place is rigged with alarms . . . and that our job is just to go running around the place every time the alarm rings.

I have seen organizations ignore implementing changes that would benefit them for years to come because they are so caught up in today's crisis . . . today's most urgent thing.

Today's urgent email.

Today's urgent meeting.

While the thing that is important . . .

That conversation with that up and coming playwright.

That cup of coffee with a potential donor.

Is rushed through because we are all so damn busy.

I've learned the hard way that to make it in the arts (or anything else), you have to remember the Principle of Priority.

 

Comments

[JodiSC]

I think you have struck on a point that I think about a lot. Theater people are excellent crisis managers. It comes with the idea that the curtain must rise, the show must go on. We are actually more comfortable in crisis mode than not. But you are 100% right, prioritizing is key. That and remembering to step back and breathe!