Just had coffee with a former colleague. Actually it was iced tea and Diet Coke. Our conversation about distractions and focus reminded me of the snippet below. It was sent to me by a woman who attended one of our Business Class workshops. She didn’t know the author. If you do, let me know so I can give him or her proper credit.

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Does this sound familiar?

I call it the “But First, Syndrome.” You know, it’s when I decide to do the laundry, I start down the hall and notice the newspaper on the table. OK, I’m going to do the laundry….

BUT FIRST I’m going to read the newspaper. After that, I notice the mail on the table. OK, I’ll just put the newspaper in the recycle stack….

BUT FIRST I’ll look through that pile of mail and see if there are any bills to be paid. Yes, now where’s the checkbook? Oops…. there’s the empty glass from yesterday on the coffee table. I’m going to look for that checkbook,

BUT FIRST I need to put the glass in the sink. I head for the kitchen, look out the window, notice my poor flowers need a drink of water. I put the glass in the sink, and darn it, there’s the remote for the TV on the kitchen counter. What’s it doing here? I’ll just put it away…..

BUT FIRST I need to water those plants. Head for door and…. Aaaagh! Stepped on the cat. Cat needs to be fed. Okay, I’ll put that remote away and water the plants….

BUT FIRST I need to feed the cat….

End of day: Laundry is not done, newspapers are still on the floor, glass is still in the sink, bills are unpaid, checkbook is still lost, and the cat ate the remote control ….

And, when I try to figure out how come nothing got done all day, I’m baffled because …. I KNOW I was BUSY ALL DAY!!

I realize this condition is serious…. and I’ll get help!…

BUT FIRST …. I think…. I’ll check my e-mail!

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Does it ever happen to you…at home or at work?
It happens to me all the time.
In fact, it may be one of my biggest challenges.
I’ll share a few things that have worked for me before.

But first – what do you do about it?