I have seen people using there cell phones and PDAs in the strangest places. I have seen them used at the urinals in rest rooms, on bicycles, treadmills, etc, etc, etc. We do this because we are so programmed to multitask that we can’t “waste a minute” by just doing one thing at a time.

But now a new low. At the local salon where I get my haircut, they wash your hair first. As I was waiting, there was another gentleman getting his hair washed while at the same time holding his PDA high in front of him so he could read his email while getting his hair washed. At one point during this scene, he yelled out to the woman washing his hair. “Stop! I can’t see my Backberry, you keep getting water in my eyes.” Ugh!

This needs to stop. As I say in my new book, Bounce! we need to strive for minimal achievement by focusing on one thing at a time. The myth of multitasking is just that- a myth. Our brain can really only do one thing at a time. In multitasking, we just switch quickly. Studies show that this multitasking decreases our productivity overall by 50%. If we can strive for minimal achievement- that is, focus on one thing at a time, we will actually increase our power and results.

And besides, let’s just relax for a minute and enjoy getting our haircut. Email can wait 20 minutes.

I always talk about striving for minimal achievement. Trying to focus on doing one thing at time. This is becoming nearly impossible in a culture that rewards “multitasking”. When we do more than one thing at a time, we not only lose the quality of the work, but also the enjoyment. Moving at high speeds is just plain unhealthy, and I am as guilty as any of doing this.

JoAnn Pavin, at Soylutions sent me an article about the “slow down culture”. I had been talking to her that the art of having a meal slowly is gone. Sometimes we do not even sit and eat in our fast food culture. I value the time that my family and I can sit down to dinner together without rushing. Having dinner with a client or prospect still is the best way to build a relationship. In this area, the French with their long meals have it right.

The letter, attributed to Dominic Savio appears in many places on the web. I do not know if it is a true letter. But it makes some good points.

“This no-rush attitude doesn’t represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the “now”, present and concrete, versus the “global”, undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans’ essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do. It’s time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.”