I’m a little bit addicted to a show called Suits at the moment.
For those of you who don’t know, the show is about a New York law firm and the people who operate within it. There’s something about beautiful, intelligent and powerful people working in a dynamic environment and owning everything in their path that appeals to me. You’ve got to love the fantasy.
Light entertainment aside, the show actually revealed something inspiring to me yesterday that I wanted to share with you in this post.
It’s about being more machine.
“I’m a Machine”
In the episode I was watching, one the main characters in the show — Louis Litt — is interviewing associates. He’s presented with Maria Monroe (pictured above).
Their brief exchange (in which he goes from being in a position of dominance to literally begging her to work for him) is capped off by an hilarious ending:
Louis: don’t you want me to give you a tour of the firm? Show you where you’ll be working?
Maria: Well, I don’t care where I’d be working because I’m a machine.
I wish there was a clip of this scene available on YouTube, because the words themselves don’t do the delivery justice. Maria does indeed seem more machine than human; she appears to have a singular focus on doing her job with no real concern for her own personal comfort or happiness.
What Does This Have to Do With Us?
The first thing I’ll say is that I’m not suggesting we all fully embrace Maria Monroe’s attitude. For most of us that wouldn’t be possible; being so single-minded is likely to make us miserable.
But I think we can all benefit from being more machine. Kind of like being more dog, but not quite as awesome:
You see, most of us let our human emotions get in the way of achieving things.
We procrastinate. We second-guess ourselves. We fear the outcome. We doubt the end result. We think too much.
But what if we were able to think and act like a machine? Our focus would be on two things: efficiency and effectiveness. Those two things alone can take you a hell of a long way.
Applying a Machine Mindset
This dawned on me this when I was on a mastermind call with Steve Scott yesterday.
Every week we set tasks that we intend to hold each other accountable to. Typically we will each list three or four specific tasks that we intend to complete in that week.
I wasn’t quite sure what tasks to set this week, so I kept it simple with just two:
- Work a minimum of 30 hours in the next week
- List everything I do
Writing that number down put everything into perspective for me. 30 hours? That’s a long time! How can I fail to achieve something with so much available time? If I work efficiently and effectively, who’s to say how much better off I can be next week having made the most of the hours available to me?
All I need to do is be more machine. For those 30 hours, I need to think less like a person and more like a robot. My priority is simple: complete the tasks that offer the greatest potential return in terms of what I want to achieve.
I’m not going to avoid a task because it’s less desirable than other things I could be doing; I will simply do what offers me the best possible return on my time and energy. I’ll ignore doubt and do what I can with the abilities and experience that I have. I’ll focus on what needs to be done until my batteries run out, then I’ll re-charge fully and make sure that I’m ready for the next day.
No procrastination. No second-guessing. No fear. No doubt. Just doing, without prejudice.
I’ll be more machine.
Image Credit: Suits Wikia
venkatesh i khajjidoni says
Tom,
This story is a inspiration to me to work more than 30 hours per week.
Tom Ewer says
I left that one out, but yes, that’s what a true machine would do. I’m just taking it easy on myself at the moment 😉
Gina H. says
NIce post! We could all “be a little more machine” a little more often to get better results…especially with those tasks we ten to put off (mine is scanning in client files to wrap up work at my FT job). Going to do at least 2 today and be a machine!
Tom Ewer says
Good work Gina!
Deevra Norling says
I just LOVE that video. Hilarious! LOL.
I like your idea of setting a goal of xx of hours to be worked a week. I have just started using a time tracking and productivity tool called Toggl (www.toggl.com) and really like it. One thing it has shown me, is that I have been wasting a lot of time and should up my game and buckle down and get in more hours of work! I think I am going to follow your idea of setting a set amount of time I want to try and work every week.
Tom Ewer says
Yeah; it’s my favorite commercial from recent times 😉
Time tracking and productivity tools are great; especially if you commit to using them for the long term rather than seeing them as a short term “crutch.” Kind of like changing your eating habits permanently rather than going on a diet.
I’ve tried Toggl in the past but I’m going to give it another go now. Thanks for the suggestion!
Kaya Ismail says
I just wanted to drop in and say Suits is awesome! Haha.
But yeah, we could all benefit from having more of a machine mindset. I’m off to re-wire my CPU (make a coffee).
Tom Ewer says
Haha, I’m sure you’ll be up to full speed after that Kaya 😉
Joe says
Like Suits too, but it just seems they keep walking from office to office arguing with each other. It started wearing on me after a while, but still love the characters.
But in leaving work behind, to become more machine.? I don’t know, have to think about that. I want to get away from the 9-5 grind so I’ll become a machine.?
It’s OK though because I am the one to flip the switch.? I understand you are fighting procrastination, focus etc. but the machine metaphor takes me back to what I wanted to get away from.
Yea, I’m going to have to think on that one for a while. Good post. Have a great 30 hours you robot you.
Tom Ewer says
Hey Joe,
You’re totally right about Suits, but I just can’t get enough of it. I think it’s the loner-freelancer in me wanting to be involved in a fantasy dynamic office environment 😉
I do know what you’re saying, but you touched on the key thing: you flip the switch. My point was not that you should grind away at your work; it is that when you *are* in work mode, you should super productive.
Cheers,
Tom
Beth says
I agree with the less second-guessing, more doing sentiment. I definitely spend too much time in my head. But yeah, like Joe, I don’t really want to be a machine, either. 🙂
Katharine @ Katharine Writes says
This is something like the third time I have run across a Suits reference this week. Clearly, I need to start watching it! =)
TV aside, this is exactly what I needed to hear (read) today. I’ve been having one of those weeks where I’ve been having too many work-related emotions, and boy is it getting in the way of my actually getting anything done! This morning I made a list of everything I want to do today. It was overwhelming, but I’m slowly checking things off. And, no surprise, as soon as I start actually getting things done, I start to feel better about them!
Tom Ewer says
Awesome Katharine, keep it up!
Michael McKearney says
Good motivational post, Tom. Upon reading it I was inspired. But after a moment or two after, it hit me; we have machines all around us – like the one directly in front of me under my finger tips as I write. The sole purpose and point of all these machines is to make us (or should I say “help us”) be more productive and efficient. Yes?
We get into a machine to take us to another place where we (the overwhelming majority of us anyway) will invariably spend the rest of our day interacting directly with some sort of machinery and/or technology. To only do our allotted time and get back into a machine to go home and start interacting with another machine(s) until we are tired and ready for bed where we can have a respite from all of the machinery in our lives…, unless, of course, you suffer from sleep apnea. In which case, you’ll put a mask over your face which is attached to, yet, another machine to “help” you get a good nights sleep.
Yes, Tom, there’s only one step left. And it’s as you suggest. Let’s mechanize ourselves.
If you’re not familiar with him, I would suggest taking a look at the writings of Lewis Mumford – interesting fellow, provocative.
Tom Ewer says
Thanks for the thoughts Michael, interesting stuff…
Joseph Iyongo says
Hey Tom,
This is a nice inspiration to spur somebody to achieve more and improve efficiency. But I was looking at it from the perspective that when you continue like a machine for sometime, you may eventually lose steam and the drive to continue working will no longer be there. You may continue working mechanically (to show that you are a machine) but then the work gets boring and the output may not be impressive anymore. The point is even machines need some rest to perform better. So please take it easy on yourself as you do your 30 hours work!
Keep it up!!
Tom Ewer says
Right you are Joseph! I don’t think I’m likely to burn out on 30 hours 😉
Michael Neely says
One of my daily affirmations is”I am a goal achieving machine.”
Tom Ewer says
I like it Michael!
Jenna says
I find myself really being able to power through things if I have a great detailed to-do list. Getting the right items on the list is the hard part. That takes a lot of thinking. I don’t want to waste time doing things that don’t matter.
Tom Ewer says
I agree totally Jenna. An inspiring to do list followed by a satisfying “done” list can make all the difference.
Jon Clayton says
What an excellent analogy. And it is so true. Success us uncommon and therefore requires massive effort along with good planning and persistence. Thanks!
Tom Ewer says
My pleasure Jon 🙂
Akosua Albritton says
This story reminds me of what happened to me at a job. I had to get “more machine”:
My office mates insisted on not talking to me. The person who was promoted from my position to a supervisory position didn’t give me pointers about the position. My supervisor spent 20 minutes with me my first week there.
I went to the person who had the job before me and queried her about what was going on at this job. Once she knew I wasn’t talking specifically about her but several people’s interaction with me, she said “Focus on your job.” I did so and developed a comprehensive workforce development program. Whenever my office mates would shut me out of their conversation which was daily, I’d recall the direction to “Focus on your job.”
Focusing on my job had me get promoted and get a significant raise within my first year there. The lady that gave me the advise smiled and heartily congratulated me.
Tom Ewer says
Nice story Akosua, thanks for sharing!
soufiane says
its really a nice inspiration story thank you for sharing tom
Tom Ewer says
My pleasure Soufiane 🙂
Corey Pemberton says
Hey Tom,
Timely advice! It’s easy to get hooked on the dopamine rush that comes with crossing off any item on the to-do list. But machines wouldn’t get too excited about that, would they? Focusing on the activities that create the biggest ROI – instead of how we feel about them – is critical. It lines up nicely with Brian Tracey’s advice to “eat the frog” and get the most important thing done when you start your day.
Thanks,
Corey
Tom Ewer says
I’m all about eating the frog Corey 😉