Antelopes or Field Mice?

Some ideas seem to get recycled regularly, perhaps because they actually make a lot of sense. This one harked way back to my corporate days. The terminology was different, but the intent was the same – to help you focus on what really matters.

A recent article in Entrepreneur talked about the idea of a Think Day, similar to the Think Week advocated by Bill Gates decades ago. The basic concept was to take time to disconnect entirely, in a soothing setting, while considering your priorities. The article offered suggestions like observing your actions for a week to see what they say about your real priorities, or looking at your life as if it were a movie and asking what advice you’d give to the character that is you.

What really struck me, though, was the importance of focusing on big things that will help move the needle, rather than little things that are easier to accomplish. Back in the day, this principle was illustrated with a matrix, with tasks arrayed along an axis for urgent and another for important. In this article, they called big, important issues antelope, and small, urgent ones field mice. Whatever you call it, the idea is to focus not on crossing urgent tasks off your list, but on doing things that will help achieve your goals. Spend time and energy where it will make a difference – hunt antelope!

This clearly applies to my artistic life, too. It’s easy to visit museums and galleries to get inspired, which is what I did this winter in New York City. Ditto traveling and taking reference photos, as I did last fall in Greece and last week in Oaxaca, Mexico. All give the illusion of accomplishment. The more important tasks are to set up more exhibits, and to actually get into my studio and work on new paintings. That is the plan for this month, and I’ve already culled through Greece and Oaxaca photos for that purpose. For now, here’s a painting of an unseasonably warm day in Washington Square Park, from my NYC series.