Are you using automation because you’re busy?

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Summary

Using automation is often a sign that you’re too busy or using too many tools. I use small quality of life automations like text expanders, but not the big connection tools like Zapier or Make. I’m never busy because my system is so optimised that I don’t need that kind of automation. Think about whether the automation you’re using is actually making life easier or just covering up a busy mess.

Raw

If I asked you what was the single thing that would identify you as being busy, what would it be? I’m not talking about your full calendar, your long to-do list or your email inbox having hundreds, if not thousands of emails in it, which makes me crazy personally. So what would that one thing be? For me, it would be use of automation.

Now, I’ve spoken in the past about me not using automation. It’s kind of a little white lie. Yes, I do use automation. And I’m talking quality of life automations like text expanders. So if I type in dot dot address, my whole address would come in. And those kind of automations. I think they help you throughout the day to do things.

The automation I’m talking about is things like Zapier and Make and stuff like that. So for your tools to talk to each other. Personally, I think if you’re using those kinds of automations, two things are happening. One, you’re too busy, which is where I come in. Like, that’s what I want to talk about. Or two, you’re, well, it’s actually the same thing. You’re using too many tools. Why are you using too many tools?

Now, there is a lot to be said, and there are many people out there. I hear you, Paul, that would use automations. And I know that a lot of automations are useful. I’m not saying don’t use them. But my clientele, my audience, effectively work on their own. They might be in a small team. I don’t work with larger companies. So when I talk about don’t use automation, I’m not saying never use it because there are times that you should be using it.

But to be honest, automation, I often find a lot of people use it because they’re too busy to do the work themselves, not because it makes their life easier. That sounds weird. But they’re too busy to be able to do the things themselves throughout the day. I’m never busy. You know this. I know this. My dog knows this, right? I’m never busy because my system and the way I work is so optimised that I don’t need automation.

So when I see someone, use a ton of automation, it kind of gets me to thinking as to why. Why is it they’re using automation? And again, I’ll go back using the wrong tools, using automation because it’s fun and it’s something that they like doing. Or the third and the most obvious is that they’re too freaking busy, using those wrong tools.

So think about the automation that you’re using. Is it quality of your life type automations like TechExpander? Or is it like Zapier because you want things to talk to each other that you don’t actually need to do? Anyway, enjoy your day, keep it simple, and I’ll see you in the next one. Ciao.