--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't equate activity with efficiency…" description: "\"Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your key people to see the big picture. Don't let them get bogged down in a lot of meaningless me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/harvey-mackay-1775_afternoon_don-t-equate-activity-with-efficiency-yo_1013282.jpg" --- # Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your… ![“Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your key people to see the big picture. Don't let them get bogged down in a lot of meaningless meetings and paper shuffling. Announce a Friday afternoon off once in a while. Cancel a Monday morning meeting or two. Tell the cast of characters…” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/harvey-mackay-1775_afternoon_don-t-equate-activity-with-efficiency-yo_1013282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/harvey-mackay-1775_afternoon_don-t-equate-activity-with-efficiency-yo_1013282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/harvey-mackay-1775_afternoon_don-t-equate-activity-with-efficiency-yo_1013282.jpg) > “Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your key people to see the big picture. Don't let them get bogged down in a lot of meaningless meetings and paper shuffling. Announce a Friday afternoon off once in a while. Cancel a Monday morning meeting or two. Tell the cast of characters you'd like them to spend the amount of time normally spent preparing for attending the meeting at their desks, simply thinking about an original idea.” [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Efficiency stems from focused effort, not busywork; protect creative time by cutting unnecessary meetings. **In simple terms:** Busywork hurts efficiency; protect creative time. Key Takeaway Schedule regular uninterrupted thinking periods. Themes productivity efficiency creativity Mood pragmatic inspirational Type leadership productivity When to use this quote - project planning - team management - innovation sessions Key Concepts time management meeting culture Questions to Reflect On - Which meetings truly add value? - How can you measure meeting effectiveness? A Different Perspective Some meetings are essential for coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-picture/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Monday morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday-morning/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Original ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Shuffling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shuffling/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Don't equate activity with efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/don-t-equate-activity-with-efficiency/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I believe that it doesn't matter where you work or what you have access to because anything can help. If you're working in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/i-believe-that-it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-work-or-what-you-have/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [It's 4:58 on Friday afternoon. Do you know where your margarita is?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-neftzger/it-s-4-58-on-friday-afternoon-do-you-know-where-your-margarita-is/) [Amy Neftzger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-neftzger/) > [You know, I was a regular on the Friday afternoon drill squad. Um, which... The year after I left school, I went back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newcombe/you-know-i-was-a-regular-on-the-friday-afternoon-drill-squad-um-which/) [John Newcombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newcombe/) > [“Reader's Digest (Reader's Digest USA) - Clip This Article on Location 56 \| Added on Friday, May 16, 2014 12:06:55 AM Words of Lasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/reader-s-digest-reader-s-digest-usa-clip-this-article-on-location-56/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What would I like to get away from? Complexity. Anxiety. 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Basically, if you can face that you can face anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/i-ve-taught-fifth-year-christmas-leavers-last-thing-on-a-friday/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [For most Americans, Friday afternoons are filled with positive anticipation of the weekend. In Washington, it's where government officials dump stories they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/for-most-americans-friday-afternoons-are-filled-with-positive/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [Having been raised very disciplined, I had to iron for my mom every Friday afternoon after school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/having-been-raised-very-disciplined-i-had-to-iron-for-my-mom-every/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [We may say that on the first Good Friday afternoon was completed that great act by which light conquered darkness and goodness conquered sin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/we-may-say-that-on-the-first-good-friday-afternoon-was-completed-that/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [When I was young, I loved the feeling of escaping to the rocks on a Friday afternoon with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/when-i-was-young-i-loved-the-feeling-of-escaping-to-the-rocks-on-a/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [“I used to keep a box of tissues in my office in case of tears. Then a person I worked with made a habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-malone-scott/i-used-to-keep-a-box-of-tissues-in-my-office-in-case-of-tears-then-a/) [Kim Malone Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-malone-scott/) > [There are two tests in life, more important than any other test. On Monday morning, when you wake up, do you feel in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-two-tests-in-life-more-important-than-any-other-test-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Harvey Mackay > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Your workforce is your most valuable asset. The knowledge and skills they have represent the fuel that drives the engine of business - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/your-workforce-is-your-most-valuable-asset-the-knowledge-and-skills/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/people-begin-to-become-successful-the-minute-they-decide-to-be/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/southwest-airlines-is-successful-because-the-company-understands-it-s/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/pay-attention-to-those-employees-who-respectfully-ask-why-they-are/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [The employees who share innovative ideas may also be the folks who have some hidden talents that would help incorporate their suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/the-employees-who-share-innovative-ideas-may-also-be-the-folks-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Leadership does not mean getting people to do their job. It means getting people to do their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/leadership-does-not-mean-getting-people-to-do-their-job-it-means/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [It's only lonely at the top if you forget all the people you met along the way and fail to acknowledge their contributions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-s-only-lonely-at-the-top-if-you-forget-all-the-people-you-met/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you walk backwards, you will never stub your toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-walk-backwards-you-will-never-stub-your-toe/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/as-you-schedule-individual-tasks-give-yourself-a-cushion-mark-the-due/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) [Explore all 209 Harvey Mackay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More Afternoon quotes > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-vieira/honestly-i-m-living-my-fantasy-it-s-being-with-my-family-preferably/) [Meredith Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-vieira/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Sunday afternoon is for papers and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-haslam/sunday-afternoon-is-for-papers-and-writing/) [Nicholas Haslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-haslam/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? And the day after that, and the next thirty years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-ll-we-do-with-ourselves-this-afternoon-and-the-day-after-that/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Imagine you are walking down a leafy path…The sun is receding, and you are walking alone, caressed by the breezy light of the late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/imagine-you-are-walking-down-a-leafy-path-the-sun-is-receding-and-you/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/) Ban Johnson > [Sometimes in the afternoon sky the moon would pass white as a cloud, furtive, lusterless, like an actress who does not have to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/sometimes-in-the-afternoon-sky-the-moon-would-pass-white-as-a-cloud/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) Browse all 1,085 Afternoon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't equate activity with efficiency. You are paying your key people to see the big picture. Don't let them get bogged down in a lot of meaningless meetings and paper shuffling. Announce a Friday afternoon off once in a while. Cancel a Monday morning meeting or two. 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