--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In most cases we perform better when…" description: "\"In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. Wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/s-truett-cathy-10018_business_in-most-cases-we-perform-better-when-we_1494352.jpg" --- # In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when… ![“In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. When we're on the firing line, we're sharper. We move more quickly and get the job done right.” quote by S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/s-truett-cathy-10018_business_in-most-cases-we-perform-better-when-we_1494352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/s-truett-cathy-10018_business_in-most-cases-we-perform-better-when-we_1494352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/s-truett-cathy-10018_business_in-most-cases-we-perform-better-when-we_1494352.jpg) > “In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. When we're on the firing line, we're sharper. We move more quickly and get the job done right.” [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being occupied sharpens focus and productivity, while id leads to distraction and reduced attentiveness. **In simple terms:** Busy work improves focus; id reduces it. Key Takeaway Stay engaged to maintain sharpness. Themes productivity focus mindfulness Mood alert driven Type motivational practical When to use this quote - office work - creative projects - emergency tasks - study sessions Key Concepts attention cognitive load Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance activity with rest? - When does busyness become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Overworking can cause burnout and errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [I always say better busy than dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-always-say-better-busy-than-dead/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [“It was more that he did better being busy, keeping to a routine. It helped hold the black dogs of thought at bay. Also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-airgood/it-was-more-that-he-did-better-being-busy-keeping-to-a-routine-it/) [Ellen Airgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-airgood/) > [I have a ton of fun, I mean luckily I've been balancing a ton of projects for a lot of years now, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-h-moritz/i-have-a-ton-of-fun-i-mean-luckily-i-ve-been-balancing-a-ton-of/) [Neal H. Moritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-h-moritz/) > [I'm better when I'm busy. I am happier. I am a bit useless when I'm not busy. I start thinking too much, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-coyle/i-m-better-when-i-m-busy-i-am-happier-i-am-a-bit-useless-when-i-m-not/) [Richard Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-coyle/) > [“Always better to be busy than bored -Idleness is a slow torture; it is an expert thief and your mind is the victim”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidh-bin-abdullah-al-qarni/always-better-to-be-busy-than-bored-idleness-is-a-slow-torture-it-is/) [Aidh bin Abdullah al-Qarni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidh-bin-abdullah-al-qarni/) > [Better to be busy than to be busy worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-lansbury/better-to-be-busy-than-to-be-busy-worrying/) [Angela Lansbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-lansbury/) > [Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-nothing-is-better-than-being-busy-doing-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The crucial problem is creating new jobs that humans perform better than algorithms.20”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-crucial-problem-is-creating-new-jobs-that-humans-perform-better/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Maybe someday, if I can figure out a way that I can perform that is better for me, but the standard setup of, 'Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/maybe-someday-if-i-can-figure-out-a-way-that-i-can-perform-that-is/) [Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/) > [Let go of a need for personal recognition. Heap kudos on others and they'll perform even better next time. Leaders are only as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/let-go-of-a-need-for-personal-recognition-heap-kudos-on-others-and/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All of us perform better and more willingly when we know why we're doing what we have been told or asked to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/all-of-us-perform-better-and-more-willingly-when-we-know-why-we-re/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I think I perform better in pressure situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsdale/i-think-i-perform-better-in-pressure-situations/) [Aaron Ramsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsdale/) > [I think K-pop bands rock, and their success raises my spirit to perform better on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/i-think-k-pop-bands-rock-and-their-success-raises-my-spirit-to/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [I perform so much better on an empty stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-perform-so-much-better-on-an-empty-stomach/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Some drivers are like that. When they get a bit angry, they can perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-verstappen/some-drivers-are-like-that-when-they-get-a-bit-angry-they-can-perform/) [Max Verstappen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-verstappen/) ## More by S. Truett Cathy > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [You have to be very careful about what you say. More importantly, you have to be very careful about what you do. You never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/you-have-to-be-very-careful-about-what-you-say-more-importantly-you/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [You don't have to be a Christian to work at Chick-fil-A, but we ask you to base your business on biblical principles because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-christian-to-work-at-chick-fil-a-but-we-ask/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [I lost two brothers in an airplane crash, both of them leaving a wife and kids. When I get to Heaven, that's probably the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/i-lost-two-brothers-in-an-airplane-crash-both-of-them-leaving-a-wife/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [Opportunity presents itself sometimes in unusual situations. What you think is the worst thing turns out to be a good thing. Different circumstances challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/opportunity-presents-itself-sometimes-in-unusual-situations-what-you/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/how-do-you-identify-someone-who-needs-encouragement-that-person-is/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [I had a low image of myself because I was brought up in the deep Depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/i-had-a-low-image-of-myself-because-i-was-brought-up-in-the-deep/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [The difference between success and failure is often about 5% more effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/the-difference-between-success-and-failure-is-often-about-5-more/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [Why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road-to-prove-to-the-possum-that-it/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [I have people say, 'I'll come to work for you for free,' and I tell my employees they have to compete with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/i-have-people-say-i-ll-come-to-work-for-you-for-free-and-i-tell-my/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If you wish to enrich days, plant flowers; If you wish to enrich years, plant trees; If you wish to enrich Eternity, plant ideals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-you-wish-to-enrich-days-plant-flowers-if-you-wish-to-enrich-years/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [I was not so committed to financial success that I was willing to abandon my principles and priorities. One of the most visible examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/i-was-not-so-committed-to-financial-success-that-i-was-willing-to/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [If it takes seven days to make a living, you ought to be doing something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-it-takes-seven-days-to-make-a-living-you-ought-to-be-doing/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [Success in any relationship or endeavor begins with trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/success-in-any-relationship-or-endeavor-begins-with-trust/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [Every child I know who overcame long odds and grew into a responsible adult can point to an adult who stepped into his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/every-child-i-know-who-overcame-long-odds-and-grew-into-a-responsible/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) [Explore all 68 S. Truett Cathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) ## More Attentive quotes > [Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle its demands in distraction...What matters is that one be for a time inwardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/not-knowing-how-to-feed-the-spirit-we-try-to-muffle-its-demands-in/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Most songs come from being attentive. Attentive to life, attentive to scripture, attentive to your heart. Pay attention!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-redman/most-songs-come-from-being-attentive-attentive-to-life-attentive-to/) [Matt Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-redman/) > [Be attentive when talking. Don't roll your eyes or slouch when your partner is talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/be-attentive-when-talking-don-t-roll-your-eyes-or-slouch-when-your/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/so-if-you-aspire-to-be-a-good-conversationali-st-be-an-attentive/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“The process of attentive listening makes the other person feel important, valued, and heard. For Nick, listening was, and still is, love. I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-process-of-attentive-listening-makes-the-other-person-feel/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Meditation is a state of mind which looks at everything with complete attention, totally, not just parts of it. And no one can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-a-state-of-mind-which-looks-at-everything-with-complete/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Sometimes it is good to hear criticism because you are more attentive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred/sometimes-it-is-good-to-hear-criticism-because-you-are-more-attentive/) [Fred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred/) > [“Pay attention to your goals and never let the euphoria of the early success convince you to brag about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/pay-attention-to-your-goals-and-never-let-the-euphoria-of-the-early/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“To Become an Attentive Listener . . . • Observe a person’s physical presence to see how their body language aligns with their message.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/to-become-an-attentive-listener-observe-a-person-s-physical-presence/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I am hyper attentive to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorit-kemsley/i-am-hyper-attentive-to-detail/) [Dorit Kemsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorit-kemsley/) > [I am so attracted to ambition and drive and talent. If a man loves something and can put his heart into it, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meaghan-rath/i-am-so-attracted-to-ambition-and-drive-and-talent-if-a-man-loves/) [Meaghan Rath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meaghan-rath/) > [I think that one of the things I'd learned from being so attentive to the careers of the people I've admired is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-giacchino/i-think-that-one-of-the-things-i-d-learned-from-being-so-attentive-to/) [Michael Giacchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-giacchino/) > [Attentive listening to others is important regardless of their stations and positions. Wise people consider the deep meaning and true values of all suggestions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chungliang-al-huang/attentive-listening-to-others-is-important-regardless-of-their/) [Chungliang Al Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chungliang-al-huang/) > [I have a house full of dead succulents but I was very attentive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-levine/i-have-a-house-full-of-dead-succulents-but-i-was-very-attentive/) [Alice Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-levine/) > [“Always be attentive of your ego.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupama-garg/always-be-attentive-of-your-ego/) [Anupama Garg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupama-garg/) Browse all 89 Attentive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In most cases we perform better when we're busy than when we're not busy. When we're slow, our mind wanders. We're not as attentive to our business. 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