By Paul E. Tupper
I read an article in the newspaper the other day that postulated people are more successful in their careers if they’re asked to do less rather than more. Addition by subtraction. The author referenced a research study, which demonstrated that contrary to conventional wisdom, the most successful performers don’t have to continually take on more and more tasks to get ahead. Those who had less tasks to do were able to perform them better, and they also had more time to think strategically about what they were doing and, thus, often figure out a way to do it better. I have often used the phrase “less is more.” That was the premise of this article.
Boy, do I wish this research study existed 35 years ago when I was starting my career. It might have saved me a lot of stress and provided more hours to sleep! But, as I also mentioned, I use the phrase “less is more” frequently, and I tried to apply it as I matured in my career.
For example, in preparing a presentation for my client’s Board of Directors, I realized that one or two pages of key messages are usually much more effective than twenty pages filled with data. Similarly, when giving guidance to a co-worker, I came to realize that it’s often better to give overall conceptual advice rather than prescriptive details. The former allows and usually enables the individual to get to the right place on his/her own.
As those who know me will attest, I tend to overthink most aspects of my life, including my faith. In particular, as it relates to my spiritual life, I often think that I’m not doing enough. That very well may be true. It’s also true that I use this line of thinking to drive myself to work harder in just about everything I do. That’s probably not a bad thing. However, there might be a lesson for me from the research study.
Just like with one’s career, perhaps doing less may help me to get more accomplished. First, those tasks that I deem important are likely to be done better, as I will have more time to focus on them. Secondly, I will have more time to listen to God and to reflect – to think strategically about my faith and what God might be calling me to do.
There’s certainly precedent for this in the Gospels. Jesus most definitely had a critical mission to carry out. He had a limited amount of time on Earth in which to teach his disciples and start his church. Yet, there are numerous instances where he seeks downtime. The Gospel writers tell us of how Jesus goes off by himself to pray, usually before or after a big event occurs. We also read how Jesus instructs his disciples to take some time and rest after they had come back from their journeys, spreading his Word (Mk 6:31).
For Jesus, less was more. He periodically needed time to reassess, to think about how best to accomplish his mission. And, most importantly, he needed time alone with his Father, for guidance and for encouragement.
It can and should be the same for me and for all of us. Stopping to take time out of our busy day to be with God is not wasted time. On the contrary, it is valuable time, and it will provide multiple benefits. It will reaffirm that we’re carrying out the plan God has set forth for us. Or, if we’re not, it will help us to recalibrate. It also will help us to deepen our relationship with Jesus and therefore increase our faith. Just like any relationship, the more time we spend on it, the stronger it will become.
The research study concluded that when people are not overwhelmed with many tasks, they have time to think about the ones they are doing and perform better. When we regularly take time to slow down and spend quiet time with God, we have time to think about what’s important in our lives and what God wants us to do, and we will perform those tasks better also. Less is more.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Paul E. Tupper II, a native of Greenwich, graduated from St. Mary High School in Greenwich and spent his career in public accounting in New York. His father, the late Deacon Paul Tupper, was assigned to St. Clement Parish in Stamford and later St. Mary Parish in Greenwich.
