Accumulating an arsenal of 10 unfinished Udemy courses, maintaining a stash of Covid masks, and stockpiling articles for some elusive future reading binge – if this resonates with you, then you’re no stranger to the art of hoarding. Whether it’s knowledge, solutions, or tools, hoarding stems from the insatiable urge to amass everything “just in case.”
📦Why do we hoard?
This phenomenon isn’t exclusive to household items; it permeates the professional domain too, particularly in the field of recruitment. The digital age, with its relentless influx of new knowledge and tools, has exacerbated this tendency. It’s as if we’ve fallen prey to a modern version of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), compelled to grasp every new innovation in a desperate bid to stay ahead.
But, in truth, hoarding these novelties often proves counterproductive. Accumulating tools or skills without meaningful application yields foggy, disjointed memories of their names at best. They become obsolete as swiftly as they arrive, fading into the background. Consider the constant influx of AI-powered recruitment tools – a new one pops up daily, overwhelming even the most diligent professional’s capacity to fully comprehend and integrate them.
🍽️ Audit what’s on your plate
The remedy, however, is straightforward: Intentionality. Instead of amassing every tool and technique focus on a strategic selection process:
- What to Consider: Reflect on what genuinely aligns with your goals. If you’re not extensively working with images, an AI image-generative tool might be a back-burner item for you.
- Where to Apply: Determine the precise contexts where this new tool or knowledge will find relevance. Narrow down its scope to prevent scattering your focus.
- Validation: After a trial period, critically assess whether you truly need this new addition. If so, identify where and why.
- Integration: How can this newfound solution or tool seamlessly fit into your day-to-day routine? Visualize its practical application and plan how you are going to use it regularly. In short, use it or lose it!
💡Instead of tackling everything simultaneously, embrace the philosophy of “one thing at a time.” And yes, by refraining from attempting, you’ll never know which precise 20% of your efforts could yield 80% of your results, as per The Pareto Principle. But trying to juggle a plethora of transformations simultaneously is akin to attempting to devour an elephant whole – it’s neither feasible nor effective. As Desmond Tutu sagely stated, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.“
In conclusion, the inclination to hoard knowledge, solutions, and tools is a natural response to the digital age’s relentless influx of novelties. However, being discerning about what to explore, diligently validating its relevance, and incorporating it systematically can transform this hoarding inclination into a powerful tool for professional growth. So, the next time you’re tempted to stockpile another course or app, remember that true productivity arises not from accumulation, but from deliberate, sequential implementation.
