The multi-tasking syndrome

A few weeks ago, a gentleman knocked on my door and introduced himself as Johnny Alegre. He said he was a friend of my brother-in-law, Nicky, and he handed me a CD – a compilation of instrumental jazz songs recorded by his band Affinity. He was hoping that I could help spread the word about the album and jazz music in general.

Quite candidly, I was a bit intrigued by Johnny. He didn’t really look like a hardcore jazz artist. He struck me more as a banker – neat hair, long-sleeve barong, formal slacks, and leather shoes.

Johnny told me he actually had a day-job – he’s an IT specialist for one of the top corporations in the country. Corporate man during the day, jazz musician by night. I wondered what kind of music a corporate man can produce. So, I popped his CD in my player. Quite frankly, I wasn’t expecting much. For one thing, I’m not really much of a jazzman. I’m more of a rocker at heart (revelation, revelation). I thought it was music for lonely people. Secondly, I really didn’t expect great music to come from someone who only dabbled in it part-time.

When the music started playing, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe the music I was hearing was done by a bunch of local musicians. And led by a corporate guy at that! I know I am not an out-and-out jazz expert. But, heck, I know good jazz when I hear it. And man, Johnny Alegre’s Affinity plays great jazz! The kind that makes you shake and bop your head the whole day.

In a recent out-of-town trip, I listened to the Affinity CD and it was literally and figuratively a trip. But beyond the music, however, I appreciated what I was listening to because it was music created by a person just like me – a corporate guy who did the 9 to 6 routine day in and day out. I marveled at how Johnny could dabble – and excel – in both the corporate field and the musical field of his choice. I was in awe. Johnny reminded me of the great multi-taskers of old. The Thomas Edisons, the Jose Rizals, the Galileos, the Michaelangelos. The multi-faceted dude – a guy who can specialize and do well in more than one task or field – embodies that unique class of people whom I truly admire and look up to.

A Complex Generation

We’re a generation of multi-taskers all right – only we’re not specializing in different things. We’re just busy doing so many things at the same time.

Because of how complex this world has become, each one of us, even the least-burdened worker, often find ourselves having to do several things all at one time. You see it all around. In the office, I would see people typing a memo on the computer, while talking on the phone with a client. I see people driving, while sipping a drink, turning up the volume on the radio and signaling a pedestrian to go ahead and walk, and lighting a cigarette. It’s crazy.

What has happened here? All of a sudden, there’s a thousand things to do all at the same time. Sadly, I am very much a part of this generation, a prime example of the perplexed, confounded, and bamboozled multi-tasker.

And I really don’t know why. It’s not like I really need to do all these tasks at the same time. I just want everything done right away. I don’t want to leave anything hanging. So it’s not uncommon that while I’m working on a memo, I will suddenly remember that I need to call someone. So while I type away, I will make the call. While talking on the phone, I will suddenly remember that I need to do a powerpoint presentation, so I will go down to it and do it. I’ll start doing the presentation while I am on the phone, and the memo I was working on remains unfinished. In the meantime, while doing all of these tasks, I would suddenly remember that I need to look for a file. So I will then go through my inbox with my left hand, while typing with my right hand, while my phone is wedged between my ear and my shoulder, and I’m talking to someone. At the end of the day, I would check out what I had accomplished. To my dismay, I’d usually discover that I didn’t get to do everything I wanted done. So I would tell myself, "Darn it, I’ll do a to-do list," and proceed to do one. But while doing this, I would remember that I need to finish my weekly column or deposit a check in the bank. So in between listing my to-do list, I would try to write my column – or try to make that deposit – while munching on a Go Nuts Donut. Man, it never ever ends.

Knowing Your Priorities

Multi-tasking is not bad in itself. However, being a juggling, bumbling multi-tasker is not the way to go. And that’s certainly different from being an effective multi-tasker like Johnny Alegre. In Johnny’s case, he set lines clearly. When he goes to work for his corporate job, he’s all business. After work, he puts on his jazz digs and jams the night away. When he’s at work, he forgets music. When he’s playing, he throws his corporate worries behind. And this healthy attitude will help make a person stay healthy more than anything else.

We were not created to do just one thing in life. Even if you love crunching numbers and you specialize in it, at some point, you need to take a break from it and do something else. And when you do these things, do them well. Put your heart and mind to them. Don’t do it all at the same time. Take every task as they come.
Well, I gotta run. I have to work on my report as I’ve focused on this column for the last hour or so. I now move on to the next task, which is to give some TLC to my wife who is staring at me and wondering why I am still working at such an ungodly hour. I will focus on that task and I will try to be good at it.

OK, so you’ve finished reading this. Move on to the next activity. And remember – whatever you’re going to do next, focus on it and give it your best shot.

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Thanks for your letters, folks! You may e-mail me at rodnepo@yahoo.com. By the way, Johnny Alegre Affinity will be launched on April 27 at the lobby of Ayala Museum. For inquiries, call 724-4832.