Multi-Tasking vs Single-Tasking

This
is a response and comment to Chapter 5
of “The ONE Thing (book written by Jay
Papasan and Gary Keller)”. See http://activerain.com/blogsview/3695456/the-one-thing-challenge-the-surprisingly-simple-truth-behind-extraordinary-results
for additional information about this
book.
Though, I agree with a lot of points
made in this book, but I do have some
disagreements and comments as follow.
Frankly, the way I see it, is just a
matter of how you define or interpret
the word “Multi-Tasking”. I never
interpreted Multi-Tasking as doing
multiple tasks simultaneously and all at
once in parallel. As a matter of fact,
those tasks that require
order/decision/interaction/analysis from
brain cannot be done simultaneously at
all.
As an
example see if you can do this exercise:
bring your two arms in front of your
chest, now rotate your right arm
clockwise and left arm counter-clockwise
simultaneously. Did you do it? If you
did, please let me know since I have not
seen or heard anybody can do it.

I
interpret “Multi-Tasking” as doing
multiple tasks alternatively one-by-one
without losing the attention and tasks
to be done completely and correctly. I
agree that doing this correctly and not
losing focus on all tasks is very
difficult and not everybody can do, but
there are some that have done some
Multi-Tasking jobs successful y (and
still are doing it).
There
is no requirement for the minimum time
you need to spend or wait on one task
before you alternate to the other task.
As a matter of fact if you wait long
enough that you finish one job and then
alternate to the other job, then it
becomes “Single Tasking”.
Distraction is part of real world job
and cannot be avoided unless you
disassociate yourself with your
surrounding and don’t care about
anything else except the project or the
job your are working on. E.g., you make
yourself a prisoner in a closed room, no
sound, no interaction with other, no
communication or communication tool
contacting outside and don’t do anything
else except what you were planned to do
(even if there is a fire in the
building, don’t try to do something
about it because it was not part of your
original plan). You could and should
manage and minimize distractions, but
cannot ignore it completely.
Is
Juggling a single-task or multi-task?
To me
catch, toss, catch, toss, catch, toss,
etc are repeating of two mechanical
tasks and one decision making Task
continuously until ends. Therefore,
juggling is a three-task (or Multi-Task)
and not a single-task. “Task of
switching” as it described in the book
really consists of three tasks, 1)
throwing the ball on the air, 2)
analysis and determine the right time to
catch, and 3) catching the balls while
they are falling down..
In
summary, the book has a lot good points,
but with my understanding and
interpretation of “Multi-Tasking”, doing
multiple tasks alternatively one-by-one
without losing the attention and tasks
to be done completely and correctly, it
can be done and can save time too!
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