3 Responses

1. a fascinating article, which is well worth everyone’s attention.

   ….interestingly the author ends with the comment, "And when all else fails, bring a book."

   I imagine in 2012 that the more likely option is a smartphone……whether someone is reading a book, sending a text, looking at their photos or playing a game on it, it offers so many more options for the distraction of the wait.

   Personally I find people-watching a very pleasant way to while away the time spent queueing.

   Rus Slater 

2. Edward de Bono

   In one of de Bono’s books he talks about a challenge he was once set of occupying the time of people waiting for lifts which took an inordinate amount of time to arrive. His solution? The wall surrounding the lift was mirrored, the waiting time then became an opportunity for self inspection and preening. Genious!

3. looking at the wider context…..

   ….whilst the article is about waiting in queues, we all spend a significant amount of time waiting; we may be waiting for the train to arrive, for a call to come through, for a meeting to start, for a printer to be avaiable or even for the kettle to boil.

   In my book "Getting Things Done" I devoted an entire "secret" to planning the effective use your waiting time with all the little tasks that you can realistically do in different waiting situations.

   Rus Slater

   http://www.coach-and-courses.com