Proactive vs. Reactive Work

Work can be categorized into two modes: proactive and reactive. Understanding the difference and consciously choosing to be more proactive is crucial for long-term success and growth.

Reactive Work

• Responding to emails, phone calls, and unexpected requests.
• Dealing with urgent problems and crises.
• Driven by external demands.
• While necessary, a purely reactive mode leads to a lack of control and progress on important goals.

Proactive Work

• Planning, strategizing, and working on long-term goals.
• Initiating projects and activities that drive growth.
• Focused on high-impact activities.
• Requires discipline and Time Blocking to ensure it gets done.

To build a successful business or career, you need to shift from a primarily reactive mode to a proactive one. This involves setting aside dedicated time for proactive work and minimizing distractions. See Got-a-Minute Meetings for a strategy to reduce reactive work.