The Arc enterpreneur podcast

Scripture Reference:
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8 (NKJV)

Parkinson’s Law states, “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” In business, this means that if we give ourselves a week to complete a task, it will take a week—even if it could have been done in a day. Entrepreneurs and professionals often fall into the trap of stretching out work unnecessarily, leading to inefficiency and lost productivity.

The wisdom of Proverbs 6:6-8 encourages us to learn from the ant—a creature that works diligently and efficiently without procrastination. The ant doesn’t waste time or delay its work but prepares in advance, ensuring its survival and success. Likewise, as business owners and professionals, we should be intentional with our time, setting clear deadlines and working efficiently rather than allowing tasks to expand unnecessarily.

A practical way to overcome Parkinson’s Law is by setting tighter deadlines and breaking projects into focused sprints. Many successful business leaders use time-blocking or the Pomodoro Technique(working in short, focused intervals) to avoid wasted time. By managing time effectively and working with discipline, we can maximize productivity and achieve greater success in business.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you find yourself taking longer to complete tasks simply because more time is available?

• How can you create better time constraints to improve efficiency in your business or work?

• What steps can you take to ensure that you work with diligence, like the ant in Proverbs 6:6-8?