Imagine the last time you finished a conversation, completed an important work project, or listened to a podcast without interruption from your cell phone.

Imagine the last time you really gave someone your undivided attention and looked them in the eye.

Difficult isn’t it?

Why is the person on the phone through call or text more important than the person in front of you?  This is really annoying in a business when they would rather answer the phone than take money from someone standing in front of them.  Don’t do that.

Why do distance and electronic connectivity give someone not in the room more importance?

Why have people given up the uninterrupted chunks of time to do the deep work necessary for productivity and creativity to be on call every other minute?  Does it make them feel more important than the real work?  

It is so pervasive in our culture now, that even television writers, who want to make someone look important and busy, put a cell phone in their hand to fiddle with incessantly.  

There were distractions in the past no doubt.  Unexpected visitors, hand-written mail, telegrams, etc.  We seemed to be able to prioritize those distractions.  Why not the text?

James Victore says, “We’ve been fitted with an electronic leash for bad bosses, demanding clients, and bored friends.”  “If it’s important, they will call back.”

Better yet, if it’s important turn it off.