The Bibingka Principle

I know you wanted to work hard for that promotion. You need to be around for the bosses, to get a better impression which may bring you the position you want.

Perhaps it’s your business that needs well taking care of.

With all these things going around, it’s easy to get really busy, with stuff that we thought is important. We indulge ourselves in and let the world and our inbox dictate most of our agenda on a daily basis.

Does being busy worth it?

“Busy-ness” gets a lot of bashing as we know it. Some says it’s an escape goat, some form of addiction or a status to make you look more corporate. But what is the hype with busy-ness all about?

Busy as an adjective means having great deal to do; as a verb, it meant keeping occupied. I know. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

So, if one person, had a great deal to do and very occupied, it is an obvious consequence that we are losing our sense of being (i.e., on how to be human and use our senses to feel).

How often do you eat meals at your desk?
Have you ever postponed a vacation for an important errand at work?
When did you last visit your parents?
Did you ever missed a family event because you can’t leave your work?

I know most people has indulged with the infinite demand of the current world. The digital era has kept waking moments 24 hours, non-stop and unlimited. It is overwhelming to keep up with the fast-paced environment.

But let me break this to you, oftentimes, being busy is counter-productive. It kills our creativity and ability to make better choices.

If you are on your most conscious state, does having lunch at your desk more appealing than sitting down with a friend or a colleague to have light and refreshing conversation about what you did last weekend?

Don’t get me wrong, like you, I’m a firm believer of hard work.

I have always believed that in order to achieve great things, you need to do extra.

The question is, how far are you supposed to go for that extra?

I recalled a witty advice from one of my post-graduate professor.

He calls it “the bibingka principle”.

Well, bibingka is a type of rice cake from the Philippines, made with rice flour and coconut milk or water. It’s a famous delicacy which you can find in malls or shopping centers. You can even find it as a street food in some rural areas.

The ones you find in shopping malls, usually varies into two – the regular and the special variant. Once it is served to you, you’ll be surprise because the only difference is that the special variant has a small slice of salted egg on top and it’s a bit bigger than the regular bibingka. Its taste is practically the same. The appearance and texture is similar. The execution (not trying to be a food critique here) is so alike. Basically, for me, it’s the same thing. It’s just that, the more expensive variant comes with a slice of salted egg in it.

Moral of the story: you don’t need to go for perfection to be distinguished. Just add a bit more to be recognized, a little something which will not cost you a lot. Do not be the average, but stand out using just the right amount of effort. Why? Because in life, nothing is absolute or perfect.

You can be that great boxer or pianist or businessman, but, you’re not just one thing. You’re also a son/daughter, a student, a brother/sister, an employee, a lover, an entrepreneur, a hobbyist. You’re a lot of things so don’t consume much of yourself with just one endeavor.

Don’t get me wrong – if you think you needed to be an expert on something, go and invest most your time and effort with that. But if the endeavor is just part of your normal life routine, don’t sweat yourself perfecting everything. Or you’ll lose your sense of being (a.k.a busy)

Let’s get back to “busy-ness”.

Instead of being too occupied because you aim for the best or the perfect or the flawless, how about using the bibingka principle?

Don’t sweat on the small things. Work smart, not hard.

Audre Lorde once said that to care for oneself is not self-indulgence, it is self preservation.

Going home on time is not selfish.
Taking that well-deserved vacation is not self-indulgence.
Resting is not bad, in fact, it’s necessary. Actually, it’s part of the job!

To you hardworking folks, you need to take care of yourself because your body is your tool to do great things.

Those great things will be nothing if you’re not around to enjoy it.