Introducing the Trans Minimum Labore principle

First in a three-part series introducing a principle I've been musing on, and sharing recent and current experiences that illustrate it.  Such fun!

How we spend our time ultimately has more to do with what we value and prioritize than the amount of time we actually have available.  Perhaps a bit late in the game, I’m coming to more deeply value the time and effort it takes to do something in such a way that - each time we do it - we make in investment into future fruitfulness and effectiveness, not just getting the immediate job done.

These days I’m in a season where I’m placing a high priority on study/reflection/writing, and have been attempting to incorporate a principle that I’ll name here as the Trans Minimum Labore (“beyond minimum effort”) principle.  

When asked to speak or write or consult in a variety of situations over the years, I’ve tended to focus on addressing the task at hand - pray, study, prepare as needed, then bring whatever I’ve been given to the table.  As long as the need is (or seems to me to be) met, I’ve been satisfied with the process and shifted focus toward the next challenge/opportunity.

But there is often this additional, potential dimension I’m aware of - of additional study/research, of further distillation, of more effective communication/presentation, or of refining/expanding/ repurposing/archiving, after the fact.  Occasionally I’ve taken a stab at some of this, but the reality of thin margins and simple expediency has meant that I have accumulated a growing list of topics/themes/material “to come back to” and do more with … someday, when I have time.

Now, in my mid-fifties, it’s pretty simple.  Prioritize the things that I REALLY want/need to do “someday” … or cross them off the list.  Time for honest self-assessment and tough choices.

Sometimes the best way to get the job done is *not* the quickest and most efficient route.  I’ve now committed to spend additional smart time and energy “beyond the minimum” required to get the immediate task accomplished, with an eye toward developing modular, highly effective, more flexible, re-purposable content.  Content with the capacity to speak to a wider audience than the one currently assembled. 

This approach triggers unforeseen obstacles, requires unexpected learning curves, and sometimes *feels* like a waste of time.  And, to some extent, it may well reflect the luxury of increased discretionary time inherent in my stage of life.  But I’m increasingly convinced that - like so many useful principles - it can and will bear good fruit if applied in small, consistent doses over a lifetime.