Busy Is a Four-Letter Word: A Guide to Achieving More by Doing Less

by Kishshana Palmer

Improve your productivity, take a more enjoyable approach to life and amplify your leadership

Using a human centered approach, Busy Is a Four Letter Word looks at the essential relationship between living well and leading well, aiming to end the self-gratifying martyrdom of “busy” culture, and working to uncomplicate personal and professional prosperity.

By highlighting topics such as real self-care, rest, wellness, and saying “no” as indispensable to success and productivity, the powerful 5 step ReThink Method in Busy Is a Four Letter Word helps readers get more out of life while also being more productive in their pursuits. In this book, you'll learn:

How to stop piling on to your to-do list and instead take bite-sized actions that will shift, turn, and restart the next professional or personal season of your life
The idea of “martyritis”: consistently taking actions that leave you feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and underappreciated as your default state of being
How to create your 5 Star wellness plan to help you rethink your work ethic and create new patterns and rituals routines that allow you to get the most out of life and to thrive while doing less.
With Busy Is a Four Letter Word and Palmer's highly effective ReThink Method at your fingertips, leaders and team members alike can find ways to get more done by rethinking their approach to work and life.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[Maria S · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Busy is a Four-Letter Word, Kishshana pulls from traditional wisdom, cultural phenomena, and real-life experiences, writing to us with the authority and grace of a trusted girlfriend who wants to see her crew thrive. This book is not a mere "read through" though. Instead, I recommend going slow and letting this book read you because I am certain if you see yourself in Busy is a Four-Letter Word, then Kishshana is giving you the key to free yourself from busy-ness through the tools and practices she offers within its pages. It's a must read and refer back to for anyone seeking to lead themselves and their teams to success and productivity on their own terms.

[Kent Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reading group shared this one.

I might be in the minority here, but reviewing "self-help" books all comes down to how freindly the layout is to flashcards. In order to commit this material to memory I use flashcards and author Palmer does a very good job of breaking down the materials into bite size pieces. My reluctance for making this a five star review is the heavy handed approach when using the Media from a couple shows the author grew up with, here and there is tasteful and nostalgic, but here I think they overcompensated.

Overall I think anyone trying to tie down their calendars and clocks will find this read useful.

[Lynn Fritzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the relatable and real world approach the author takes, which keeps this "self help" book from drifting as many often due into preaching, I would have given four stars if the author hadn't focused so much attention on the examples of the "Golden Girls" and "A Different World" for inspirations.
I am a fan of both shows, and the material referenced stays on track, but some of it came accross as the author using that media as a crutch.

I as a self reflection and self help to manage "busy" and "idle" this book is on point.

[Jean Kowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author, Wiley, and Goodreads for this ARC.

I really liked the premise of this book, and the layout has a really good flow. The the information is presented in nice bite sized portions so the reader isn't lost under an avalanche of concepts and catch phrases. I would have rated this higher, but the seemed focus on the Minority/women community blunts the authority of the lessons that can stand on their own without any crutches.

I believe anyone looking to organize "BUSY" or just trying to figure out what that is should give this a read.

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

📕 Why (Not) to read this book (Target Audience)

Good book that reminds that being busy is a bad habit.

👀 How this book changed my daily live (Takeaways)

The myth that being busy equates to being productive or successful

⁉ Spoiler Alerts (Highlights)

No multi-tasking: Focus on the sweet in the midst of chaos
Quality Over Quantity
Intentional Living
Empowerment

[Jane DiMartino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I knew then… what you taught me now. Everything in this book highly resonated. I wish I had given myself more grace at the height of my busyness era. Highly recommend this book who are deep in theirs, balancing career, raising a family, etc.

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good time management advise for busy bees.