Multitasking in Silicon Valley

September 21st, 2007 by: Pete

Multitasking is every day life here in the Valley–and so many other places in this day and age: Running a computer camp company, dropping the kids off at pre-school, getting to the grocery store, commuting to work, interruptions on the cell phone…they all add up. How do I manage it all? Well, here’s what I did yesterday.

I promised my wife I’d be home by 5:15. “I promise.” I normally rush to get home to get the wrestling going in the living room with the boys–to give my wife a break.

Well, yesterday, I received a phone call at 5 PM while I was getting ready to head out of the office. It was an important call, so I had to take it. I was heading out the door, on my cell phone, and I began my commute home. A few people honked at me for being on my cell phone. I ignored them and kept talking. The person on the other end of the phone was having trouble hearing me too because I was going so fast!

25 minutes later I arrived home safely, still on my cell phone. My wife was waiting at the front door (not too happy). But, she wasn’t happy because I was late. She was upset because I was talking on my phone and riding my bicycle home from work at the same time.

I don’t recommend multitasking in this way! This is the culture in the Valley–every second counts. Trying to “gain time” is a challenge that I know a lot of us face. But sometimes we can take multitasking too far. I promised I wouldn’t do it again. I know they are enacting laws about hands-free cell phone use in motor vehicles here in California, but I know of nothing that says you can’t ride your bike and talk on your cell phone. My wife sees it differently.

September 21st, 2007

Posted in: CEO's Blog