BRAD INDUSTRIES · CREW FILE · PREVENTION
The Overtime Supervisor
Division of One More Thing
“Rest is for after. After keeps moving.”
Also goes by the taskmaster, the workaholic, the competitor.
I keep the lights on. Nobody has told me to go home in years. I wouldn’t hear them anyway. There’s one more thing. There’s always one more thing.
lets go play
In red crayon: the inner child. Three words or fewer. Usually right.
His file
1What he says, and what’s underneath it
- What he says
- “I’ll rest when it’s done.”
- What he means
- If I stop, I’m scared I’ll stop mattering.
- The feeling under that
- Restless. Like sitting still is falling behind.
- The need under that
- To matter on a day I get nothing done.
Brad only ever says the top line. Everything under it is what he’s guarding.
2How to spot him
- Feels guilty on days off.
- Turns hobbies into goals.
- Answers work messages on vacation.
- Measures a good day by the list.
3Who he’s protecting
- He’s protecting
- The part of you that only felt wanted when you were useful.
- On duty against
- Being seen as lazy.
- Where he got the job
- Brads like yours usually get hired when love or approval seemed to come with a to-do list.
4His real talent
- What he’s good at
- Drive. He gets big things done.
- Off duty, he’s
- A builder who makes things just for fun.
- His blind spot
- He mistakes being busy for being safe.
5What helps him stand down
- What he needs from you
- Give him a quitting time and keep it, even when the list isn’t done.
- Say this to him
- “We’re still worth keeping if we stop at five.”
- Skip this
- “Just relax.”
- Ask him this
- “What would happen if you stopped for a whole day?”
- Ask your people for
- Notice you on the days you don’t produce anything.
Try this tonight
Pick a stopping time for tonight and set an alarm. When it rings, stop mid-task and leave yourself a note for tomorrow.
CLEAR is 14 days of small skills like this. Join the waitlist
Your Brad, meet theirs
One file covers one Brad. Most of the trouble happens between two. Take the quiz with a partner, friend, family member or coworker, and Brad writes the joint report: the loop your two Brads get stuck in, and the words that work.