Gathering, collecting, searching & researching

It can feel so good, so busy. But there’s a time cost to all that searching and re-searching. Working on a project, report or presentation, we look for information, data, stats and studies to support ideas, claims and points. (This isn’t the university, academic, ‘it’s my job’ kind of researching, completing a PhD or other missive.)

The searching and re-searching is a never-ending journey we take looking for the perfect quote or the most awesome reference.

But how much is enough? When will you have read enough, checked or gathered enough data and evidence?

How will you know?

Most of us don’t know.

We keep going until a deadline, exhaustion, boredom or frustration.

The tip is: work out what you need. Create a shopping list. The most economical shopping is done with a list. Let's do the same. The search is never-ending, looking for the best or better, perhaps hoping that ’the next one’ will be ’the one’, the most perfect source. Sounds like a gambler banking on the next big win.

It's not 'no research'; it's being aware when you're not stopping searching.

Q: What are you searching and researching right now?