Why You Shouldn’t Say You’re "Busy" Ever Again

Posted on 11.March.2015 by Mike Winters | @amcomcap

Woman Busy at Cluttered Desk

Image: stokkete / Envato Elements

Speaking at the Inc. Women’s Summit last year, Anese Cavanaugh, founder and CEO of Dare to Engage, offered a surprising bit of advice for all the up-and-coming business leaders in attendance: Ban “busy” from your vocabulary right now.

Cavanaugh argued that “busy” is a symptom of a much bigger problem. “The bigger problem,” she explained, “is a lack of intention, a lack of presence, a lack of clarity, and in some cases it’s wanting to feel really, really important. So ‘busy’ becomes this badge of honor that we use.” Cavanaugh added that “being busy” doesn’t make you more important, more productive, or more valuable: “It just makes you tired.”

Furthermore, the appearance of being “too busy” undermines your impact as a leader—both to your team and people on the outside looking in.

But how do you overcome “busy” fatigue?

Cavanaugh says you can leave “busy” behind by cultivating a stronger leadership presence and being engaged in the here and now. “If I’m fully present in this moment,” she said, “I do not feel busy.”

Watch Anese Cavanaugh discussing this below:

Or watch the full 50-minute discussion on Vimeo.

What do you think? Are you ready to ban “busy” from your vocabulary?

image description

Roy Brooks and American Commercial Capital, LLC, has provided invoice-factoring services to Houston-area small businesses since 2003. We work with businesses in San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, and other nearby Texas cities.

If you want to learn more about how cashflow-sensitive invoice factoring can help your business, give us a call at 713-227-3863, contact us here, or fill out our form for a free, no-obligation quote.

READ MORE FROM AMERICAN COMMERCIAL CAPITAL

How Factoring Works for a Small Hot Shot Trucking Company

How Factoring Works for a Small Hot Shot Trucking Company

Hot shot hauling is one of the fastest ways to put a truck to work, but it comes with a built-in cash flow trap: you pay for fuel, insurance, and your truck note in real time, while brokers and shippers pay you on their schedule. Invoice factoring closes that gap. Here is exactly how the process works for a small hot shot operation.

The Cash Flow Problem Every Hot…
Mike Winters 18.06.2026

Can Factoring Help Me Make Payroll on Time?

Can Factoring Help Me Make Payroll on Time?

Yes. If making payroll is the specific worry that brought you here, invoice factoring is one of the fastest, most reliable ways to solve it. Factoring converts your unpaid invoices into cash within about a day, so you can make payroll on time no matter how slowly your customers pay.

For a lot of business owners, “can I cover payroll this week?” is the single most stressful question…

Mike Winters 16.06.2026

How Does Invoice Factoring Affect My Business Credit?

How Does Invoice Factoring Affect My Business Credit?

This is a thoughtful question, especially if you’re trying to build your business credit carefully. The short answer is that factoring is generally gentle on your credit profile — and in some ways can help it — but there are a few nuances worth understanding.

Start with the most important point: factoring is not a loan, so it doesn’t add debt to your business credit profile the way…

Mike Winters 15.06.2026
Back
AMERICAN COMMERCIAL CAPITAL HOME

HOW MUCH COULD FACTORING INCREASE PROFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

CALL 713-227-3863