When I was searching for a lawyer with an interesting second or side job to interview, I heard about Craig A. Thompson. Thompson’s doing so much – and so much good – that I was certain he could teach me and my readers some lessons in time management or managing multiple priorities.
Turns out he’s learned some powerful lessons himself, from his mentors and others, and he shares them in talks and speeches that inspire and encourage us to excel and give.
Thompson has developed three distinct careers: He’s a lawyer and litigator with the law firm Venable in D.C. and Baltimore; he’s an author and a motivational speaker and he’s a preacher at a large church in Columbia Md. I profiled him recently in the Washington Post Capital Business.
“Everything he does is with passion. It’s with tremendous energy and the highest standards for excellence. He does it with a smile ….People want to be like Craig,”Brian Schwalb, vice chairman of Venable, told me. Thompson’s outside work and philanthropy, including board seats for SEED School of Maryland and others, actually help his law practice, Schwalb said.
So how does he manage so much? In my Post piece, his insights could be summarized as a deep sense of mission, of service, and of living up to his God-given talents – even if it means working 80 hours a week. He really does make time count.
So here are three lessons on managing your priorities and your time, courtesy of Craig Thompson:
- ”If it’s not fun, don’t do it.” This is the best advice he ever received, and he thinks it’s increasingly important as he hits his 40s. When we find joy in our work, it is easy to see it spill over to Saturdays. He likes all his jobs, and that makes squeezing them in easier.
- Define your priorities and areas of impact. Ask yourself: ” What type of impact do you really want to have in the world?” He picked up that from a mentor, Freeman Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, who appeared in one of Thompson’s monthly columns. He’s committed to service and his communities, including his church. Concentrate your charity or other contributions. “You don’t have to save the whole world to be relevant,” Thompson said. “Focus on doing good in a few areas.”
- Develop a sense of urgency, and an ability to say no. Thompson’s need to make every minute count comes through loud and clear. “Don’t let things linger,” he said. His ability to say no has evolved, and having three children helped that. So does a clear focus. He’s gotten comfortable turning down invitations to events and even some speeches, which are a mix of pro bono and paid gigs. He does not hang out or play golf, and he stopped hosting a radio show.
