Over-committer beware — three questions to check yourself
At the end of last semester, as I was packing my study materials, ready to leave the dormitory and return to home, I came across a note I had written at the top-right hand corner of one of my lecture notes. In blood-red ink, all-caps, underlined twice and circled ferociously, it read: “DO NOT OVERCOMMIT!”
Then it came rushing back to me. Whilst I was revising for finals, as the massive flow of study material began to overwhelm me, it dawned upon me that I should have started earlier, allocated more time to revise the months-old knowledge that I had packed away.
But why didn’t I? I wasn’t lazy, or at least, I spend no more time recreationally as my peers did. I did plan out my revision schedule, but in retrospect, it was too optimistic and too ambitious — too little too late.
Even at that time, I realized it was because I had participated in too many extracurriculars. Just too many damned things!
Of course, I’m not saying we should not participate in extracurriculars. You could, and should, pursue your interests. They can be a fantastic part of your school life, one that you look back and reminisce fondly. In a practical sense, extracurriculars also improve your resume.
I had joined extracurriculars for both these reasons; I will not deny the latter. But my interests were quite diverse, and there were many opportunities available for joining, so I joined quite a few of them, at least, those which would accept me.
But there must be a limit, because we all have limited time and energy, no matter how motivated you are, no matter how hardworking you (think you) are, no matter how much you tell yourself you can handle it when the time comes. A very prescient quote comes to mind, “Over-commitment is when your enthusiasm for life collides with the reality of your calendar.”
(How do you know your limit? Each person is different, and it’s ultimately trial and error. Motivation, improving your work ethic, and commitment to a planned schedule can also enhance your work capacity. Still, it’s better to err on, and start, on the safe side, lest the torrent of commitments consumes you.)
After that harrowing experience, I strove to not make the same mistake of over-committing. I resolved to ask myself these three questions when it came to choosing a commitment.
1. What is the marginal benefit?
In economics, marginal benefit refers to the incremental benefit the consumer receives from consuming one additional unit of some product or service. Similarly, ask yourself, what is the incremental benefit of joining that additional commitment?
For instance, as an aspiring consultant, one valuable experience would be to join student consulting clubs, which provide pro-bono consulting services to real client companies, to help them crack a real case. At my school, NUS, there is a wealth of choices, with as many as six different clubs to choose from.
Imagine you are already an associate consultant or project analyst in a student consulting club, and you’re offered a similar position in another, do ask yourself what would the additional benefit for your personal and professional development (knowledge, skills, experience, network etc.)?
I’m not saying that joining the second similar activity has no benefit at all. The answer depends on the individual. After all, each student consulting club in NUS has a different focus and different networks. Some focus on social enterprises or NGOs, whilst others have a more international outlook.
These differences represent a unique marginal benefit that could be attractive for you to join that second club. Still, assuming your roles and responsibilities are similar, whilst the client and case would be different, perhaps you would not gain the same marginal benefit as you did when you had joined the first club.
Does that necessarily mean you should only join one, and only one, type of activity? No. It really depends on what your personal evaluation of the marginal benefit of the second club is. If the additional network, or the experience of working with a client of a different focus is really of value to you, especially if you have decided to take the consultant career path, and other dissimilar activities would not be very beneficial for you, then by all means, join!
Do also consider if you could undertake a different role, thus gaining a new potentially-higher marginal benefit in terms of your knowledge and skill. Analyst and consultant roles are not the only ones in a student consulting club. Each club has to handle marketing, finances, human resource management, client sourcing and engagement. These represent different opportunities and experiences to learn something new, whilst still being exposed to the different projects and club networks.
Therefore, carefully consider what is the incremental benefit of that additional commitment. By the law of diminishing marginal returns, the more similar commitments you undertake, the less the benefit per unit of commitment. Is this the best use of your time and energies?
Think of the quantity of good or service as the number of commitments in a similar activity you undertake. While your absolute total benefit would increase, it is less than the first increase from undertaking the first activity. It comes to a point when too much commitment negatively impacts your life and does not provide you any net benefit.
2. What are the costs? Marginal, opportunity and sunk.
This leads us to the second question. Just as we consider the marginal benefit, we must also concurrently consider the marginal cost, in relation to that marginal benefit.
Continuing with the economics analogies (which are nevertheless useful), marginal cost refers to the additional cost incurred by ‘consuming’ one additional unit (in this case, committing to that one additional activity).
After all, we all have limited time and energies. We need to eat, sleep and have fun. You can cut short your eating time, sacrifice your sleep or even convince yourself you’re having fun whilst undertaking your commitments (Come on, buddy!)
(Hopefully, you should at least enjoy the activity you have committed to some extent! — see later).
But ultimately, everyone is limited by the physical constraints of time and energy, even if you’re the world’s most productive person.
So, we have to choose between alternatives, period. We only have limited time, energy and resources to allocate towards them. If you want the greatest ‘return’ on your ‘investment’, if there are two relatively similar activities and benefits, then perhaps choose that which is less demanding, especially if you have other things to do.
If you are already aware you have to make choices, another thing to consider is thus the opportunity cost. We should not just ask what is the commitment needed, but what am I giving up if I choose this?
Take, for example, competitive sports. Training is intense. They could be three days a week (2–3 hours each time), physically exhausting and require self-practice outside of designated team training times. (I’m not saying competitive sports are bad! Indeed, it is a great way to stay healthy, make friends).
But for me, I only participate in sports (admittedly little, I may add) in a recreational manner. That’s enough for me. Personally, it is merely a way for me to stay healthy, and for which I don’t really have a burning passion.
Were I to join a competitive sport, it would represent me forgoing other activities and experiences from which I could learn more, and which I enjoy more personally.
Finally, if you realise that the marginal benefit and marginal cost of participating in some extracurricular activity is not worth it, then you may think, what about all the valuable time and effort — the long hours and much nitty-gritty work — I had spent? Would I be missing out on the goodwill I have accrued, and the potential for a higher position or leadership opportunity!
It’s really tempting (I sincerely understand, and can attest from personal experience!), but economists would tell you they’re sunk costs — unrecoverable, and thus, should not be part of your consideration.
Chalk that up to a valuable learning experience regardless, and move on. And you have gained in terms of learning what is not for you! While letting go is a difficult decision, do not forget that shouldering a demanding yet unwanted commitment is also another decision, one with more pernicious side-effects.
Therefore, as long as you have thought carefully, assessed the benefits and costs, and you reach the conclusion that letting go is best, then it is the right decision, albeit a psychologically difficult one.
3. Am I at least a little interested in this at all?
Perhaps in the practically-driven society of Singapore, this question is rarely considered sincerely. We’re not meant to be happy, or do things we’re interested in; we’re meant to work hard! (Someone needs a hug.)
But this is no longer a mutually exclusive choice. Hard skills and directly-relevant experiences are, I am told, not the only things you need to succeed, nor the only things that recruiters look out for.
Indeed, there are many paths to success; it’s what you make of it. I know of those who did not read Business or Economics degrees who successfully became management consultants or private bankers. (I’m not saying having no experience is fine though; perhaps they attained these somewhere else)
There are also many valuable soft skills — of project management, of teamwork and collaboration, of communicating with others etc. — which you can also learn in other, more ‘recreational’ extracurriculars. These are all learning experiences, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
It follows, therefore, that if it comes down to it, you should choose the activity in which you can derive greater enjoyment and fun. Since all of them would have some benefit (with differences being arguably insignificant), you might as well choose the one you personally enjoy the most!).
Concluding Thoughts
Finally, whilst our young and ambitious selves strive to gain knowledge and experience, don’t forget about that which we all hear, but never truly act upon — quality time with your loved ones.
If you can’t make at least a little time for your family, then what is the point of having that sixth extracurricular? Does that sixth experience matter as much as the time with your loved ones? Is having that sixth item in your resume really necessary?
