This is an old adage, that can not be attributed really to a specific person, however multiple variations of this quote have been said through the years. As the result, we see multiple attributions to quotes similar to this one, to several individuals, like comedian Lucille Ball, statesman Benjamin Franklin, and epigrammatist Elbert Hubbard. The crafter of this proverb remains anonymous. The expression was circulating by 1856.
The popular variations of this quote :
“If you want anything done, ask a busy man to do it.” By a like token the store that is the busiest is always striving for more whilst the dull store marks times.
Elbert Hubbard
If you want something done, ask a busy person.
Benjamin Franklin
“If you want something done ask a busy person to do it,
Lucille Ball
Busy people are better at executing or better at time managing?
Explaining this quote:
The rationale behind this apparent paradox has to do time management. After all, the busier we are, the better we manage our time. Busy people are able to get more done in a day because they are better organised and waste less time. They take advantage of almost every moment and consider time a precious commodity.
From this perspective, busy people are highly productive and get things done. They trained themselves to identify the issue and resolve it, often by taking action as soon as possible.
Whereas people that are not busy, often waste time and are prone to procrastination a lot.
To generalize, you can expect a task to be done faster if given to a busy person, than when given to a non busy person. Because, the busy person, will assess it and execute it, while the other will procrastinate and raise questions.
Thus it might make sense to cite some of the just do it quotes:
The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.
quote by Mark Twain : The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Do this busy person does it better quote fit all busy people ?
Obviously we can not consider all busy people as a good fit for this quote. Some people get busy with just a bit of tasks, others are busy with the same unfinished tasks. The only people fit for this description, are the people with high output and productivity rate.
Also keep in mind, busy people often end up buying time from others, by what we call employing.
Another point to consider, is that busy people are often overachievers, and somehow follow a power law.
