Drinking From The Fire Hose

We use this expression when we’re feeling overwhelmed by information or by requests. 

If you’re not diligent, you can drown. 

Here’s how you avoid drowning when drinking from the fire hose:

• You can’t drink it all. Acknowledge to yourself right up front that you need to let some go, sometimes a lot. Probably most.
• Choose what you drink. Establish the priority list. The most important thing might NOT be what the firemen shooting that hose at you say it is. Initially, only let that stuff in your mouth. Ignore the rest for now.
• Start swallowing those prioritized mouthfuls. 
• Share what you are and aren’t drinking with the firemen. This might be uncomfortable. 

You don’t need to drown.