The Four Thieves of Time: Are Your Strengths Secretly Sabotaging You?

What if the very traits that make you successful are also the ones burning you out? In A Minute to Think, Juliet Funt introduces the concept of the 'Four Thieves of Time.' These are not villains lurking in the shadows, but familiar friends: Drive, Excellence, Information, and Activity. Each begins as a gift—ambition, a quest for quality, curiosity, and energy—but taken too far, they become liabilities, quietly sapping your productivity and well-being.

Drive, for example, is the fuel of achievement. But in overdrive, it leads to overcommitment and exhaustion. Think of the manager who launches new initiatives before finishing the last, or the high-performer who can’t say no. Excellence is admirable, but perfectionism wastes precious time on diminishing returns. Information is vital, but information overload leads to paralysis by analysis. And relentless Activity, while energizing, can devolve into mindless motion—leaving you busy, but not effective.

Funt’s research shows that these thieves are everywhere, from C-suites to frontline teams. One global tech firm realized their culture of 'always-on' drive was leading to collective burnout. By simply naming the thief and setting boundaries—like limiting after-hours emails—they saw a dramatic boost in morale and productivity. Another team, obsessed with Excellence, learned to ask, “Where is ‘good enough’ good enough?” and freed up hours each week for creative, high-value work.

Spotting your own thieves is the first step. Funt recommends regular reflection: Which thief is most active in your life right now? What boundaries can you set? Can you delegate, simplify, or let go? The payoff isn’t just more time—it’s more energy, clarity, and joy.
Sources: A Minute to Think by Juliet Funt; Next Big Idea Club; JulietFunt.com Summaries