Light Many Fires

Multitasking, on a small scale, is impossible. You can’t write an email, talk on the phone, watch TV, tweet, and chew gum on the same time.

On a larger scale, though, multitasking can be extremely productive.

Why?

Variety - Monotony is the enemy of productivity and leads to boredom and procrastination. If you have multiple goals percolating, you should be able to find something exciting. Ideally, you can procrastinate on one goal by making progress on another.
Perspective- If you pin all your hopes on a single goal, that goal often grows into a psychological mountain. Have enough goals so that if the important ones fall through, your world doesn’t end. Multiple goals reduces “clinginess”.
Leverage - Progress on one goal often translates into progress on another goal. What you learn in one area can be applied to another area. Preparation can often be leveraged across multiple goals, if you choose your goals correctly.