Thread: Double Your Productivity

I mentioned last week that I have been listening to some Brian Tracy CD's about success secrets. One of his CD's is called Double Your Productivity and he has a list of 21 "secrets". Rather than limiting ourselves to his tips, I thought I would ask the professionals (that is you guys), the real people who have real results.

So, what tips do you use to increase (ideally double) your productivity?

I am a list person. A long time ago I was an avid Franklin Planner user. Although I no longer use a Franklin Planner, I do still use some of the methods that could double my productivity. When you purchase this particular brand of planner, it came with a book on how to use it, lol. One of the methods for the "to do list" section was to prioritize your list in importance.

Here is how it works:
So, you make your list and identify which things are "A" things, "B" things and "C" things. Brian Tracy uses a similar style, only his letters go out to "E" and each actually have a definition (I can add that later if anyone is interested).

Then, you go back through your list which now has all of your "things to do" labeled with a letter and prioritize those in a numbered order. Each number can only be used one in each lettered category. In the end, you should end up with a group of "A" things that are in a numbered order, a group of "B" things numbered, etc.

The idea is that the A1 is the thing that is the most important and should be done first. A things should get done before B things.

Most people agree that your list should be constructed the night before you plan to put your list into action.

So, again I ask YOU, "what tips do you use to increase (ideally double) your productivity?"

Covey took the list a step further.

He divides things into 4 groups:

1. Urgent, must be done now, little payoff for your life goals
2. Urgent, must be done now, DOES have payoff for your life goals
3. NOT urgent, DOES have payoff for your life goals
4. NOT urgent, little payoff for your life goals

1. Urgent, must be done now, little payoff for your life goals

These are the time suckers.

These are the items I call "putting out fires". Stupid crap that comes up that you have to deal with, but doesn't further your goals in any way. Sometimes, this is caused by an employee (or customer) who is just high maintanance (I almost had a business partner like this, long ago).

If you determine that a person is causing your problems/fires, get rid of them. It will free up TONS of time.

2. Urgent, must be done now, DOES have payoff for your life goals

These are typically the most important things you'll do all day, as they directly feed into your values and goals.

NOTE: If any task is too big (no matter if it's 1,2 3, or 4), break it down into smaller, doable tasks-- or subcontract it out (another HUGE time saver).

3. NOT urgent, DOES have payoff for your life goals

These are the things we put off, but should be doing. Covey suggests freeing up time in your day by getting rid of #1 and #4 things, so you'll have time for #3 things.

4. NOT urgent, little payoff for your life goals

Perhaps the biggest time sink of them all. Most of us spend HOURS each day (3 hrs/day x 365 days = 1095 divided by 16 hrs (# waking hrs in a day) = 68+ DAYS WASTED EACH YEAR.

That's more than 2 MONTHS of waking hours that we waste each year!!!

Things we waste it on:

-Watching TV instead of reading to our kids, or reading a good book, working out, etc.
-Talking on the phone (yes, even when driving-- you could be listening to books on CD, etc)
-Playing around on the internet (nah, we don't do that, right?!)
-Standing around at work or at a store just yacking w/someone, instead of getting something done.

(these are just a few of my biggies-- everyone has 'em-- what are yours?).

*******

Biggest thing I ever did to HUGELY increase my productivity was get rid of time sinks (staff or clients who demanded too much of my time).

Back when I was self employed, this one thing freed up at least 50% of my time (compared to running a normal S business).

-Russ H.

Originally Posted by fanocks2003

I minimize as much as possible. For me it is hard because I am usually a multi-tasker. But minimizing makes everything more clear and removes stress. Removing stress is almost essential to be able to be productive. Otherwise you run around like a chicken with it's head cut of. Not a pretty sight.

Good input & I agree it would not be a pretty sight.

Here is another idea:
Simply put... "JUST DO IT!"
Sometimes all I have to do, is DO something. Anything. I know if I keep doing what I am doing, I stay where I am (for the most part) but I change something and just take action (it doesn't even need to be the right action) the dynamics are changed and I move from where I was.

So, another way to increase productivity is to make a decision.

Anyone else?

* Planning, Covey Style. (as Russ mentioned)

* Taking just a couple of minutes, beginning and ending of each day to review.

* Delegate tasks that you don't like or that are not "high power" tasks for you.

Originally Posted by Russ H

Things we waste it on:

-Watching TV instead of reading to our kids, or reading a good book, working out, etc.
-Talking on the phone (yes, even when driving-- you could be listening to books on CD, etc)
-Playing around on the internet (nah, we don't do that, right?!)
-Standing around at work or at a store just yacking w/someone, instead of getting something done.

(these are just a few of my biggies-- everyone has 'em-- what are yours?).

The same as yours

The steps laid out in that post along with your Plan thread, 4HWW's "Questions and Actions", the 30DC pre-season exercises, the exercises within Awaken the Giant within are just several of the #3's in my life that are on my to-do list and gosh-darnit I WILL get done this week!!!

As for those #4's, let's see how these bad habits are still sticking, IMO breaking down the problem to its source is one of the best methods for solving it...

-Watching TV instead of reading to our kids, or reading a good book, working out, etc.

When I get home it's almost like clockwork that I turn on the TV, I've cut down on this a lot, but I still end up watching TV at dinner-time which sometimes ends up taking up most of my 5-9 time. On top of this our bedtime routine is to watch an episode of Friends.... these have become habits because I have allowed them to be

I have tried....
1) turning on CNBC instead of ESPN, didn't work b/c I got sick of all the whining about the economy, lol, I'm trying to break from this habit, not have it pushed in my face, but hey, it's great marketing as they know that's what a majority of their audience wants to see and the fastlane lesson is find what people want and give it them.

2) reading before going to sleep, but I have the attention span of a 2yr old and most likely have ADD, I know excuses, excuses, but just like any support group, help starts with self-realization in the "Hi, my name is Clint and I am a....", in this case it's being an excuse maker instead of an action taker.

3) not watching TV during dinner... this didn't work, but is something I need to work on more as it will help me to focus more on my eating and hopefully not eat as fast/much. If only I came from one of those families where watching TV was strictly prohibited at the dinner table

Solution- TURN THE TV OFF!!! Simple, if I could I would cancel cable, but as it is one of the selling points for our roommates(it's included in their rent), I can't.

-Talking on the phone (yes, even when driving-- you could be listening to books on CD, etc)

For me the vice is listening to sports radio. When I commuted to work, I had no radio so I was able to read books or when I got my iPhone, to browse the forums, can't do that while I'm driving though and even then I got back to my old habits of just listening to music or comedy skits(namely Chris Rock, George Carlin or Bill Maher). So I tried-

1) Playing audio books, namely Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant within, the problem was that I was not focussing enough on what was being said and felt I didn't get anything out of it b/c when it got to the "now stop the tape for 5 minutes and write down..." I didn't do that and felt nothing was being accomplished. Solution- take Diane Kennedy's advice and be sure to something within 72hrs of listening to such inspirational material.

-Playing around on the internet (nah, we don't do that, right?!)

Ding, ding, ding!!! This right here is problem #1. Until I found these forums I can't even count the number of hours wasted in typical forum "philosophical" discussions or just plain b.s.ing either on one of the several car/bike forums or worst of all, the Cubs forums, IMO the biggest waste of time as I didn't even learn any skills as I did in how to fix my car/bike or get better deals on parts. So what I did...

1) Found these forums and spent much more time. This is great, but really making a focus towards the #3 tasks such as "how to start my business", "what business to start" and most of all, "what product/service will I offer that others will want" are key.

2) Starting to organize bookmarks and either hide or delete the bad ones... this is a work in progress and one of my goals for the week.

3) Stick to one business idea, for now it will be e-biz with the goal being to prove to myself that I can create income, I know it's not very fastlane, but just getting over this hump will lead to much bigger and better things.

-Standing around at work or at a store just yacking w/someone, instead of getting something done.

If this isn't enough of proof of how much I love to yack, I don't know what is. With that in mind I'll get started and finish off by saying that more needs to be done and less said, so as always, don't be afraid to knock me down a peg if I get too chatty on here as the objective is to start taking action, in addition I need to learn to keep my posts short but sweet, especially in the intro forum as this is one area I feel I can add value to as I don't quite have a wealth of success stories to share, but what I do share is my energy and lust for life that I feel is essential to taking the on-ramp to the fastlane

Originally Posted by unlimited

Believe it or not, just writing down goals EXPEDITES the likelihood of achieving them. I don't just do it once. I do it daily. It really sends a message to your subsconcious mind and connects it to conscious activity.

Thanks! I agree. It also dawned on me during a different post - I have taken this idea a step farther at times and gone beyond just writing it. Post your written goals in locations around your home and when you see them, SAY them - out loud. I find when I say things out loud, I become more committed to what it was I said. This is especially true if you say things out loud and have a witness! It is kind of like giving your word and then having to honor it.

Originally Posted by speed-racer

Just recently, I implemented a virtual phone system using Toll Free phone lines that ties to my landline and cellphone AND WEBSITE. It allows me to implement scheduled telephone hours, phone menus, and as needed, send out voice communications when appropriate without having to spend additional time talking on the phone (or texting). These features are available for each phone extension created. This makes it where calls can be routed to anyone, anywhere and anytime including to voicemail as appropriate. This actually allows me to be more accessible to clients and/or get them the information they need in a more timely manner. This phone system is way more advanced than the one I used to have.

Do you like your new system and would you recommend it? If so, what do you use?
(Rep+ for your informative complete post!)

Originally Posted by AroundTheWorld

* Delegate tasks that you don't like or that are not "high power" tasks for you.

I like this! GREAT plan!

Clint - You listed all the things that waste your time... What do you specifically do to DOUBLE your productivity?

bump for more ideas.... plus as an urging for wildambitions to post the list that origonally inspired her to post this thread...

Originally Posted by AroundTheWorld

bump for more ideas.... plus as an urging for wildambitions to post the list that originally inspired her to post this thread...

1. Make a Decision!
2. Develop Clear Goals and Objectives
3. Plan Every Day in Advance
4. Use the ABDCE Method
5. Separate the Urgent From the Important
6. Practice the Law of Forced Efficiency
7. Apply the 80/20 Rule
8. Work at Your Energy Peaks
9. Practice Single-Handling With Key Tasks
10. Eat that Frog
11. Organize Your Workspace
12. Use Travel Time Productively
13. Get Better at Your Key Tasks
14. Work in Real Time
15. Re-engineer Your Work
16. Reinvent Yourself Annually
17. Practice Zero Based Thinking
18. Set Clear Priorities
19. Keep Your Life In Balance
20. Plan Every Project Carefully
21. Be Intensely Action-Oriented

Take the time now to build systems to make you more efficient in the future.

Think once, write it down, then never think again.

I call this the "We don't think" motto.

Document the process and save the document in a place where you can always find it (Google Docs, for example) and then, a few months later when you have to do it again simply read the step-by-step instructions you created for yourself, no thinking needed.

This will also help you later to hire and train somebody to do it for you if needed.

Or, if you are lighthouse or jonleehacker, automate the heck out of it and let your computer do it with a double-click on your mouse.

Originally Posted by LondonLife

Delegate work.

My rule is, profit divided by 1950 is my standard hourly wage if I work a standard 7.5 hours a day.

This is the first time I hear about this rule (or something similar). Did you come up with it yourself or you learned it somewhere else? I am intrigued with this concept.