How to be more productive by doing less stuff.
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How to be more productive by doing less stuff.
Most of us spend a lot of time doing stuff we don’t want to do.
We attend meetings that waste our time, we stay late at work because we think it will impress our boss, we hang out Dave and Sue twice a year even though we think Dave and Sue are terrible bores.
Productivity advice is big business. There’s a whole ton of boring books written about how to be more productive. There’s a whole industry devoted to squeezing the maximum amount of work out of a workforce who, in most cases, would rather be doing something else.
Probably the most famous is Getting Things Done, by David Allen.
David Allen: Productivity expert, Party Animal, Ladies Man.
It’s actually a very good book if you like that kind of thing. (Which I do, a little.)
It’s basically a complete system to help people to do more stuff they’d rather not be doing.
It’s generally accepted knowledge that productivity springs naturally from the fire of passion.
If we’re doing stuff that we love, then we are productive.
Do you need to motivate yourself to play with your kids? Or go fishing? Or go for a beer with a good friend?
No, because we love doing these things. We are passionate about them. At least some of us are.
If we flip this on it’s head, we might conclude that being unproductive results from doing a load of stuff we don’t really want to be doing.
So how to I stop being unproductive? What’s the solution?
Well the solution is to stop doing stuff you don’t want to do.
If you only did what you wanted then you’d get an enormous amount done.
Yeah, but it’s not that easy is it? Some of the crappy stuff I just have to do.
This is true. And it would be grossly irresponsible of me to claim otherwise.
You really should pay your bills.
You really should do your tax return.
You really should pick up your son from soccer practice.
There are a number of things that you might not want to do, but you really should to avoid death or imprisonment.
There are a number of things that you might not want to do, but you really should to avoid being a terrible person.
Thing is, we’re not always very good at being objective about what we have to do, and what we really don’t have to do but just think we do. (For example, many people will think that I should rewrite that last sentence because it’s ugly as sin, but I won’t because I’m lazy.)
Here’s some stuff that you really don’t have to do.
- You don’t have to hang out with Dave and Sue. They’ll cope. And maybe they find hanging out with you a bit of a chore too. (They don’t, obviously. They think you’re brilliant. But you can see my point.)
- You don’t have to answer the phone when you’re in the middle of something important. They’ll leave a message. Or they’ll call back if it’s important. It’s okay.
- You don’t have to return all your phone calls.
- You don’t have to reply to all your emails.
- You don’t have to send birthday cards.
- You don’t have to go to valueless meetings just to show your face.
- You don’t have to finish everything you start.
- You don’t have to get up early every day.
- You don’t have to stay in college if you don’t love it.
- You don’t have to stick in a job you hate.
- You don’t have to have a well-paying professional career simply because you paid a lot of money for your degree.
- You don’t have to have goals.
- You don’t have to have a five year plan.
- You don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations of you.
Aren’t I just going to end up annoying and upsetting everyone?
In order to rid your life of stuff you don’t like doing, you’re going to have to say No a lot. You’re probably going to disappoint people who are used to you behaving in a certain way.
You might run the risk of people thinking you are a flaky, self-centered, arrogant, egotistical.
But I’m not advocating that you go too far with this. I’m intending this as a re-balancing exercise. I don’t want you to make a religion out of giving stuff up. Don’t make it a total lifestyle decision. Don’t become a selfish idiot.
The key is to create space for the passion to grow in your life by eliminating the shoulds that cause you anxiety and stress, and replacing them with the “work” you love.
The message, summed up in a cheesy alliteration-heavy catchphrase?
Do what you dig. Don’t do what you don’t dig.
See y’all tomorrow!
JJ Jalopy.
SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE: Sign-up for my newsletter. It’s totally brilliant.
Comment by Pam Schulz
25 May 2009
EXCELLENT advice JJ – Loved your “cheesy alliteration-heavy catchphrase!” It sums it all up quite nicely.
Pam
Invest in Your Future
Pam Schulz’s latest internet ramble.Seven Key Findings on the Efficient Market
Comment by Duane Cunningham
25 May 2009
Hi JJ,
Very cool! Big Kev has a totally rockin program on the subject of your post too slip it in your newsletter and grab a few $$ too
Duane
Super-ADVANCED Persuasion Techniques & Influence Training Proven to Quickly Create a Flood of Money?Constantly & Continuously Flowing into YOUR?Bank Account Like the Niagara Falls…?100% GUARANTEED!!
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Comment by jc mackenzie
25 May 2009
Well said.
Enjoy the holiday!
JC
JCMACKENZIE.COM
Making money-reviews
jc mackenzie’s latest internet ramble.Victory to thee !!
Comment by Single Boomer Dating Success Coach
25 May 2009
indeed, it is one of the benefits of older age is we get to be eccentric and do more of what we want to do.
Just being that person NOW!
Looking forward to Tales from JalopyLand – the Ezine.
Best regards,
April Braswell
Single Boomer Dating Expert, Relationship Success Coach
Widow Support and Bereavement Counseling Outreach Workshop Henderson, NV, Nevada, Las Vegas
Comment by Christian Haller
25 May 2009
Do less, be more successful. That is a winning plan.
Christian Haller
Good Food Fast & Easy
Healthy Italian Recipes
Christian Haller’s latest internet ramble.Perfect for the Picnic
Comment by John Ho
25 May 2009
JJ,
What Kevin Hogan’s program Duane refers is “Time for Love, Time for Money” – a complete time management program. You’ll get its printed manual when you join the Inner Circle.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Daily Numeroscope (Vox Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion (Money Page)
John Ho’s latest internet ramble.Numerology Expert John Ho Asks Your Feedback on the Layout of the Reading Sheet
Comment by Steve Chambers
25 May 2009
Productivity is an attitude and a discipline. We are productive when we decide to be because it takes discipline and control to implement any system of time management.
I have the book, “Getting things Done”. Haven’t read it yet, although it comes well recommended. Hopefully I will be able to implement the system and it will work for me.
Kevin’s course is good. I ahve listened to it several times and it comes highly recommended.
Steve Chambers, The Sales Expert
The Sales Eagle Solution – 12 months to dominate your market
Comment by Rob Northrup
25 May 2009
I am always looking for ways to be more productive. thanks for some ideas.
Seize the Day,
Rob
Sales Expert For Small Business Owners
Personal Asset Protection For Small Business Owners
Rob Northrup’s latest internet ramble.Nevada Corporations… The Truth
Comment by Anthony Lemme
25 May 2009
I am stupid, poor and ugly and I do what I want when I want! does that make me a genius?
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com
The Most Powerful Personal Growth and Mind Develpment Tool on Earth
Anthony Lemme’s latest internet ramble.Enlightenment is Playing Uno With Your Child
Comment by JJ Jalopy
25 May 2009
Yes it does Anthony.
You Sir are a genius.
JJ
Comment by Bob Kaufer
26 May 2009
These are the hard ones for me
# You don’t have to return all your phone calls.
# You don’t have to reply to all your emails.
You don’t have to get up early every day.
Bob Kaufer
Sign Up For My Free Neuro Performance and Health? E-Course
Comment by Darryl Pace
26 May 2009
JJ,
Dude, that article was great. Sage advice worth following.
Health, Fitness — Darryl Pace
Fitness Product Review