𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

The new year brings a chance to reconfigure how you operate. These ideas may maximize the outcomes of your efforts to scale effectively.

To maximize productivity, I like to think in terms of hacks. Though the term “hack” often has a negative connotation implying unauthorized access to information, I mean it in terms of change and improvement.

Planning

• Plan your day the night before and the week ahead on Sundays.

• Set one goal and three priorities each day.

• Block the time off to achieve priorities; never delete that protected time, even if you have to move it around.

• Convert your task list to your calendar, which ultimately forces you to prioritize tasks.

• Add personal goals, rest periods, time with family and friends, and strategy time to your schedule.

• Include time for recurring activities, such as picking all your outfits at once instead of deciding on them daily.

• Spend time weekly acknowledging progress, evaluating performance, and scheduling the next steps.

Planning puts structure around your energy to help you prioritize and focus it.

“The reason so many small businesses fail

is because passion alone can’t cut it.

For passion to survive, it needs structure.”

– Simon Sinek

Accountability

Act like someone is watching. The perception of an outsider often makes us work harder.

I track progress weekly using this format:

• Things accomplished

• Major ideas I’m thinking about (or want to revisit)

• Major verticals, such as main revenue channels, to ensure progress in each

• Weekly and monthly objectives

• Near future (upcoming projects)

Forcing myself to update progress and outline the next steps helps with productivity.

Timing

Determine your energy cycle to complete the most important projects during your peak energy times. Attack the most challenging task first to set the vibe.

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing

worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

– Mark Twain

During open periods, block notifications and work in shifts of 45 minutes with 15-minute breaks. This schedule can be adjusted for your efficiency, of course; I’m simply offering one model. The key is short sprints where you push yourself to get a lot done versus open-ended periods of time.

Consider a virtual assistant to outsource parts of your life that are time-consuming but not personally defining or enriching. Depending on the complexity of the task, virtual assistants can help with social media, bookkeeping or invoicing, event or trip planning, customer service, and business development.

Deep Thinking

Many studies show the detriments of multitasking. Most of the pain comes when you try to tackle projects that require intense work, such as strategic planning, product development, or authoring a book.

To really focus on a project, consider these tips:

• Remove or silence your smartphone and other distractions.

• Take weekend breaks quarterly to reflect on personal and business goals.

• Consider unsubscribing from newsletters, blogs, and any recurring notices that bring you down rather than making your life better.

• Check non-essential messages and social media only once a day.

• Designate periods of focus.

During periods of deep work, let people know your intentions. Most people will be supportive as long as they know you are not available.

Finally, people change over time, so create a feedback loop to measure your effectiveness and improve your productivity.

Key Takeaway: Treat your time with importance. Plan and guard your time carefully based on long-term priorities and the need for deep work.

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Photo by Andreas Klassen who can be found here

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