How do we increase our productivity when we’re already working at maximum capacity? How do we take more time off to get the rejuvenation we need when we have so much to do? How do we identify those activities in our life and business that will give us the highest possible return, and make us the most possible profit and income?
Big shifts happened for me when I stopped checking email and messages first thing, and instead, invested the first hour of my day in exercise, meditation and finding MY agenda – rather than getting on someone else’s agenda. Next, I began working in focused, uninterrupted blocks of time on the highest value activities in my business. This resulted in a massive increase in productivity.
Most of us haven’t gotten crystal clear on the handful of activities that bring us the highest returns; and then organize our days; weeks and lives around making sure those activities get done first.
Use a Productivity Pyramid to help you to identify those activities that generate the highest value for you in the short and long-term. Do this exercise regularly to refine and clarify what your highest-value activities are, so you can do them every day, first thing. Place a note with the top priority somewhere that you’ll see it before bed and in the morning to keep you on track!
There is a difference between completing Urgent activities. Check if the “Urgent” is accompanied by the “Important”. The common mistake here, is that you rush to put those on the top of your Pyramid, where the real profitable productivity with the highest returns will come from the activities that are of High Importance but Not High Urgency. These are the items that you should do to move you n the future and sustain the highest level of profitability.
Have you used the Importance-Urgency matrix? Did it help you correctly categorize your activities? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Tommy Antonopoulos, Blogger for OfficeTime
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