Doing a Few Things Well is Strategic
Three professional productivity hacks for the committed and disciplined.
"...if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself with little...do what you must (not everything you can) ... For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things but the greater peace of doing them well." - Marcus Aurelius [1]
A Myth Demystified
Multitasking: It's the modern professional's badge of honour, right? But is it really the path to productivity, or is it a myth that spreads our focus thin?[2]
Let's dive into three proven disciplines that align focus with productivity and move away from the "busyness" that can leave us anxious and overwhelmed. How productive are you? [3] Productivity improvement is an aspect that a professional firm should be working on as part of its strategy. [4]
Ready? Let's begin:
1. The Law of Three: Prioritising with Precision
High Return on Time Investments (HRoTI): Determine the three most vital tasks for your day, and tackle them first thing. These aren't mundane chores; these are your pivotal success-makers.
Low Return on Time Investments (LRoTI): Emails, organising, casual chats – they can wait. These less urgent tasks are for later.
Timing is Everything: Harness the fresh energy of the morning, and keep your focus laser-sharp.
2. Time-Blocking: A Symphony of Focus
Inspired by Peter Drucker's insights and further elaborated by Cal Newport, time-blocking is about orchestrating your day into productive intervals.[5]
"Manage your time, not your tasks," says Newport, and he's onto something. Plan every moment, and watch your productivity soar.
Need inspiration? Check out this video and Cal's Time-Block Planner:
3. The Five-Minute Rule: Tackling Procrastination
Dreading an important task? Commit just five minutes. Set a timer if you must.
Those five minutes may unlock your momentum. As an Irish proverb wisely reminds us: "You will never plough a field if you only turn it over in your mind."
From 'Busyness' to Mastery
These aren't my inventions; they're borrowed wisdom applied with zest. We've all been wheel-spinning procrastinators at some point. But the likes of Cal Newport, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates show us that mastering time instead of tasks is where true productivity lies.
Think "it won't work for me" or "my days are unpredictable?" The great minds above likely have less predictable days than you and me, yet they thrive.
Commit to these disciplines, and you'll find that doing a few things well is far more rewarding than mediocrity in many.
Your Next Move?
Stop mulling over the idea. Embrace these principles, and elevate your focus. The time to begin is now.
[1] From The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Steven Hanselmann
[2] In his book, The Attributes, Rich Diviney refers to research at the University of Utah. Researchers found that 98% of people participating in a study became worse at each extra task they undertook. The remaining 2%, who didn't get worse or even improved, weren't multitasking, they were task-switching.
[3] You can measure this by dividing the tasks that you completed over the tasks you scheduled over the past week. The aim is to arrive at a consistent productivity ratio of 70%-80%.
[4] See: Maister, D: Managing the Professional Service Firm
[5] See Drucker, P: The Effective Executive as discussed by Cal Newport in The Time-Block Planner