“Theres no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist, we are all human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and thats that. I am not talented. I am obsessed” - Conor McGregor

1. What is the art of productivity?

[00:00] The power of the RPM System
[01:06] Season introduction
[01:54] Episode introduction
[04:09] Creating a business that thrives on its own
[04:50] The myth: When you hit 6 figures, you’ve made it
[05:50] Screw six figures, time is what’s important
[06:18] Time is the biggest currency we have
[06:45] The secret to business is diversifying
[07:06] How to decide what to focus on
[07:42] Defining what freedom means
[08:40] How to prioritize and get organized
[09:36] Start with just one thing
[10:50] Even though you can, doesn’t mean it’s wise
[11:21] Figuring out your forward vision
[12:02] Defining what is “enough”
[13:00] Determining your “why”
[14:30] Building a brand, not a business
[15:16] Work-life balance vs. work-life integration
[16:19] Dealing with guilt and learning to release it
[17:01] Ask: What needs me the most right now?
[18:04] How to grow a business, working part-time
[18:55] Putting fears to rest about being a working mom
[19:37] Jenna’s top tips for efficiency and productivity
[20:33] How to protect your scope of influence
[21:14] Jenna’s daily gratitude practice
[22:10] Setting boundaries with social media
[25:15] Episode credits

2. Your productive assets

Investing in and protecting your productive assets is key to reaching elite performance levels. These assets include energy, focus, creativity, and execution intelligence.

Energy is the driving force behind everything we do, and the person with the most energy will ultimately come out on top. To gain energy, schedule periods of at least 90 minutes of work and take at least 10 minutes of break. The Pomodoro technique (25-5) combined with walks and exercises is a great way to improve energy levels. Surrounding yourself with beauty can also boost energy.

Focus is essential for achieving top performance. Spend hours in maniacal focus and train and practice to improve focus. Give full attention to one activity and move from a beta to alpha state. Avoid hyper stimulation such as Facebook messages, which can distract from your focus.

Creativity is another important asset. See yourself as an artist and read books such as "The Art of Creativity" and "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. Create a dream room or laboratory where you can enter a different world and start behaving like a creative person.

Execution intelligence is also vital. Seek out people who are ahead of you in the area you want to progress and learn from them.

In addition to these assets, there are five assets of genius: mental focus, physical energy, personal willpower, original talent, and daily time. Investing in and protecting these assets will lead to elite performance and success.

Stop managing time, start managing focus

- unknown

Deadly sins which attack success

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to fall prey to the deadly sins that can attack our success. These include gossip, complaining, excuses, arrogance, complacency, disbelief, complexity, reaching good enough, loss of longevity, distraction, under capitalization, talent depletion, and reputational deterioration. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at each of these threats and provide practical tips on how to prevent them from hindering your success.

Gossip: Gossip is the act of talking about someone or something behind their back. It's a toxic behavior that can cause harm to both the gossiper and the person being gossiped about. To prevent gossip from taking over your life, make it a habit to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people who have a growth mindset. Avoid those who are constantly complaining and engaging in negative talk. Additionally, try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and the people in it, rather than dwelling on the negative.

Complaining: Complaining is a habit that can easily take over your life. It's easy to fall into the trap of talking about problems instead of taking action to solve them. To prevent complaining from taking over your life, try to focus on the positive aspects of your life and the things you are grateful for. Try to find solutions to the problems that you encounter, rather than dwelling on them. Additionally, be mindful of the words you use and try to use them in a positive way.

Excuses: Excuses are often used to justify our actions or lack of action. They can be a dangerous virus that can easily take over your life. To prevent excuses from hindering your success, try to see problems as opportunities. Instead of using excuses, take action and find solutions. Additionally, try to focus on the present and take responsibility for your actions.

Arrogance: Arrogance can be a major threat to success. When we become arrogant, we often stop learning and growing. To prevent arrogance from taking over your life, try to stay humble and open to learning. Additionally, make it a habit to surround yourself with people who are ahead of you in the areas you want to progress in.

Complacency: Complacency is the enemy of growth. When we become complacent, we stop pushing ourselves to improve. To prevent complacency from taking over your life, try to set new goals for yourself and strive to achieve them. Additionally, make it a habit to surround yourself with people who are constantly pushing themselves to improve.

Disbelief: Disbelief can be a major threat to success. When we don't believe in ourselves, we often stop trying. To prevent disbelief from taking over your life, try to focus on the things you believe in and the things that make you happy. Additionally, make it a habit to surround yourself with people who believe in you and your abilities.

Complexity: Complexity can be a major threat to success. When we make things too complex, we often stop trying. To prevent complexity from taking over your life, try to keep things simple. Additionally, make it a habit to surround yourself with people who have a simple and clear approach to problem-solving.

Reaching Good Enough: Reaching good enough is a major threat to success. When we reach good enough, we often stop trying. To prevent this from taking over your life, try to set new goals for yourself and strive to achieve them. Additionally, make it a habit to surround yourself with people who are constantly pushing themselves to improve.

Loss of Longevity: Loss of longevity is a major threat to success. When we lose our longevity, we often stop trying. To prevent this threat of distraction, it is important to set clear boundaries and guidelines for yourself. This can include setting specific times during the day when you will not check your phone or social media, and creating a designated workspace that is free from distractions. Additionally, it may be helpful to create a schedule or to-do list for yourself, in order to stay on track and stay focused on the task at hand.

To prevent the threat of under capitalization, it is important to plan for the future and invest in yourself and your business. This can include setting financial goals and creating a budget, as well as seeking out opportunities for professional development and networking. Additionally, it is important to stay informed about industry trends and to be proactive in seeking out new business opportunities.

To prevent the threat of talent depletion, it is important to continually work on developing your skills and talents. This can include taking classes or workshops, practicing regularly, and seeking out opportunities to collaborate with others in your field. Additionally, it may be helpful to set goals for yourself and to have regular check-ins to track your progress.

Finally, to prevent the threat of reputational deterioration, it is important to be mindful of your actions and the impact they may have on your reputation. This can include being careful with what you post online, being professional and respectful in your interactions with others, and being mindful of your brand and how you present yourself. Additionally, it may be helpful to actively work on building and maintaining positive relationships with others in your industry, as well as to seek out opportunities to give back and to be involved in your community.

In summary, the key to preventing these threats is to be proactive, to set clear goals and boundaries for yourself, and to continually work on developing your skills and talents. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of your actions and the impact they may have on your reputation, and to be proactive in building and maintaining positive relationships with others in your industry. With the right mindset, strategies, and tools, you can overcome these threats and achieve your goals for success.

4. How to become a peak performer

1. See time different than most people. Time is so valuable. Don’t get involved in trivial matters. I don’t have time to mess around.

2. Put huge value on the value in each day. This day is all you have. Use the past as a school (learn from it). As you craft this day, you craft your life. Make every day a great day.

3. Distinction between fake work and real work. Fake work is not real work. Don’t climb the wrong mountain, spend time in solitude and go within. Reflection and after maniacal focus on your goal. Don’t confuse movement with result. Don’t follow the reptile brain. You (the neo cortex) is in war with the reptile brain. It starts to scream and fight when you want to change. It distracts you, tries to keep you safe. Fight it. Don’t be scared. Shed your believes, run different believes.

4. The key to getting more done, is to do less. The secret to mastery is simplicity. Don’t add, subtract! Start becoming a minimalist. Build a business that focus on one thing, don’t be good. We have a choice of being mediocre in many things, or a master in a few things. If you really want to be a game changer, it is about depth.

What is your fake work?

3. Discover your peak state

Operating at your peak state can be life-changing, but for many people it's a rare experience. The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Achieving peak state requires letting go of the past, mastering your emotions, and adopting a mindset of excellence.

To achieve this, Tony Robbins suggests mastering the "triad of emotional psychology." This involves understanding the three forces that control your emotions: physiology, language, and focus.

1. Physiology

The first component of the triad is physiology. This refers to how your body and its systems impact your emotions. For example, if you stand up straight, you'll feel more alert and proud. On the other hand, if you slump over and neglect your body, you'll feel more negative. To master your emotions, you need to be aware of how your feelings and your body are interconnected. If you find yourself in a bad mood, try standing up and breathing deeply to reset your mind and mood. Additionally, taking care of yourself by getting enough sleep and nourishing your body with quality food can also help you feel better.

2. Focus

The second component of the triad is focus. According to Tony Robbins, "where focus goes, energy flows." This means that what you put your focus on is where you set your intention. To achieve peak state, you should focus on the things you want and are working towards, rather than things that hold you back. If you find your focus wavering, try clearing your mind with exercise or a short meditation. Even a quick meditation session at your desk can help refresh your focus.

3. Language

The third component of the triad is language. Your internal and external language has a powerful impact on your emotions. If you ask yourself negative questions like "why do bad things always happen to me?" instead of "what can I do to better my situation?" you'll feel more powerless in your own life. To change this, keep track of the positive and negative words you use and replace negative words with positive ones. Enlist the help of friends and family to catch your negative words, and over time you'll begin to alter your internal speech to be more positive.

By mastering these three components of the triad, you'll be able to elevate your life to peak state. You'll refuse to live a life of compromise or mediocrity and will inspire others to do the same.What is it like to operate at your peak state? It’s exhilarating. It’s life-changing. And for most people on the planet, it’s rare – but it doesn’t have to be.

How can you elevate your life to this level?

Achieving your peak state requires letting go of the past, mastering your emotions and adopting a mindset of excellence. When you operate at peak state, you refuse to live a life of compromise or mediocrity. You operate at a higher level – and inspire others to do the same.

Our emotions are the foundation that peak state is built upon. They have the ability to control everything in our lives – our mood, our decisions and our actions. If you want to start making positive progress, you need to get into a positive state.

Achieving a positive mindset comes down to understanding Tony Robbins’ triad of emotional psychology. This involves mastering the three forces that control your emotions – your physiology, your language and your focus.

Ready to find your breakthrough? Lessons from Robin Sharma in 5AM

1. High internal capitalization. It is not so much about your potential, but about your ability to unlock your potential. How much talent can you unlock and express in your game. Focus ten years, invest every single day on your talent in anonymity. Read the books, read the journals. Focus on your one skill, every single day in silence in anonymity. Do all, reflects, journal, high performance. The story about your potential is the most important thing about your potential. Believe. 2-4 hours at least. Geniuses are not made from a different cloth.

2. Physical mastery is a game changer (serotonin). Make yourself unbeatable. Do NOT die. Be on the top of your game, be legendary.

3. Emotional dimension. Release in your journal. Wire gratitude, it brings you in flow state. Heart full of gratitude. Most iconic person in the nation.

4. Work on your spiritual live. The internal income. I am an instrument of the world. Wake up with love in your world. Blinding level of elite performance. How can I stagger the audience, overwhelm them will value and love.

5. Articulate your vision, on one piece of paper. Simplify! Vague vision = vague action. Playing video games etc is avoiding your discomfort.

6. Where do you want to be in the end of your life? Be brilliant in one thing. Focus on your natural gift.

7. Dream team of support energizers (who/what/conditions/environment/activities vampires your energy?). And the opposite: what does give you energy? Start seeing yourself as an athlete. Ordinary people focus on the costs, extraordinary people focus on the outcomes. Search for a coach per area in your life.
   Massage: 2x 90 minutes a week

8. Ritual and routine installation. Epic performance is not a gift, it is a decision. You can go to world-class. After 66 days you will lose the shackles and it becomes easier to do this (automaticity). In the beginning it will be difficult. It’s all about rituals and routine. Put in the practice time. After a habit it doesn’t cost that much energy. Sometimes it can take 255 days.

9. Extreme daily practice. There are no superstars, society tells the story of superstars, genius is not different (core story). “We are average people” that is a killing narrative, we all have the potential. Those that rise, capitalize max in practice. Ordinary people can become iconic. It takes at least 10,000 hours (2.44 hours per day for roughly ten years, before the world sees you as extra-ordinary). Practice the most. Gritt is all, relentless. Passion = suffer. (Root of the word passion comes from suffer).

10. Talent hub membership. Get in the right environment, scene. Populate your mind with the best thinkers, best performers and world’s best people

11. Learn relentless and grit is a habit. Watch out for: Icons of decline. Sustaining world-class for a lifetime.

12. Solitude. Spend a lot of time alone – a ton of time in solitude. Solitude is the name of the game. Your brilliant ideas might be killed through your environment. In solitude you isolate your ideas and work out the idea. The mighty oak must grow first.

13. Set up your dream room. Refill the well.

14. Neurobiology: get from beta to alpha state. GET IN ALPHA STATE. HOURS OF SOLITUDE. Transient hyper frontality kicks in. pre-frontal cortex (self-critic) deactivates. You get in flow state. There you can tap your genius. Neuro chemistry kicks in and you transcend in the realm of the greatest thinkers of all. Focus becomes utterly clear. Focus is all. Extreme production.

15. Excellence is a cyclical process and not linear processes. Cyclical versus linear: work & execute (do less versus more). The growth is also in the rest.

16. Minimalism drives genius. Once again: less is more. The secret of genius is simplicity. Keep your life simple. Don’t get distracted from flow. Most virtuosos don’t have much friends and prevent massive over-stimulation.

17. Walk with giants and associate with titans. If you are the best in your street, it might be time to move from your street. If you are the best in your community, it might be time to move from your community. You pick up the abilities from the persons around you.

18. Tight bubble of total focus. State of flow, from beta to alpha mind-state. Enter the realm of greatest thinkers.

19. Create a body of work that inspires the world

Cool Concepts Really Great Performers Know

1. Attitude is contagious – a mind-set can go viral. You can also catch the mind sets from people who you spend time with. Mirror-mirror technique as a survival technique. If you are the best performer in the world you know, chose a new world.

2. Emotional contagion – you feel the way the people around you feel. Get your circles right. See more of the people you would like to see; see less of those you would like to see less.

3. Epigenetics. Environment will determine the extent the expression of your genetic nature. Also set the nature for your kids: work relentlessly to stimulate your kids, entertain them, challenge them with violin or chess. Allow the genetic nature which build the brain to express to create the optimal brain. Does your workplace fuel your creation?

4. Hedonic adaptation (from positive psychology). What was once impossible, this next level becomes the new normal. Yesterday best performance is the new normal. Gameplan: relentless pursuit of better, how far can you go. Greatness has no exit point. Be content, be grateful, but never lose the fire in the belly within.

5. Micro win phenomenon. Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results. Small consistent daily acts of optimisation done consistently over time, leads to a revolution of exceptionalism. Little tiny wins lead to staggering results. Exceptional performers: 2,44 daily hours per day, ten years (10,000 hours). We see the icons we adore, we see the end result, but forget the work. They are not cut from a different cloth, they started as ordinary people. Polished via training, coaching, developing, learning, progressing, by micro wins over every single day. Formula 1 metaphor: be a micro-second better than the rest, it makes all the difference. Micro-wins and consistency are key. It is all about the small daily acts of excellence acceleration optimisation progress when done consistently over ten years, over a career, over a lifetime, will get you to a place where you are unbeatable, undefeatable, untouchable

6. Transient hypo-frontality. The state of flow: super-human status. Work from solitude (also digital), your brain wave slows down. Pre-frontal cortex PFC shuts down, the monkey mind, the voice of fear gets silenced.

7. To achieve more, relax more. Circular, not linear. Do not deplete you core assets (mental focus, physical energy, execution fire). Sustain world over a lifetime

8. Wealth reflects value contribution. Different types of wealth.

9. The legendary performance equation: pressure x refuelling = growth + endurance

10. Start with flow. Read more in Flow chapter .

11. BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A DEFINITE PLAN. Most people get up, check tei email or their phone, and start responding to other people’s requests or demands insdtead of putting the stake in the ground for waht they want out of their day first.

12. TAP INTO THE POWER OF PURPOSE. When you are associated to the compelling reasons why you want to do something, no matter how big or small the task, it provides you with the emotional drive to follow through.

13. SET PRIORITIES. Out of everything on your list of actions, what is the most important?

14. SCHEDULE BLOCKS OF TIME TO WORK ON YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS FIRST. If you lock in time that’s dedicated to working on the things that are important yo you or your work first, then it’s tougher to get pulled away by other people’s priorities or urgencies.

15. USE THE POWER OF DEADLINES. The parkinson principles states, ‘work tends to expand to fit the amount of time allotted to it’. Set a deadline (for yourself or your team) and stick to it.

16. CHANGE HABITS OR PATTERNS THAT AREN’T RELEVANT TO YOUR GOALS. Look at where you’re currently spending you time, What are you doing that doesn’t support you in getting to where you want to be?

17. DON’T WASTE TIME WORRYING ABOUT THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO. You can’t create the future by looking tin the rearview mirror. It’s time to move on and focus on where you’re goging, not where you’ve been.

18. MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS AND CELEBRATE YOUR RESULTS. This lets your brain know that it’s pleasurable to get stuff done, and since the brain moves towards pleasure, it will help you get more done in the future.

19. SPEND 90% OF YOUR TIME ON THE SOLUTION, ONLY 10 OF YOUR TIME ON THE PROBLEM.

20. GET EXCITED ABOUT YOUR VISION AND GOALS AND IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE WHEN YOU ACCOMPLISH THEM. the more you associate vividly and consistently, the more you harness the power of your unconscious mind to help make them come true.

21. Goal visualization is the practice of using your imagination to visualize your goals as if they've already been achieved. It's a powerful tool that can help you unlock your potential and manifest your desires. But it's not just about picturing yourself crossing the finish line or holding that promotion certificate. It's about customizing the process to fit your unique personality and lifestyle, and making it resonate with you on a deeper level. Make visualization a key part of your morning routine. In morning priming exercise, practice gratitude for all the good things in his life. And / or visualize a healing light coming down and fill body, healing problems. From there, goals you want to achieve and changes you wants to make in life, visualizing them as already accomplished. As Michael Singer says, it's a way to "turn on the energy faucet" and harness the power that we all have within us.

“The mind can never be controlled. It can only be questioned, loved and met with understanding.” - Byron Katie

4. How to stop making excuses and beat procrastination

Highly recommended read.

5. Pareto principle 80-20

Have you ever felt like you're constantly spinning your wheels, but not getting anywhere? Like you're working hard, but not seeing the results you want? The 80-20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle, can change all that. The idea is simple: 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. In other words, focus on the things that matter most, and you'll see a huge payoff.

The 80-20 rule was first introduced by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1906, but it was popularized in the 1940s by business theorist Joseph Juran. It's often used in business, but it can also be applied to your personal goals, like finances and learning new skills. The key is to throw out a few time-honored myths about productivity: that everything matters equally (it doesn't) and that multitasking is effective (it's not).

High achievers don't have more time, more help, or better luck than the rest of us. They have more focus. By understanding the 80-20 rule, you can overcome the common problem of spreading yourself too thin. To use the 80-20 rule to your advantage, start with your purpose. Your purpose is the foundation of everything in your life, whether it's your personal goals or your business. Every time you make a decision or a change, ask yourself, "Does this serve my purpose?"

Once you have your purpose in mind, it's time to prioritize. Identify the 20% of things that will make the biggest difference and put all of your energy into accomplishing them. This might mean saying "no" to things that don't align with your purpose, or letting go of habits that are holding you back. As productivity expert Gary Keller says, "Extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous."

It's important to note that the 80-20 rule isn't a one-time fix. It's a mindset shift that requires continuous effort and dedication. It's not something you can just do once and forget about. It's a constant process of evaluating, adjusting and focusing on the right things to achieve your desired outcomes.

The Pareto Principle is a reminder that the world is not fair and that the universe doesn't care about our to-do lists. It's a reminder to focus on the things that truly matter and not get bogged down by the trivial tasks that distract us from our goals.

So, how can you apply the 80-20 rule in your own life? The first step is to identify your purpose and priorities. What are the things that truly matter to you and align with your purpose? Once you've identified these, you can start to focus your efforts on them and let go of the things that don't align.

One practical tip is to keep a log of your activities for a week. At the end of the week, analyze which activities resulted in the most positive outcomes and which ones were a waste of time. This will help you to identify the 20% of activities that are producing 80% of your desired outcomes.

Another tip is to set specific, measurable and achievable goals for yourself. This will help you to stay focused and motivated as you work towards achieving them. And, as Gary Keller suggests, "extraordinary success is sequential, not simultaneous." Focus on one thing at a time and give it your all, rather than trying to do too many things at once.

It's also important to recognize that the 80-20 rule is not a magic formula. There will be times when you need to put in more than 20% effort for a specific task or goal. And, there will be times when you need to put in less than 20% effort for a task that is not aligned with your purpose or priorities. The key is to be consistently aware of where your focus is directed and make sure it aligns with your purpose and priorities.

One way to put the 80-20 rule into practice is by regularly analyzing and evaluating your daily tasks and activities. Identify the 20% that are truly important and critical to your goals and focus on those, while letting go of the 80% that are non-essential or draining your energy.

Another practical tip is to schedule your most important tasks during your peak productivity hours. If you're a morning person, tackle your most important tasks first thing in the morning. If you're a night owl, schedule them for the later hours of the day when your energy levels are higher.

But it's not just about identifying and focusing on the critical 20%. It's also important to actively eliminate distractions and unnecessary obligations that are taking up your time and energy. This can mean saying no to social invitations, delegating tasks to others, or even cutting out certain social media platforms or apps that are draining your attention.

It's important to note that the 80-20 rule is not a one-time fix, it's a continuous effort. It's about being aware of where your focus is directed, and making sure it aligns with your purpose and priorities. By consistently applying the 80-20 rule, you can achieve more with less energy, and ultimately live a more fulfilling life.

As with any productivity strategy, the 80-20 rule may not work for everyone. It's important to experiment and find what works best for you. But by understanding the principle behind the 80-20 rule, you can make a conscious effort to focus on the most important things in your life and eliminate the distractions that hold you back.

In the end, the 80-20 rule is not just about getting more done in less time, it's about creating a clear and concise plan that helps you identify and focus on the 20% of activities that will result in 80% of your desired outcomes. This is where the 80-20 rule comes in.

6. The myth of multitasking

Are you tired of feeling scattered and unable to stay focused on your goals? You're not alone. With the constant distractions of smartphones, social media, and a never-ending to-do list, it can be a real struggle to maintain focus and achieve our goals. But, what if I told you that there's a way to eliminate distractions, increase productivity, and achieve more than you ever thought possible? It's all about understanding the power of focus and implementing strategies to harness it.

First things first, let's bust a myth - multitasking doesn't work. Studies have shown that multitasking leads to a phenomenon called "attention residue," where a little bit of our attention remains behind every time we switch tasks. This leads to worse attention spans and memory capacity. So, instead of trying to do multiple things at once, focus on one task at a time.

create a not-to-do list

• First, write down tasks that might be important but can’t be done because of outside circumstances (pending) • Next, include tasks that you think need to be done but that don’t add value to your life. You might also think of these as busywork. Delegate? Hire someone? You can also ask if anyone but me will notice whether this task is left undone. The idea here is that your time is best spent on tasks that will move your life and goals forward. • Add current and ongoing tasks that don’t benefit from additional attention. Remove clogging tasks you would do anyway (showering, make lunch kids). • Last, include urgent tasks that are often to-do lists given to us by other people. Perhaps not need to be done by me?

7. Quotes & Reminders

1. Apply a mentality of granularity, your name is branded on every piece of work I deliver. Healthy perfectionism is an unyielding quest to be the best that I’m capable of becoming. Calibration!

2. If I want to lead in my field, I need to become a performer and person of depth.

3. Ideas are worth nothing, unless backed by application.

4. When you get an invitation to do something in the future, ask yourself: would you accept this if it was scheduled for tomorrow? Not too many promises will pass that immediacy filter.

5. Don’t let your email inbox become your to-do list.

6. Plan technology detoxes and zero device zones.

7. Showing up at world-class: legendary performers practice being spectacular for so long that they no longer remember how to behave in non-spectacular ways.

8. Don’t do a great many things. Do one. Astronomical focus on one task, one skill, one aim. When you have your focus: form habits of doing things in that area, failures don’t like doing things.

9. Making things look simple to the untrained eye is the mark of the master. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Less really is more.

10. Work to become, not to acquire. Create magic. Magic & Art is in what you leave out. Whenever I’m creating beauty around me, I’m restoring my soul.

11. Your work will be endless, but your time is finite. You cannot limit the work so you must limit your time. Hours and focus are the only thing you can manage.

12. Always demand a deadline. A deadline weeds out the extraneous and the ordinary. It prevents you from trying to make it perfect, so you have to make it different. Different is better.

13. The greatest breakthroughs are missed because they look like hard work.

14. Be prepared: When you are 90% done any large project (a house, a film, an event, an app) the rest of the myriad details will take a second 90% to complete.

15. Cognitive band with is limited. Chose how you spend it. Routinize the rest. Example: wear the same clothes every day.

16. Addiction to distraction is the end of creative productivity.

17. Envision your ideal performance before you start.

18. Streamline everything.

19. Become a purist.

20. An intense concentration only on what matters most.

21. Separate the processes of creation from improving. You can’t write and edit, or sculpt and polish, or make and analyse at the same time. If you do, the editor stops the creator. While you invent, don’t select. While you sketch, don’t inspect. While you write the first draft, don’t reflect. At the start, the creator mind must be unleashed from judgement.

22. A flight to peak productivity, virtuosity and undefeatability. Rule 1: an addiction to distraction is the end of your creative production. Rule 2: Excuses breed no genius. Rule 3: All change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end. Rule 4: To have the results the top 5% of producers have, you must start doing what the 95% of people are unwilling to do. Rule 5: when you feel like surrendering, continue. Triumph loves the relentless.

8. What is your work style?

Embrace your working style to be more productive

Office culture has undergone some major changes in the past two decades. Gone are cubicles, rigid 9-to-5 schedules and “climbing the ladder” of corporate structures. Open office layouts, flex hours, working from home and diplomatic corporate structures are the new normal in the white collar workplace. But there is one part of office culture that hasn’t changed: the need to build cohesive teams made up of various working styles.

Superstars come in all different forms. They can be solitary creative geniuses, strong team leaders or adaptable and flexible. When you’re building a team, first determine your own business identity and then familiarize yourself with the different work styles.

What is your work style?

Your working style is the way that you go about your day-to-day tasks on the job. Everyone has their own working style – or strategy – for optimally performing while at work. It’s important to know your work style so that you can maximize your time at work, communicate effectively with others and be as productive as you can be. So how can you determine which working style you use?

First, ask yourself: how would you describe your work style? Are you more efficient when you’re working independently and are responsible for your own schedule and tasks? Or do you like having a team to give feedback on your ideas, provide support and help you stay on track? Do you routinely bring emotion into the workplace or do you focus on the facts? When it comes to problem-solving, do you pay close attention to details or are you more of a big picture type? The answers to these questions will give you hints as to whether you’re more independent or cooperative, strategic or detail-oriented.

To determine your working style, you can also think about how you communicate (written versus verbal, listening versus talking), how you deal with conflict (confrontative versus avoidant) and how you go through your day (very planned out versus “winging it”). You can even take a personality test like the DISC Assessment to help you figure out your working style. Different work styles

There is no right or wrong working style – every workplace needs a lot of different types of workers in order to function efficiently. Just imagine if everyone was an independent, creative and visionary type: Nothing would ever get done. On the other hand, a workplace filled with detail-oriented planners would quickly get bogged down in minutiae. The key is to know your own style, so you can be more aware of how you’re communicating with others. Then you can hire the right team whose working styles complement each other so that productivity soars.

work style types

Independent

Some people are not happy unless they’re working solo – we’ll classify this as an independent working style. They have great difficulty working closely with other people and can’t work well under a great deal of supervision. They have to run their own show. They like to follow their instinct and see where it takes them.

Visionary and entrepreneurial types often have an independent working style. This type is also often found in creative or scientific fields. Imagine the writer working late on a novel or the engineer’s intense focus on solving a problem. Independent working styles are efficient, disciplined and productive.

Cooperative

Others function best as part of a group. We call their professional working style cooperative. They want to share responsibility for any task they take on. They enjoy bouncing feedback off others and working together on projects.

Cooperative workers are diplomatic and are typically excellent communicators. They are often found in relationship-oriented roles like human resources and in leadership roles. Account executives, HR directors and project managers are often known to have cooperative working styles. They’re organized, collaborative and usually know the secret to strategic learning.

Proximity

Still others have a proximity working style, which is somewhat of a combination of the independent and cooperative styles. They thrive in environments where they have a high degree of autonomy but also have the ability to collaborate with others and receive feedback. They tend to be self-motivated and driven, but also value the input of others. Proximity workers are often found in roles such as freelancers, consultants or entrepreneurs. They are efficient, adaptable and always looking for new opportunities.

Team-oriented

Team-oriented workers are just as the name suggests, they like to be part of a team and are at their best when working on a team project. They are good listeners and enjoy working with others to achieve a common goal. They are often found in roles that are customer-facing such as sales, customer service, and marketing. Team-oriented workers are outgoing, supportive, and great problem solvers.

Analytical

Analytical workers are the ones who like to focus on the details and follow facts and figures. They have an objective and logical mindset and are good at looking at a problem from all angles. They are typically found in roles such as accounting, finance and data analysis. Analytical workers are precise, rational, and logical.

Strategic

Strategic workers are the ones who see the big picture. They are good at understanding the long-term goals of the company and how to achieve them. They are often found in senior management positions and are typically good at making decisions that align with the company's overall strategy. Strategic workers are visionary, decisive and goal-oriented.

Knowing your working style can help you understand your strengths, weaknesses, and how you communicate with others. It can also help you to find the right job that aligns with your style, so you can be more productive and fulfilled. You can take a test like the DISC Assessment to determine your working style, or simply think about how you communicate, deal with conflict, and go through your day.

In conclusion, embracing your working style is the key to being more productive. Having a team of different working styles can lead to a more efficient and effective workplace. Understanding your own style and the styles of others can improve communication and collaboration, leading to a more cohesive and successful team.

There are several online resources you can use to test your working style. Some popular options include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the DiSC assessment, and the Holland Code assessment. These assessments can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and how they align with different types of work environments and roles. Additionally, many websites such as truity.com, 123test.com, and 16personalities.com offer free and paid versions of such tests. It's also important to note that these assessments are not always scientifically validated and should be used as a guide rather than definitive answer.

Do (small!) assessment and find out your business identity

11. Asking “who,” not “how”

When most people face a challenge, our first reaction is to ask: “How do I solve this problem?” A powerful management shortcut for success. He said: Don’t ask “how.” Instead, ask “who.”

In other words, instead of immediately diving into the nitty-gritty details of how to solve a problem or implement a new idea, take a step back and ask yourself: "Who can I bring on board to help me with this?" This approach can be a game-changer for entrepreneurs, as it allows you to delegate the "how" to others and focus on what you do best.

But why are we so often programmed to immediately start thinking about "how" instead of "who"? The answer lies in our education system. According to Dan Sullivan, CEO of Strategic Coach, "Our education system plays a major role in why we ask HOW and not WHO from the get-go. With the exception of a few exceptional schools, the education system is designed to prepare people for a life of 'HOW.' Kids in traditional classrooms around the world are graded on how they solve particular problems on their own. When you leave school, you need to collaborate and delegate to thrive. But in school, they don’t call it collaborating and delegating – they call it cheating."

So, if you want to break out of this "how" mindset and start thinking more strategically about "who," it's important to re-program yourself. One way to do this is to start viewing human capital as an abundant resource. Instead of trying to do everything yourself, focus on building a strong and passionate team to support you and act as your "whos."

By delegating the "how" to your "whos," you'll be able to free up your own time and energy, allowing you to focus on what you truly love to do. And with the advent of new technologies like artificial intelligence and gigabit connection speeds, finding the right "whos" to help you with your "hows" has never been easier. So, next time you're faced with a challenge, don't immediately start thinking about how to solve it. Instead, take a step back and ask yourself: "Who can I bring on board to help me with this?"

Conclusion

Quiz

How to apply this in your life

1. Where do I lose energy? (who/what/conditions/environment/activities/spaces vampires your energy?

2. Where do I gain energy? (who/what/conditions/environment/activities/spaces boost your energy?)

3. In what areas can I simplify?

4. What are my skills? What are my downfalls?

5. What are my main goals and next steps?

6. What is the #1 skill to develop the next ten years? Where do you want to be in the end of your life? Be brilliant in one thing. Focus on your natural gift. Vague vision = vague action

7. Articulate your vision, on one piece of paper. Simplify!

8. Search for a coach per area in your life.

9. Based on the outcomes of the above, make rituals for peak performance; visualise the ideal performance and routinize it. Do not forget to include the Pavlov triggers. Before you start a task, ask. Questions: why & what

10. Analyse how to reduce over-stimulation (cut down in all area’s)

11. FLOW THE PSCHOYCOLGY OF OPTIMAL EXPERIMENT.  MIHAI CHIZEDMIHAD (https://www.pdfdrive.com/flow-the-psychology-of-optimal-experience-e156767178.html

Food for thought

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