Still, in the Hunt for the Holy Grail…

I’m productive. Efficient. I’ve been told by many – obsessively productive and efficient.  I chew up tasks and spit them out.  Yet, one can always be more productive, right?  I’ve been in a life long search for the Holy Grail of a Zero Email Box solution at the end of each day.  A search for the best To-Do program.  A hunt for a better way to manage projects. A race to squeeze more into each day.  I believe being more productive is possible. Within reach.  Just within the ends of my fingertips.

So, when I came across Robin Sharma’s post titled “Become The Most Productive Person You Know”, I was like Zeke on his bone – on it.   When Sharma opened his post by stating: “I want to help you create explosive productivity so you get big things done (and make your life matter)…”, I was giddy.  I was delirious with anticipation. Imagine that – I WILL ACHIEVE “EXPLOSIVE” PRODUCTIVITY.

I’ve graded myself from “A” to “F” on each of his 21 Productivity tips and self-categorized my competency into three buckets: “Utter Failure”, “Journeyman” and “Master.”

My initial reaction to Robin Sharma’s tips was that I could be more productive if I stopped reading these “How-to” posts. Then after I settled in…I saw that there was some value in the exercise.  And he did manage to highlight some nagging areas of personal concern (more consistent exercise, email addiction, extreme multitasking, need to take breaks to refuel.)

My Overall Score:

• Master: 9 out of 21 (43%)
• Journeyman: 3 out of 21 (14%)
• Utter Failure: 9 out of 21 (43%) – Wow! Shocking.  So, my search for the Holy Grail will continue.

You’ll find each tip below (or an excerpt) along with my grade/reaction.

UTTER FAILURE:

#1. Check email in the afternoon so you protect the peak energy hours of your mornings for your best work. (DK Grade: “F.” Wait 7 hours to check work email? Really? Not realistic in corporate world. Dear Robin, what planet are you on?)

#11.Outsource everything you can’t be BIW (Best in the World) at. Focus only on activities within what I call “Your Picasso Zone”. (DK Grade: “C -“. Have work to do here. Difficult to outsource all non-BIW activities. Carry serious control freak syndrome in DNA.  Work to do here.)

#12. Stop multi-tasking…Be one of the rare-air few who develops the mental and physical discipline to have a mono-maniacal focus on one thing for many hours. (It’s all about practice). (DK Grade: “F.” Horrible.  Intervention required here.)

#13. Get fit like Madonna. Getting to your absolute best physical condition will create explosive energy, renew your focus and multiply your creativity. (DK Grade: “D“. Weekend warrior. A lot of work to do here.)

#14. Workout 2X a day…Here’s the key: exercise is one of the greatest productivity tools in the world. So do 20 minutes first thing in the morning and then another workout around 6 or 7 pm to set you up for wow in the evening. (DK Grade: “F.” With all due respect Mr. Sharma, do you have a real job? 1 a day on weekends is an accomplishment for me. 2 days on weekends, and I feel like I’m in the groove.  If I can get to 4 days a week, I’ve hit nirvana.)

#16. Work in 90 minute blocks with 10 minute intervals to recover and refuel (another game-changing move I personally use to do my best work). (DK Grade: “F.” Current intervals. Zero. Need to do this. Need. To. Do. This.)

#17. Write a Stop Doing List. Every productive person obsessively sets To Do Lists. But those who play at world-class also record what they commit to stop doing. Steve Jobs said that what made Apple Apple was not so much what they chose to build but all the projects they chose to ignore. (DK Grade: “F”. I consider this a total waste of time. Not going to do it.)

#18.Use your commute time. If you’re commuting 30 minutes each way every day – get this: at the end of a year, you’ve spent 6 weeks of 8 hour days in your car. I encourage you to use that time to listen to fantastic books on audio + excellent podcasts and valuable learning programs. Remember, the fastest way to double your income is to triple your rate of learning. (DK Grade: “F”. I’ve tried books on tape. I day dream. I miss pages at a time. I then have to rewind. Frustrating. Forgetaboutit. Leave me alone to my music, my thoughts and my cussing at traffic for 30 minutes. Not going to do it.)

#21. Get lost. Don’t be so available to everyone. I often spend hours at a time in the cafeteria of a university close to our headquarters. I turn off my devices and think, create, plan and write. Zero interruptions. Pure focus. Massive results. (DK Grade: “F”. If I get lost, I will be told to get lost. Not realistic in corporate world. Wonder if Mr. Sharma has been in a management/leadership post?  But I get it Robin, a little balance here is in order.)

MASTER:

#2. Stop waiting for perfect conditions to launch a great project. Immediate action fuels a positive feedback loop that drives even more action. (DK Grade: “A”. Just Focus and Drive baby. Just drive.)

#3. Remember that big, brave goals release energy. So set them clearly and then revisit them every morning for 5 minutes. (DK Grade: “A.” I don’t need big goals. They are handed to me. I have all the inspiration I need…and then some.)

#4. Mess creates stress. So clean out the clutter in your office to get more done. (DK Grade: “A”. I believe this to be true. My desk is spotless – to the point where some wonder if I do anything.)

#6. Say goodbye to the energy vampires in your life (the negative souls who steal your enthusiasm). (DK Grade: “A”. Zero tolerance. Happy to agree with Mr. Sharma here.)

#7. Run routines. When I studied the creative lives of massively productive people like Stephen King, John Grisham and Thomas Edison, I discovered they follow strict daily routines. (Peak productivity’s not about luck. It’s about devotion.) (DK Grade: “A”. Monday to Friday: Blog. Work. Read. Eat. Blog. Work. Read. Eat. Blog. Blog. Work. Read. Eat. I’m not saying this is healthy – just gradin’ the routines.)

#8. Get up at 5 am. Win the battle of the bed. Put mind over mattress. This habit alone will strengthen your willpower so it serves you more dutifully in the key areas of your life. (DK Grade: A+. 4:00am shot clock.)

#10. Don’t say yes to every request. Most of us have a deep need to be liked. That translates into us saying yes to everything – which is the end of your elite productivity. (DK Grade: “A+”.  All-pro back here…Master craftsman level.)

#19. Be a contrarian. Why buy your groceries at the time the store is busiest? Why go to movies on the most popular nights? Why hit the gym when the gym’s completely full? Do things at off-peak hours and you’ll save so many of them. (DK Grade: “A”. Mr. Go-Against-The-Grain scores high here. Finally get credit for it – LIKE IT.)

#20. Get things right the first time. Most people are wildly distracted these days. And so they make mistakes. To unleash your productivity, become one of the special performers who have the mindset of doing what it takes to get it flawless first. This saves you days of having to fix problems. (DK Grade: “A”. But come on. This is silly. This is like motherhood and apple pie. Met anyone who doesn’t want to get things right the first time? Yet, I believe that work ethic and stick-to-itiveness (Mimi word) does lead to getting most things right the first time.)

JOURNEYMAN:

#5. Sell your TV. You’re just watching other people get successful versus doing the things that will get you to your dreams. (DK Grade: “B+”. Since the advent of blogging, TV watching has been cut by 75%.)

#9. Don’t do so many meetings. (DK: Grade: B-. Occupational hazard. Can’t get away from this.)

#15. Drink more water. When you’re dehydrated, you’ll have far less energy. And get less done. (DK Grade: B –. Have some work to do here. And happen to agree with him. Although multiple trips to the rest room does reduce productivity.)

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Image Source: InJoeWeTrust

Related Robin Sharma Post

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