Time efficiency
I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson’s words resonate with me deeply. The fact that I try to read a lot, coupled with the reality that I have the memory of a firefly, it is a miracle I … Read more
The “planning fallacy” is that you make a plan, which is usually a best-case scenario. Then you assume that the outcome will follow your plan, even when you should know better. Daniel Kahneman. Estimator: An individual who does precision guess-work based on unreliable data provided by those with questionable knowledge. In 1957, the Aussie government … Read more
Most of us don’t need more time. We just need more deadlines. On Sunday, April 3, 2005, Michigan State and North Carolina were battling out in the final four of the NCAA basketball tournament. The Detroit Free Press published an article about the game, in which columnist Mitch Albom alluded to the presence of two … Read more
The greatest enemy of good thinking is busyness. John Maxwell. I’m probably not too far off in my guess that a majority of us believe in the power of meditation to help us gain peace, focus, and contentment. Yet only a fraction of us actually take the time to actually sit down and meditate regularly—myself … Read more
We overestimate what we can do in a year, but vastly underestimate what we’re capable of in a decade. Thanks to our inability to play the long game, we get disillusioned and quit before we start to see results. I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do … Read more
If it isn’t obvious by now, I like to read. Every time I pick up a new book, my heart and mind fill with possibility. I’m a firm believer that the written word has the power to speak to us, to move and inspire us in ways we can never imagine. And it doesn’t take … Read more
Have you been trying to get fit, start a business, or learn Korean but have instead become an expert beatboxer or pen twirler? First, congratulations—beatboxing and pen twirling are impressive skills, regardless of what others say. But, yes, you, like me, may also be a master of spending “major time on minor things.” (Motivational speaker … Read more
Productivity, as defined originally in economics, is a measurement of the rate of output per unit of input. It didn’t take long for that concept to spill over to popular culture in the form of “Personal productivity,” which is really a measure of how efficiently and consistently a person can complete an important task. Unfortunately, … Read more
I woke up this morning, ran twelve miles, made myself a green smoothie, and meditated for half an hour…in my dream. My reality isn’t so rosy. I presume you have similar experiences too. While imagination is a valuable tool, most of us spend way too much time thinking versus doing. Brain not storming I’ve … Read more
Time isn’t just a valuable resource. It is the most valuable commodity on earth. Yet, we squander it away like it’s a renewable resource. To manage your life and steer it in the direction you want it to go, you need to find a way to manage your time. Whether you made New Year resolutions … Read more
The law of diminishing returns is the threshold at which productivity (or happiness) starts to plateau and may even reduce. It is related to what economists refer to as the point of marginal utility—where more input does not necessarily produce a corresponding increase in output. A lesson from history The Byzantine (Roman) empire was possibly … Read more
It’s easy for productivity gurus to judge the procrastinators (those who believe in never putting off till tomorrow what can be done even later.) But many of these efficiency experts are plagued by an affliction themselves—the problem of precrastination. Their tendency to finish tasks early can be equally dangerous, and dare I say, counter-productive. How … Read more
The English dictionary has more words than can fit in this paragraph to describe what happens when we don’t have deadlines. My favorites, off the top of my head, in no particular order, include the following: dillydallying, loafing, loitering, dawdling, wandering, squandering, and the catch-all term procrastinating. As an expert practitioner of all flavors of … Read more
Getting by on 4-5 hours of sleep in our culture is seen as a bragworthy achievement. On the other hand, requiring a reasonable 7-8 hours of sleep is considered a sign of weakness. Unfortunately, these perceptions are wrong. In fact, dead wrong—continued or chronic sleep deprivation is cause enough for death, according to sleep science. … Read more
This article is Part 2 of the Early Mornings series. Part 1 was the discussion about How to Wake Up Early. If you haven’t read that already, I highly recommend you do. You can’t work on morning routines unless you have mornings to work with–cart before the horse and all that. We do more before … Read more
Does the phrase wake up early make you want to curl up and sleep some more? If you feel the word morning has too much a.m. associated with it, you’re not alone. After spending more than half my life a night owl, I slowly transitioned to being an early bird—a lark. Not to sound too … Read more
What do foxes and hedgehogs have to do with skills and happiness? And while we’re in the mood to ask questions, what (or who) on earth are specialized generalists? Trust me, it is worth knowing the answers to these questions. You’ll see why… Let’s start with a Greek parable. In the translated words of the … Read more
I’d like to start this article on how to adopt a proven corporate productivity tool, “working in sprints,” to fuel personal growth, with this disclaimer. If you have one (or both) of the items listed below, then this article may not be very useful to you: Unlimited resources Unlimited time For the rest of us, … Read more
I’ve experimented with various techniques over the years to build good habits. Given I’m nowhere near perfection, let’s say not all methods worked well—the reviews are mixed. I’ve since then discovered the power of habit-streaks. It’s no wonder I’m a fan. I reckon you should be too. Hear me out… Allow me to brag I … Read more
Sometimes I wish I could lay down on the couch and read. For a few years. It’s no secret I like to read. I used to be able to read anything and everything. And I’d usually persist to the end regardless of whether I liked the book or not—sunk cost fallacy in action. Sunk costs … Read more