Lessons From Ultra-Productive People and Big Thinkers

7/02/2023 - Oxford.ing

I believe that creativity is contagious, and I think you should be a little more creative than you already are. Unsurprisingly, people get bored at work by not being challenged, doing the same, repetitive, dull, miserable, [insert additional negative adjective here].

The image above comes from a great Ted Talk on creativity and productivity by Tim Harford, who talks about just how we can unlock our creative potential whilst still achieving the basic requirements of jobs and the accompanying social conventions it brings. Like offering 'tea' to everyone when you get up to make one for yourself, even when you really don't want to and just know that everyone in the office will want one, but they'll all want different tea bags, followed by the menagerie of kinds of milk needed to make them.

The talk was fantastic and I'm definitely going to apply some of the theories he has, but while I was listening to the podcast version - typical me style I know -, it really got me thinking about the most productive people and what they do to actually be that productive.

So I did what any normal-ish person would do and travelled down the rabbit hole of madness that is the many biographies of those hyper-successful and somewhat intense multi-million, and multi-billionaire business and just generally really successful and productive people. I'm not sure how much stuff I actually found out, but by re-reading 14 of the best biographies I've ever had the privilege of oggling with my little headbeans, I can safely say that these 5 traits are in each and every one of them. so without further ado, and just after I have a quick little power nap before writing this last bit, I'll summarise:

Today is a fast-paced world, so productivity is highly valued.

We all want to be productive and achieve our goals, but sometimes we struggle to stay motivated and focused.

Fortunately, there are lessons we can learn from the world's most productive people to help us stay on track and achieve our goals.

Here are the five most important lessons I've learnt from reading the biographies of these highly productive people:

1. Prioritize your time

One of the key habits of highly productive people is that they prioritize their time. They make sure that they spend their time on the things that matter the most to them. To do this, it's important to identify and prioritise your most important tasks above everything else. This means saying "no" to tasks that are not important or can be delegated to someone else.

- Steve Jobs / Tim Ferris

2. Set specific goals

Highly productive people also set specific, measurable, and achievable goals. They have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and a plan to get there. This helps them stay focused and motivated, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment when they achieve their goals.

- James Clear / Cal Newport

3. Eliminate distractions

Distractions can be a major obstacle to productivity. Highly productive people are good at eliminating distractions and staying focused on the task at hand. This means turning off notifications on their phone, closing their email, and avoiding social media while they work.

- Steven R. Covey / Steve Scott

4. Take breaks

Taking breaks is essential for productivity. Highly productive people know when to take breaks and how to use them effectively. They take short breaks throughout the day to recharge and refresh their minds. This helps them stay focused and productive over the long term.

- Mark Manson / Phill Knight

5. Develop a routine

Highly productive people also develop a routine that works for them. They have a set schedule that they follow every day, which helps them stay organized and focused. This routine might include time for exercise, meditation, reading, and work-related tasks.

- David Coggins / Jocko Willink / James Clear

In conclusion, there is a lot we can learn from the world's most productive people. By prioritizing our time, setting specific goals, eliminating distractions, taking breaks, and developing a routine, we can increase our productivity and achieve our goals. So, let's take these lessons to heart and start being more productive today!

P.s: I was freaked out by the number of authors I just happened to read who all had the name Steve, Steven, or Stephen... It's a bit strange.