Dumb Little Man | Tips for Life

From my experience this is because of two reasons: The thought of what you plan to do appears too vast in your mind.

This creates a feeling that can be considered the opposite of motivation; overwhelm.

What you are planning to do is not associated enough to a compelling outcome. This occurs frequently if the outcome you are working towards is far into the future (5 year plan, what?)

I work with people who want to turn their ideas into reality.

The majority of times this will involve having to do something everyday to move them closer to their outcome. The worst expectation my clients can have is that they will feel motivated in order to do the work required.

Lets looks at other activities that you do most days;

• Get out of bed
• Browse the internet
• Brush your teeth
• Eat Food
• Watch TV

Let me ask you a question

Do any of the above activities require you to feel motivated before you do them? I doubt it.

So what is a more efficient way of ensuring you do the activities required to achieve your outcomes and become a highly productive superstar?

You want to create systems that reduce thinking time and are easy to start. Below is a 6 step process to help you begin creating a system for anything you intend on achieving;

1. Set a compelling outcome that is not too far into the future (within 6 months is a good start) and has you feeling excited about taking action. An example for a writer would be: “Have my current book completed in first draft by September”
2. What is the pivotal driver in creating the outcome? This is the most important factor required in order to move you closer towards the outcome. Example: “Write 10 pages a day.”
3. Create systems around these drivers – what does the process(es) look like? “An hour after I wake up, make a drink, sit down, turn the off button on my internet, open up word, take a deep breath, start writing." This part turns your outcome into concrete processes.
4. Be clear where your peak points are throughout the day. These are the times of the day when you find you work best. For some this is in the morning, while for others it may be in the evening. Example: “I work best an hour after I wake up.”
5. Schedule the time where you will perform the system and implement a 'time box' around it so there is a definitive end point for each period of time. “At 10AM I start and will set a timer for 40 minutes. I will then have a break for 30 minutes and then begin another 40 minutes. I will do no more than 3 work periods in a day."
6. Do it consistently until it becomes a natural process for you.

When you take out the need to feel motivated to do what is required to achieve your goal a weird phenomenon occurs; you actually do the work that you would do if you consciously felt motivated anyway.

Why?

Because motivation is a process that occurs outside of your awareness anyway, it is not meant to be thought about.

So if you have a goal and it gets you excited, start moving, start doing and let motivation take care of itself.

The Value of Focus

Remember the school experiment in which we used a lens to cause the convergence of the sun’s rays and watched in awe as a scrap of paper placed underneath caught fire? This, precisely, is what focus is about.

When the rays of the sun scatter everywhere, they do not have the capacity to generate enough heat but use a lens to focus the same rays and you get magical results.

Similarly, you may have the greatest ideas and the most brilliant of plans but unless you set your sights clearly on what you wish to achieve and follow through with focus, you will not reach your goals.

How to Develop Focus

Compared to motivation or perseverance, focus is often easier to develop. It does not require you to learn something new; rather, it involves a process of letting go of some of your habits that distract you from the most important things.

Here are a few ways in which you can develop focus.

1. Stop Doing Too Much

Think of all your activities throughout the day and list them out. Then look at each one individually and assess if you really need to be doing it. Where possible, delegate the task to someone else; if there are things you simply do as a matter of habit, but which do not contribute in any meaningful way, stop doing them.

Keeping up with news of your area of expertise or general situations in your area may be necessary; but is it really so important to regularly follow the gossip columns that detail the lives of celebrities?

If you have a full-time job, attend classes to pick up a new skill, volunteer for community work and take up a part-time job to augment your income, burnout is an inevitable outcome because you constantly have so much on your plate that it overwhelms you.

Rather, stop doing the things that are not an absolute necessity at the present moment, and you will find it easier to focus on those that are most important.

2. Prioritize 

Before you blindly jump into getting things done, pick the tasks that are most important. Sort out the items on your “to do” list and arrange them according to how urgent or important they are.

Prioritizing will help you avoid the activities that drain your time and energy. If you have set your aim on learning a new skill, give yourself a timeframe within which to complete it and put it as an important task on your list.

Cut out something that is not as important and you will find it easier to do what you need to do to achieve your goal.

3. Get Rid of Distractions

It takes very little to divert our mind from the task at hand – an e-mail from a friend, or an interesting article in the newspaper or even a simple conversation in the office can serve as a distraction.

Distractions tend to make you lose not just valuable time, but also your focus; so take steps to keep them away.

De-clutter your desk, your computer or your home and you are sure to find it easier to focus on the task on hand. If you have an important presentation to prepare, do not log on to your email and turn off notifications because the messages there will divert you from working on your project. Take off the headphones to cut out the music.

Announce to people that you are going to be busy and out of bounds for the next few hours and shut the door of your room. Turn off the television and maybe even your phone.

The Bottom Line

In today’s competitive world, we believe that multi-tasking is essential and we are obsessed with becoming “well-rounded” personalities.

While this may seem like a good thing, it has the potential to cause damage by draining you.

Instead, stick to one goal at a time, eliminate clutter and work on achieving your one goal before moving on to another one.

Take these steps to improve your focus and almost instantaneously, you will find your productivity soaring.

Here are some practical steps you can do right now to push yourself to action.

1. Throw your hat over the wall

Do you remember being on the playground in elementary school when some idiot threw the ball over the fence?

Then everyone got together and decided who had to hop the fence and get it? Let's use this example in today's life. Throwing your hat over the wall means completing an action that forces you to get started on a goal.

Let's say you've been wanting to get in shape for awhile but haven't came up with the motivation. Do this right now: go buy a 3 month membership to your local gym.

Congrats, you've just thrown your hat over the wall, now go get it. Look for simple actions that will force you to get motivated to act.

2. Make the consequences unbearable

Did you know most people would rather protect their assets than risk gaining more? This is human nature but sometimes it goes against our best interest.

This technique is similar to the first but stands out on this principle: if you don't accomplish your goal, there will be consequences.

Here's a good example. Let's stick with the exercise theme and say you posted on Facebook how you are going to post pictures of your 'new' self in 60 days. Okay, so now you have a challenge. What will be more painful?

You being sore from the gym or the embarrassment of you shirtless on Facebook? What scenario can you create to make the consequences of not accomplishing a goal more painful than taking action?

3. Envision 

There was once a man who was very fast and would race people for money in his small village. One day another man approached him and challenged him to a race. The challenger asked the fast man just how he was so fast. The man answered, "When I'm racing, I picture a wolf chasing me.", "Ah" replied the challenger.

They both lined up 200 yards away to begin the showdown. Bam! Went the gun and the two started off. The fast man was ahead at first but then from the corner of his eye the saw the challenger blow past him and cleared the finish line right in front of him.

After the race, the fast man approached him and asked how he was so fast. The challenger replied, "Well you see. When I run, I picture myself chasing the wolf".

Envision the feeling of actually accomplishing your goal and then chase that feeling like the wolf.

4. Set aside something until you accomplish the mission

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Sometimes to just go without something is a great motivator. If I told every woman that they could not eat chocolate until they've lost 5lbs the gym would be a massacre.

What's something that you really like that you could give up?

Could it be no more internet browsing until you've written your term paper? This is a great way to build willpower as well as motivate.

5. Start the snowball

What does every large snowball have in common? They were all started by a single snowflake. This is a momentum builder.

What small task can you do right now that you can keep building on until you've conquered your goal?

This may be hard because if you lack the motivation to do anything in the first place. So use one of the other tactics first then implement this one to get going.

Let's say you want to start a pet grooming business. It may seem overwhelming at first. What would be the smallest action you can take that you can build on?

How about reading a pet grooming book or just seeking out potential rental space?

Once you do take action however, you'll see the momentum carry you to the finish line.

One reason is that when you wake up early, you get enough time to rest between tasks. For example, you have something to do and it must be accomplished by 10AM.

You are so used to waking up at 8AM and before you know it, it's 11AM. So, the best thing to do is to wake up at 5AM, and do the usual rituals you do before setting out to accomplish that task.

This will make you more active and you will have plenty of time to rest.

With that said, let's jump into the reasons for waking up early.

5 Reasons for Waking Up Early 

Here are five simple reasons for waking up early and getting your work done:

1. Better safe than sorry: if you wake up late, there is always a probability that you will get to work late and this will definitely not be pleasing to your boss. It is better to be on the safe side by arriving early than for you to have a routine of saying, "I'm sorry," every time you arrive late.
2. Leave a good impression: being early will make people see how organized and also disciplined you are. Everyone has his or her late days but don’t use that as an excuse to become a late person. Using myself as an example, there were times when I'd arrive late to work and it made me feel miserable. Hey! Don’t blame it on traffic because that is everyone's excuse. If you want to beat traffic, it is very easy; wake up early and get going!
3. Reduce your blood pressure: yes! Being early has an effect on your health. You might not believe me, but try this out; have something to do by 10AM and wake at 9AM, mistakenly. See how you react to it. Well, let me tell you if you don’t know how to express it in words; you will be shocked to see that you overslept, your heart will beat like you ran a 500 meters race in 1 minute. You will be disorganized, confused and you might end up having an accident while trying to rush to work. Do you want that for yourself? Of course not. No human would want to take his or her life.
4. Reduces stress: what does stress do to the body? It breaks it down. So, waking up early gives you time to get yourself. One thing that leads to instant death is over-stressing the body. The body can be stressed in diverse ways. Using this as an example; you are supposed to be at work by 8AM and you wake up at 7AM, with the hope of getting there in an hour. Unfortunately, you get there at 8:45AM and you have to get things done by 6PM. Unfortunately, you aren't able to finish up even by 7PM. You then go home with little rest and wake up that same time to go to work. Making the things to be done, pile up.
5. Makes you stay healthy: now, this is self-explanatory, so I don’t need to go into details.

The Consequences

Now that we have seen the reasons for waking up early to get the job done, let's look at some of the consequences of not being an early riser.

1. Stress that can lead to sickness and death
2. Poor health
3. Increase in blood pressure: this is one example of health problem that may happen if you don’t wake early and save yourself the trouble of rushing to meet up.
4. Disorganization: when you wake up early, you get enough time to do what you want, take whatever thing that needs to be taken without being in haste. But when you do otherwise, you forget things, if not one thing and you won’t be yourself for the rest of that day.

With all those things noted, here are some short and inspiring quotes on early rising to get you going.

Short & Inspiring Quotes on Early Rising

1. "A stitch of time saves nine."
2. "Time once lost can never be recovered."
3. "To use up the best times in life, be punctual."
4. "Opportunity lost (time) can never be regained."
5. "Time is precious."
6. "...tick says the clock, what you have to do, do quickly."
7. “Lose an hour and you will hunt for it all day."

Take this into consideration, and start waking up earlier.

It doesn't have to be by much. Just a few minutes earlier each day will yield results in the weeks and months to come.

Think small steps, not quantum leaps.

Start At The End

You can't begin looking for the right system for you until you know what results you want. Take the time necessary to consider what you need -- and what you do not need. Write it down. It is too easy to be vague in your own head. Written needs (and non-needs) have a way of focusing your attention. Do not skip the non-needs list!

Here's an example. Let's call our system seeker Jeff. Jeff wants a system for staying fit. He's not a couch potato but he's not a triathlete either. He is not interested in winning any competitions. He does not want a body with less than 8% body fat. What he does want is to be limber and strong. He wants to look good in his clothes. He wants to feel good.

So Jeff knows that a racer's training system is not for him. Neither is a competitive bodybuilding system. He can probably write off any system that uses adjectives like crazy, insane or loco to describe itself. He can now focus on systems geared toward fitness, flexibility and health.

Know Thyself

How much structure do you need? Notice that I didn't ask, how much structure do you like? It's not about pleasing yourself, it is about knowing yourself. You may hate the alarm clock but that is precisely why you need an alarm clock. It causes you to do something that may not be to your short term liking but serves your long term pleasure.

This is not the time to be self-sparing. Are you willing to do something silly? Take a paper grocery bag, cut out some eye holes and put it over your head. Now go stand in front of the mirror and look at this person. What is he really like? What are his weaknesses? Where does he need to be lead?

I'm serious about this. Especially if you truly want to see your own body for the first time, really do this exercise. If you stand naked in front of a mirror with a bag over your head, I promise you will see someone you have never met before. It may be a bit jolting but it sure is eye opening.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

It is so easy to get excited about the promise of a new system. Just make sure that you verify its claims. This doesn't mean you have to be all cynical, it just means you don't want to get caught up in the red and shiny parts.

Remember your lists. Having most of what you need may cause you to stop looking. But be certain: can you do without what it is missing? Or is that a fatal flaw for your purposes? It is not an indictment of a system to recognize it does not serve your purposes even if it does great for other people.

Systems usually take some time to learn and commitment to master. Make sure you have found "the one" before you make that investment of your time, money and hope.

How Much Is Enough? How Much Is Too Much?

Are you looking for a simple way to bake a cake? Then don't be mesmerized by systems with "features" that you will never use. Don't get bogged down in complexity that seem to broadcast capability but is overkill for your needs.

Maybe it's not as simple as cake. Are you looking for a comprehensive way to run a successful bakery? Albert Einstein noted, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." This is where your needs inventory and especially your non-needs inventory will give you a means of assessing.

Should I Go With Facts Or Feelings?

Have you ever seen a system that sure looks good on paper but you just don't feel right about it? Such notions are worthy of examination. Shining the light of your attention on the matter may illuminate why you are discomforted. Of course the discomfort might be that it looks likely to work for you and you will therefore no longer have an excuse for failure. In that case, scroll back up and reread the "Know Thyself" section.

Your hunch may have another cause however. It may be that you recognize something that is not for you. Don't play this off. Get comfortable or move on to the next system.

In other circumstances, the excitement may be there but the facts are just not backing up the feelings. Is it a mere lack of information? Then go and get that information. If however it is the information itself that is at odds with your positive feelings, you need to take a step back.

The opposite can also happen. If you find yourself being negative for no good reason, don't let that block you from a good thing when you see it.

If your feelings positive or negative are starting to be insistent, stop. Take a breath. Set aside your desire to make this one work or to push it away. Put a "bag" over this particular system's head and see it for what it really is.

Stick Or Pivot?

So you know what you are after, you know yourself, and you have examined your options thoroughly. You dealt with the data, you got emotionally present, and you made your choice. Now the rubber meets the road.

No system implementation goes without hitches. You have to learn new things. You may have to go against your nature on occasion. You may get new information or your circumstances may change. Oh no, did you make the wrong choice?

Before you decide to cut and run, remember your path to right here. Recall why you made the choices you did. Are you now making some assumptions about how easy this "should" be that are really not appropriate? Are you getting overemotional, flustered, or panicky? If so, take a step back. Go get your grocery bag again. (Who knew it would be so useful?)

Of course there are times when something is just not living up to its promise. Don't let your investments (energy, focus, time, money) sway you to stick with something that is not going to give you the results you require. At the end of the day, that is the only measure. It all starts and ends with results. If need be, head back to the beginning and, with the new knowledge you have acquired, choose a new system that will deliver. Then work that system until you get your desired results.

No system can absolutely promise a result. Oh, it might offer guarantees but you don't want your money back, you want what you paid for. But you have to jump into life.

The outcome may be uncertain but the possibilities make it worthwhile.

So do your homework.

The right system can improve your odds considerably.

And during non-peak networking hours – so as to not get behind while away from the office.

Here are some easy tips to stay productive throughout an entire trip.

In-Transit Productivity 

1. Cue up emails:
When I know I’m going to have extended periods sitting at the gate or on the plane, I line work up so I know exactly what I need to accomplish while I’m in transit. Whether I have Wi-Fi access or not, I have documents and tasks open and ready to be checked off my to-do list. For example, if I don’t buy Wi-Fi on the plane (and I usually don’t on shorter flights), I’ll cue up 20-30 emails and shoot them off when I land.

2. Invest in personal growth:
Once I tear through all the emails and tasks I can while I’m not able to use the Internet, I spend time reading up on industry-related topics. If you focus on growing your knowledge base, instead of looking through products in SkyMall you know you’ll never buy, you’ll gain a significant advantage over people who get easily distracted and waste that precious time.

3. Network:
Whether you’re in the airport or on the plane, there are easy opportunities to meet interesting people and, more often than not, the chance to meet someone who can really help your career. Take time to be friendly with people in line, at the gate, and on the plane. You never know who you might meet and how they could impact your business or career.

4. Take time to see the big picture:
It’s hard to spend a lot of time thinking “big picture” about your business when you’re stuck in the day-to-day operations. When I travel, I try to invest a few small blocks of time (30-40 minutes) in thinking broadly about my business. Think about how you can grow your business more creatively and strategically. Consider how you can improve efficiency and productivity. Most importantly, determine who you can reach out to and how you can help them in some way. My goal is to think of five people I haven’t talked to in a while and spend five minutes reconnecting with them.

5. Set up meetings and after-hours events:
Spend time planning your schedule. If you already have this done by the time you’re on the plane, review your schedule to see if you can add anything. In addition, figure out what you want to get out of each meeting, conference session, and interaction. Figure out your purpose, who you want to meet, and what prep work you need to do in order to be as ready as possible.

Destination-Based Productivity

Once you arrive at your destination city and have meetings or conferences to attend, you have to figure out how you can best maximize your time.

6. Do busy work during free time:
If you have the fortune to meet with people face-to-face, utilize every opportunity. Whether these are meetings, events, conferences, or night networking events, take advantage of them. Spend time early in the morning or late at night taking care of busy work, such as catching up on emails and keeping up with things back at the office.

7. Keep phone calls to a minimum:
You are traveling for a purpose. Make sure to not spend too much time cooped up in your room making phone calls. Block off the majority of your day for in-person meetings, events, and opportunities to network. You can make phone calls when you get back.

8. Prioritize your events/meetings:
Oftentimes, there are multiple events you want to attend. Figure out which is likely to be the most beneficial for you and your company, and prioritize around that meeting. Don’t necessarily think about what you might learn the most from; keep in mind where your target market/prospective leads may be.

Whether you have a one-day trip or are gone for weeks at a time, it’s incredibly important to ensure you spend quality time with people in your destination city, as well as keep up with your day-to-day tasks.

Remaining productive while traveling can change your business and allow you to return to the office with new wind in your sails – and no catching up to do.

Your whole workday is ruined and you feel like leaving to go home early.

The collision of two worlds

Facing negative feedback is never easy. No matter if the feedback is constructive, it still may be very hard to swallow - especially if we receive it after some hard work and we think we have done our best to accomplish a task.

When you face negative feedback, two worlds collide: your expectations, their expectations and how the two don’t match.

This collision is inevitable, when your expectations of your work, your skills or yourself are out of sync with the external expectations of you. You might also find it shocking that the output you generated was not enough, no matter if you thought it was almost perfect.

Even if the feedback is given to you in a constructive manner, you may still think it’s unfair towards you and you may get very emotional in front of the person who gave you that feedback.

This makes the situation even worse.

Are you ready to face the criticism?

At some point, you are going to have to face criticism in what you do. However, what makes the difference between the ones who succeed and those who don’t is the way they handle criticism.

The people, who are going to fail, are taking the critique very personally and fail to take corrective action based on the feedback. They think that the person who gave criticism is wrong and doesn’t know what he/she is talking about.

On the other hand, the people who are successful understand that feedback is required in order to grow. It can also improve your results and let you become even more successful.

In fact, if you are receiving feedback, you should be grateful for it. Appreciate the fact that someone gave you valuable advice on how to become better in what you do or how to achieve better results in your work.

Learn to listen carefully

Although hearing feedback is never easy, it is necessary for our growth and development. In order to handle the feedback in the right manner, see it as constructive criticism.

If the criticism is unjustified or goes to a personal level, then it should be ignored.

Appreciate the feedback and the fact that the other person was willing to give it to you. Especially if the feedback is coming from someone who you look up to, so you should be genuinely grateful for him/her.

Even though appreciation plays a big part in how you handle the feedback, it is not enough. In fact, what you do (or don’t do) next plays a big part how helpful the feedback turns out to be.

It’s your responsibility to take action after receiving feedback from your actions or from your work. Otherwise the time spent on the feedback is wasted and you won’t be able to improve as quickly as the reviewer wanted.

4 tips for handling criticism

In order to handle the criticism better, remember these steps the next time:

1. Appreciate. The number one thing to do is to appreciate the feedback, since it is a great way to improve yourself and your actions. Feeling grateful helps with handling the criticism - it makes accepting it much easier.

2. Take it constructively. Take the feedback as constructive, not as damaging. There are times when you might receive feedback which is not justified, but those cases exist far less than the constructive ones. Understand the value of criticism and that it is a great way to reach success faster. It’s much better to receive it, rather than to live in your own fantasy world thinking that everything is alright.

3. Say thank you. Genuinely thank the person who gave you the feedback. Really, say it. Sometimes the person might be surprised at this behavior, but his/her feedback is really a useful tool for creating something much better in the future.

4. Take action. Finally, the feedback is useless if it’s not acted upon. That’s why it’s important to implement the points that the other person gave you the feedback about.

The faster you take corrective action, the better. 

Otherwise there is a great danger that you are never fully learning about the feedback that was given to you.

Over to you: When did you receive negative feedback the last time? How did you feel? How did you handle it?

Share your experiences in the comments below.

 ... Gives you a chance to fix mistakes

Getting work done early gives you the opportunity to get some distance, meaning you are more likely to pick up on mistakes or biases.

Writing in panic mode just before a deadline means not only are more mistakes made, but there is no chance to put them right.

... Reduces stress

We’ve all had times we’ve stressed about a piece of work for weeks before writing it hurriedly in the last couple of days.

The way I look at it now is that, if it has the potential to only take a couple of days, why not just write it and relax the rest of the time? Think of it as doing your future self a favor.

... Gets it done while it's fresh

There’s nothing like getting something done while it’s fresh. Writing up formal appraisal notes straight after a meeting means you can rely on your memory as well as your notes. Writing them a week later means a risk of not being able to decipher your scribbles.

If you hand in an expense report as soon as you return from a business trip it means there’s less chance of you losing the important documents and receipts.

"But I work best under pressure"

Getting work done early is very rare in today’s workplace.

There’s almost a badge of honor awarded to those who pull passable work out of the bag at the last minute, spouting the classic phrase 'I work best under pressure.'

My first thought is always “but how much better could you have done it if you’d given yourself more time?”

My advice to those who work better under pressure is to manipulate the situation to put pressure on yourself… but still get it done early!

Scheduling your whole day or week’s tasks is a quick way to realise you can’t afford to procrastinate on any of them, and means that a report that could be stretched out to take a whole morning when you’re not considering other demands will get done just as well in two hours.

Being early for work...

... Reduces stress

The number one benefit of getting to work 10 or 15 minutes early is that it sets you up with a sense of calm for the rest of the day.

You give yourself the time to regroup after your journey, have a cup of tea, and be ready at your desk as everyone else arrives in a panic at 9.

Arriving to work at the moment you have to start can give you an extra bit of stress that lasts all day; the value of being calm and organised at the start of your shift is unrivaled.

... Gives you a buffer zone

Planning to get to work early will, of course, give you an important buffer zone against unexpected transport issues.

Most managers will accept a missed alarm or late train as a one-off reason for being late to work, but once it starts to happen regularly, you need to realize you should be getting the earlier one.

... Gets you noticed

Another benefit of being early for work is that it will be noticed. If your organisation works different shifts, being there without the rest of your team means staff from other parts of the organisation will notice you and think well of you.

Being early also may give you a chance to speak to your manager, informally or formally, without the demands of the rest of the team getting in the way.

Being early for meetings...

... Allows you to get the best seat and build relationships

If you get to a meeting early, you’ll get to choose the best seat for interacting with the rest of the group to the degree you prefer.

You give yourself the chance to get to know other potentially influential members of staff who you normally don’t interact with outside of meetings.

… Gives you time to prepare

If you’re leading the meeting then it’s even more important to be early. There’s nothing worse than stumbling into a room full of people who have been waiting for you to start: they’ll feel that you don’t value their time and you’ll be flustered and unprepared.

Getting in early means that you’ll be ready to take charge of the meeting, you’ll appear comfortable and relaxed and be perceived as reliable and in control.

... Gets you noticed (again)

Being early for meetings sends a clear message: it makes you stand out from the crowd as someone with commitment to the task at hand.

As long as you are using that early-time in a professional way, and not using it as an excuse to escape other work, you will be noticed in a positive regard.

1. Build A Routine

The first thing you should start with is getting a routine in place. By routine I mean something ritualistic that gets your mind prepared for what you are about to do.

This can be as simple as putting on your action socks, or meditating on what it is that you want to accomplish.

Or even you making a coffee, sitting down, taking a sip, and starting.

2. Eliminate Distractions

The fewer distractions I have, the better I do.

Eliminate whatever distractions you can. Yes, that means Twitter, Facebook, and email as well. Whenever you check social media or email, you break your flow, and it resets the clock.

Look at it like sleeping; if someone wakes you up, it takes a while to get back to sleep, so guard your state of flow when you enter it.

3. Destroy Excuses

It’s easy to make excuses. Anyone can come up with an excuse that seems to validate them not doing the work they’re supposed to be doing.

But in the end, if you really want to reach your goals and accomplish something that truly matters, your excuses have to go.

You have to ship them off to a galaxy far, far away.

However, if you find yourself coming up with excuses, it’s either time to change your mindset, or examine if deep down you really want what you’re working towards.

4. Implement SMART Goals

You won’t get far if you have a goal that goes something like this: “I want to be wealthy and free.”

Great goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This is also called the SMART criteria.

Many are afraid of making SMART goals because it makes them accountable. If you say you’re going to make something happen within 30 days, you have to start taking action.

It’s scary, and good, because it gets your mind in the right place. It gives you focus.

5. Just Start

The hardest part is starting in the first place.

Focus comes when you sit down and write that article, get that assignment done, or take one step closer to your goals.

You can sit and analyze what you’re going to do all day, but it’s not going to get it done for you.

Sometimes the best way to increase your productivity is to just begin.

Think less, and do more.

You thought that the task was just a handful of work - but instead, it turned out to be a very stressful experience.

You barely got it done before the deadline.

On top of that, the unexpected workload completely messed up your personal plans.

Instead of spending time with your family or your friends, you were working extra hours on a task that was supposed to be a piece of cake.

Iceberg in Sight! Iceberg in Sight!

Do you realize what just happened? The iceberg caught you off guard!

“Iceberg?” you ask.

Yes. Let me explain what I mean. Icebergs are pieces of ice floating on water and their size varies greatly.

There are small and large icebergs, but for the sake of explaining this, let’s focus on the bigger ones.

Icebergs can be deceiving, because what you see above water level is only the visible part of it.

However, in some cases the iceberg could be a huge ice mountain, where the majority of its size is hidden underwater.

Do you now see the connection between a iceberg and those certain types of tasks on your to do list?

The task may look insignificant outside, but there is so much more to it than you think. It’s the hidden part that fools us into underestimating a task and promises an unrealistic optimistic timetable for finishing it.

Do You Really Know What is Ahead of You?

Don’t be one of those cocky people who never bothers to find out more details of their task, because they think they know what’s ahead of them.

It’s the lack of preparation which causes issues down the road. Especially if the task is something you have never done before, this kind of attitude is very dangerous and it could mess your schedule up completely.

Finally, when you don’t find out more about your task in advance, you are letting Parkinson’s Law step in: You think that you can accomplish a task very easily and you decide to postpone the start of it.

Eventually when you start working on a task (just before deadline) and an iceberg hits you, you are going to have a hard time finishing the task before the set date.

Smart Navigation to the Rescue

So, how do you prevent the iceberg effect from occurring?

By preparing, planning and adding a buffer to your time estimation.

First of all, do you have any kind of idea what type of task you are dealing with? If the task is something you have done already, then the risk for hitting an iceberg is much lower because you know what to expect.

However, if you are attempting a task for the first time then it’s time to do some homework - well in advance.

When you know that you have a new and unknown task coming, allocate time immediately to know about it a bit better. Once you have gathered some background information first, you at least have some idea of what to expect.

Also if possible, add extra buffers for your time estimation. If this task was assigned to you by someone else, it’s fair to say to him/her that you haven’t done this kind of task before and giving an exact schedule is not possible.

By doing this, you are keeping up-to-date with real schedules (instead of overly optimistic ones) and it is a good way to keep everyone’s expectations on the same page.

Finally, take some notes and create a system. Once you pull off the task you never done before, it is so much easier and faster to do it the next time. But to truly maximize your time on the next project, create a system to follow and apply that system the next time the task needs to be completed.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Those Icy Giants for Good

In order to avoid those icebergs in the future, take these steps:

1. Ditch your cocky attitude. Especially if this is a new task you have never attempted before, don’t expect to understand how much work there is involved. Giving overly optimistic timetables at this point is just plain silly.
2. Allocate time for preparation and studying. If you know that this new and unfamiliar task is coming soon, make sure that you learn more about it in advance. You could even set time aside to really dive deep into what the task entails.
3. Split the sucker. If you realize that this task is a big one, split it into manageable pieces and schedule the execution in your calendar. Tackling the task this way gives you a feeling of being in control - instead of being a passenger.
4. Start working on the task as soon as possible. Don’t let Parkinson’s Law get you. If you underestimate your task and start working on it too late, you are going to have a hard time meeting the deadline.
5. Communicate properly. Let every party involved in the task know that you haven’t done anything like this before and that you may need some extra time for completing the task. This way no one has unrealistic expectations of you for when the task should be ready.
6. Create a system. Record each and every step you took and you can even take notes on how long a particular step took to accomplish.

If you do the task again in the future, you have a much better way of estimating how much time it is going to take to finish it.

Conclusion

It is very easy to underestimate a new and unknown task and think that it’s piece of cake to get done.

Unfortunately, this isn't necessarily so and you will soon be bargaining your agreed deadline with your client, workers, or partners.

By following the steps laid out in this article, you will be on top of things and there is much less chance of becoming a victim of the dreaded iceberg effect.

It takes just some planning in advance and dumping the cocky attitude out into the sea along with the rest of the icebergs :)

Now it’s your turn: Have you encountered “iceberg tasks”? How did you tackle them? Please share your tips in the comments area!

So, how do we create an environment that will allow us to develop these constantly fleeting skills instead of taking the more compelling option of watching reruns of Seinfeld all day?

1. Surround Yourself with Positive People

You’re not going to get anything done if you’re constantly surrounded by people who are shooting down anything you say or who sit around and mope all day while playing the violin.

The mind can be a very fragile creature and when you are in an environment where your ideas are oftentimes belittled or met with cynicism or skepticism, you will be very compelled to give up on everything and join your friend with the violin.

Surround yourself with people who are going to empower you and make you feel great. If I have a great idea, I want it to be greeted with enthusiasm and constructive suggestions.

What I don’t want is to be told that I am going to develop testicular cancer followed by a vengeful tornado ripping through my home if I act on that idea.

2. Hold Yourself and Have Others Hold You Accountable

If getting things done was as simple as making a grand proclamation then we would all look like supermodels, have more money than Saudi Arabian oil princes and the only thing cigarettes would be used for would be to poison vermin.

It’s really easy to announce something, it’s much harder to actually do it.

That’s why you’re going to have to hold yourself accountable to the things you do and don’t do. If your plan is to go to the gym three times a week and you only go twice, you need to have someone there who will beat you with a (metaphorical) stick for not going.

You need someone who is not going to let you get away with settling for mediocrity.

It’s ridiculously easy to convince ourselves not to do something that we don’t want to do (e.g. “Go to the gym again? Actually, I already worked out once this year so I’m good!”). On the other hand, it’s much harder to convince someone else of the same thing.

So, if you don’t trust yourself to hold yourself accountable, get someone else to help you with that. That’s another bonus of having positive friends.

3. Find the Purpose in Whatever You're Doing

It’s really easy to lose all motivation and give up on something when you just don’t see the point of doing it.

For instance, why would you clean the entire house if you know that a parade of stampeding horses is going to gallop through it the next day?

That’s why it’s so crucial to just sit down and think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. How does it benefit you?

How does it improve your life? What does it teach you? Come up with compelling answers to these questions and you’ll stay motivated and determined.

4. Keep Track of All Your Accomplishments

Any big goal consists of many much smaller accomplishments.

For instance, if you want to lose 894 pounds before Thanksgiving (the big goal), you’re going to have to eat right and exercise.

To eat right, you’re going to have to come up with a diet, actually stick to that diet and burn down your local McDonald’s.

To exercise, you’re going to have to come up with an exercise routine and actually follow through with it.
And any one of these things you have to do can be broken down into a million smaller tasks – or smaller “wins.”

These small wins are absolutely integral to getting our lazy asses to stay motivated and inspired as they make us feel like we are actually accomplishing something. You just have to realize you’re accomplishing something in the first place!

5. Do Something for 21 Days Straight

Research shows that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. 

So, whether you want to wake up earlier each day, drink less alcohol or do a jumping jack every time someone says the word ‘currycomb’ then you will only have to really struggle for 21 days.

What sounds more achievable – working out for 21 days or working out every day for the rest of eternity?

Whatever that big audacious goal that you’re ever-so eagerly starting to work towards, just remember that working towards that goal will become second nature to you in less than a month.

The issue is actually doing that thing for 21 days straight, which leads me to my next point…

6. Break Out of Autopilot

We all set goals for ourselves - the issue is that thing called life somehow keeps getting in the way.

For instance, I set a goal of taking the stairs every time I leave my building in an effort to naturally become more active. A couple months after setting that goal, I had won the lottery an equal amount of times as I had used the stairs.

What was the reason behind this? Was it due to the extremely likely reason of having had broken both my legs while absconding to the South of France with a gaggle of gorgeous supermodels and thus could only take the elevator, or was it just because I was really lazy?

Actually, I could just never remember to take the stairs. It was that simple.

The problem is, we are so used to doing things a certain way that we run through everything while on autopilot.

We get into a set routine and can’t break out of it – not because we don’t want to, but just because we’re so damn used to it that we forget there are other options. That’s why it’s so important to set reminders for yourself in and around your environment.

Whether it’s through signs plastered all around your home reminding you to stay positive, a pair of running shoes sitting by your door to remind you to go running or by having an alarm go off at 7pm everyday reminding you to stop eating, try it out and see how it works for you.

The (Not-So) Epic Conclusion

And that, my friend, is how you can achieve virtually anything you set your mind to.

The secret is in actually setting your mind to it!

It may not be the easiest thing in the world, it may take some work and you may have to shift some things around in your life – but you can bet your diamond-encrusted cubicle that it’s going to be worth it!

I was getting more and more annoyed that I wasn’t doing the things I really wanted to do.

I’d think, I’m not lazy, but for some reason I wasn’t able to make those things a habit.

Any of This Sound Familiar?

It’s true – I’m not lazy, and neither are you.

Before we go further, let’s make sure two other things are true:

1. This thing you’re trying to do is something you’re really interested in. (For example, taking Cranky Aunt Edna to the mall is nice, but I can see why you might have some resistance.)

2. You have everything you need to do this thing. (You have a yoga mat and DVD, for example.)

Okay, those things are true. Good.

Here’s the core problem: this thing you’re trying to do is random. Doing something only when you feel like it isn’t the way to make it a habit. Whim is basically the opposite of discipline, so what do you do?

You Commit to Doing the Thing Every Day. 

Yep, every single day.

Experts say it takes 66 days of continuous practice to cement a habit.

That’s slightly more than two months of daily effort, and though that might sound like a lot, I’m here to tell you it’s not. You get into a rhythm pretty quickly, and it totally works.

I tried this experiment, and both yoga and creative writing are now as habitual as brushing my teeth. Here’s how you can do it, too:

1. Pick one thing you know would make you happier, healthier, or more productive.
2. Get a calendar and hang it where you’ll see it every day. (Mine’s on the fridge.)
3. Get a marker in a bright color. (Red Sharpie!)
4. Commit to doing your thing every day for the next 66 days. No excuses.
5. Start doing it. Today. (Baby steps help. In the beginning I committed to just 15 minutes each of yoga and writing, because I knew I could do anything for 15 minutes.)
6. After you do it, make a big X on today’s date. Do a happy dance in your honor.
7. Tomorrow, same drill. Do the thing, then mark a big X.

Here’s where the hard part comes in, at least at first. Remember “no excuses” from #4?

There will be days where it’s late, you’re tired, and you still haven’t done your thing.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT ANYWAY. (I was channeling your mom just then.)

But Every Day Doesn’t Have to Be Brilliant. 

Half-ass your thing – it’s okay, no one’s looking. I’ve had days where the yoga poses were wobbly and the writing was crap, but still, I got that big X on the calendar. I earned it, and you will too.

Here’s the good part. Pretty soon you’ll have an unbroken string of X’s reminding you of your awesomeness. A visual representation of your commitment.

And here’s the best part: daily practice of anything means progress. It didn’t take long before I noticed I was stronger and more limber, and the writing was filling page after page. Yay!

After 66 days a few things will have happened:

- You’ll have a new habit. It’ll be part of your daily routine, and you won’t even think about straying.
- You’ll be better at whatever it is you’re doing.
- You’ll be proud of your discipline and accomplishment.

Win, win, win. Quit beating yourself up for just talking about it, and make it happen.

What would you like to make a daily habit? Let us know in the comments!

(And hit the share button if you found something useful!)

Laying around?

Snuggling with your honey?

That's what I used to do, until I got smart. The following might sound painful (like fingernails on a chalkboard), but I've got to share it - If I didn't you'd be missing out on one of life's big secrets.

The Secret to Productivity

So what's this amazing secret? Something you must pay for before finding out? Of course not... it is simply that - I have learned that AM exercise is one of the largest boosters to productivity!

A morning workout wakes you up fast and sets the stage for the rest of your day.

You'll want to shovel a healthy breakfast into your mouth first for added energy, but as soon as you're done - pump it up!

Too early for the gym?

Don't worry about it.

Don't have an hour of free time in your morning routine?

That's okay.

You can get the added benefits of sunrise exercise just by doing something for 20-30 minutes. Jog around the block, do tae-bo with Billy Banks, or a simple push-up/sit-up/pull-up routine will suffice.

The idea is to shorten the amount of time from when you wake up and when you start to groove it! It takes most people 55 minutes or longer to wake up. Being sleepy is unproductive - you can minimize that time by quickly getting your heart pumping and blood flowing.

It has been proven that people who workout in the morning are more likely to stick with it. While exercising in the afternoon might sound like a good idea - once the working day is over, do you really feel like exercising?

5 Reasons to Workout in the Morning

1. You get to feel proud all day long. This is much better than the alternative of dreading working out all day. It also increases your daily self-esteem which results in higher motivation to get things done.
2. You'll have more energy. For those of you who don't know - when you finish working out your body continues to burn calories - especially if it was a muscular strength or endurance activity. Your morning movement gets your metabolism spinning and removes your body from "idle" mode.
3. If you do go to the gym in the morning - it's peaceful! That's right, no waiting in lines at the elliptical, no getting sweat on (like what often happens in the afternoon hours). It is so quiet that you could read a book on the treadmill or listen to podcast while lifting weights. Plus you get to meet some really cool people that are as conscious about life as you!
4. It gives your subconscious mind a reason to get out of bed the first time the alarm goes off. Do you often find yourself smacking the snooze button one too many times? Don't worry - I know the feeling (and have broken one too many alarm clocks). If you give yourself a reason why you must get up upon the first morning bell - then you are much less likely to lose time in morning doze zone.
5. You'll feel smarter. Have you ever heard of the brain gym? It is a program used by elementary schools to get kids moving in order to help them perform better academically. This routine is your version of the brain gym. Research shows that mental acuity is highest 8-10 hours after exercise.

What's Next?

So if you're convinced by now, good! Set the alarm for 4:30 am, hop in bed and have at it! No... I'm just kidding... that's not how it works.

At least not for me - if you want to start incorporating a morning workout into your schedule, I recommend you do it gradually and take things one step at a time. Start by waking up 30 minutes earlier each day - then doing the workout every other day - then finally going into the full fledged routine.

When I started doing this I found two things to help the most.

1. Putting my alarm clock away from the bed. It forced me to get up and didn't allow my "sleep mode" robotic arm to turn it off.

2. Having everything ready - it is just so much more motivating knowing your shoes, water, towel, and speedos (just kidding) are all laid out and ready to help you greet the day.

Being productive ensures you get the most out of every day you live. If your mornings are slow - I encourage you to evaluate your waking routine and see if you can incorporate a jolt of exercise energy!

Are you lazy in the morning? - Or do you currently experience the productivity boost from an AM workout? 

Share your experience and tips below!

Let's start. Your ready?

1. Single Task
   
   How many times have you tried to multitask only to discover that you haven't gotten anything done and are suddenly staring at fluffy kittens and cute puppies on YouTube?
   
   Not that I know anything about that though.
   
   Single tasking may be one of the most important things you can do to increase your productivity and happiness.
   
   When you focus your mind on one thing, it allows you to get into the zone and really tap into the creative genius of your mind.


2. Eliminate Outside Distractions
   
   In order to single task and really increase your productivity it’s imperative that you eliminate outside distractions.
   
   This might mean telling your friends, significant other, or even your dog to leave you alone for a certain amount of time.
   
   If you're not working from home, you have to train your coworkers to leave you alone so you can get more done, and have more time to relax after that.
   
   Or find a place where they can't find you.


3. Do It Now
   
   Most people spend their time avoiding their high-value tasks. The tasks that matter most.
   
   They procrastinate until the deadline is clawing at them.
   
   I'm sure you're nothing like this, but just in case you have a friend or two that has trouble with procrastination, I recommend you stop thinking and jump into action.
   
   Imagine how good you will feel when the task is done. Getting things done is not all about feeling good and motivated, it's about getting them done.
   
   Easier said than done, right?
   
   The choice is always yours. Do you want to feel bad procrastinating or good having it done?
   
   Procrastination is not something done unto you. It is something you are doing, so why not procrastinate on procrastinating until you’re done?


4. Plan
   
   What I’ve found to be highly effective is simply writing down what I'm going to do the next day before I go to bed.
   
   A small to-do list if you may.
   
   I don't make my to do list large or complicated. I keep it to two or three high-value tasks.
   
   If you're working in a 9-to-5 job, then you can adapt this process any way you want. Maybe you write down what exactly you will do when you get to the office. It’s up to you to discover what works best.
   
   Some people may start their day drinking coffee and chatting to their coworkers, but what would happen if you got all of the stuff done right away and then felt good for the rest of the day?
   
   
5. Take Breaks
   
   Your brain can only do so much focused work.
   
   That is why it's so important that you take regular breaks, stretch out, and take a few deep breaths. 5 minutes is enough.
   
   If you have the opportunity, take a short walk outside and take in some fresh air. It will not only reinvigorate you, but also keep you focused when you start working again.
   
   It's not about working six hours straight and getting “stuff” done, it's about doing high-quality work in the least amount of time possible, while keeping it enjoyable.


6. Kitchen Timer
   
   This is one of my productivity secrets.
   
   I use a software program called Focus Booster App, which works for both Mac and Windows.
   
   You can use a regular kitchen timer, or your phone if you like. What's important is that you work under a mini-deadline, which in my case is 25 minutes.
   
   I work in 25 minute blocks. After each, I take a 5 minute break. Then I do another one.
   
   For those 25 minutes, I do nothing but work on one task. No checking email. No Facebook. Just doing the work.
   
   I can play after, but during that time, I get stuff done.


7. Have Fun
   
   If you aren't having fun where you work, then make it fun, or do something else.
   
   You may be thinking that you’re stuck there, and you need to pay the bills, or you may have another excuse.
   
   But the real truth of the matter is that you’re scared about doing something else. Even though you may be bored out of your mind and hate your job, you don’t want to leave, because it’s familiar.
   
   In the end, it’s up to you.

What kind of life do you want to live?

Imagine doing what you do now for 20 years. What kind of a life would you be living then? Is it one that you are excited about?

If not, what are you waiting for?

When you love what you do, you can’t stop the increase in productivity.