J. Michael BrowningThe pursuit of productivity consumes me to the point that I let it take over my daily approach of making it happen. Always one to try something new, I’m quick to bore and begin the migratory search for the next thing.
Am I the only one?
I made a comment to my team the other day about how important productivity is, and the evolution of the toolset that makes us such. I gave an example of a contractor using a rock to hammer nails into the wood of a house. While effective, it’s not necessarily efficient. Nor will the process withstand longevity.
However, give that builder a hammer, and he’s drastically improved his efficiency, productivity, and ability to scale over time. He’s now able to build the same house at a much quicker rate, reducing not only labor costs but potentially improving his bottom line.
There are a few key areas to focus on.
Goal!
You need to determine what your goals are and then devise ways to productively achieve those goals.
- What are your goals?
- What is the intended outcome of achieving those goals?
- What timeline must the goals be completed in?
Once you’re able to answer these types of questions, then it’s time to determine the tools to accomplish your set goals.
- Is this an individual goal, or one that needs a collaborative effort?
- Can I achieve this goal digitally, physically or a combination of both?
- How will I track every facet of the journey to completion?
Work With What Works
Sometimes the answers to the above are quite simple, and shouldn’t be made into something it not. And sometimes, the best tools are the easiest.
Here are a few different categories of productivity, with parallel solutions.
Quick Action
- Notepad & Pen
- Digital note taking solutions like TextEdit, Notepad, Bear, Notes, etc.
- Long-form solutions like Evernote, Notion, Coda, Agenda, etc.
Task-Based
Project Management
Overview
Sometimes I just make the journey down this crazy road a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Whatever your solution is, it should fit your needs. Also, note that not every solution will provide for every use case. every use case. Ali Abdaal, a Cambridge educated doctor and YouTube persona, selflessly promotes utilizing multiple tools.
Take a look at your end goals and use people like me that consistently change productivity solutions to help you find which one works best for you.