Nicholas Bate

Blast from the Past 1: Extreme Productivity

First posted June 2007.

You know what Extreme Sports are don't you? You may even be a practitioner. Here's a definition from Wikipedia:

"Extreme sport (also called action sport, adventure sport, and adventurous sport) is a media term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger or difficulty and often involving speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts."

But you probably haven't heard of Extreme Productivity?

".. by focusing on the absolute essentials of the skill, by working the high pay-off areas and ignoring some of the standard 'safety' but limiting practices. There is an incredible exhileration in getting it right as the practitioner is often flipped 'into the zone'. There is also a high level of risk if focus is lost or attention to detail is lost.."

Extreme Produtivity

Rule 1
You no longer carry a watch. You decide that whatever you are doing, you will be in that moment and not worrying about the previous meeting, nor worrying about the journey home. You will simply 'be here now'. When you need a time-check, there are plenty around.

Rule 2
You carry one 3 by 5 card each day, freshly created. It has a vertical line to divide each side of the landscape mode. Front side is home/personal. Rear side is work/commercial. The Left-hand division is IN time (Important and Urgent). The right-hand division is ON time (Important and Investing). Complete them and work them.

Rule 3
All meetings are a maximum of 30 minutes. All meetings are standing up.

Rule 4
All decisions are followed by an immediate action. A decision is not a decision until you have taken an action.

5 to Go

1. Another great day.
2. Another great Monday.
3. I'm choosing.
4. I'm focusing.
5. I'm leading.

5 Productivity Guidelines

1. Keep a Master List rather than a 'to do' list. A 'to do' list is simply what has to be done. A Master list is what you want to do as well. It's a very important distinction.
2. Leave the Swamp, Climb the Mountain at least once a day. Get perspective. What's really important here? What am I really trying to achieve? Commercial and business. Too much time in the swamp leads to reptile-brain behaviour.
3. Add One; Drop One. Whenever you add an activity (yoga class) drop something (spanish class). To keep adding is clearly non-sustainable. You can do anything but you can't do everything.
4. Choose rather than React. Choosing optimises. Reacting survives. Sometimes they are the same; but generally not.
5. Do Less to achieve More. Activity in itself doesn't necessarily achieve anything. It's the right activity which is crucial.

Empty..

..your bag/briefcase/purse/wallet out onto a large flat surface. Aim to discard 50%. Re-pack. You'll find you can think more clearly and walk taller.

Don't forget..

..to read Michael Sampson's great posts on being effective.

Writing and Flow State.

Working on your novel? A tricky report to write? Troubled over how to respond to that e-mail? Get into the zone.

The Dr Who Guide to Productivity

TARDIS: Time And Relative Dimensions In Space. Oh and Daleks are pretty good for focusing your mind, too.

The Jason Bourne Guide to Productivity

Travel light: whatever you need is either around you, can be adapted or found via an internet cafe. You might like to pick up hints from other productivity experts including Picasso, TE Lawrence...

The Stephen King Guide to Productivity

90 days.
2000 words/day.
Equals one 180000 word novel.

Other celebrities speak out here.

The TE Lawrence Guide to Productivity

Eat alone.
Eat standing up.

Picasso et al give you their tips on productivity here.