subject: 4 Daily Actions to Create a Wildly Productive Day [print this page] 4 Daily Actions to Create a Wildly Productive Day
It may sound like a crazy idea that doing four things each day can make a difference in ordinary success and wildly successful productivity. But before you write this off as a silly idea, read on...Have you ever heard of Parkinson's Law? It's also known as the 80/20 rule. Formally stated, Parkinson's Law says that your work will expand to fill the exact amount of time you make available. Simply put, if you allow a whole day to complete a task, it will take all day. Studies have shown that just 20% of what you do will produce 80% of the desired results. That means that 80% of what you do is just "filler" and won't amount to much.It's easy to confuse being busy with being productive. It's a deception to think that if we spend the whole day on a project that we've been really busy. Maybe so, but have we been productive? At the end of the day, look back and ask yourself if what you completed were the important things that moved your business forward.Be sure the four things you decide should be done on a particular day will actually produce 80% of your desired results. The key is to decide exactly what those 4 tasks are going to be. Before you decide what 4 things to work on, you should determine what impact they will have - are they truly important, or just urgent? Urgent matters do need attention, but don't let these urgent matters take away from the 20% of work that will bring you the most results and really move you along toward building your business.First you need to determine what your "impact" tasks are for each day, then hop on board and get them done. Don't be sidetracked by the phone or email. The number one enemy to achieving daily what you should, is distractions. When you've tackled your first task, give yourself some breathing room; take a break - a walk, a snack, or whatever refreshes you. No matter how you choose to take a break, be sure to get away from the computer! You'll be more alert in order to refocus on the next thing, and your eyes will thank you.Now, it's time to work on your next "impact" task. Take a break, and then finish the third and than the last task. You'll finish long before the end of the day if you watch for distractions and don't procrastinate. Then, you can take care of the less important things that still beg for your attention - BUT, it will be without guilt or pressure because you already have the important things done. Imagine what a great feeling that will be!
