Our idea of productivity has changed in the last few years, and I don’t think it’s a change for the better.
A few decades ago, the word productivity would’ve conjured up images of efficient factories. A decade ago, productivity was equated with goal-driven executives and salesmen.
What do you think about today when you read the word productivity?
Let me guess: Software. Apps. Systems.
And this thinking about productivity causes all sorts of problems.
Systems Aren’t Bad
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not criticizing systems or apps. They’re great tools.
But the problem is that – they’re just tools. They’re just aids that help us get from point A to point B. They don’t take the journey for us.
Real Productivity Comes From Within
Real productivity comes from focus and effort, not from an app. It comes from effective prioritization – and that comes through hard thinking and not software.
You can have the most advanced productivity apps and still fail at being productive because you actually have to do the work. Likewise, organized effort can make you incredibly productive even if your entire system consists of scribbled notes on the back of your hand.
Setting up the perfect system may be daunting. But you can start right now to work hard. You can focus right now.
What if we spent as much time determining goals as we did looking at apps?
What if we worried about focusing and exerting ourselves as much as we worried about getting our system organized?
Systems are great. They are tools that can help us move forward at an increased pace. But don’t forget that the true engine of productivity lies in focus and action.
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