Key to Being Productive!
At a Glance
The definition of productivity is
getting more done of what matters
most. To decide what matters most,
we need to let go of urgency
addiction and do what is most
purposeful
Key 1: Check for Urgency Addiction
Question
1. I seem to do my best work
when I'm under pressure.
2. I often blame external things
for my failure to spend deep,
introspective time.
3. I'm often frustrated by the
slowness of people and
things around me. I hate to
wait or stand in line.
4. I feel guilty when I take time
off work.
5. I always seem to be rushing
between places and events.
6. I frequently find myself
pushing people away so that
I can finish a project.
7. I feel anxious when I'm out of
touch with the office for more
than a few minutes.
8. I’m often preoccupied with
one thing when I'm doing
something else.
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Objectives
1. Get over urgency addictions
2. Define your personal mission
3. Clarify your Roles, and choose
Goals for each (then actions to meet
each of the goals)
Rating Question Rating
9. I'm at my best when I'm
handling a crisis situation.
10. The adrenaline rush from a
crisis seems more satisfying
to me than long-term results.
11. I often give up quality time
with important people in my
life to handle a crisis.
12. I assume people will naturally
understand if I have to
disappoint to handle a crisis.
13. I rely on solving some crisis to
give my day a sense of
meaning and purpose.
14. I often eat lunch or other
meals while I work.
15. I keep thinking that someday
I'll be able to do what I really
want to do.
16. Sending lots of email s by the
end of the day makes me feel
like I've really been
productive.
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Key to Being Productive!
Key 2: Decide Personal and Professional Mission
What?
 Personal or professional missions
are long-term statements of overall
purpose
Why?
 Because we need a sense of the
big “why?”
 It will act as a compass for us
Key 3: Stay focused on the Goals of Your Roles
ROLE
Why?
 Because we have several
important roles
 Much of our pain in life comes
because we are living one role to
the exclusion of other roles
How? Ask these questions:
 What is most important in your life
as a whole?
 What makes the moments in your
life meaningful?
 What do I want to be and to do in
my life?
 What kind of a person do I want to
be?
 What kind of a contribution do I
want to make?
Goals / Actions
 Because balance among roles
means they work together for the
accomplishment of your mission
 A simple workflow system ensures
you store open items and get
reminders when you need them
Key to Being Productive!
How?
 Write down your major roles
 Decide a specific goal (this week,
this month) for that role
 Choose an ACTION that will
advance that goal for this role –
then SCHEDULE it!