KILLER PRODUCTIVITY - excerpt from Unknown to Unstoppable

KILLER PRODUCTIVITY

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morn- ing. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” – Mark Twain

I’m not in the habit of eating frogs, but Mark Twain’s comment is about getting the biggest, hardest, or worst things done right away so you can sail through the rest of your day.

The secret to avoiding killed productivity and achieving killer productivity is to time block your day and tackle the most impor- tant work first. Then, you can be satisfied with the day as you get things done before the phone starts ringing and kills your productivity.

I maintain a written list of every single task I must get done. Some need to be done today, tomorrow, next week, next month, or even next year.

At the end of each day, I review my list and write down the top three to five tasks that must be done the following day to feel like it will be successful.

Does this always work? Yes, it does ... unless you don’t put in the work. The times I have failed are the times when I get lazy. The days

when I stay up too late, sleep through my miracle morning, and start the day off grumpy and without enough rest or coffee — those days turn into a train wreck. I have five children under 10 years old. If I don’t get my miracle morning done before they start their day, I am not giving them the time they deserve before the phone starts ringing.

You either own and conquer the day, or the day owns and con- quers you.

ACTION STEPS

1. Time block your most important work. I often do it at 6 or 7 a.m. to ensure I start the day off right.
2. Eat your big frog first. Do the most difficult, important tasks first thing in the morning while you have energy and focus.
3. Tackle the tough conversations that move deals forward. They should be your first calls of the day.