Unleashing the Power of Productivity

People often look at our achievements and wonder, "How are you so productive?" Some may even watch in sheer disbelief as we have managed to lead, scale, and oversee our global venture capital firm while maintaining an astonishing average of 96 to 116-hour workweeks. The truth is, productivity isn't just about working long hours; it's about working smart, leveraging the right tools and strategies, and finding ways to maximize our time and impact.

One of the cornerstones of my productivity journey is my unwavering commitment to the principles taught by Brendon Burchard in the High-Performance Academy. This transformative framework emphasizes not just doing more but doing the right things with intention and purpose. It's about optimizing every aspect of our lives to achieve peak performance and fulfillment.

To put these principles into action, I rely on a meticulously organized toolkit of 8 productivity-enhancing tools and strategies. Let me take you through some of the critical elements that keep me operating at my best:

1. High-Performance Diary Planner : Time is our most valuable resource, and managing it efficiently is paramount. I've adopted the Brendon Burchard high-performance productivity planning approach and High Performance Diary Planner to effectively structure my days and weeks.

2. Calendly.com : an automation scheduling tool, has been a game-changer, saving up to 4 weeks a year in simple back and forth meeting logistics. It streamlines the process of setting up meetings and eliminates the back-and-forth emails that can consume so much of our valuable time.

3. Fireflies.ai : Meetings are integral to my role but can quickly become time-consuming. Fireflies is a remarkable tool that automates our transcription and meeting analysis. This means I can focus on the content of discussions rather than worrying about taking notes. It enhances my ability to engage in meaningful conversations and extract valuable insights from each meeting. Moreover, in past meetings using the ChatGPT style, I Asked Fred to help analyze critical meetings for everything from positivity analysis to key takeouts, which makes a massive difference to productivity.

4. CloudHQ : Email management is a crucial aspect of my workflow. CloudHQ deploys AI-driven algorithms to scan and organize emails, ensuring compliance and audit readiness. For invoices and accounting, it wraps every email into a PDF and stores it in a work plan for our accounts team; for legal, it files by project. We can run activity analysis for any third-party client for project-based audits, with documented evidence for every action ever executed. It's a powerful tool for maintaining control and visibility over email communications while saving time on manual oversight.

5. RescueTime : To optimize my productivity, I use RescueTime, a tool that monitors and tracks every minute of my day. It provides insights into how I allocate my time, highlighting areas for improvement. I can make informed decisions to boost efficiency by identifying productivity bottlenecks and distractions.

6. Monday.com : Managing projects, programs, and critical milestones is simplified with Monday. This versatile platform streamlines workflows promote collaboration and enhances project tracking. It's an essential tool for ensuring that all our initiatives stay on course and meet their objectives.

7. Hatcher+ : Due diligence is a critical process in venture capital. Hatcher+ offers a semi-automated due diligence engine that provides instant feedback to our founders. It also offers real-time investment transparency and reporting on the funds to our limited partners (LPs). This level of automation and data-driven decision-making accelerates our investment cycle and enhances our ability to support portfolio companies.

8. ChatGPT : Used for everything from market research, strategic planning, due diligence, investment screening, portfolio management, deal sourcing, investor communication, predictive analytics, investment thesis development, risk assessment, and networking - ChatGPT makes its impact.

By harnessing these tools and strategies, I've navigated the complex world of venture capital with precision and effectiveness. It's not about working harder; it's about working smarter. Each decision carries significant weight as a venture capitalist, and the right tools can make all the difference.

Purpose, Passion and Play

But remember, productivity journey isn't just about optimizing work-related tasks. It extends to achieving work-life balance and ensuring overall well-being - something I particularly struggle with, with a young family and insane hours.

What I have learned building the R3i Group is that work-life balance isn't about juggling it all at once; it's about orchestrating a fulfilling symphony where each note of work and life harmonizes to create a beautiful composition of well-being.

In summary here are some key takeaways from my journey:

1. Purposeful Productivity: The Brendon Burchard High-Performance Academy has taught me the importance of aligning productivity with purpose. It's not enough to be busy; we must focus on meaningful tasks that drive us toward our goals - on our own agenda - not others.
2. Time Mastery: Calendly and diary planning have allowed me to regain control of my time. These tools enable me to allocate my hours deliberately, ensuring that I dedicate time to high-impact activities.
3. Effortless Efficiency: Fireflies, CloudHQ, and RescueTime are the unsung heroes of my productivity toolkit. Automating high volume, always the same tasks is a must. They handle tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming and error-prone, allowing me to operate efficiently.
4. Collaboration and Transparency: Platforms like Monday and Hatcher+ promote collaboration and transparency within our team and with our stakeholders. In venture capital, clear communication and data-driven decision-making are paramount.
5. Balancing Act: Productivity isn't just about work. It's about creating space for personal life, self-care, and downtime - an absolute priority for me in 2024 as our fund forges its foundations and our programs kick off with our partners around the world. The productivity tools mentioned free up time invaluable time for me to enjoy life with my family - those who matter most.
6. Continuous Improvement: Productivity is an ongoing journey. Regularly evaluating and optimizing my workflow ensures I stay adaptable and practical in a constantly changing landscape.

Take back to the office

In conclusion, the path to productivity is more than one-size-fits-all. It's about finding the right combination of tools, strategies, and principles that work for you.

Purposeful productivity, time mastery, and work-life balance are our guiding principles at R3i Ventures R3I CAPITAL and R3i Impact Foundation .

Join me and our team on the journey to peak productivity!

A commitment to purposeful productivity, time mastery, efficiency, collaboration, work-life balance, and continuous improvement has made all the difference.

Finally 3 Valuable Lessons from 2023:

1. Embrace Dependence: Society often emphasizes the importance of independence, but this year has shown me the beauty and strength in being dependent on others. It is not at all about doing it all by yourself. As a leader, I've learned to rely on key members of our R3i team: Gea Ban Peng Marianne Winslett Ian Cresswell Guy Collier James G. (Jimi) Shanahan 莫利纳利帕特里斯 , Peter Hlavnicka , Simon Quirk Barbara Erskine David Jacobson Celeste Barone Sean Murphy Simran Singh and Alain Noullet , and our global community of Founders, recognizing that their support is invaluable. We should cherish the grace in dependence.
2. Community Matters: Having a community and tribe to depend on is crucial. These are the people who make challenging times less daunting and joyous moments even more special. They encourage vulnerability, offer help, and provide protection when needed. We're meant to thrive with others around us.Shout out to Izak Kous Henry Wong Marc Pollick Arjan Singh Murray Macmillan Jaslin Lau Yoong Hui Chia Thibaut Briere Michelle Duval Annie Luu Hayakawa Ryotaro Nelaka Haturusinha Rishi S R. Adam Smith Sara Gori John Sharp Alexander Crowell Robert Rubinstein Rhea See Virginia Tan Christina Lee Carole Bruckler, PhD Naoya NAKAMARU Freddy Dutoit Sharifah Khairunnisa Almushayakh Dina Titkova Jowita Michalska Janice Goh Si Hui Enterprise Singapore Chika Togami Masuda Dr. Joe H. Philip Winslett and so many more. Your support has made all the difference.
3. Gratitude for Support: This year has reinforced the significance of having an amazing support system. Through highs and lows, my family, friends, advisors and founders have been a constant source of strength and companionship. Expressing gratitude for those who know us deeply and challenge us is essential for our well-being. Special shout out to Anthony Chua Mark Edwards Rachel Hong Melvin Loh Tan Huynh Rhona Togher Michael Lohmann Mary Henderson Mark Luo and all of my valued alumni at TRIUM Global Executive MBA Trium Angels, Coolwater Capital Transact Global Women in VC 2X Global Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) She Loves Tech The LHoFT - Luxembourg House of Financial Technology and the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) .

I inspire others to journey toward peak productivity and fulfillment by sharing these insights.

What hacks could you share too? Type them in the post below.

For only together, can we accelerate impact.

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Leesa Soulodre?is the General Partner of R3I CAPITAL ,?an investment firm specializing in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, mobilizing impact towards sustainable development goals. She is a Board Advisor to the AI Asia Pacific Institute and has a portfolio of the world's leading AI scaleups, transforming our planet for impact.

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