Just do it! Becoming productive and successful, by Ademola Akinbola

Being productive in a strategic and systematic manner is one of the recipes for career and business success. Nothing moves in our lives until we move. Productivity is critical as your outputs determine what you get in return in life.

People struggle to be productive for many reasons such as: 

1. Lack of a clear personal vision and mission statement
2. Failure to set clear and specific goals that are actionable and measurable. 
3. Lack of self discipline to pursue goals.
4. Lack of rigid focus that is needed to stay on an identified path. 
5. Lack of the requisite skills and knowledge.
6. Inability to fence off distractions.
7. Poor organisational and planning skills.

Your productivity problem or challenge will begin to ease the moment you decide to be humble enough to admit that you are not measuring up. That is the moment you stop living in self-denial.

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I have heard people struggling with productivity say they need to get better with time management. No, what people need is not time management, but self management and self-discipline. Manage your self better by committing to a focused and consistent implementation of your plan of action.

We all have 24 hours in a day, nobody has  one minute extra. One of the major differences between productive cum successful people and others is their ability to manage themselves better. 

You become productive and successful by investing your time, not spending it. When you invest your time in productive and rewarding ventures based on a well-defined vision and clearly-spelt out goals, productivity increases and success is guaranteed. But, when you spend your time on frivolous and meaningless ventures that add zero value to your career and business, you are likely to be dissipated, exhausted, and frustrated. 

Procrastination is a major obstacle to productivity. Indecision, lack of precision planning, and failure to execute plans decisively can be harmful to your career and business destiny. 

“Get It Done” by Ayelet Fishbach provides insights and strategies for overcoming procrastination and achieving goals.

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Here are ten lessons from the book:

1. Set Specific Goals: Clearly define your goals and objectives to provide clarity and direction. Specific goals are more actionable and motivating than vague aspirations.
2. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to reduce overwhelm and increase productivity. Breaking tasks down into actionable steps makes them more approachable and easier to tackle.
3. Use Implementation Intentions: Formulate implementation intentions by specifying when, where, and how you will take action towards your goals. Implementation intentions help bridge the gap between intention and action by providing a concrete plan of execution.
4. Leverage Motivation Strategies: Identify what motivates you and use strategies such as rewards, accountability, and positive reinforcement to maintain motivation and momentum towards your goals.
5. Manage Time Effectively: Prioritize tasks and allocate your time wisely to ensure that important activities are completed efficiently. Use time-blocking techniques, to-do lists, and prioritization frameworks to manage your time effectively.
6. Overcome Procrastination: Recognize procrastination as a barrier to goal achievement and develop strategies to overcome it. Address underlying factors such as fear of failure, perfectionism, or lack of clarity, and take proactive steps to move past procrastination.
7. Utilize Social Support: Seek support from friends, family, or colleagues to stay accountable and motivated. Share your goals with others, enlist their support, and celebrate progress together.
8. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Embrace a growth mindset and focus on progress rather than perfection. Celebrate small wins and milestones along the way, and use setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth.
9. Stay Flexible and Adaptive: Remain flexible and adaptive in your approach to goal pursuit. Be willing to adjust your strategies, priorities, and timelines based on changing circumstances or feedback.
10. Reflect and Learn: Take time to reflect on your progress, identify what is working well, and learn from challenges or setbacks. Use self-reflection as a tool for continuous improvement and refinement of your goal-setting and goal achievement strategies.

These lessons from “Get It Done” offer practical insights and strategies for overcoming procrastination, setting and achieving goals, and increasing productivity and effectiveness in both personal and professional endeavors.

Ademola Akinbola is an author, trainer, and brand management consultant. He is the Founder of Brand Stewards Limited and Publisher of The Podium International Magazine. He recently unveiled his sixth book entitled “Value Creation: Your Pathway to Enduring Business & Career Success. He can be reached via ademolaakinbola@gmail.com. WhatsApp – +1 317 665 2180.

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