I’m in Trinidad and Tobago, finishing up an intense but fulfilling tour through Latin America. Yesterday I spoke to the leaders of the government of this resource and culture-rich nation. As well as to 350 schoolkids on Leading Without a Title (here’s a link to a newspaper review of the event with the kids). I realized how much I love teaching kids about leadership.
Anyway, I’m also putting the finishing touches on the curriculum for the upcoming Remarkable Entrepreneur™ SuperConference which is all about helping small business owners double their profits while having more fun (there’s only a few seats left, register here: http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com). Entrepreneurs from over 26 countries have already registered. I haven’t been this excited about an event in years.
One of the modules is on “Doubling Your Productivity in 30 Days”, based on my work with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in business.
I wanted to share 17 of the tactics I’ve learned that I know will help you lean into your productive best in this age of dramatic distraction:
17 Tips To Double Your Productivity In 14 Days
1. Turn off all technology for 60 minutes a day and focus on doing your most important work.
2. Work in 90 minute cycles (tons of science is now confirming that this is the optimal work to rest ratio).
3. Start your day with at least 30 minutes of exercise.
4. Don’t check your email first thing in the morning.
5. Turn all your electronic notifications off.
6. Take one day a week as a complete recovery day, to refuel and regenerate (that means no email, no phone calls and zero work). You need full recovery one day a week otherwise you’ll start depleting your capabilities.
7. The data says workers are interrupted every 11 minutes. Distractions destroy productivity. Learn to protect your time and say no to interruptions.
8. Schedule every day of your week every Sunday morning. A plan relieves you of the torment of choice (said novelist Saul Bellow). It restores focus and provides energy.
9. Work in blocks of time. Creative geniuses all had 2 things in common: when they worked they were fully engaged and when they worked, they worked with this deep concentration for long periods of time. Rare in this world of entrepreneurs who can’t sit still.
10. Drink a liter of water early every morning. We wake up dehydrated. The most precious asset of an entrepreneur isn’t time – it’s energy. Water restores it.
11. Don’t answer your phone every time it rings.
12. Invest in your professional development so you bring more value to the hours you work.
13. Avoid gossip and time vampires.
14. Touch paper just once.
15. Keep a “Stop Doing List”.
16. Get up at 5 am.
17. Have meetings standing up.
Stay Productive and Make Your Work Matter!
Kindest regards,
P.S. If you really want to dive deep into how the best in business translate their big ideas into fast results (while they actually have a lot more fun), you really have to scoop up one of the few tickets left for The Remarkable Entrepreneur™ SuperConference in June. Don’t miss this game-changing event. Details here:
http://www.theremarkableentrepreneur.com
P.P.S. Watch this video on “The 11 Obsessions of Remarkable Entrepreneurs“
As small as one tip from this collection can do wonders in revolutionizing my productivity. I like the point about Sunday morning plan and maintaining a stop doing list. very true!!! Great blog!
I will sure mind giving a try.
Robin,
Can you elaborate on the “Touch paper once”?
[...] Fuente: Tomado del Blog de Robin Sharma (original en Ingles) [...]
Its quite Invigorating!!!I am trying to imbibe now onwards…..Thanks Robin!!
Superb Guidelines… Will start preparing from and tomorrow and implement this from the next week …. why is it that every you say something is superbbbbbbbbbbb!!!!!!!!!!!!
in all the above points i have been following two of them ,
Thanks Robin for always Guiding us!!!
and yes even i would like if you can elaborate the “Touch Paper Once” ?
Thank you everyone for your kind words.
Hi robin..
3 things which i follow are already doing miracles…’Stop doing list’,'30 min exercise’ and ‘Electronic notification off’…
and I will try the rest and see…
Thank you Robin, your amazing ! You always hit the nail directly on the head and drive it with such precision.your timing as usual is perfect, i just resigned a position that paid me very well to go to another position of lesser income . Why you say well because they were not current! and after reading your piece on production . It qualified all the doubts i had, you cant run a department in todays busy world , based on what has worked in the past will work now !you have to stay current , give employees breaks to refocus and come back even stronger pretty basic . but not followed …
ROBIN ! THANKYOU ….
Robin – great post! I’m with you on getting up early. Any reason you chose 5am and not 4am or 6am?
@Nathalie – Touch paper just once means – Act on it or trash it.
tips are good like everytime, only clarification of (( stop doing list ) and ( paper touch )) is needed.
What actually is this “Stop Doing List”?? Sorry for my incompetence…
But the whole list is just great!! Will print it out tomorrow and keep it in my wallet for the times I will need a reminder…Thank You Robin Sharma for all you have given to me and I believe all of us who visit your blog and reads your books!
[...] can read the whole list here. Share this [...]
Awesome list! I’ve printed it and taped it to my monitor.
Thank you Robin.
I liked the tip Touch paper just once…I need to work on that.
Waking up at 5:00 am intrigued me, how many hours do you sleep a night?
Superb content…. Shall absorb all that… Looking forward to more from you Robin!!
All are looks great but I loved # 15. Keep a “Stop Doing List”.
It is little different from usual stuffs & it is really required to keep the time wasting activities at bay..
thank u ROBIN………………….. One day i will definately catch u……….
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Are you serious, Planning? i dont know what time my meeting will be scheduled and how much time it will last. Seriously do you even work in any modern environmen.
If i get email at 12 in night still need to check if i dont can cuase heavy losses many
I am not sure whether i can folow 7 of DOs in your list.
Waiting for your reply
Very sharp and useful tips how far all of it is practicable? About a dozen is under direct control.
Thanks for sharing as guidance from your writings has changed views and opinions of self management.
Hi Robin@ The best point here is “to have stop doing list”. Very trues. We always keep on doing many things at work which are neither required not productive. We do them just for the sake of doing or pleasing some one. I will try to follow this one.
Hi Robin,
I am reading your book “Who will cry when you die?” M impressed with your thoughts..
“Thank You” for writting such positive thoughts..
In one chapter u wrote that put thank you note. M starting now.. starting from you..
Keep it up Robin…
like the tips a lot and find very helpfull too specially the switching of the technology as it take away time doing unnecessary things. thanx a lot and keep giving such tips as ur tips reflect deep research and have very practical utility. thanx Robinji
Hi Robin,
Thanks for your book : The Leader Who Had No Title, I like it, and it is a must have for any leader.
Please explain, Keep a “Stop Doing List”.
thank you sir 4r giving me such a precious words. :) am a great follower of your words.
Robin, absorbed!! My cup is still empty for more of such knowledge.
hey…some of d guys have enquired about, what is PAPER here.
BY paper, he means to say… NEWSPAPERS :)
SOURCE: WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU DIE – ROBIN SHARMA
Hi Robin,
As always, you fill loadsssssss of positive energy in the readers….Truly Amazing….and also thought provoking….keep inspiring as always…
Hi, Robin!
Great sharing! Very curious about last one: having meetings standing up. Could you explain more, please? Thanks a lot.
Have a great day full of what you desire (fun, productivity…).
Take care. Keep your thoughts high like you know to do! ;)
Cheers from London UK.
Linda Lattuca
gr8 robin really …
Robin, I have gust one question: at what time do u go to bed??
i know tat will really help.. i love ’stop doing list’… i will get more time to concentrate on how i want to shape up my life.. modern day tech is eating up all the time..time to pause.. Robin i wanted to know more about ur foundation for children…
@ Nirupama For more information on the foundation check out: http://www.robinsharma.com/about-robin/giving-back/childrens-foundation
Hi Robin,
I am in a bit of a fix and need to be super productive in the next couple of weeks to reach my targets. I am definitely going to try this.
Thanks for your continuous support and great work for humanity.
Regards,
Avesh
[...] 17 Tips to Double Your Productivity in 14 Days – increase your productivity [...]
I’ve just completed my 2nd reading of “The
Monk who sold his Ferrari” and its an absolute
Gem!
merhaba ben sertap sacan sizinle gectiğimiz hafta kitabınız dolayısyla tanıştım ,koza kelebeği bilmez,uzun zamandır ic hesaplamalarla kendimi hırpalıyordum aslında aradığım bir cıkış noktasıydı belkide kendimden kacış .Kitabınızla tanıştım dikkatimi çekti kitabınızda hayatımızı değiştirmek elimizde diye vurguluyorsunuz ,ama cok zor bazen elimizde ne yazıkki olmuyor başkalarının uygun gördüğü hayatı yaşıyoruz en azından ben ,kendimden nefret ediyorum ve cok mutsuzum .hayatımı değiştirmek verdiğim kararlarda özgür olmak istiyorum kendimle barışmak istiyorum ama ruhumla bedenim birbirleriyle barışmak istemiyor devamlı catışma halindeler
merak ediyorum hangisi kazanacak. iyi bakın kendinize.mailimi cevaplamanız dileğiyle hoşca kalın
Perhaps i am not competant, I wish i had a little clarification on “having meetings standing up”. Great u are sir.
Stunning words which will boost energy levels increase perseverance…
Thanks Robin , I would be very glad if you could clarify what the last poin – Having meetings standing up – means.
Great tips Robin.
At #11 u say “11. Don’t answer your phone every time it rings.” Can u provide a suggestion as to how an entrepreneur can afford this.
Every point makes sense Robin. I am with you, your biggest fan when it comes to Leadership. I dont miss a blog and havent missed a single book written by you.
Hey Robin,
I’ve been reading through all your blogs, books and listening to all the speeches. Even these tips to increase productivity are awesome. But most of them I fail to apply in real life… for example: wake up at 5 a.m. every morning. I work out of India where the profession starts at around 11 but finishes up mid-night… Agreed part of it is because in India there is inherent habit of disturbing you when working, loud conversation by peers etc. But how do I wake up so early as recommended.
I think writing a book on how to master life for professionals like me will be a huge success specially in India, China, Singapore and other south-east asian countries. I can contribute if asked with specific examples from real life… may be help giving you real life problems which you may answer in the form of your wisdom….
I don’t if I made sense but late at night today when I am pondering over my 31 years of life… I feel I wasted it and now is the time to make some serious changes… and I though about you (as a mentor and don’t take me wrong)
Warm Regards,
SG
And I don’t mean dis-respect for any culture or community…. these are independent views… also forgot to say Robin write something as unique as the Monk who sold his… that was a hands down winner of hearts
Hi Robin,
Your writings have indeed made a difference to me and my way of thinking. Looking forward to more of your writings. Will certainly grab hold of them soon enough. Am currently on your “who will cry when you die?”.
Thanks again.