Confusing Activity with Productivity

Every day, I sit down and start to work. At the end of the day, I reflect back and see that I didn’t really get much of anything done.

I was busy all day, but nothing of value got done…

Why Not?

Because I regularly confuse Activity with Productivity.

Productivity

Productivity is the execution of events or processes that accomplish progress towards goals.

Productivity is getting the RIGHT stuff done.

Productivity adds Value to your life.

When I am productive, I end the day feeling good about what got done. When I am productive, I can see the pile of un-done, important work shrink in size. When I am productive, my bank account gets refreshed.

Productivity is the science of Getting Stuff Done.

But it is getting the Right Stuff done that is important.

Activity

Why do I see just random action, or even focused action without connection to any goals, as effective, or even desirable at all?

I can sit all day long, checking email, surfing around a bit, shuffling papers, day-dreaming (I mean brainstorming) and KNOW that I should be doing something else – and yet, not do it.

What’s with that?

What am I trying to avoid?

Do I see that real productivity is somehow going to interfere with my freedom? My freedom to choose what to do? My freedom to be a lazy slug? My freedom to spiral into mediocrity?

Solution

I’m certainly the one in charge of my day. What better way to use it than to move down the road a little farther?!? After all, if the goal is worthy, the journey is fulfilling.

The solution is to train my mind to reject activity to just pass the time.

The solution is to train my mind to use age-old, proven tools to keep myself on track.

The solution is to grow up and get on with life.

Start with the End in mind. Make a Written Plan for how to reach that End. Break that Plan into Daily chunks. Put that Daily Chunk before me so I can focus on it.

Take the first step, this day, on today’s most important activity – being productive.;

My Goal?

What is my goal?

At this stage in my life, I only want to run strong after the Lord. I’ve raised my family, I’ve had my career, I’ve made my fortune. Now, I have the time-freedom and the financial means to accomplish things I passed over in the years behind me.

I can now hear the voice of the Lord calling me to help other people get their lives in order by getting out of debt.

I have the knowledge. I have the skills. I have the Attitude.

I now need to develop the tools.

Conclusion

If you spend your days in foggy confusion, being busy all day, but in the end, doing nothing, then you need to fix it.

What do you really want out of life? What is the most important thing you can be doing, this minute, to make a difference in your life and the lives of others? What should you be doing, Right Now, to get farther down the road to your goal?

Mark it down.

Keep it posted.

Get Stuff Done.

John L

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