Comments on: Five confessions in failed attempts at “productivity,” where it’s led me, and where it can take you http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/ Time-saving reflections on lifehacking, social media, and technology. Mon, 30 Dec 2013 18:20:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4 By: Jared Goralnick http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-28927 Jared Goralnick Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:21:13 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-28927 Thanks, Carl! I wish you much luck on your path. And I completely agree, being transparent and sharing is a great way to both hold yourself accountable and more carefully think through decisions. Thanks, Carl! I wish you much luck on your path. And I completely agree, being transparent and sharing is a great way to both hold yourself accountable and more carefully think through decisions.

]]> By: Carl http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-28920 Carl Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:52:38 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-28920 I'm entirely with you on failed attempts at "productivity" and it's one of the reason that I began my own blog. It keeps me honest and is an outlet for both my shortcomings and my successes. I'm just starting in on redesigning my life and it's excellent to see other peoples work and stories here. I’m entirely with you on failed attempts at “productivity” and it’s one of the reason that I began my own blog. It keeps me honest and is an outlet for both my shortcomings and my successes.

I’m just starting in on redesigning my life and it’s excellent to see other peoples work and stories here.

]]> By: Curtiss Asbell http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-28608 Curtiss Asbell Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:10:34 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-28608 Jared...I admire your perseverance. For almost 4 years, I’ve been working diligently to implement all kinds of things I picked up in Richard Koch’s work, “The 80/20 Principle”. It has made a H-U-G-E difference in the experience I am having as I live my life. I can’t believe it took me so long, but about four months ago I got turned on to Tim Ferriss’ book, “The 4-Hour Workweek”. HOLY SMOKES!! Put me into overdrive! Application of many of those ideas have gotten me some tremendous results…and guess what I’m finding…although some of the ideas may be “controversial” in an employer-employee relationship, results speak for themselves, especially if you’re not a rude, hubris-filled manager. Imagine that! People like us are keenly aware of our shortcomings, and we are always striving to make ourselves better. Remember…incremental improvement IS DEFINITELY ACCEPTABLE. Cheers! Jared…I admire your perseverance. For almost 4 years, I’ve been working diligently to implement all kinds of things I picked up in Richard Koch’s work, “The 80/20 Principle”. It has made a H-U-G-E difference in the experience I am having as I live my life.

I can’t believe it took me so long, but about four months ago I got turned on to Tim Ferriss’ book, “The 4-Hour Workweek”. HOLY SMOKES!! Put me into overdrive! Application of many of those ideas have gotten me some tremendous results…and guess what I’m finding…although some of the ideas may be “controversial” in an employer-employee relationship, results speak for themselves, especially if you’re not a rude, hubris-filled manager. Imagine that!

People like us are keenly aware of our shortcomings, and we are always striving to make ourselves better. Remember…incremental improvement IS DEFINITELY ACCEPTABLE.

Cheers!

]]> By: Nicolas http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-28440 Nicolas Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:26:24 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-28440 You write about changing habits and this is difficult for everyone. One of the most frustrating things is that you get a good start and drop out later in time. I wrote an article about a technique which helps coping with such drop outs and keeps you motivated to start again - it is called chaining. http://memytime.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/change-habits-with-forward-chaining/ The Time Management Master blog is a collection of about 200 concrete time saving tips on how to gain an extra hour every day. The tips can be applied at home, at work or on the road. Every person is different and so are the tips. I hope you can find something that works for you. http://memytime.wordpress.com/ You write about changing habits and this is difficult for everyone. One of the most frustrating things is that you get a good start and drop out later in time.

I wrote an article about a technique which helps coping with such drop outs and keeps you motivated to start again – it is called chaining.

http://memytime.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/change-habits-with-forward-chaining/

The Time Management Master blog is a collection of about 200 concrete time saving tips on how to gain an extra hour every day. The tips can be applied at home, at work or on the road.

Every person is different and so are the tips. I hope you can find something that works for you.

http://memytime.wordpress.com/

]]> By: Links - 10/30 « Simplifying http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27795 Links - 10/30 « Simplifying Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:31:44 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-27795 [...] Five confessions in failed attempts at “productivity,” where it’s led me, and where it can tak... from Technotheory - Attempts at being more productive often fail and it’s easy to get frustrated.  This article about that very thing was interesting because the author set out to write an article explaining how he’d failed.  However, as he was writing he began to reflect on the failures and successes he had.  Conclusion is that even a failure can move you more in the direction you want to go, and change rarely happens overnight. [...] [...] Five confessions in failed attempts at “productivity,” where it’s led me, and where it can tak… from Technotheory – Attempts at being more productive often fail and it’s easy to get frustrated.  This article about that very thing was interesting because the author set out to write an article explaining how he’d failed.  However, as he was writing he began to reflect on the failures and successes he had.  Conclusion is that even a failure can move you more in the direction you want to go, and change rarely happens overnight. [...]

]]> By: Don Grauel http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27751 Don Grauel Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:22:39 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-27751 I think you could replace your name with anyone's who is taking on the challenge of managing the one non-renewable resource that we all struggle with - time AND is honestly evaluating their progress on a consistent basis. That said, we need to constantly remind ourselves that there is no endgame in this process and that it is indeed the process (journey) that we should celebrate. Each recognition of a failing is progress as long as we "fall forward" and learn from it. Tom hit on one of my three 2008 mantras: 1. 80/20 applies to almost everything, 2. Surround myself with people that give off positive energy instead of those who steal it from me. 3. Better done than perfect. I'm obsessed with the 80/20 rule. I think you could replace your name with anyone’s who is taking on the challenge of managing the one non-renewable resource that we all struggle with – time AND is honestly evaluating their progress on a consistent basis. That said, we need to constantly remind ourselves that there is no endgame in this process and that it is indeed the process (journey) that we should celebrate.

Each recognition of a failing is progress as long as we “fall forward” and learn from it.

Tom hit on one of my three 2008 mantras: 1. 80/20 applies to almost everything, 2. Surround myself with people that give off positive energy instead of those who steal it from me. 3. Better done than perfect. I’m obsessed with the 80/20 rule.

]]> By: Jared Goralnick http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27733 Jared Goralnick Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:55:27 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-27733 You both are right. I'm actually feeling pretty good about my progress...but I certainly have more to reflect on and more places where I need to apply good 'ole Pareto. Thanks! You both are right. I’m actually feeling pretty good about my progress…but I certainly have more to reflect on and more places where I need to apply good ‘ole Pareto.

Thanks!

]]> By: Tom Loveland http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27718 Tom Loveland Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:12:08 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-27718 Or surround yourself with systems/people to execute more (ALL!) of the routine stuff, thus freeing yourself to follow your interests and passion and focus on the 20% that provides 80% of the bang. That's what I'm working on. Or surround yourself with systems/people to execute more (ALL!) of the routine stuff, thus freeing yourself to follow your interests and passion and focus on the 20% that provides 80% of the bang. That’s what I’m working on.

]]> By: @Stephen http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/comment-page-1/#comment-27715 @Stephen Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:14:00 +0000 http://www.technotheory.com/2008/10/five-confessions-in-failed-productivity/#comment-27715 Keep at it Jared, if you are doing better this month than you were last month it's a good sign. Reflect on your positive progress and focus on the incremental changes that made it possible! Keep at it Jared, if you are doing better this month than you were last month it’s a good sign. Reflect on your positive progress and focus on the incremental changes that made it possible!

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