Business Plan School

When people think about productivity they often associate it with doing more in less time. They think that if they are productive they will get more results. They think that if they are more productive then they will have more "free" time to do with what they please. And although these assumptions are somewhat true, they are not always true.

Productivity is really about knowing what you want and then being as effective and efficient as possible at getting that result. It means that you are spending your time, energy, and attention on the things that matter to you the most.

If you are spending your time, energy, and attention on things that you don't care about, then you are not really being productive. Sure you may be getting "good" results. Sure you may be doing more in less time, but if the "more" that you are doing isn't really what you want to be doing, then your just not being productive.

This is the "productivity trap" that many of us fall into. We become consumed with doing more. We become consumed with "getting results". The problem is that, even when we have free time, we invest that time pursuing things that we don't really care about. In the words of Solomon, we like to "chase after the wind."

This is a trap that many of us encounter because we are often blinded by matters such as material possessions. We think that if we can be more productive we can make more money. And if we can make more money then we can buy more stuff. And then we think that what we want in life is in the stuff that we buy. Or worse, more stuff.

But it never is. We never find true meaning in the "stuff". All that it does is distract us. All that it does is make us lose sight of what we really want. All that it does is make us lose perspective of our priorities, and what really counts.

Productivity in life is very important, but only if you can define it in a way that is empowering to you. You may think that doing more in less time is empowering, and maybe it is for a short while. But if what you are doing still does not fit into what you want, then it doesn't matter how much you do. You'll never be productive.

Productivity means that you invest your time in the activities that mean the most to you. The more time, energy, and attention that you can devote to these important activities then the more productive you are being.

So what is it that means the most to you? Is it spending quality time with friends and family? Is it your health and fitness? Is it your knowledge and education? Is it being financially secure? Is it finding purpose and meaning in daily living?

Your answer to this will give you a reason for being productive. It will give you your meaning of productivity, a meaning that is unique to you. Productivity is not what the world tells you it is, it's what you say it is. Avoid this trap by understanding what matters to you the most, and then live a life of productivity by investing your energies into these all important activities.