The Ivy Lee Method: The Daily Routine Experts Recommend for Peak Productivity — The Mission
“During his 15 minutes with each executive, Lee explained his simple method for achieving peak productivity: At the end of each work day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks. Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance. When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task. Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task. Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day. Repeat this process every working day.”
This is a simple but effective way of ensuring you are productive everyday. I used to use this method but I only had 4 main tasks for the day. I use a different version of this today in Omnifocus.
Future: Heavy Angst With the Superstar MC
“She asks what he prays for. ‘Don’t ask for a million dollars,’ he says. ‘Ask for the stuff that’ll get you a million dollars – your health, your brain, your sanity, wisdom. Prepare me for when I do get that million. Make sure I don’t go crazy, make sure I help my family. You don’t want to ask for a big-ass house and you burn it down down, and then you say, ‘God, give it to me again.'”
Love the insight in this article. Instead of asking for money, ask for the knowledge and wisdom to get you that money. In other words, don’t limit what you wish for or pray for. Money can be here today and gone tomorrow, but wisdom is something that will stay.
Think Less, Think Better
“But I do not want to disappear from too much of life. Too often we eat meals without tasting them, look at something beautiful without seeing it. An entire exchange with my daughter (please forgive me) can take place without my being there at all.”
I’ve been working on this lately. When you sit down to eat a meal, put your phone away and enjoy your food. When you’re having a conversation with someone, put your phone away and look at them in the eyes. Be genuine, be present.
How Exercise Shapes You, Far Beyond the Gym
“When I first started training for marathons a little over ten years ago, my coach told me something I’ve never forgotten: that I would need to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I didn’t know it at the time, but that skill, cultivated through running, would help me as much, if not more, off the road as it would on it. It’s not just me, and it’s not just running. Ask anyone whose day regularly includes a hard bike ride, sprints in the pool, a complex problem on the climbing wall, or a progressive powerlifting circuit, and they’ll likely tell you the same: A difficult conversation just doesn’t seem so difficult anymore. A tight deadline not so intimidating. Relationship problems not so problematic.”
I say this all the time. When you are constantly put in challenging situations that push your limits (be it the gym, work, studying, etc.) your day-to-day issues seem trivial. A great example would be my previous job throwing 150lb coffee bags for 8 hours a day… problems at my job now seem very small in comparison.
Personal Finance Tips From the 1 Percent — MEL Magazine
“…the median net wealth for people nearing retirement age (55 to 64 years old) was $165,700 in 2013, according to an analysis of the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances.”
Not much to say here other than this article was very interesting to me. It says a lot about saving and spending habits of most people.
“Still, 41 percent of Americans don’t have enough money saved to cover a $2,000 emergency expense, and a third say they don’t have any money saved at all, according to data from the Pew Charitable Trusts.”
The Gruen Transfer — Getting your business noticed — Signal v. Noise
“In one study of 1,263 people surveyed about their purchases and happiness, Boven and Gilovich found that almost two times as many people surveyed found purchasing an “experience” made them happier than a material purchase. Where it gets even more interesting, is that as income levels go up this effect goes up. At 150K a year and over, four times as many were happier buying experiences.”
I definitely believe this… whenever we make a big purchase on something material the pleasure lasts for a bit but eventually goes away. When we spend our money on experiences the happiness and memories tend to last longer.
“After money accounts for our basic needs, what we want next, what makes us feel good, are experiences.”
Solving All the Wrong Problems
“I’ve been told that, at some of the big companies, the P.R. departments have ordered their employees to stop saying ‘We’re making the world a better place,’ specifically because we have made fun of that phrase so mercilessly. So I guess, at the very least, we’re making the world a better place by making these people stop saying they’re making the world a better place.”
This is always a pet peeve of mine. Before making your slogan include, ‘making the world a better place’, actually think about if you’re making the world better or not. I would say most companies aren’t making the world better.
What Great Listeners Actually Do
“Good listeners may challenge assumptions and disagree, but the person being listened to feels the listener is trying to help, not wanting to win an argument.”
I loved this article because I feel that so many people don’t know what it means to be a good listener.
“Good listeners are like trampolines. They are someone you can bounce ideas off of — and rather than absorbing your ideas and energy, they amplify, energize, and clarify your thinking.”