Ever felt this urgency? The incessant ticking of the clock, deadlines creeping in, and the overwhelming sensation that the world won’t hold for even a moment’s respite.
I understand. It’s the constant hum in the back of everyone’s mind in our always-on, fast-paced, modern world.
But let’s pause and take a deep breath together.
Is that sense of urgency always justified? Or are we simply forcing an avocado to ripen overnight, expecting it to offer the same rich, creamy texture and subtle taste of one perfectly ripened over time?
It might seem counter-intuitive, especially when our environment constantly echoes the “now”. But, as productivity aficionados, we need to master the art of discernment – deciding what truly needs to happen now and what doesn’t.
Today, let’s explore the art of patience and discernment in productivity. Let’s learn to savour the flavour of slow growth, appreciate the sweet rewards of patient planning, and discover the robust sustainability of gradual progress.
The Power of Prioritization: The first step is to identify the few critical tasks that need immediate attention. Everything cannot be a priority. Learning to distinguish between ‘urgent’ and ‘important’ is a skill worth honing.
Patience is Profitable: The best solutions, ideas, and innovations are often not the quickest. They require time to simmer, develop, and mature. Good things do come to those who wait… and work diligently in the waiting.
Value the Journey: Each step towards our goal is a part of the process that deserves to be appreciated. Instant results are often fleeting. Sustainable progress, however, is born of persistence and gradual improvement.
Small + Sustainable = Significant Results: Small, sustainable actions over time yield significant results. It’s not always the big leaps but rather the small, consistent steps that lead us to our destination.
So, as we navigate our way through the maze of tasks, projects, and responsibilities this week, let’s remember that not everything has to happen now. Productivity is not about doing more things faster. It’s about doing the right things at the right time.
MEET OUR CONTRIBUTING MEMBER MIKE:
Also known as “The Productivityist”, Mike Vardy – is a highly-acclaimed productivity strategist and the creator of the productivity philosophy and framework known as TimeCrafting.
He’s considered to be one of the top thought leaders in the personal productivity and time management space, with over 15 years of expertise under his belt and having coaching hundreds of clients over that timespan.
His work has been featured in Lifehacker, Fast Company, HuffPost, Inc., and Forbes. Vardy is a renowned international speaker and has taught productivity practices on popular online education platforms CreativeLive, Skillshare, and LinkedIn Learning where his courses are among the most popular in the business category.
He also hosts A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy, a conversational podcast that has featured guests such as Seth Godin, Brian Tracy, Keith Ferrazzi, and Gretchen Rubin – and has been downloaded over 5 million times since its inception.