Josh’s Crazy Productivity System Step 1

If you work with me for any length of time you will learn that I have a very rigorous (maybe crazy) productivity system that I have been refining since 2007. I share my system with anybody who will listen like a drug dealer trying to get others hooked. Coming into this system cold can be overwhelming so I have outlined a process to adopt this system in steps. If you decide to try it out you will want to allow each step to become a habit before taking the next step.

Adopting any productivity system is hard because you are changing habits and it often feels like it is consuming time that could be used for producing more. Trust the system and keep in the back of your mind that this is not natural so it will require effort and discipline, but you will do more with less stress. I estimate that I can accomplish 50% more than my peers who don’t have a system.

The first step is to set your email to “offline” and set your messenger to “do not disturb” and only check them at designated times during the day. I check mine three times per day using my calendar reminder but you can choose any rate that is comfortable for you.

This step makes most people uncomfortable but your value is not in how fast you can reply but in completing critical work. Will not win at work by being the best firefighter. I have followed this process in many roles since 2007 and no one has ever noticed. Most requests are never urgent but if there is one they can call you.

If you are still uncomfortable with this then check it more often. Maybe every 2 hours. How about trying it once per week on a typically slower day? If it works, then increase using it

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