{"id":41404,"date":"2018-04-24T04:45:06","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T09:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=41404"},"modified":"2018-04-24T04:45:06","modified_gmt":"2018-04-24T09:45:06","slug":"power-of-productive-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/power-of-productive-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Productive Thinking"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tim Ferriss\u2019s 4-Hour Workweek<\/em><\/a> is an enormously popular book, selling more than 1.35 million copies since its 2007 release. But that doesn\u2019t mean its message on how to \u201cescape the 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich\u201d sinks in right away.<\/p>\n

While Daniel Ndukwu, founder and CEO of software company Kyleads<\/a>, was an early reader of the book, he admits that it took him years to put many of its suggestions into practice. Why? He notes that the notion of hyper-productivity seemed too good to be true, an anomaly achievable only by a select few.<\/p>\n

Now, in retrospect, Ndukwu acknowledges that this very thought process was a limiting belief keeping him from becoming his most productive self. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long battle, but I\u2019ve come to accept that you can only accomplish what you believe is possible for you,\u201d Ndukwu says. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019ll sabotage the best-laid plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The productive lifestyle<\/h3>\n

For leaders of teams large and small, those plans may include the latest developments in software and technology. But Ndukwu emphasizes that implementing tools without also adopting a productive mindset is a strategy for defeat. \u201cBecoming more productive is a lifestyle change,\u201d he explains. \u201cIf you\u2019re not invested in it over the long term, you\u2019ll be fired up for a few days or weeks only to slip back into your old ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seana Turner, a professional organizer and productivity expert based in Darien, Connecticut agrees. Thoughts like, \u201cI don\u2019t have enough time,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m not the best person to do this,\u201d \u201cBefore I start I just need a nap\/coffee\/etc.,\u201d or \u201cI will be better able to tackle this tomorrow\/next week\/next month,\u201d have an inverse effect on efforts to accomplish more.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo voice is louder in our heads than our own,\u201d Turner says. \u201cPeriodically, that voice may be drowned out by an urgent demand or pressing situation. However, if we believe we are not productive and repeatedly give ourselves this negative message, we will attribute our periodic success to the situation rather than to the good work we did. \u2018Right\u2019 thinking believes in the power to get things done. Obstacles are simply challenges. Excuses are simply saboteurs that can be silenced with action and focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready to harness the power of productive thinking? Here\u2019s a look at some specific mindset shifts that have allowed other leaders to achieve more:<\/p>\n

Learn to trust<\/h3>\n

Calgary, Canada-based executive consultant Jeff Skipper<\/a> loves the project management software Basecamp for keeping track of all of his company\u2019s pending tasks. The problem, however, was that he was wasting a ton of time by following up on completed or canceled projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can't keep track of everything, every day,\u201d Skipper says. \u201cI didn't want to micromanage, so it was really important for me to trust my employees to be accountable for their own actions. We all see productivity as being able to do more, and sometimes, doing more means trusting other people to do their job so you can do your job. As a business owner, it's impossible to do all the work yourself\u2014that means not just delegating the task but trusting your people to work according to your standards.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t