Are you on a journey to be more productive?
Productivity statistics are shocking:
- The average person is only productive for 2 hrs and 53 minutes per day;
- 41% of people agree that stress negatively affects productivity;
- Only 21% of people believe that they are truly productive for an entire workday;
STOP being busy. START progressing.
Before discovering this method, I was running around, like a hamster on a wheel, doing 100 tasks all at the exact same time.
Rarely finishing something.
Why?
Why I was not taking any time to reflect on my goals and dreams?
Why, when the night came, I was scared to look at what I’ve been accomplishing that day?
Here’s a simple answer:
Every day, I was doing tasks that was keeping me “busy” and gave me a false sense of “progression”.
But that stuff didn’t push forward my career, nor my business.
I didn’t know any better.
If you want to learn how to improve your productivity and be proud of yourself when you look back at YESTERDAY…
Read this article 🙂
Enjoy!
So, How Does This Method Apply To Real World?
Let’s start from the beginning.
Ivy Lee made $25,000 ($763,062.50 inflation adjusted) in the early 1900s, in 15 minutes.
It was this steel and shipping company (Bethlehem) owned by Charles M. Schwab who wanted to increase the efficiency of his management team.
John D. Rockefeller (oil magnate) suggest that Schwab meet with Ivy Lee.
A highly respected productivity expert.
At the start of their meeting, Charles Schwab asked Ivy Lee for help to improve the productivity of his company.
“Give me 15 minutes with each of your executives.” – Lee replied.
“What will it cost me?” – Schwab asked.
“Nothing.” – Lee said.
“Unless it works. After three months, you can send me a check for whatever you feel it’s worth to you. Fair enough?” – Lee continued.
What Happened Next It’s CRAZY!
During the meeting…
Lee first began by asking Schwab to outline his vision for the company.
After this, Lee spent 15-minutes with each of the executives of the struggling Bethlehem steel company.
Ivy Lee recommended the six-step method to achieving peak performance and high productivity on a daily basis.
- Define your vision, goals & objectives for your life, business, health, etc.
- At the end of each day, write down the six most important tasks that you need to complete the next day to achieve your vision, goals & objectives.
- Rank and prioritize these six tasks in order of importance.
- Each morning, begin with the most important task on the list and do not move onto the next task until the previous one is completed.
- Work your way through the six tasks on the list in order from most to least important. If you don’t finish a task, move it to the new list of six tasks for the following day.
- Rinse and repeat this process every day.
After the 3-month trial, Charles Schwab met with Ivy Lee to review the results.
The efficiency and sales of Bethlehem Steel had improved so much that Schwab wrote Lee a check for $25,000 ($763,062.50 inflation adjusted).
…and noted that the Lee’s method was the most profitable advice he had ever received.
Within a couple of years, Bethlehem Steel Company became America’s second-largest steel producer and larger shipbuilder.
Charles M. Schwab himself collected a personal net worth of over $200,000,000 as a result of this success.
What Makes The Ivy Lee Method So Effective?
And how can you apply these insights to improve productivity in your life?
Here are 3 principles that make the Ivy Lee method effective.
1.) Its Simplicity Makes it Easier To Take Action
Contrary to popular beliefs, complex and detailed plans may actually make it harder to start new habits, or take consistent action.
Simplicity removes the friction of getting started.
It builds momentum for consistent action, because it’s much easier to take the next step after that first simple step.
2.) It Forces You To Focus On Just One Thing At A Time
We live in a society that’s obsessed with multitasking.
Unfortunately, doing multiple activities in any given period of time has been characterized as high levels of distractions and severe lack of focus.
As the book “The One Thing – By Gary Keller” suggests…
Keeping your focus on the most important thing, one at the time, instead of multitasking, could drastically improve your odds of achieving success with your goals.
If you struggle with being overwhelmed by having too many ideas or tasks…
Do this!
Trim away everything that isn’t absolutely necessary to regain focus.
3.) Put First Things First
The Ivy Lee method is a simple and powerful strategy for having a stress-free productivity routine.
It highlights the importance of doing the most important thing first each day.
It’s a reminder that fewer priorities lead to better work and performance.
What You Should Do Now
Try it tonight.
Simply write down the six most important things you want to achieve tomorrow.
And then tomorrow:
“I want you to start at number one, don’t even think about number two
until number one is complete.”
-Ivy Lee