How I Cracked the Code of Productivity by Doing Less
The year was 2011. I had just finished a whirlwind of book tours, podcast episodes, speaking engagements, and business meetings. My calendar was full — too full. I was juggling so many tasks that I hardly had time to breathe. I was working 12, sometimes 16 hours a day, all in pursuit of success. Yet, despite all the hours, my productivity was plummeting. I was doing more, but achieving less.
At my breaking point, I decided to experiment with a radically different approach: work less, achieve more.
Fast forward to today. This philosophy has not only transformed my life but also countless others'. The key to this breakthrough? Time management through elimination. Let me walk you through the exact process I used, step by step.
The Wake-up Call: When Working Harder Stopped Working
In 2011, after years of pushing myself to the edge, I reached a state of physical and mental exhaustion. I had been running on the belief that more hours equaled more success. But the more I worked, the further I felt from my goals.
I began researching and experimenting with different productivity methods, but nothing seemed to work until I stumbled upon the idea of elimination. Instead of trying to do more, I started focusing on doing less. I asked myself one question: What can I eliminate that doesn’t contribute to my goals?
The Power of Elimination
I started by identifying the tasks that were consuming most of my time but giving me little return. This is when I discovered the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle. It states that 80% of results come from 20% of the effort. So, I shifted my focus entirely to the 20% that made the biggest impact.
For example, I stopped accepting every meeting request and only focused on those that aligned with my priorities. I also stopped checking email first thing in the morning — a small change, but one that freed up my mornings for more focused work.
Automation and Delegation: Two Secret Weapons
Once I had eliminated unnecessary tasks, I realized there were still things I had to do, but didn’t necessarily need to do myself. This is where automation and delegation came into play. I began automating repetitive tasks using tools like autoresponders and scheduling apps. For everything else, I built a team that could handle the day-to-day operations.
It felt strange at first, letting go of control. But as I delegated more, I noticed that I had more mental energy and time to focus on high-impact activities. I was now working less but achieving more.
Designing the Perfect Day: The Art of Focus
After mastering elimination, automation, and delegation, the next step was designing my perfect day. I realized that productivity wasn’t just about getting things done — it was about focusing on the right things. I began structuring my days to maximize focus and minimize distractions.
For example, I started my mornings with deep work, focusing on the most important tasks before lunch. Afternoons were reserved for meetings and less cognitively demanding work. I also implemented “no-interruption” blocks of time where I’d turn off notifications and dive deep into my most challenging work.
Data-Driven Approach: Tracking Time for Maximum Efficiency
One of the most powerful tools in my arsenal was data. I began tracking how I spent my time each day, using time-tracking apps to gain insight into where I was being productive — and where I wasn’t. I also used data to analyze the effectiveness of my experiments with time management.
Here’s a sample of the time-tracking data that led me to improve my efficiency:
| Activity | Time Spent (Hours/Week) | Impact on Goals (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Responding to Emails | 8 | 10 |
| Writing | 12 | 40 |
| Social Media | 6 | 5 |
| Meetings | 5 | 15 |
| Deep Focus Work | 15 | 70 |
As you can see, deep focus work had the highest impact on my goals, while responding to emails consumed a lot of time with minimal returns. This data helped me prioritize what to eliminate, delegate, or automate.
Conclusion: The Less is More Philosophy
Today, I work fewer hours than I ever have, yet my productivity has skyrocketed. This didn’t happen overnight — it required a mindset shift and the courage to challenge the status quo. But by focusing on elimination, automation, delegation, and using data to optimize my time, I’ve found that doing less really does lead to achieving more.
The key takeaway? It’s not about how much you do; it’s about what you do.
Now, here’s my challenge for you: Take a look at your own schedule. What can you eliminate, automate, or delegate? Try implementing just one of these strategies, and I guarantee you’ll see a shift in your productivity.
Remember, less is more — when done strategically.
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