This is part 3 of a multi-part series exploring the principles of personal productivity, with the goal of making it the last thing you’ll ever need to read about the topic. If you missed it, you can read part 1 here and part 2 here.
The most common mistake when attacking personal productivity is to think that the goal is to get more done. This is absolutely the wrong mindset, because the reality is, if you attack your personal productivity as a quantity game, you will burn out, and then you’ll end up getting nothing done.
As we saw in the previous part, the quantity of things we need to get done is infinite, and so trying to make it to the end of the list is a fool’s errand.
Instead of trying to do more, your goal should be to make sure that you’re accomplishing the RIGHT things. Don’t worry about how many things you’re checking off your to-do list, worry about getting the most important ones done (your “MUST Do” list). Efficiency is about getting more done. Effectiveness is about doing the things that have an impact.
If you’re a marketer, for example, being more EFFICIENT could mean making more graphics / content / ads per week. Being more EFFECTIVE means the work that you’re doing is actually growing the business. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, EFFICIENCY is getting more chores done in the hour and a half your toddler is napping. EFFECTIVENESS is resting so that you can make sure you have enough energy to keep up with him when he wakes up.
Sometimes being more effective requires you to be more efficient, but most of the time, in my experience, it just means focusing on the right things; the things that will have an impact. In other words, having the right priorities.
Applying the Principle
I want you to take a few minutes to reflect on effectiveness versus efficiency. Writing things down helps to clarify your thinking, so for the purposes of this exercise, you’re going to think on paper (or on a screen if you prefer). I want you to write down 3 to 5 areas in your life where you prioritized efficiency (getting more done). Then, for each of those areas, I want you to write down how you could use that time to be more effective (having a greater impact). If you need help coming up with the areas, take a look at your to-do list, or your calendar, or your email inbox.
This doesn’t need to be long. A paragraph or two for each may be enough. Or, if you’re long-winded (like me), maybe it’s a page per area. The important part is the reflection.
I know writing long-form is not for everyone. So, if you think you might not do this exercise because no one’s going to see it anyway, send it to me, and I promise I’ll look at it. If you really need some accountability, email me RIGHT NOW and tell me you’re planning to do this exercise. If I haven’t received it in the next 48 hours, I’ll hound you until I do (or until you block my emails).
What Comes Next
Once you’ve gotten comfortable thinking about the difference between efficiency and effectiveness, we’ll talk about how to understand what’s the MOST effective, and that starts with Principle #4: Knowing Why.