Unwavering concentration, however, is the very environment in which original ideas and groundbreaking solutions flourish. We can bypass distractions, tap our full cognitive potential, and produce results that surpass expectations by fully committing to a deep work approach.

We see this in what Bill Gates referred to as “think weeks.” During these scheduled times, he would isolate himself to focus on reading, thinking, and planning. In fact, Gates claims these periods of deep work were pivotal in many of his strategic decisions, including to have Microsoft launch Internet Explorer in 1995.

Are we sacrificing depth for distraction? Every minute of the day, emails, notifications, and demands for attention bombard the average executive. But what if this culture of constant connectivity is the biggest barrier to achieving meaningful success? Cal Newport contends in his seminal work, Deep Work, that the capacity to focus intently is a scarce and valuable commodity in today’s market. He explores how deep work—the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task—is becoming paramount for organizations and individuals seeking high performance in a rapidly evolving world.

Achieving peak productivity is certainly not going to get any easier as our society becomes more interconnected and tech-dependent. Our constant access to email, social media, and other distractions makes it challenging to make deep work a top priority. Still, studies reveal that uninterrupted concentration produces improved outcomes, more innovation, and greater degrees of job satisfaction. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describes in his book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience that reaching a state of “flow”—that is, total immersion and concentration on an activity—depends on deep work.

The Deep Work Dilemma

As humans, especially in the modern business landscape, we tend to glorify busyness. Yet, research shows that the average person is interrupted or switches tasks every 40 seconds when working on a computer. Even more staggering are the results of a University of California study, which found it takes 23 minutes and 15 seconds to return to a task following an interruption. This constant cycle of digital distractions produces a notable drop in focus and productivity, which influences decisions in high-stakes situations.

The Cost of Connectivity

In high-demanding roles, particularly at the C-suite level, the pressure to remain “always on” can lead to burnout and diminished mental health. Research shows that nearly 40% of high-level executives feel overwhelmed at work, with 26% reporting struggles with depression.

The expectation of responding in real time often equates busyness with productivity, overshadowing the need for deeper, more impactful work. However, studies indicate that quality triumphs over quantity, with shorter, focused work periods yielding better outcomes.

The real cost of connectivity extends beyond individual productivity, affecting organizational performance and innovation. Technology-distracted workers may find it difficult to focus on complex issues, which will result in subpar work outputs. Moreover, the constant pressure to stay plugged in erodes work-life balance, contributing to higher stress levels and reduced job satisfaction and ultimately impacting retention and morale within teams.

Real-World Examples of Deep Work Success

Notable individuals and companies have utilized deep work to their advantage. Cal Newport restructured his days to prioritize prolonged, uninterrupted work, leading to impressive productivity. Similarly, Basecamp’s 40-hour work week policy promotes a deep work culture, resulting in innovative product updates and minimal employee burnout.

Studies show that interruptions contribute to increased stress and burnout, negatively impacting the mental and physical health of employees. When employees focus on deep work, productivity and morale improve across the organization; this highlights the tangible benefits of unplugging and refocusing.

Bridging the Disconnect

To harness the power of deep work, business leaders must implement strategies that balance connectivity with focus. Here are some actionable insights:

1. Prioritize Deep Work Hours: Implement daily sessions, like my own practice of engaging in a 90-minute session first thing in the morning. This approach consistently leads to the completion of complex tasks more efficiently and effectively. Encourage your teams to adopt this practice to foster a culture of focus and creativity. Making it a routine not only bolsters individual productivity but also realigns team objectives toward achieving substantial, long-term success. This type of scheduled deep work is known as the Rhythmic Philosophy. It promotes the idea that transforming deep work into a habit is the best way to achieve consistency and success.
2. Minimize Digital Distractions: Technological advancements, such as apps that block distracting websites and digital wellbeing features on smartphones, offer tools to reclaim attention and focus. Encourage your organization to leverage these tools to create an environment conducive to deep work. Eliminating digital distractions by silencing notifications on my iPhone has been transformational for achieving deep work. This simple adjustment frees me from the constant barrage of alerts, allowing me to immerse myself fully in my tasks and significantly enhance my productivity and focus.
3. Create a Culture of Deep Work: It’s critical to challenge the cultural and organizational norms that equate busyness with productivity. Advocate for “quiet time” policies, where employees can immerse themselves in uninterrupted work. Such policies not only enhance productivity but also promote mental well-being and innovation. Creating an environment that champions deep work requires intentional policy changes and cultural shifts within an organization. Leaders should model deep work practices by visibly committing to uninterrupted work periods, thereby setting an example for the rest of the team. Furthermore, organizations can provide training on time management techniques and the art of saying “no” to unnecessary meetings or tasks that detract from meaningful work.
4. Leverage Technology Wisely: Let me start by saying that technology is not a hindrance. It’s all about how technology is perceived, and that perception drives its use in daily life. Use technology to automate routine tasks, freeing up time for deeper, strategic work. By strategically integrating technology into your operations, you can achieve greater efficiency without compromising focus. An example is Toyota’s use of automation and technology to streamline routine tasks in its manufacturing processes. Toyota automated repetitive, high-volume tasks on the assembly line, freeing up human workers to focus on strategic, complex problem-solving and quality control. This integration enhanced production, drove innovations in vehicle design, and improved the company’s manufacturing processes. This approach empowers employees to focus on tasks that require human expertise, leading to better results.

Call to Action

The evidence is clear—deep work is a transformational tool for achieving superior business performance. By prioritizing focused, uninterrupted work, business leaders can enhance productivity, decision-making, and overall well-being.

It’s time to rethink the way we work. Prioritize deep work hours, minimize distractions, and cultivate a culture that values depth over busyness. Start with a daily deep work session and witness the profound impact it can have on your organization.

To effectively navigate the evolving demands of our digital world, embracing deep work is not just a strategy but a necessity. Take decisive action today to transform your work environment into one that values concentrated, meaningful effort. Encourage your teams to engage deeply, learn purposefully, and innovate fearlessly. This lays the foundations for a thriving, resilient organization.

Are you ready to join the ranks of high achievers who have harnessed the power of deep work? Start by implementing a daily deep work hour and watch your productivity and business soar to new heights.

The post Deep Work: The Unplugged Path to Superior Performance appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

After all, with its intricate workings, the human brain is far more complex and powerful than even the most advanced systems, giving us an ever-present advantage that stands at the forefront of growth and exploration.

The Science of Habits

The modern understanding of habits, the silent drivers of our daily actions and decisions, was developed by 19th-century psychologist William James, who described a habit as a “routine, behavior, or even cognitive process that starts spontaneously but is repeated automatically as a result of prior experience.” The most important part of this definition is his use of “prior experience.” Why? These experiences have such a powerful effect on the neurochemical processes within our dorsolateral striatum that they actually alter our brain functions.

In his book, Principles of Psychology, James theorized that the human brain could change and “reorganize.” One hundred years later, in 1948, Polish neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski coined the term neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt to stimuli, is central to strengthening the neural connections associated with building new habits while simultaneously weakening those of old, less productive ones.

In his 2003 book, The Mind and the Brain, research psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz introduces a theory he calls ‘self-directed neuroplasticity.’ According to his research, we can intentionally rewire our brains to reinforce habits through repetitive behavior. The primary difference between the two is that while experience-dependent neuroplasticity is predicated on a combination of time and experience, its younger cousin, self-directed neuroplasticity, “is about consciously and intentionally changing your… brain activities and strengthening neural connections…” through repetition, focus, and reflection.

Research also shows that the brain’s reward system is pivotal to this process. That’s because when we do something that our brain deems beneficial, it releases a burst of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation.

Leveraging the brain’s response to rewards can significantly aid in adopting healthy and high-performance habits. For instance, breaking down significant goals into smaller, achievable tasks increases the frequency with which we receive dopamine and thus helps reinforce the desired behavior.

Neuroscience offers valuable insights into habit formation. By understanding the role of the brain’s reward system and leveraging the brain’s plasticity, individuals, particularly leaders, can develop new, high-performance habits that drive productivity and success. This underscores the dynamic nature of the brain and provides a roadmap for personal and professional growth.

Identifying Your High-Performance Goals and Creating a Plan

For leaders aiming to enhance productivity and form high-performance habits, the journey begins with identifying high-performance goals. Setting clear and achievable objectives is not just a preliminary step; it’s a crucial foundation for building effective habits. These goals may include enhancing team communication, refining time management skills, improving decision-making processes, or fostering a more innovative work environment. Once identified, the next step is planning.

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg introduces the concept of  ‘habit loops’—cycles of cue, routine, and reward that lead to established habits. Duhigg writes, “When cue and a behavior and a reward become neurologically intertwined, what’s actually happening is a neural pathway is developing that links those three things together in our head.”

This systematic approach incorporates a triad essential to the psychology of habit formation. For instance, if a leader wants to improve team communication, they may break it down like this:

• Cue: Schedule a daily meeting.
• Routine: Involve specific communication strategies like active listening or giving concise, clear briefs.
• Reward: The tangible improvement in team unity and project outcomes.

Starting with small, manageable changes is vital. Leaders should choose habits that directly align with their goals but are simple enough to be incorporated into daily routines without causing significant disruption. This approach ensures that the habits are not only formed but are also sustainable in the long run.

Consistency and repetition play critical roles in embedding these new habits. The brain is more likely to adopt a habit if it’s repeated regularly. Consistency turns actions into routines; over time, these become automatic responses—the foundation of a habit.

Moreover, it’s important to note that habit formation is not a linear process. It requires monitoring and adapting based on feedback and results. Leaders should be prepared to adjust their strategies, routines, and even goals as they learn more about what works best for them and their teams.

Identifying clear goals and creating a structured habit-formation plan is pivotal for leaders aiming to boost productivity. By focusing on these steps, leaders can effectively build habits that lead to sustained high performance and success.

Prioritizing Self-Care and Well-being

The link between our well-being and habits that make us more productive is undeniable, and leaders seeking to maintain performance levels must prioritize self-care and wellness practices. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman’s insights in a recent Fortune article offer valuable guidance in this regard, highlighting five key daily habits for optimal mental and physical health:

• Adequate Sleep: Stressing the significance of proper rest, Huberman advocates for at least seven hours of sleep each night, noting its powerful “stress reliever, trauma releaser, immune booster, and emotional stabilizer.” He advises establishing a pre-sleep ritual, sticking to a regular sleep schedule, and creating an environment conducive to sleep to improve both the duration and depth of rest.
• Exposure to Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight is crucial in setting the body’s internal clock, signaling it’s time to start the day, and promoting better sleep at night. Moreover, it’s beneficial for absorbing Vitamin D, vital for the strength of bones and the immune system, and it’s also believed to impact cognitive functions and memory retention.
• Regular Movement: Huberman highlights the necessity of integrating a variety of exercises into daily life, incorporating a balance of resistance, flexibility, and aerobic workouts. He recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise weekly. This varied exercise regimen promotes brain vitality, heart health, and stress alleviation.
• Nutrition: Emphasizing the significance of nutrition, Huberman points to the quality, quantity, and timing of meals. A diet of various unprocessed foods, including produce, grains, and proteins, can fortify the gut’s microbial diversity, with knock-on benefits for both immune system resilience and cognitive performance. Steering clear of overly processed and sugar-laden foods is crucial to avert energy dips and sustain satiety.
• Socializing: Huberman underlines the importance of nurturing social ties for mental well-being. The detriment of social isolation is comparable to the health hazards associated with heavy smoking and can elevate the likelihood of mental health challenges and cognitive decline. Community activities can counteract loneliness and heighten joy and fulfillment through volunteer work or shared interests.

Leaders who integrate these practices into their daily routines can significantly improve their overall well-being, enhance productivity, and increase the likelihood of success. Unsurprisingly, Huberman’s recommendations have also been shown to increase dopamine production in the brain naturally. Along with this, his list offers a robust and reliable foundation for maintaining optimal mental and physical health, which is the bedrock upon which productivity and success are built.

Infinitely Rewarding Path

Unlocking peak productivity and building high-performance habits is a journey that combines neuroscience, strategic planning, and an unwavering commitment to self-care. As leaders in a rapidly evolving digital age, it’s imperative to understand the impact of our daily habits on our overall efficiency and effectiveness. Leveraging the science of neuroplasticity and the power of habit loops, we can consciously cultivate behaviors that align with our goals.

Leaders embracing this approach will be better equipped to navigate the complexities ahead. This journey is not just about achieving short-term goals; it’s about instilling lifelong habits that foster personal growth, professional excellence, and an unparalleled capacity to innovate and lead.

As we harness the power of our minds and prioritize our well-being, we not only enhance our productivity but also enrich our lives. Let us embrace this journey with enthusiasm and determination, knowing that the path to high performance is both transformative and infinitely rewarding. Identifying, developing, and maintaining high-performance habits is where excellence starts.

The post High Performance Habits for Peak Productivity appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

It’s important to approach each assignment, task and project with extreme care and focus, but being a perfectionist often hinders the sense of urgency needed to produce. Whether it is letting your perfectionism slow your growth or waiting for the perfect moment rather than creating a sense of urgency to make it happen and get it done, you must be deliberate in your efforts to identify a sense of urgency in all that you do.

People who live with a sense of urgency also live their lives with purpose and meaning. They wake up every day with purpose and possess an inner urgency that drives them to deliver on it. This underlines the profound answer to what is a sense of urgency in action – it’s not just about speed; it’s about purposeful acceleration toward meaningful results.

The amount of people that I have witnessed over the years who have let a lack of urgency in their personal or professional lives sabotage their success and full potential is unbelievable. Quality will always matter, and perfectionism can be a great asset, but productivity, efficiency and speed are equally important.

In football, we had a saying — “speed is the name of the game.” It was brought up repeatedly before every meeting, practice and game. What I learned about that saying from hearing it for so many years is that it holds the same amount of truth in life as well as in business. Speed matters. Doing something to the best of your ability and creating quality work should always remain a top priority, but speed is essential.

So many people want to take their business to the next level, but they are so busy perfecting one aspect, they miss the opportunity to expand beyond it. This lack of urgency stumps growth. So many others walk around unfulfilled wishing they had acted on what they were passionate about or an idea that they truly wanted to move on but let a lack of urgency prevent them from ever getting started.

How to create a sense of urgency in your life.

W. Clement Stone, the late great businessman, philanthropist and author had a success statement that he thought was one of the most powerful statements you could ever say to yourself which was, “DO IT NOW.”

There have been plenty of things throughout the course of my life that I have pondered on for days and never ended up taking action on, because I thought a better moment or opportunity was going to present itself. I now know — this is a trap mentality. It rarely happens that those same opportunities will come again.

Life presents itself with small windows of opportunity, and we have an even shorter time frame to make a decision. For those asking what is a sense of urgency, this is a perfect example—it’s about taking action when the window opens. Those with a sense of urgency, will jump through these windows when they see them. Those who lack urgency will do as I once did, and weigh the pros and cons for so long that the opportunity passes us by, and all that’s left is the “woulda, shoulda, coulda’s.”

I now have written down on a notecard that I keep in my briefcase, as well in the notes section on my phone the simple but powerful saying, “DO IT NOW.” Seeing this daily and making it top of mind every day has helped create the sense of urgency that I lacked for so many years. It’s so easy to let your mind talk yourself out of taking action on a goal or dream of yours, and letting that lack of urgency take over your decision making is one of the worst things that you can allow when it comes to ensuring personal and professional success.

Even if you end up being wrong or maybe don’t get the results that you had originally hoped for, taking action and making mistakes along the way is more beneficial than not moving at all. Get used to the saying, “DO IT NOW.” Incorporate it into your everyday life. Creating a mindset shift that prioritizes a sense of urgency in your life can be a game changer for you — just as it has been for me.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post Don’t Lose That All-Important Sense of Urgency appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

Your client deserves better, don’t you think? In the same way, your life deserves better. The ability to single-task — to give one thing your undivided attention — is one of the keys to Increase focus. Not the kind of productivity where you knock off 20 items from your to-do list while still managing to run 15 miles and respond to 20 emails. Sure, that kind of productivity feels good.

But I’m talking about the kind of productivity where you actually achieve your goals, where you accomplish important and long-lasting things. It means finishing major projects rather than doing a million little things that don’t add up to anything lasting. It means quality productivity instead of quantity productivity.

Once you’ve learned to give your undivided attention to that one thing —  to laser-focus on the important projects —  you will automatically shift into the flow. That’s because flow is how you get them done. You block out all extraneous noise, all phone calls, all menial tasks, all interruptions, and you just focus. You are able to sit and focus on that one task long enough to complete it. When you can work in the flow, you can accomplish anything.

Getting consumed by tedious tasks and busy work is a major battle many of us face each day. Every morning when we get up, the first thing on our minds should be the projects and tasks that will ultimately give us the biggest return on energy (ROE). The reason why this is extremely difficult for most people to do is because often what gives us the biggest ROE and reward is also usually the hardest and most time-consuming of everything that we have to do.

Sending emails, talking on the phone, cleaning up your desk and moving from place to place might seem like you are getting a lot done, but as I stated above, there is a major difference between quality productivity and quantity productivity. If we all took the time to assess our current habits and schedules and pinpoint what is consuming most of our time and energy, we may be surprised at how much time and effort we give to the non-urgent things in our lives.

Even though multitasking may make you feel accomplished temporarily, it’s not a way to go about business or achieving your main goal. It’s nearly impossible to be a master at your craft and become the absolute best if you’re always focusing your efforts in 10 different ways. By shifting our priorities to the big tasks and projects that add extreme value to our goals, we begin to feel accomplished and deeply fulfilled — not just a person accomplishing a lot of busy work.

Give it a shot. Concentrate your energy and attention on single-tasking and observe how it can dramatically increase focus.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post Learn How to Single-Task to Increase Focus appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

How to Enter a State of Flow

Here are five ways to help you get out of a rut and enter a state of flow.

1. Solitude is king — find your special place.

What – who – do you want to become? You won’t know if you don’t pause and listen to yourself. We all have to do this more often. We have to listen to the silence. As Thomas Edison once said, “The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst thinking has been done in turmoil.” We need regular time away from our everyday hectic lives and schedule specific time to just sit and think. Some of the greatest achievers to ever step a foot on this earth all spent time in solitude every day.

It can be very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. So often, we think that if we’re sitting in silence not doing anything, that we’re missing out on something important or not being productive. But that’s the farthest thing from the truth. When failure, disappointment or challenging times present themselves, as they will, what we need most is silence. One of the major reasons why so many get caught in a rut and can’t seem to move past failure is because all of their thinking and decision-making is being made in turmoil.

One of the hardest things to do when we are upset or mad is to go sit in silence, but this also has the potential to be one of the most rewarding things we can do. The great thinkers of this world all have a special place where they can go sit in complete silence and just think.

2. Take baby steps to get to where you want to go — but move!

It’s quite difficult to get into a state of flow and get your feet back on the ground, raring and ready to go after failure hits if you don’t take immediate action. Do not wallow in self pity and misery. Change your attitude to one of positive — and move! Maybe it’s only a baby step, but it’s a step. After failing or experiencing a rut that has you stuck, you might question everything in your life — your relationships, your career. A surefire way to stay exactly where you are is to do nothing, which is what a great majority of the population does.

The risk takers, the dreamers, the men and women who go on to create everlasting masterpieces get moving even while some of the most difficult times in their lives are right in front of them. There is a magical magnetic power that follows the person who is willing to take massive action even when times are not the best.

3. Exercise is king.

Especially after being in a major rut or failing tremendously, everyone needs an emotional lift. A way to blow off steam and frustration. Exercise offers many benefits. Many people experience being in the flow when they exercise. If you’re not accustomed to a daily exercise routine, I encourage you to start one now. A workout at the gym or even a brisk 30-minute walk can help.

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals including endorphins that leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

4. Write a ‘count your blessings’ list.

When you count your blessings regularly — and I recommend that you do this daily — you will feel significantly better and happier after each time. When you measure how much gratitude you feel in your life, you’re going to shift your mind and body much faster into a state of happiness and success. The more gratitude you feel, the faster your life will begin to change.

As you continue to count your blessings and to be grateful, you will begin to notice a bigger difference in the way you feel and your blessings, and gifts will multiply. What’s easy to do when we are in a rut or going through a painful time in life is to analyze and look at what’s going wrong. Shifting your focus on all of the good in your life instead can without a doubt redirect your direction.

Here are some sample ideas to get you started:

A: I am grateful and blessed for all of the tough times in my life, because they are teaching me to be strong, persistent and more motivated than ever to go after my true calling in life. If I never try, I’ll never know if I can achieve something, so I’m grateful that I can keep on trying.

B: I am grateful to have my health, energy, mobility, intelligence and the ability to earn a good living.

C: I am grateful and blessed to have a wonderful loving family and friends.

D: I am grateful and blessed to have a warm, comfortable home.

5. Discover the incredible benefits of meditation.

In my own personal experience, especially when the going gets tough, or I seem to be in a rut that I just can’t get out of, meditation has been one of the best ways to discover how to shift my body and mind to happiness and success. Numerous specialists and spiritualists provide online podcasts and classes on meditation and contemplation exercises. You can also find these in your community if you search online.

For example, Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra announced the launch of an all-new meditation experience called “Finding Your Flow.” They also offer “Oprah & Deepak’s 21-Day Meditation Experience,” co-produced by Harpo Studios and The Chopra Center. Other programs include “Creating Abundance,” “Perfect Health,” “Miraculous Relationships,” and “Desire and Destiny.” All of their workshops are designed to help you achieve flow. Go to www.Oprah.com/meditateand sign up for a free 21-day meditation experience.

These ideas on how to enter a state of flow have helped my life enormously, and I hope they will serve as a powerful and energizing inner guide for transforming your life when the down times of life get the best of you or a rut that you are in begins to seem never ending.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post 5 Ways to Enter a State of Flow appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

I would convince myself over and over again that I am not creative at all, and that I just have to deal with it. I used to think about all of the books, articles and speeches that I wanted to create but then eventually talked myself out of it, because I would hit a wall and just tell myself that creativity isn’t a strong suit of mine.

You might not be thinking about what books, articles or speeches to create, but there has probably been a point in time where you have talked yourself out of pursuing something, because you convinced yourself that you lack a certain level of creativity that it takes to get the job done. The great fact of the matter is that everyone is creative and has the potential within them to tap into their inner creative genius.

I have people almost everyday tell me that they wish they were more creative. That used to be me. I would read great books and read profound articles and just think to myself — “How I wish I was as creative as the author who wrote that great book.” It wasn’t until a mentor of mine explained to me that I have all of the creativity that I need to create whatever it is I want. I just needed to develop it.

As a former athlete, those words ended up really striking a chord with me, because it dawned on me that just as an athlete needs to work on his sport and practice everyday to get better, I quickly came to the understanding that the exact same thing needs to happen in order to develop my creativity muscle. It’s true that a small percentage of men and women have developed their creative potential — while a great majority has not. It’s also true that those who haven’t don’t lack creativity or the potential to tap into their creative genius. It’s just that they haven’t developed and worked their creative muscles enough.

You don’t need to be a writer, artist  or musician to develop and strive to tap into your creative side. Life in general, and you becoming the very best version of yourself requires creativity. Stepping away from the norm and creating the life of your dreams requires creativity. Being a great leader requires creativity. Great marketing and business development requires creativity. While in pursuit of a major goal or dream, logic may tell you one thing and eventually lead you to a dead-end road, while the best of the best get creative, and ultimately create a path if there appears to be none in sight.

That’s part of the difference between those who make it and those who fall short. They understand the importance of developing the creativity muscle each and everyday, even if for just 10 minutes or so. When I stopped listening and abiding by what the creativity myth was telling me — that only a select few people have the potential to tap into their creative genius — my life took on a whole new meaning.

Start today to develop your creativity. Make it a daily habit to write in a journal, get on a writing schedule to simply just write what comes to mind or wherever your imagination takes you or use any other methods that may work best for you in the pursuit of developing your creative potential.

I know firsthand that developing your creativity and working at it each and everyday can do extremely wonderful things for your life, business and future. Don’t follow the enormous amount of people who leave their creativity potential dormant and locked away while blindly following whatever the masses of people do. You have the power and ability to develop your creativity daily.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post How to Develop Your Creativity appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

Yet, you need not fall into the high percentage of men and women who sabotage their own success by never recognizing that they are the ones in charge of where and what they direct their time and focus to.

I’m always amazed when I hear someone proclaim unhappiness with where he or she is at in life. Then I pay closer attention to the complainer’s everyday movements and energy focus. I typically witness activities like surfing the Internet instead of finishing a proposal to send to a prospect — or texting friends instead of making sales calls — or filling down time with reality television instead of investing in personal and professional development.

These are just a few examples of the small distractions throughout the day that can tremendously hurt people’s chances of achieving greatness and moving closer to where they aspire to be.

Distractions aren’t just the enemy for individuals, but for teams and organizations. Every single day, we are faced with a countless number of distractions with the potential to negatively affect performance and success levels.

Here are three ways to minimize those distractions and make sure you, your team or organization thrives.

1. Stay mission focused.

As human beings, we yearn for meaning and fulfillment, and one of the quickest ways to achieve that and simultaneously minimize distractions is to stay mission focused in all we do. It’s easy to wake up each morning and go through the motions and coast along, but when you stay mission focused, distractions never stand a chance. To help yourself in this regard, post your mission statement in a place where you will see it all throughout the day.

I have my own statement on my desktop and laptop, in my phone, and on a notecard I carry around with me everywhere I go. This forces me to constantly stay mission focused and ignore the “noise” that comes up throughout the day. When we don’t stay mission focused, distractions intrude more often. People forget why they’re here or where they’re going because they’ve become sidetracked.

2. Understand and analyze your weak points.

A beneficial exercise for me was the time I devoted a whole weekend to analyzing the biggest distractions getting in the way of my achieving some of my biggest goals and dreams. I was feeling frustrated and unproductive so I spent time going through my daily routine and schedule, and tracking exactly how my time was being spent.

I finally was able to be honest with myself and see three key distractions that had been preventing me from getting my most important tasks and projects done. I wasn’t aware of them before I made some changes.

You don’t have to spend an entire weekend to analyze your biggest distractions, but spend at least 20 minutes and see what you can do less of throughout the day that will free you up for more quality work time and time to spend on things that matter most.

Most people don’t do this. But if you do, you’ll realize what your obstacles have been.

3. Get serious about scheduling everything and time blocking your days.

The easiest way to fight distractions is to schedule the most important projects, work and priorities that you absolutely need to do each day. Something that has worked well for me is time-blocking, which entails going back to my roots as an athlete, when I had a ridiculously disciplined schedule and the whole day blocked out. When you set aside a specific time in which you devote undivided attention solely to that urgent project or task, distractions and “noise” are greatly minimized.

So, preferably the night before, schedule your next day, blocking out your most important tasks and priorities. This will prompt you to wake up in the morning knowing that you not only have a game plan, but know exactly when something has to get done.

Every single day, millions of people are victimized by the noise and distraction in their lives. Don’t let that happen to you. Intead, be intentional. Get rid of the distractions that don’t serve a greater purpose, to get you to where you want to go in life and in business.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post Distractions Are the Enemy appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

1. Arrive early, stay later

Living in a congested city such as Chicago, I have found that if I start my workday before everyone else, I can save time by beating traffic and getting to my most important tasks right away. Sitting in traffic will do nothing but frustrate you and set a negative tone for the rest of your day. The same goes for when the end of the work day rolls around.

Your ability to save these extra hours can not only increase your productivity levels drastically, but help you become one of the highest paid and most productive people in your field. Arriving early and staying a little bit later could make all the difference in the world.

2. Plan each day the night before

This is a total game changer. If you spend just 15 minutes before you go to bed the night before creating your to-do list and prioritizing it, you will have a head start on your day when the morning rolls around. After I create my to-do list, I pick the most important tasks and put a little star next to them reminding me that these are the tasks that need to be done to push me forward with achieving big goals.

3. Leave the office for lunch

This is something so small that can have such a powerful effect on how you work for the remainder of your day. Getting out of your work environment for lunch can ease stress levels, refresh your creativity and help you to re-focus for when it’s time to go back to work. I often take a short walk to clear my head and think about how I want the rest of my day to go.

4. Minimize distractions

This seems self-explanatory, but in this day and age, distractions are everywhere. If you work from a computer, as most do, there is the temptation to check social media and surf the Internet, among many other things. When it’s time to work, work! If possible, close your door and have a “do not disturb” sign hanging on the door so your co-workers know not to bother you.

Every company has employees who are more interested in discussing last night’s TV than completing important tasks.These average achievers should not hold you back.Set limits and do your best to adhere to them daily.Your ability to minimize distractions to the greatest extent possible can increase productivity on its own.

5. Keep your goals in sight at all times

After setting extremely big and exciting goals that you want to accomplish, keep them in sight at all times. I keep a list of my goals in my phone, a note card that I carry in my pocket and in a spiral notebook. The main objective is to keep your goals in a place where you will end up seeing them many times throughout your day. When I glance down at my goals, my motivation levels to get things done goes through the roof.

Start to picture yourself as the most productive person in your field. How does it feel? What tasks are you spending the majority of your time on? What is your philosophy on personal performance? Be in competition with yourself to see how much you can get done. Have fun with it. Make it a game.

Always try to beat the person you were the day before. Keep track of your results and work every single day to be a highly productive individual and watch the small daily victories begin to transform your life.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post 5 Daily Habits to Increase Productivity Levels appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

We discussed that there are really three generations of time-management thinking.

Era 1 time-management thinking was all about efficiency.

It was predicated on the idea of doing things faster. All things being equal, efficiency is good, but there is a limitation to efficiency that gives it a point of diminishing returns as a time-management strategy.

No matter how efficient we are, in today’s day and age, there is always going to be more to do than we can ever get to. At one point in history the idea was to create tips and tricks and tools and technology to help us get our to-do list done faster so we’d have margin or space left over.

But that’s an incomplete strategy today. Because we all carry computers in our pocket, we are all working as efficiently as ever before and we are still never caught up. That’s because at the end of today’s modern to-do list isn’t more margin — it’s another to-do list!

Era 2 time-management thinking was about prioritizing.

Prioritizing time was about developing calendars and checklists to help us focus first on what matters most.

Prioritizing has been the pervasive paradigm of thinking in the world of productivity since 1989. We still refer to “prioritizing” as the cure-all for most of our time-management problems. While prioritizing is still a highly valuable skill and as relevant as ever before, it too has a very substantial limitation that nobody ever talks about.

According to Vaden, there is nothing about prioritizing that creates more time. All prioritizing does is put one thing in front of the other. It takes item seven on your to-do list and bumps it up to one. But it does nothing to help you get the other items on your to-do list completed and it does not create more time. Prioritizing is simply borrowing time from one activity to spend on another.

The modern era is all about multiplying time.

In the world today, a new type of thinker has emerged. They don’t manage their time and they don’t prioritize their time — they multiply their time.

Multipliers have figured out ways to actually create more time while everyone else is still living with the fallacy that time is finite. Welcome to Era 3 time-management thinking.

How in the world do you multiply time? Simple.

In fact, this next sentence is the entire core premise of Vaden’s new book that comes out in January (Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time).

You multiply your time by giving yourself the emotional permission to spend time on things today that create more time tomorrow.

You don’t just think, “what are the most important things I have to get done today or this week?”

Instead, you ask the question, “what are the things that I could do today that would free up more time tomorrow?”

Vaden says, “When you ask yourself that question, you will find that you immediately feel less pressure to only focus on the urgent things that are pressing today or this week and you instead gain a perspective to start thinking about what you can be doing now to make a positive impact on the future. You give yourself permission to do the significant things that matter for the long term.”

That is what multipliers do.

He goes on to say, “They get outside of their to-do list of short-term priorities and they realize that the real key to creating more margin in their life isn’t about working faster, or somehow ‘prioritizing’ better, it’s about learning to think differently.”

To be a multiplier you must stop living urgently, and start living significantly.

Originally Posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post The New Era of Time Management appeared first on Matt Mayberry.

1. Engage in consistent action.

2. Constantly picture yourself beyond your current circumstances. Dream enormously big and hold that dream deep within your mind, body and spirit.

3. Spend time in solitude to just think and visualize.

4. Write your most important goal on a note card and look at it five times a day. Say it out loud and believe with a deep conviction that it will become a reality.

5. Drink tons of water. It’s impossible to operate to the best of your ability and tap into your full potential if you are dehydrated. Our minds and bodies need water in order to perform at an extremely high-level.

6. Eat to win. If you don’t want junk results stay away from junk food. The bottom line is that we are what we eat.

7. Get your sweat on. One of the best productivity tools that you can utilize is to get a workout in at some point throughout your day. Whether you go to the gym or at home, make the time.

8. Pick up a book for 15-20 minutes and get lost in it. Just as our bodies need physical exercise, our minds need to stay mentally fit.

9. Spend your time around those who lift you up and encourage your vision, not belittle it. We are the average of the five people we hang out with the most. Pick your company wisely.

10. Make time to grow. Carve out 30 min to an hour and find ways to personally and professionally grow.

11. Turn off the music in your car and listen to an audiobook. Utilize your commute to better yourself and stay inspired. This mindset reinforces the idea that today will be a great day full of meaningful opportunities.

12. Keep a journal. Record your thoughts, ideas and strategies. We have roughly 20,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Don’t let an idea or strategy go to waste. Never rely solely on your memory.

13. Think of five things you are grateful for right this second. It can be something as simple as how beautiful is mother nature or how wonderful your family is. Reflecting on what’s good in your life sets the foundation for believing that today will be a great day.

14. Snack on almonds. Great source of protein and other minerals and vitamins that will increase your energy levels and keep performance in peak state.

15. Say “I love you” more often. Don’t let a day go by where you don’t tell those you love how much they truly mean to you. Life is short and by simply saying the words “I love you” will bring you an immense sense of satisfaction.

16. Treat others how you want to be treated. In business and in the game of life, people matter. If you want to truly win in both, make every person you come in contact with feel important.

17. Have a green smoothie. Instead of turning to caffeine turn to the power of mother nature and blend yourself up a delicious, energizing and healthy green smoothie. One of my favorites is two handfuls of organic spinach, one apple, juice of one lemon, three stalks of celery, and ginger root. There are plenty of recipes available to you online.

18. Take a post-it-note or note-card and write down some quotes that move, inspire and empower you. Feeding your mind with motivational words helps affirm the belief that today will be a great day no matter what challenges arise.

19. Cut off all distractions. When it’s time to work, work. When it’s time to relax, relax. Discipline yourself to stay off Facebook and other social media sites when you are working on a computer. If you are in an office, hang up a “Do Not Disturb” sign if possible. Focus completely on the task at hand.

20. Take full and complete responsibility for your life. Own up to your mistakes and never fall into the trap of playing the ever-so-popular blame game.

Adopting winning habits is key to answering “how could I have made today even better?” What we do on a daily basis determines the results that we end up with. If you don’t like what you have been producing up to this point, then change what you do daily. It’s my hope that this list of 20 ideas is of extreme value to help make today utterly amazing for you.

Originally posted on Entrepreneur.com

The post 20 Ways to Make Today a Great Day appeared first on Matt Mayberry.