My Little Known Secret to Increase Productivity

Close my mouth.

I’ve been practicing this technique lately and the results have been astounding.  I do open it on occasion to breath, but my nose seems to perform that duty just fine.

It’s not necessarily the quantity of talking that has me concerned, rather the content.  I speak too much about the future, about things yet to be.

That’s why I’m doing my best to shut my pie hole.

I have dreams, goals, and occasionally plans that go along with them.  I’m not afraid to express those to others, but I have grown cautious of how I share them and with whom.

I’ve gotten into the habit of talking a big game, but not following through.  In the words of the profoundly cliché bumper sticker, I need to Wag More, Bark Less.

If only it were that easy.  Unlike our canine friends, muzzles and bark collars are not common place in our human society.  Tape lacks durability and hurts like a bitch when you take it off.  I guess I could purchase a Hannibal Lector mask on eBay for only $10.84 to help suppress my hyped-up hullabaloo.  Unfortunately I don’t think that would improve my speaking career… or my personal life.

Despite a lack of speech suppression equipment available for my use, I’ve found a way to batten down my blow hole.

Work from the inside-out.

I’ve been working diligently to adjust my values and there are a few I’m focusing on that apply to my new mission to shut my trap.

Confidence – every time I have the urge to publicize my future plans I’m really just testing the waters; searching for approval.  If my course of action is not accepted by everyone else, doubt begins to creep into my mind.  But if my dream is truly important to me, why does it matter what others think?

Growth – I’m always looking to grow; to improve upon who I am.  That doesn’t happen externally.  As Stephen Covey states in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, private victories always precede public victories.

Success – living a genuine, meaningful, and happy life.  That is how I define success.  The means in which I achieve that success are chosen only by me, based on the goals I select to pursue.

The reoccurring theme: internal adjustments.

I’m building my confidence from within.  There’s little need for external influences anymore.  But don’t take my word for it, look at my latest results.

More focus.

I’ve been very selective about who I share my aspirations with.  When fewer people know, less input is thrown my way and fewer distractions arise.  I don’t have 25 zillion mouths chirping their fears, doubts, and opinions into my ear.  This allows me to focus on my work, achieving more.

Example: I finally started to implement some of the content marketing techniques I’ve learned over the years.  This has lead to a 16% increase in my email subscribers over the last 2 weeks alone.

More action.

With fewer distractions to consume my energy, I have more time to focus on the tasks that really matter.

Example: I’m writing more; a lot more.  Instead of relying on creating new content each and every week, I’ve been able to stock pile a few posts so I can begin making adjustments to my website to better serve my readers.  I also have more time and energy to tackle my super-duper big dream: writing a book.

More confidence.

As interest in my blog grows I find myself smiling more.  I’m not just talking about fulfilling my dream anymore, I’m doing it.  I can’t explain how phenomenal that feels.

Example: My eyes actually began to well up the other day as I read new comments and saw new subscribers.  That’s how I know I’m on the right path, doing what I was born to do.  It only makes me want to continue down this road even more; striving to change the lives of others along the way.

I’m not stating these results to impress you, but impress upon you that it is, in fact, possible to succeed down the road you’ve chosen; to enjoy the journey you’ve selected.

It’s been great thus far.  I’m working more on what I love to do, my confidence is growing, and I can actually see measurable results.

Big deal.

All of that means nothing if it isn’t maintained.  That’s why I’m looking to a newly discovered principle for support; something I can refer to when I start to stray off course.

People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.
            – Lewis Cass

My one caveat is this: don’t internalize everything.  Trust me.

Exercise restraint when it comes to expressing what you plan to do.   Protect your dreams.  That doesn’t mean take an oath of silence.  Communication and social interaction are huge parts of our lives and imperative to success – neither of which I could live without.

Plan, share with trusted friends and colleagues, then take action.

Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.
            – Peter Marshall

Keep Drifting

 *Do you have any productivity secrets of your own?  If so, share them with the rest of us in the comments.