Productivity Systems

I love systems. To me, there’s such beauty in a building a system that works and then operating that system to help achieve a goal. Now, what system is best for you? for your specific circumstance? Not sure. But luckily, there are plenty of places to go to for ideas.

On a Personal Note

Please excuse the brief absence from the newsletter. My (now) wife and I were gone on our honeymoon. We had an incredible time and my wife only tried to kill me about 17 times between us swimming through underground cave rivers, going snorkeling, zip-lining over the forest, and then swimming in a cenote.

Watch History

Tracking Habits

Peter McKinnon has been my inspiration for my photography for several years now and recently - actually about a year or year and a half ago - he got into taking physical notes with him everywhere. A part of this is tracking his habits in his journal. Physically keeping track of everything on pen and paper he claims gives him much more satisfaction than any app ever did.

We’re about a 1/3 of the way through the year now and we hardly hear anyone talking about their new years resolutions. What happened to the new habits you wanted to form? Even if it’s not a ‘new years resolution’, how many times do we say we’re going to start a new habit and we fall away after a few weeks - or sometimes not even that. Peter says that by taking the time every morning to track the habits he’s wanting to build or monitor, it helps motivate him to keep on track with those goals.

There might be something to this. Probably most of us have heard that in school it helps to physically take notes rather that just type it up on a computer because the tangible act of writing out your thoughts helps solidify those points in your mind more than typing it does.

Well, it’s time to put this to the test! I’m going to buy a new notebook and track my habits just as Peter does. Consider it a science experiment to see how it helps me stay on track with my goals more than I have been. I’ll report back next month with how it went. If you want to join me with this experiment, pick up a dotted notebook, create your outlines, and keep track of your progress. Let’s compare findings in the comments!

Maker vs. Manager Scheduling

In the professional realm, Alex Hormozi shares an insight to different types of schedules. In the world there are 2 kinds of people: Managers and Makers.

Managers (typically upper leadership) have meetings upon meetings. Their schedules are typically 15 minute increments having 15 minute meetings, 30 minute meetings, 45 minute meetings, etc. The reason for this is because managers are operating through meetings and making sure things are in motion, communicated, innovating, etc. That’s why they fill their schedules with so many meetings. To them, doing these meetings is doing the job.

Makers are people on communications or creative teams, sales teams, sometimes even operational teams. A maker is someone who’s job typically takes up hours and hours at a time. For example, a graphic designer needs a few hours at a time set aside per project because it requires extended attention for creating assets, mockups, different layouts, and more. Makers’ schedules therefore are actually 4 hour time blocks. So they have mornings, afternoons, and maybe nights. That means, realistically, 2 blocks of productive work per day or 10 per week.

These two roles have to interact with each other - one is typically in charge of the other. The problem is that the two operating styles don’t work well together. The manager can cram in a ton of 15-minute meetings into a schedule and be fully operating in their zone but taking a 15 minute meeting in the middle of a morning for a maker completely wrecks their schedule.

Here’s a helpful way to figure out which one you are: When you look at a calendar and see it completely open, does that excite you? or worry you? Managers will look at their empty schedule and feel like they aren’t doing anything productive. Makers look at theirs and feel like “Great! There’s no interruptions for me to do what I need to!”

It’s easy to learn about these two styles and think that ‘the other is obviously wrong’ but in reality it has to be a mix of both. Again, Managers and Makers work together and need to learn how the other operates so that they can respect them, work with their expectations, and allow them to thrive in their zones.

Alex also describes that he sets aside Manager days and Maker days. Meaning that, because he has to operate in both fields, he has to dedicate time to doing both. He puts all his meetings into a single day or maybe two so that he can make sure everything is being managed and then all the other days are reserved for making things that progress the business. In the same way, it’s important to understand how you operate and also figure out where you need to compromise the schedule so that you could do both.

Add to Watch Later:

• You're Not Behind: My System for Outlearning Everyone

• You're Not Behind: My System for Outworking Everyone

• I Tried Elon Musk's Productivity Techniques - Alex Hormozi

Psst. I made a Playlist on YouTube for the videos I’ve mentioned here so that you can always refer back to it!

Reading List

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

There are some incredible businesses and leaders out there. And there are so many things to learn about how to run a business with purpose and meaning. Reading this book and learning more about this kind of leadership just fuels me. I really feel driven to become a leader that creates an environment that people love to work at.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

After my reading of Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is The Way, and I grew my interest in studying stoicism, it was recommended for me to read this book. Marcus Aurelius was one of the most powerful rulers of the Roman Empire and over the years in his reign he kept a journal of writings for himself that eventually became this book. What is so interesting in this book’s forward is that Ryan Holiday speaks of Marcus Aurelius much in the same way we, christians, look at King Solomon or King David. When we read Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, etc. we glean timeless knowledge from incredibly wise individuals. We read and reread and learn new things each time. It is knowledge that has stood the test of time. And while Marcus Aurelius was not a believer, there are lessons that he learned that are still pieces of wisdom. Sometimes getting to the same end conclusion as King Solomon, just with different origins, or perhaps drawing extrapolations from that learned wisdom that go to a different belief simply because of him not being a christian.

The thought of the two of these men prompted me to go to ChatGPT and have it compare their statements and beliefs.

The Growth Log Library

I’ve compiled a list of the books that I mention in case you want to pick any of it up. Full disclosure, these are affiliate links. Doesn’t cost anything extra on your end, I just get a kickback if you use my link to make a purchase.