“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” – Confucius
Sometimes as a Productivity Ninja you will seem to others like you have special powers. However, a Ninja is very different from a superhero. A Ninja is just a regular guy or girl, but with tools and skills and a very special mindset. There are no super powers and no kryptonite. Ninjas get things done in a way that seems, well magical. As a Ninja, what were once routine tasks become opportunities for fun, discovery, experimentation and the unleashing of your inner geek.
Thinking about the process of your work as well as the work itself will help you to love what you do, whatever that may be. You will gain excitement and a sense of magic from being better at doing what you were doing before; you’ll be less stressed about it; and you’ll experience a momentum in your work that you never thought possible.
Ninjas work in a unique heightened flow of relaxed productivity, brought about by hyper-awareness, calm and focus. It’s a magical experience that you won’t want to go back from. But it’s not all plain sailing either.
By seeking ultra-productivity, using unorthodox means and for a host of other more ‘human’ reasons, Ninjas are prone to screwing up once in a while. In old time management books, the time management ‘gurus’ would paint themselves as a picture of superhero perfection. They’d give you detailed planners to fill in, have you performing high fives in celebration of continuous massive achievement and leave you as the reader wondering how on earth they managed the impossible.
We’re all prone to screwing up – no matter how organised, how intelligent, or how seeming perfect we are or are trying to be. Yes, you too. We can aim for perfection and fail, or we can aim for Zen-like Calm, Ruthlessness, Weapon-Savvyness, Stealth and Camouflage, Unorthodoxy, Agility, Mindfulness and Preparedness, and succeed.
Yes, we’ll make mistakes. No, we won’t be perfect. But what we will do is increase productivity in ways you never thought possible before. It simply isn’t possible for me to make you a superhero and if you want that, there are plenty of other books out there that will promise it but won’t deliver. It’s an unrealistic dream, a fantasy never fulfilled. But it is possible that we can make you a Ninja.
This excerpt is from the book How to be a Productivty Ninja. Think Productive also offer time management training courses to help you become a true Productivity Ninja.
Last week was the launch of “How to be a Productivity Ninja”, a culmination of the last three years of thinking and getting things done from Graham Allcott. Adopting the mind-set of a Ninja offers very useful ways to approach your work. This week we thought we’d give you a taste of the nine characteristics of a Productivity Ninja described in the book….
Do you have a system to store the information, actions, task lists, checklists and files? What could be improved to make it easier to access? Zen like calm is an ability to remain focused and not be stressed by all the things you’re not doing.
Saying ‘no’ to as many distractions as possible. Could you afford to be more ruthless in your focus?
Knowing what tools to use, but being clear that the tools are there to save you time, not provide distractions. Do you have good communication systems in place and is it easy to track who does what?
Get out of the chaos once in a while. Are there times when people working alone, away from the limelight, might be more productive.
Challenge the status quo. Think how would Nelson Mandela make it, or how would Amazon.com make it? Take inspiration from unusual (as well as usual) places.
Have good systems to help you react and respond quickly. Are there opportunities to discuss the storm during the calm before it? Plan ahead!
Ask youself good questions and avoid stress. Are you a good listener – to yourselves and to others?
Knowing that rest, relaxation and good organisation skills are important. If you’re over-stretched, can you see light at the end of the tunnel? If not, change it!
Last but no means least, one of the loudest messages in the book is that in order to be a Productivity Ninja, you don’t have to magically become a superhero. Superheroes only exist in the movies and you’ve got real work to do, back here on planet Earth.
You might be surprised to learn that to be a productivity ninja is not like being a superhuman. Essentially we are human beings not human doings. Humans make mistakes and we shouldn’t try to be perfect.
Aiming for perfection is often the quickest way to get stuck. The important thing is to finish, not to be perfect. Celebrate your mistakes – use them for good. Adopting a Productivity Ninja mind-set is a great way to create a safe space to innovate and ultimately, to change the world!
“How to be a Productivity Ninja” is available on Amazon buy your copy today. The e-book is being sold in aid of READ International.
This is Part 1 of a series of posts describing the characteristics that will help you to become a Productivity Ninja. Look out for new posts everyday this week. How many characteristics do you relate to? Please leave your comments below…
