I’ve been thinking …

Are we really productive – or just really busy? Does activity lead to productivity?

Can we agree that productive work should move us closer toward our stated goals and that productivity should be an objective measure? If so, then perhaps tracking our time could give us some insight into our personal productivity. These thoughts led to my conducting an experiment.

I tracked my time in great detail for two weeks. My findings were disappointing, but not surprising. I worked for approximately sixty hours each week – and I was busy for the entire time, toiling away at the usual tasks associated with the running of a small business. But was I productive?  NO I WAS NOT – at least not by our definition of the word.

Here are my findings

I have two overarching goals: (1) Create my program content and (2) Generate revenue.

  • Almost 20% of my time was spent in getting to meetings: driving, parking, walking to buildings, idle chatter with random people before and after the meeting
  • Almost 15% of my time was spent in meetings indirectly related to my business: association meetings, community events, professional development, informational sessions, etc.
  • 10% of my time was spent fetching or preparing –  and then consuming – food and beverages
  • About 15% was spent on email, phone calls, internet activities, SLACK postings, texting, etc.
  • Almost 5% was spent on administrative tasks like updating our website, weekly planning, fighting with our technology, etc.
  • About 20% was spent preparing for meetings, and in meetings, with people who might become customers when I officially launch my business – but none of this time actually generated any immediate revenue
  • Only 15% of my time was spent actually writing my program content

More than half of my time was spent on work that was not productive. Only the last two activities could be labelled as such – and only the last one was actually moving me closer to my goals. I see now that if I am to achieve my goals, I must place a much higher value on my time.

So does activity necessarily lead to productivity?  I don’t think it does.

What do you think? What would your experiment look like?

Until tomorrow, GUNG Ho friends!