WHAT I'M READING WEDNESDAY : Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

How do I define success? How do you?

On Monday, I shared with my coaching circle that there seems to be a gap between what I consciously believe to be success, and the behavior that I am exhibiting.

Currently, I find myself with more time on my hands, and I feel guilty about it.

I am only leading 3 book circles at the moment, and have a few one off book-inspired workshops to design and deliver.

I am spending an inordinate amount of time at my desk doing various marketing related tasks in order to get more visible and attract more clients.

This is where the mismatch comes in -- I have enough money in my biz account to pay myself for a year. I've already out-earned last year with 3 1/2 months to go in the year.

I could simply ride out this low period.

Success, right?

One of my coaching peers asked me: "If you earned your yearly salary in a morning, what would you do the rest of the year?"

I think I would still feel compelled to work.

I am trapped in the limiting belief that being a good partner, entrepreneur, etc, means that I am working along the same lines as the rest of the world -- Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

But why?

On Monday, Karine Tourné Languin mentioned that she was reading Slow Productivity and I knew that it would fit the conundrum that I am facing.

The book is based around these 3 premises:
✅ Do fewer things
✅ Work at a natural pace
✅ Obsess over quality

Newport writes extensively about the situation that I have found myself in -- people working longer hours, but spending most of that time in "pseudo productivity."

They are spending more time at work, talking about the work, doing the admin related to the work, but not actually doing the work that will move the needle toward their objectives.

Alongside listening to the book, I also decided to track my time. I want to see how I am actually using it, and if I am using it well.

👉 How much time am I spending in "pseudo productivity"?

👉 Once I recognize those moments of pseudo productivity, can I walk away from my work guilt free?

I think this topic needs more time and exploration than the book and this post can allow, so I will leave it to percolate.

⭐️ Do you ever track your time to know if you're using it well? How do you know if you're being truly productive?

Originally posted on LinkedIn with comments.

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