The #1 Goal of Productivity

Suffice it to say, our attitude affects everything we do. Or don’t do. If we have a negative attitude about doing our schoolwork, it won’t get done. Or we’ll do a hasty, sloppy job. Or we won’t be able to concentrate, and it will take three times longer than it should to complete.

We might whip ourselves, pour on the pressure with guilt or threats, and while that might make us get the work done, we will be miserable doing it.

When it comes to writing our books, we certainly don’t want it to be a miserable experience. Writing is supposed to be fun! We’re supposed to love writing—that’s why we long to do it full-time and make it our career.

Sadly, I’ve met too many career authors who hate writing. They didn’t start out that way. But while they’re currently cranking out best sellers year after year, they’re not happy campers.

Habits and methods aside (for I believe some are miserable because they don’t ever plot, and they stress all the way through writing each book worried they won’t make their publisher’s deadline), many writers have learned to be productive . . . but at the cost of their joy (and perhaps even their sanity). 

The Goal: Being Happy in Productivity

Maybe that’s too obvious to mention—that we don’t just want to crank out books; we want to be happy doing so.

But I think it’s worth discussing.

Some writers, like me, love the stress of deadlines. I used to work for various newspapers in what was called the Composing Department. That’s the department that put the pages of the paper together—oh, long before computer tech invaded the newspaper world.

You know—back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Our job was to print out the newspaper articles on a special paper, use an Xact-Of knife to cut out the columns, then run the pieces of paper through the waxer roller (to apply wax to the back). From there we’d stick the pieces on the big white tagboard pages of the mocked-up edition until every article and ad was in place. All the while the clock was ticking above our heads and editors were leaning over our shoulders, hurrying us along with press deadline looming.

More than once, I had an editor snatch the big sheet off the work table the second I ran the roller over the last waxed piece, to hurry it over to the camera room. Whew.

But I had fun. I liked the pressure and challenge. And I’m a weird type of person that loves to inflict ridiculous self-imposed deadlines on my projects—because that’s what helps me be productive and crank out my books (or blog posts or email blasts).

Here’s the thing: I’ve learned how to be productive and happy doing so because I’ve taken the time to do the analysis. Which is what you’re going to be able to do after going through all this material.

I’ve analyzed my personality, my habits, my attitudes, the ways I self-sabotage, the types of excuses I make, the hacks that work (to get me crashing through my obstacles) and don’t work, my biology, my eating and drinking preferences . . . and more.

And after analyzing all this stuff that makes up the picture of who I am and how I function each day, it become super clear to me how to be highly productive—and still stay happy.

In fact, all this analysis didn’t just help me keep my joy of writing; it elevated it.

Productivity Must Have a Foundation of Proficiency

I mentioned how satisfying it is to publish a book. Think, then, how fun and exciting it would be to publish three or four books a year. Great books. Ones readers love.

Of course, part of that success—a big part—is reliant on your skill and application of the hard work and time put into mastering your writing craft. But we’re not delving into those deep waters in our look at productivity. Let’s just assume you have been putting in the hard work to become an excellent writer. And in order to be highly productive, that’s a must. If you don’t master the skills of your craft, you can’t produce great books on a regular basis.

Let’s just stop here for a second.

A big reason so many aspiring writers aren’t productive is they haven’t mastered the skills needed. It’s no wonder they can’t finish that first (or third) novel. Or that memoir or self-help book.

If you’re standing in front of a machine that makes door handles or microcircuits—anything, really—and you don’t know how to operate the darn thing, nothing is going to happen. You won’t produce anything. Those little parts won’t come marching down the assembly line conveyor belt.

So, while you may not be ready to produce a line of books because you haven’t gotten your chops yet, reading this material on how to be productive is going to help you immensely.

Why? Because you can apply everything you learn here to your pursuit of mastering your craft.

Productivity and Life in General

It’s the same with anything we attempt in life. You need to learn how to be productive in the pursuit of any goal. You want to learn how to sew your own clothes? Turn your ugly yard into a beautiful and bountiful vegetable garden? All these tips will help you be productive in reaching your goal.

So while this information is geared to writers cranking out books, I hope you’ll see how you can apply all of this to life in general. To everything you take on in your life.

It’s the tweak on the old adage: writer, know thyself. When you understand yourself—your attitudes and motivation and biology—you can make wise and practical decisions and choices that will impact your success.

Don’t you want to be productive and successful in everything you do?

I do. And I want to make the best use of my time, which is a precious limited resource in our lives. I want every minute to count, but I also want to live a balanced life, free from unhealthy stress (I qualify that because I believe some stress is great for us), with my priorities straight.

Each of us has a different order and set of priorities, and you know yours. So keep those in mind as you go through the steps to becoming a highly productive writer.

What about you? How important is it for you to love what you do? Have you ever stopped to analyze what factors contribute toward your productivity and which ones hinder it? Share some of your thoughts about attitude and productivity.