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Today’s thoughts on productivity are very well put together by Ego Development. Thanks for a helpful, detailed but very concise summary of what we can do to improve our productivity.

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

~ Paul J. Meyer

Productivity is defined as the amount of work produced in a given period of time. Productivity relates to the person’s ability to produce the standard amount or number of products, services or outcomes as described in a work description.

10 Habits that Increase Your Personal Productivity

1. 1. Organize your Life and create a To-Do-List.

Work on your most important tasks first. There is no use spending hours on a trivial task when a much more important one can be done in a few minutes. Planning a schedule can be hard to do, but there are many ways to do this easily. Create a list of everything that needs to be done and change the order in terms of what what should be done first.

1. 2. Remove Distractions

Turn off the TV, take the phone off the hook, and close down your email. There is nothing worse for your productivity than continually stopping and start because of distractions. Complete your tasks, and then give yourself a bit of a break. Do not do both at once.

1. 3. Use positive affirmations

Positive affirmations are a tool for replacing negative self-talk with something more productive. It’s quite common for people to use negative affirmations without realising it, so why not give your performance a boost and replace these negative vibes. Your affirmations should be present tense, personal and as specific as possible. Read them every morning and night, and keep them on an index card so you can whip them out and read through them when you have a few moments spare.

1. 4. Take a nap

Getting 40 winks might seem like the last thing to do to increase your work rate, but studies have shown that taking a nap during the day can considerably improve concentration and performance.

Fifteen to twenty minutes is usually enough time to recharge your batteries, and coupled with a splash of cold water after waking up you’ll be ready and raring to go.

1. 5. Set daily goals

Each morning you wake up you should set a goal for that day. It can be big or small, but something that you can achieve by the time you go to sleep. If you’re really ambitious, you can also set several goals for one day.
Having something to focus on during your day will help you accomplish many tasks. Just like success, you have to have goals and a plan to get where you want to go.

1. 6. Get some exercise

You should aim to do at least thirty minutes of exercise, three times a week. Swimming, cycling and skipping are all good activities. If you’re jogging, try to job on softer ground to protect your joints from wear and tear that can be caused from running on a hard surface.

1. 7. Use software tools that will make your life easier.

Some of the programs simplify common computer chores, like launching programs and burning CDs. Others help you work smarter with files , finding the ones you want, renaming them en masse, and sending them where you want them to go. Still others help you automate your work with macros and boilerplate text. So invest a little effort — and maybe a little money - to make your life easier. Then you can take some time off and enjoy the hours you’ve saved.

1. 8. Work at a higher tempo

Working at higher tempo in order to get things done faster and more efficiently. Instead of slowly trudging through a task, aim to get it finished in half the time. This doesn’t mean you have to cut corners or produce something of a lower quality, but eliminate all of the small distractions such as staring out of the window or thinking about what’s for dinner.

1. 9. Wake up early.

I might get flamed for this hack by night owls, so let me qualify this tip by saying that if you stay up late at night and get a lot done, then do what works for you. Late night hours are really not much different from the early morning hours, as both times are much quieter with fewer distractions. However, as a former night owl, I recommend the morning hours simply because many times I would stay up well past midnight, but be very tired and not get anything done for the last 6-7 hours. Mornings are much more productive for me.

1. 10. Experiment with different productivity techniques

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques. Use 30-day trials, either alone or with a friend. You could even write about the experience online if you feel it will help your progress. Remember: not every technique you try will work, but the more you try the more likely you’ll find something that makes a real difference. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone too, and grow into a better person.

A Shocking Harvard Study Proved That Almost All Children Are Born With Extraordinary Levels of Multiple Intelligences, But Only 2% Retain Their Talents Into Adulthood…

How Convinced Are You That Your Child Is Not One of The 98% of Children Missing Out On His Extraordinary Potential?

I want to tell you a story… a true story of two children who grew up to be happy and successful in life. One is a photographer, the other a musician.

They are very much alike, these men. They are both living their dreams. Both are enjoying life to the fullest. And they are both receiving recognition for their wonderful creative expressions.

But there was a difference. One man took 80 years to achieve his dream. The other took just 20 years.

What Made The Difference?

Have you ever wondered, as have I, what makes some people able to achieve the success of their dreams and find their life purpose at such a young age? Have you always wanted to know how they did it, not so much for yourself, but even more for your children to have the life of opportunities you never had?

Well, let me tell you that it isn’t always talent, opportunity or hard work that makes the difference. Nor is it that one person harbors dreams and the other doesn’t.

The difference lies in the person’s growing years and the freedom he was given to retain and maximize his natural talents, intelligence and intuition. Without this nurtured freedom, a child would otherwise be confined, only to spend a lifetime searching and struggling to regain that magic.

Trust me, I know …

I am that 80+ year old man, and the 20-year-old musician is my grandson. Only at the age of of 78 did I start photography, and at the age of 80 my work was recognized by the International Photography Hall of Fame.

It was a great achievement at my age… yet at the same time, I saw my grandson, Shawn, living his musician dreams at an age when I was still naive in my direction. In just his early twenties, Shawn was already composing, singing and performing songs with his band, earning an Inland Empire Music Awards nomination for Best Indie Rock Group and Best Live Act, all while completing his college degree.

What was Shawn’s secret to utilizing his full potential, living his dreams and finding his life purpose at such an early age? How did he accomplish this feat four times faster than I did?

My 50 Year Journey To Reawaken My Inner Magic

Many people are surprised to know I only started photography at the age of 78. Many are even more surprised that I also started writing and painting at this age.

It was something I never had the talent for (or at least that’s what I thought)… but with my mastery of mind power techniques, I found a way to tap into and reawaken an inner magic that unleashed a creative expression I never thought I had it in me.

It was a long journey, but my experience enabled me to develop specific techniques and mental conditioning exercises. Once I saw for myself this true power of the mind, it became my mission to help others tap into the latent power of their mind and unleash their true inner magic.

The Right Intervention at the Right Time

Today at over 80 years old, I prefer to stay home, but I’ve been able to unleash my teachings to the entire world through the Internet. I now have a membership list of over 70,000 from my site called The American Monk, and through this I’ve reached out and transformed the lives of more people than I ever imagined possible with my teachings.

Today, looking back upon my experience, I noticed one prominent pattern. All the adults whom I’ve helped throughout my travels over the past 50 years were all natural geniuses that lost it somewhere, and they turned to me to help them regain the inner magic of their mind.

They too knew that they were more capable than what life currently holds for them. They too held the belief that the mind is the most powerful tool one can master. And just like me, they too were looking for the key to unlock their talents and excel in life.

But one day it dawned upon me what I should have realized a long time ago.

If the adults I was helping hadn’t lost their genius in the first place, would they be needing my help as adults to reawaken that inner magic?

Click Here To Get Your Free Copy of The Genius Dip Report >>

Wouldn’t it then make more sense for an earlier intervention… to reach out to people when they are younger… to reach out to children?

It’s all about the RIGHT intervention at the RIGHT time, isn’t it?

Upon realizing this, I shifted my efforts to focus on children. I started to do some research. And I came across a shocking study.

Shocking Harvard Study Shows That Between Age 4 and Age 20, 98% Will Lose Their Capabilities for Genius That They Were Naturally Born With

I came across a Harvard study led by Howard Gardner, the professor that revolutionized our understanding of intelligence by being the first to define intelligence into seven different dimensions.

Leading a research group at Harvard called Project Zero, Howard Gardner made another discovery that shook the ground of psychology.

They proved that almost every child is born with genius! But after the age of 20, only a mere 2% retain their talents. 98% LOSE THEIR POTENTIAL.

I call this sad phenomena the Genius Dip.

Click Here To Get Your Free Copy of The Genius Dip Report >>

What is going on? Why does this Genius Dip happen?

SOMETHING happens during upbringing that causes 98% of children to have these abilities ERASED from their mind.

It can’t be genetic. Not when almost every child is born a genius. So if nature is not the answer, the only logical conclusion left is nurture.

But what? I asked myself the same question and after some investigation and research, the results both shocked and disappointed me.

Now please don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to sound like I’m against education, because I’m not. In fact, two of my daughters are school teachers and I’m proud of the work they do. Education is essential and important.

But there are shortcomings of the mass education system that you have to know… otherwise you too will be lulled into thinking that mass cookie-cutter school systems are enough to develop your child into a successful well-balanced adult.

Click Here To Get Your Free Copy of The Genius Dip Report >>

The Shortcomings of the Education System

Yes, while it is essential for your child to be in school, your children are going to need more than that in the world to come. They are going to need more than historical facts, geographic locations, mathematical ability, musical skills and the likes.

Those things are important BUT they will also need to know how to understand the world… how to communicate and interconnect with others… how to visualize goals and attract success. And in the bigger picture, how to tap into intuition, fulfill their life purpose and leave behind a mark in their world.

But all of that… they don’t learn in school.

You can’t blame the system though. It’s unfortunately an inevitable shortcoming of any mass system. The old-fashioned cookie cutter method of mass education destroys any chance of meeting each individual child’s needs of creative nurturing.

The Genius Dip: Why Children Are Losing their Genius Potential and What You Can Do to Help Your Child

Are you one of those people that see genius as a “gift”? Do you still believe that a person is either born with intelligence, or they’re not? Do you still believe in the old-fashioned myth that intelligence is inherited?

Could you be one of the parents unknowingly holding back your own child’s genius because you are stuck with this old-programming belief that genius is only exclusive to the “lucky” few?

Because you truly care about the most important asset of out future – our CHILDREN – I’m going to share with you the most crucial discoveries that I’ve made in my 50 years of collected knowledge of the mind’s power and potential.

Here’s what I’m going to share with you in my report:

• How to unleash the hidden abilities of the mind at ANY age
• The Harvard study discovery that will forever change how you see the mind’s potential
• The ugly truth about America’s “No Child Left Behind” campaign and how it is the worst disaster any government ever inflicted upon children
• The crucial elements you must understand to IMMEDIATELY save your child’s genius capability from the shocking factors the education system refuses to acknowledge
• Learn the One-Two-Three punch combo that is the sure-fire way to reawakening genius
• How to give your child boosted self esteem and confidence to achieve success in all walks of their present and future life

Click Here To Get Your Free Copy of The Genius Dip Report >>

In a not-so-surprising twist,it turns out that your gut feel was right…you never did get more done on any day but Tuesday!

A survey earlier this year revealed that indeed, Tuesday is indeed efficiency’s best friend.

TGI … TUESDAY?

Second Day of the Week Remains Most Productive, Survey Shows

MENLO PARK, CA — Why tackle today what can be put off until Tuesday? In a new survey, 57 percent of executives said Tuesday is the most productive day of the week for employees. Monday was the second most popular answer, although it appears to be losing favor: Only 12 percent of respondents ranked Monday as most productive, compared to 26 percent in a 2002 survey.

The national poll included responses from 150 senior executives — including those from human resources, finance and marketing departments — with the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals.

Executives were asked, “In your opinion, on which day of the week are employees generally most productive?” Their responses:

Monday
12%

Tuesday
57%

Wednesday
11%

Thursday
11%

Friday
3%

Don’t know
6%

100%

The results mirror previous surveys conducted in 2002, 1998 and 1987.

“In addition to serving as a ‘catch-up’ day after the weekend, Monday is when many regularly scheduled meetings occur, which can decrease the time available to complete tasks,” said Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies^® (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). “Many view Tuesday as an opportunity to focus their efforts and establish momentum for the rest of the week.”

Accountemps offers the following advice for maintaining a high level of productivity throughout the entire week:

• Make a plan. Spend 10 to 15 minutes at the beginning of each day mapping out your desired accomplishments. Prioritize the tasks that are most important to the business.
• Sharpen your focus. People are more productive when working for an extended period in the same mental mode, as opposed to changing gears frequently. Try to cluster tasks that require similar effort or resources in the same time frame.
• Limit distractions. It can be tempting to review e-mail each time a message arrives. However, unless your job requires an immediate response, it’s often best to check your inbox periodically throughout the day.
• Don’t delay. Even peak performers occasionally put off working on unpleasant or overwhelming assignments. One effective way to overcome procrastination is to break a project into smaller, more manageable tasks.
• Recharge. Taking short breaks throughout the day can help you replenish your energy and fight fatigue.

Accountemps has more than 360 offices throughout North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, and offers online job search services at www.accountemps.com.

Do You Want Success In Your Life?

Are you prepared to dedicate yourself to a journey of life long learning? Are you really committed to accelerate your success and achieve your dream life?

Manny Goldman is the founder of PersonalGrowth.com and author of the new book, The Power of Personal Growth.

After hitting rock bottom in 2004, Manny discovered Personal Growth and became an avid student. In the last 3 years, he has attended and volunteered at more than 50 seminars, read countless books and listened to dozens of audio programs.

Manny’s own personal growth has been described as phenomenal. In 11 months, Manny changed his life and went from:

• $100,000 in Debt to financial security
• Overweight at 245lbs to a lean 190lbs
• Clinically depressed to extremely happy and engaged to the woman of his dreams
• Lost with what to do with his life, to being clear on his purpose

Manny’s transformation has inspired him to become The Personal Growth Advocate™ and declare a mission to raise the global awareness of the power of Personal Growth for billions of people.  

In this FREE, exclusive 50 minute interview, Manny Goldman gives his invaluable insight on:

• The power of proactive vs reactive growth
• How harnessing the power of responsibility can determine your destiny
• Ensuring you know the 5W’s of your life so you can achieve your life dreams
• The 5 roadblocks that’s holding you back from your full potential
• The 4 elements of long lasting change
• The missing link in the education system that causes 95% people unable to apply what they learn
• The triad technique that you can easily apply TODAY to start a positive change in your life
• And much, much more…

If you’ve read countless amount of books and listened to bundles of audio on personal growth BUT still don’t know how to apply it, Manny’s step-by-step approach in The Power of Personal Growth and his community of support will get you there. Hear first for yourself what Manny Goldman has to say:

OR

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD! (Right-click, Save-as)

FIND OUT ABOUT MANNY GOLDMAN HERE!

A 61 Year Old Farmer Enters The World’s Toughest Race…

There are several legends that share the discovery of a long-sought invention and how it was quickly replicated in only days… after everyone finally knew it was possible.

The fact that someone finally proved it could be done was all the others needed to finally create the invention themselves.

This story goes in a similar vein, but with a twist.

In 1983 a farmer from a sheep ranch entered the world’s toughest ultra-marathon, an 545 mile (875km) run from Sydney to Melbourne in Australia.

Whereas other runners were under 30, trained specifically for this event, and had corporate sponsorships, Cliff Young was 61, ran sheep on a farm, and was laced in his work boots.

While the other runners followed the equation of 18 hours running, 6 hours sleeping per day, Cliff had no idea such a formula even existed.

And while the other runners focused intently, Cliff made time to wave to the onlookers and media cameras.

And with this back drop, how do you think it ended?

Cliff is now a legend.

He won that race not because of determination, cutting edge equipment, or innovative coaching.

He won because he walked up to that race with infinite possibilities.

Nothing was impossible to him.

And with his mind free of mental impediments, he was able to do what everyone else called impossible.

Cliff is someone we could all look up to.

When you look at what is and is not possible in your life, how much of that is real, and how much is simply imagined?

(Click Here to read this amazing story)

The Top Productivity Blogs Collected by Social Rankings!

An incredible new website, Productivity Zen, identifies the top 15 productivity stories and blogs of the day by monitoring the buzz of the productivity blog community.

The developers of the site use a software called SocialRank to monitor each of the best productivity sites and determine the day’s hottest articles and bloggers in the field.

According to the SocialRank team:

This is done by analyzing how sites and users link, connect, and discuss each other’s content. Add a touch of math and what we have is a powerful filter into the hottest stories of the day.

Now you can find better productivity stories, learn more, and get updated… much faster and easier than before.

So far great sites like Zen Habits, Life Optimizer, Matt Idea, and Lifehack have been showing up on the top rankings for the site. But also some new faces that I urge all your productivity junkies to go check out!

It’s so nice to be able to find stuff from within the longtail without having to deal with the complications of technorati and the sheer bias some some social networking sites.

Want to know more about these great sites? Visit the links below:

SocialRank
Productivity Zen

8 Words that will guide you on the Road to Success

Richard St. John Video on the Road to Success

 Over the past 7 years Richard St. John dedicated his life to guiding you on the road to success. He has interviewed over 500 successful people and from this he presents this slick slideshow and talk that outlines if you follow these 8 steps you’ll be well on the way on the road to success.

Amongst these successful people are familiar names such as Bill Gates and Rupert Murdoch.

Check out his feedback:

“Richard St John shows that some things seem more difficult than they are. He is right when he says that there is no reason to worry if you fulfill these 8 points. The most difficult thing is to make yourself clear that you are on the right way. It is nice to see, that successful people do have selfdoubts and “didn`t think they`d make it”. He shows that it`s okay and necessary to have selfdoubts, but that it is not a reason to think, that you`d never come to success. Perhaps there are many people out there, who would pay for what you do. Thank you for your wisdom, Mr. St. John!!”

“Bravo Richard, within 8 words and 3 minutes your version of Secret of Success sounds and looks obvious.”

“Simply wonderful!”

What other words would you add to the list to get on the road to success?

Watch another great speech on the road to success by Tony Robbins

Jim Rohn: A Remarkable Communicator

After much perusing I found a great clip from Jim Rohn, one of the personal development greats, where he reveals the valuable essentials to becoming wealthy in both body and mind.

He’s the kind of character that when he talks people listen. In this great 7 mins Jim exudes passion and shares remarkable stories on leadership and success. See what you think . .  .

Exclusive Jim Rohn Video

Putting You On The Road To Success!

Hello World! For anybody out there that is on the road to personal enlightenment or simply just wants to further themselves and prosper your life is to get a lot, lot sweeter.

As of today SelfPursuit.com will be your only destination to head for to get the most comprehensive information and the most informative advice on a wide array of topics from self improvement, creativity and imagination, the Law of Attraction and manifestation, personal development, confidence, goal setting and motivation, and entrepreneurship and productivity.

Everyday we’ll be serving you up with attention grabbing articles, that will keep you gripped to the screen. SO . . .

Sit back and relax and let us guide you and take you on your journey of growth that’s set to be as enjoyable for you us it is for us here.

If you feel strongly about any matter or article we post I invite you to share your views as this is a voyage which we should all experience together.

WARMEST AND HAPPIEST OF GREETINGS FROM SELF PURSUIT - MAY THE JOURNEY BEGIN!