5 Productive Thoughts Of Successful People
Productivity and Career Success
August 11th 2018
We all want to work harder, get more out of our day and increase our productivity. When you’re in an executive position, it’s important to ensure that you are utilising your time and resources as best as possible in order to maximize your return. In the world of executive recruitment, we hear people say, time and time again, that this is easier said than done. In order to move your career forward, it’s crucial that you improve your methods, streamline your tasks and ultimately increase your productivity.
Being more productive doesn’t necessarily mean working harder, it’s really all about working smarter. You need to utilise the tools at hand, make the most out of your time, eliminate distractions and systematise your processes. Once you take action, you will be in a much better position to capitalise on your efforts.
Richard Branson and his son Sam at a gala event in LA.
Looking at the thought processes of some of the most influential and successful people in business can help to inspire and set you on the right track to a more fulfilling executive career.
Let’s take a look at some of the most productive thoughts from successful business people that every executive can learn from on their professional journey.
1. “Work out” – Richard Branson
When asked how to be more productive, Richard Branson had a very simple, two-word solution, “work out”.
According to Branson, regular exercise gives him an extra four hours of productive time every day. Working out not only helps to keep you physically fit but increases energy levels, improves stamina and reduces stress. Famous for thinking outside the box, a side of applicants that Executive Recruiters love to explore, Branson’s secret to success could be just the thing to increase your productivity.
2. “Deciding what not to do is as Important as deciding what is”
– Steve Jobs
One of the many things that we can learn from Steve Job’s immense success is to prioritise tasks. As an executive, it’s critical that you realise that “deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what is”. Eliminating unnecessary tasks and focusing on the ones that matter is crucial to becoming more productive and getting more accomplished in your day.
3. “Understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington
As a business owner, company executive or business leader, failure is inevitable. Learning from your failures, by getting up and dusting yourself off, is the key to becoming more successful and ultimately more productive. Don’t be afraid to try new things, to take a new direction or to adopt a new approach. As fearless businesswoman Arianna Huffington put’s it, “we need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.”
4. “Constantly think about how you could be doing things better” – Elon Musk
Being an executive is all about growth. You need to improve how you work, learn to manage your time better and always be self-evaluating. Arguably one of the most productive people on the planet, Elon Musk maintains that you should be “constantly think about how you could be doing things better” in order to optimise your time. Musk recommends having a feedback loop, in which you are always thinking about what you’ve done and how you can be doing it better.
Being aware of what you are doing and always looking for ways to improve will make you more productive than you ever thought possible.
5. “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing” – Warren Buffet
Everyone takes a gamble now and then. Whether on it’s on hiring a new executive, changing your business processes or implementing new technology, there is always a certain amount of risk involved. However, no matter how much chance is involved in a decision, know-how, skill and knowledge will always win out over luck.
When it comes to being more productive you need to be able to make the right decisions quickly and decisively. Learn from Warren Buffets advice; “risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing” and always take a calculated approach, weigh up your options and ensure that you can back yourself to the bitter end.
Be Inspired and Take Action!
Taking your executive career to the next level means being the best version of you that you can be. You don’t need to start 400 companies like Branson, make tens of billions of dollars like Buffet or change the world like Steve Jobs. You need to be more productive, find ways to streamline your daily tasks and make the most of your team, time and resources. With everything running smoothly, you will be in a better position to move your operation forward and move closer to your career and business goals.
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