Harvard’s most effective productivity hack

July 10, 2022

In this issue, you will learn:

  1. Business building and customer retention.

  2. Key growth landmarks and what you need to do.

  3. How to Become Part of the "0.4% Club."

Reading time: 2 minutes.

Play My Emails in Outlook and get time back

As a founder, you need to be able to transform yourself.

After all, you won't be able to build systems to grow your business if you can't build systems to grow yourself.

Earlier today, I spoke with one of my business coaching clients, which was a pleasure. For the sake of privacy, we will call him Danny.

Danny was fed up with receiving so many emails. He never takes an intentional break because he's always working.

He used Outlook. I could have told him to get to "inbox zero," which is where I am right now, but he needs time to build up his skills.

I suggested Outlook's "Play My Emails." Feature.

I made it work on his phone app. When he realized what this could do to him, he smiled.

I told him to check his emails:

  • Commuting to work.

  • After 2 PM

  • Before leaving the office.

Catch up with what’s new in your inbox with Play My Emails. On your commute, multitasking or anytime your hands may be busy doing other things, let Cortana r...

Time blocking

Listening to your emails is just a tiny part of the solution. You need a productivity system.

Harvard did a study on most productivity systems and one came first. It is called "Time Blocking."

Watch the one-minute video below to get a full picture.

P.S. I have no connection to this channel, but I appreciate how they summarized this.

128.5K Likes, 491 Comments. TikTok video from The Time Box (@thetimeboxplanner): "Harvard’s most effective productivity hack #timemanagement #productivity #fyp". Bach unaccompanied cello suite "Prelude".

I also suggested this ritual:

1- Do things that take less than two minutes right away.

2- If it takes more, delegate it if possible.

3- Schedule tasks that take more than 2 minutes and can't be delegated.

4- Put daily themes for which work gets done on a certain day of the week, and having dedicated time blocks for deep work is great.

5- Spend 30% of each week on focus work. That's 12 hours out of 40.

6- Break Out on Mac and Wakeout are fantastic apps for breaking up long workdays and avoiding burnout by utilizing the Pomodoro technique.

7- White noise or apps like Endel can help you focus. Noise-cancelling headphones are a plus.

8- Put your phone in "Focus mode" to avoid distractions.

9- Using the important-urgent matrix, prioritize the tasks that need to be scheduled and choose the top three.

10- Weekly to-do list. Tell your coworkers.

Focus work: 12 hours out of 40

Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Time Out - Break Reminders. Download Time Out - Break Reminders for macOS 10.11 or later and enjoy it on your Mac.

Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Wakeout: Daily Exercise Breaks. Download Wakeout: Daily Exercise Breaks and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac OS X 11.2 or later, or Apple Watch.

Apple Pencil feels like a pen and paper

I use a physical agenda and the time-blocking method to get things done.

When I use my Apple Pencil with Ajournal for iPad, it feels like I'm writing with a pen and paper:)

I then use the Pomodoro technique where I adjust the Time-Out app, or I use my physical cube.

If you have any questions on how to use these methods, please let me know.

Why wasn't my issue delivered to me on Friday?

The Twitter newsletter service was down on Friday and Saturday, so this issue was sent out two days late.

How can I improve the Business Builder?

Hit reply and let me know!

- Luqman