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Like all people, I like to think that I am a productive person. If I am, however, it is because I am ruthlessly efficient one thing :. Steal secrets and methods of people much smarter than me
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In my career, I was fortunate to get in touch with successful authors, successful entrepreneurs, investors, executives and creative people. Some that I do not meet, but I find their thoughts in book form. They knew or not, I cased each of them and took from them what I thought were the best ideas on productivity.
Here are the secrets I learned from them. Thanks guys! You helped me get more done and be more creative.
Casey Neistat
From this popular filmmaker YouTube and artist, I picked the thing to keep a small Moleskine diary that I write in everyday life: thoughts, reminders, notes, lessons. I prefer the one that can fit in my back pocket, the way I always have paper on me.
The last few months have been incredibly difficult and this journal helped me cope. More importantly, I learned to keep track of these newspapers (and all I have) in case I lose: In the great writer of letters ["IfFoundPleaseReturn[INSERT NAME & NUMBER]."
Tim Ferriss
Tim I learned the art of the list of things to do. At the front of a single right. A notecard, five or six great articles and here.
Every day I meet these off and tear the card. That's all. That's the system.
Robert Greene
Robert Greene, author of the famous 48 laws of power, showed me how he created books. His notecard system changed my life. Every book I read, I fold the pages and then go back through and transfer information on notecards I then organized by theme in card boxes.
At this point, I have hundreds of thousands of these cards, which I always turn if I have an anecdote, fact, inspiration, strategy, story or example.
Dov Charney
The first time I called Dov, I'm his mailbox. He said: ".. I do voicemail me, send me" This is a much better system
I took it a little further, I do not even voice mail set up. If it's important, they'll remember. If I have time, I will return the missed call. Anyway, having "six voice messages uncontrolled" is something I have not worried over the years ... because they do not exist.
Ramit Sethi
Ramit built a 40 plus employee, multi-million dollar business education before us (he and I grew up in the same small city actually) a trick I learned from Ramit -. after ignoring the advice several times. - is that if you hire an assistant, make sure they are older or more responsible than you
Too many people make the mistake of hiring someone young and cheap, which is ridiculous. It is impossible for them to understand the value of time and organization and they will eventually make you less productive, not more. If you have an assistant, do good.
Tobias Wolff
in his book, Old School, the semi-autobiographical character of Tobias Wolff takes time typing quotes and passages of great books. I do it almost every weekend. It is a) made me typing faster b) a much better writer c) a wiser person.
Robert Greene
From Robert I also learned that swimming is an excellent productivity tool. Why? Because it requires total isolation: no music, no phone, no possible interruptions. Just quiet, intense exercise. I had some of my most productive brainstorming sessions in the pool.
David Allen & Merlin Mann
Inbox Zero. Never touch twice paper. These sentences flow and use them.
Ramit Sethi
Another Ramit: You are not obligated to answer every email you get. Delete Key is a quick way to get to zero inbox.
Napoleon
There is a great quote Napoleon on how it would delay opening letters so that the weather, questions irrelevant if would be solved. I try to do the same thing with email and personnel matters.
Marco Arment
Instapaper changed my life. I do not play games on my phone, I read great articles, I queued for myself earlier in the day. I'm not distracted with articles while I work at my desk because I can easily put them in the queue.
James Altucher
"No" is a powerful word productive (he also wrote a book about it). We believe that we are obliged to say yes to everything, then we wonder why we did not have enough time.
Learn to say no - "No, thank you" more precisely - energize you and excite you. Use as much as possible.
Montaigne
De Montaigne I also learned the importance of keeping a commonplace book. If something catches your attention, write, record somewhere. Use it later. As simple as that.
Andrew Carnegie
He has a great line of "being presented broom" at an early age. In other words, knowing even the most humble tasks intimately. Does not mean you have to do them again, but know.
Aaron Ray
Aaron Ray was my mentor in Hollywood. It is a producer of blockbuster movies and director, but I notice one thing: he was never in the office and he has always had a ridiculous excuses why it was not
Finally, I understood why..: he avoided the office of BS that sucks time most people. by staying away, it is done more. he could see big picture.
And as an added bonus, all the world always spoke of him: "Where's Aaron?" "Does anyone saw Aaron"
Tucker? Max
you guess, but Tucker has the largest library you've ever seen. Why? He bought all the books he wants. I do not waste time thinking about what books I want, or where to get cheaper. I buy them, I read them, I recommend, I take advantage of them. End of story (see my library here.)
I am never without something to read, and I always have to read more because the shelves are looking at me as a reminder what I have to do.
Nassim Taleb
Speaking of books, Taleb I learned about the "anti-library." Do not just collect books you read, collect the books you don 't read. It is a testimony of what you do not know, and a turn-resource whenever you need it.
Samantha Hoover
from my fiancée, I got a nice little thing. delete Facebook from your phone. Do it. Trust me. ( Note :. Pretty sure she relapsed, but I do not have)
Bryan "Birdman" Williams
The guys founded Cash Money records and 500M worth about $. I was shocked the first time I had to meet him ... the studio ... 1 hour ... on a Sunday. His day started right. He works at night, sleep during the day .
As I said at the beginning, it was weird, but I realize: It took a few hours have been most productive for him; vis what most people think is "normal."
Tucker Max
I think Tucker was the guy I stole listen to the same song and -Dessus of. It allows you to space out and get into the zone (or a state of flux). My iTunes playlist is embarrassing, but I do not care. Listening to the same time hundreds of pieces is how I'm so done.
Samuel Zemurray
The entrepreneur behind United Fruit (and one of my favorite books) usually say. "do not trust the report"
We lose a lot of confidence from time figures and opinions we have never checked Go back and do something more ends up costing us more. we saved by jumping on the first job
Tim Ferriss
another Tim.: you should not be the first to sign up for things. just wait on new applications and social networks. Wait until things settle, let others do all the trial and error, so when you come, just be the best.
Anonymous
I do not remember who gave me the idea, but never buy Wifi in flight. Go off the grid for the entire flight. Catching up on things. Think. Read.
Adam Corolla
The Loveline Adam used to complain about the way the producers wanted him to get their 15 minutes before the show began. His refusal was simple :. Each week that added an extra show - free
Important people can get a lot done in "15 minutes" so they do not easily give. And they do not mind looking bad in order to protect.
Niki Papadopoulos
My editor always said. "Okay, well, then try to write" In other words, it means "Get started." she generally said that right after you explain some great idea to scan you for a book or a chapter or article.
Planning it out is great, but productive people move.
Frederick Douglass
"A man is working with what he works on." Steer clear of the quagmires, toxic work environments, busy work and insoluble problems.
James Altucher
Entrepreneurs and writers are nuts. To save you many wasted hours of time and madness you find a spouse who is better suited and balanced you. James and his wife Claudia are an inspiring example of this important association.
Aaron Ray
As a talent manager, Aaron showed me why you waste your time, or your own money, do your own trading. This served me well.
I pass incoming requests to a talking agent, book projects to an accounting officer, interview requests an assistant, movie stuff / TV Aaron etc etc. Yes, that means I pay fees, but guess what? All the valuable services at a cost. Only a fool himself or herself represents.
What did you stole people smarter than you? Share in the comments
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