The Productivity Book
by Michael Brecht
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GENRE: Non-fiction/time management
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BLURB:
Ever wondered what the secret is to productivity? Here’s a hint: there isn’t just one. Introducing the Doodle Productivity Book! Containing in-depth interviews with 30 of the world’s top productivity & time management experts, this book lifts the lid on the industry’s best kept tips and tricks. The result? An engaging and practical guide that will help you find your natural pace, so you can work smarter—not harder.
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Excerpt:
Since the questions we asked opened a window into a day in the life of a productivity expert, we wanted our final conclusion to reflect this. So, here’s our summary of what a productive day should look like.
The perfect day starts the night before. Outline your goals. Whether this is a simple to-do list or time blocking, make sure tomorrow’s objectives are clear. Then sleep on it.
Everyone needs a different amount of sleep. Know what works for you and structure your schedule around that. Nearly all of our experts cited adequate rest as essential to maintaining productivity.
Wake up bright and early. Leave enough time to spend at least an hour and a half preparing for the day. Whether it’s reading, yoga, Pilates, running or simply thinking. Follow this with a healthy breakfast and you’re good to go.
Get to work. Now that you’ve prepared mentally, it’s time to take on the day. This period is when you’re at your most productive, so use it wisely. Let the calls go to voicemail, put your cellphone on silent and don’t answer emails. Emails are rarely worth your most energized and motivated moments. Unless it’s a creative meeting, don’t take it.
If you need time constraints, use a timer! Or the Pomodoro Technique.
Once you’re into the afternoon, time block to focus on admin and less important tasks like responding to emails and taking meetings. This will stop you from getting distracted and help you to focus on one thing at a time.
Because your brain is slower, this is the best part of the day to incorporate technology. So, start up your favorite tried and tested apps and use them to help you take notes, see your reminders, book appointments and whatever else is important. And remember, saying “no” can be more productive than “yes”.
By this point, you should have had a highly productive day. So, use the evening to relax with friends or family. But remember: A little planning the night before can go a long way toward having a successful, fulfilling tomorrow.
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The Productivity Book by Michael Brecht
The Productivity Book is an intriguing book of interviews with 30 professionals working within various industries from all around the world and coming from various backgrounds who all discuss their approach to time management and getting things done. This book is light and easy to read, offering insight from various tools and tricks to habits and routines. One of the most enjoyable parts of reading this book is how each interviewee has a unique voice and many are quite playful and display a good sense of humor. There aren’t many advice books out there that can make you laugh along with helping you figure out how to get it all done and get ahead. It’s a worthwhile read.
What’s the most recent adjustment that you’ve made to your personal productivity routine?
Realizing that “NO” is a complete sentence. When said in a polite manner, of course. If a project isn’t consistent with where I want to take my business then I don’t get involved, even if that project could be highly profitable.
Your main challenge to stay organized is …
Thinking I can multi-task like a computer. I need to do ONE thing at a time.
In what ways has your perception of time changed as you’ve grown older?
As performers or speakers we have curtains that open for a small window of time. We have to make the most of that time in order to build an emotional connection, share new perspectives and create an experience rather than meeting expectations. But, in reality, all of our time is like this in that our curtains are open but we never know when they might close.
We will never have more time than we do right now! So, why not now? Make it happen before it’s too late or we’ll miss the opportunity to experience, act, feel, learn, participate, connect and LIVE! Work hard doing what you enjoy but ALWAYS take the time to be a part of something bigger—your purpose and passion.
Take it all in as life is NOT a dress rehearsal and you don’t know when your curtains will close.
Author Bio and Links:
Michael Brecht is the CEO of Doodle, an organizational and project/event management online platform. Doodle is committed to helping people make things easier and more efficient, in both personal and professional life. Michael has spent a lot of time thinking about how to make things easier, get more done, and be productive, all of which are evident in his work with Doodle. In his role as CEO, he has been able to network with hundreds of professionals in several various industries (including the 30 interviewed in this book), who are all incredibly successful due to their aims to lead a productive, efficient, and well-balanced lifestyle, most of which use Doodle as part of their organizational tool box.
The Productivity Book website: http://productivity-book.com/
Doodle website: https://doodle.com/productivity-book
Author website: http://michaelbrecht.com/publications/
Purchase The Productivity Book here: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B016UQV92K/?keywords=productivity%20%20book
Interview with the Author:
What are the top five things on your bucket list?
I have a quite extensive bucket list, but here are 5 things I really would like to do:
Travel to New Zealand
Ride a bike along the coast of California
Try the top 10 wines from Australia, New Zealand and the US
Learn surfing properly
Spend 3 months to travel through Vietnam and Laos
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I am a serial entrepreneur, have more than twenty years of experience in IT and Digital Media and have held several international leadership positions in Europe and AustralAsia.
Since the beginning of 2014 I am CEO of Doodle – the world’s favourite online scheduling tool. Together with my fantastic team we have integrated Doodle into the Digital Portfolio of Tamedia AG, Switzerland’s largest media company. Our focus is to grow the business into a global application while strengthening its product offerings and continuing its successful monetisation. Doodle AG is a highly profitable business with offices in Zurich and Berlin.
My experience ranges from founding a start-up to various exits to multi-national corporates and subsequent integration. I enjoy topics of digital transformation and the leadership of highly innovative teams with a particular focus on growing a business internationally.
Now that digitalisation is increasingly becoming a topic for all businesses from start-up to large corporate, I have decided to start my own blog. Here you’ll find information on productivity topics, quotes about personal and professional efficiency, my reviews of awesome apps I use myself and I am trying to present a few stories that aren’t meant to be too serious too.
In my private life I am married and our home comprises of four children and our dog (an Australian Labradoodle). We are currently living in five different countries and I myself carry a German and an Australian passport. I enjoy sports, in particular football, swimming, tennis and all kinds of outdoor activities and I am passionate about the discovery of great wines.
Links:
https://twitter.com/michaelbrecht?lang=de
Buy links:
https://itunes.apple.com/book/the-productivity-book/id1050616645?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-productivity-book-michael-brecht/1122830470
https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/the-productivity-book
Book links:
https://sliwinski.com/productivity-book/
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Michael Brecht will be awarding 5 Doodle Premium Accounts for Free to randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour.
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/02/vbt-productivity-book-by-michael-brecht.html
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One response to “The Productivity Book by Michael Brecht”
Thanks for hosting!
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