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Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours
A road-tested formula for improving your performance, from one of the business world's most successful—and productive—executives.
Robert C. Pozen taught a full course load at Harvard Business School while serving as the full-time chairman of a global financial-services firm. He's written six books and hundreds of articles, raised a family with his wife of more than four decades, and served on many boards of local charities and public companies. Pozen is a prince of productivity, a man who has worked smarter and faster than almost everyone around him for more than forty years.
In Extreme Productivity, Pozen reveals the secrets to workplace productivity and high performance. His book is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by an existing workload—facing myriad competing demands and multiple time-sensitive projects. Offering antidotes to a calendar full of boring meetings and a backlog of e-mails, Extreme Productivity explains how to determine your highest priorities and match them with how you actually spend your time.
Pozen shows that in order to be truly productive, professionals must make a critical shift in their mind-set: from hours worked to results produced. He helps people at all stages of their careers read, write, and make presentations quicker and more effectively. He provides professionals with practical tips on how to efficiently use their time in the office—while leading full and productive personal lives as well.
Robert C. Pozen taught a full course load at Harvard Business School while serving as the full-time chairman of a global financial-services firm. He's written six books and hundreds of articles, raised a family with his wife of more than four decades, and served on many boards of local charities and public companies. Pozen is a prince of productivity, a man who has worked smarter and faster than almost everyone around him for more than forty years.
In Extreme Productivity, Pozen reveals the secrets to workplace productivity and high performance. His book is for anyone feeling overwhelmed by an existing workload—facing myriad competing demands and multiple time-sensitive projects. Offering antidotes to a calendar full of boring meetings and a backlog of e-mails, Extreme Productivity explains how to determine your highest priorities and match them with how you actually spend your time.
Pozen shows that in order to be truly productive, professionals must make a critical shift in their mind-set: from hours worked to results produced. He helps people at all stages of their careers read, write, and make presentations quicker and more effectively. He provides professionals with practical tips on how to efficiently use their time in the office—while leading full and productive personal lives as well.
304 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 2, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
March 24, 2015
Great book.
Summary of Chapter 1
1. This is worth reading.
Summary of Chapter 2
1. Overcome procrastination
-Don’t try methods of unstructuring procrastination
-Set mini-deadlines and reward yourself for meeting them.
-Make yourself accountable to someone.
2. Don’t give into the face time=productivity mindset. Let your followers set their own hours.
Summary of Chapter 3
1. Use OHIO: Only handle it once.
2. Check email on a set schedule.
3. Multitask low-priority items.
4. As a leader, eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder your people.
Summary of Chapter 4
1. Make daily calendars at the beginning of each week for each day.
2. Use split calendar (see pg. 53) and write what you hope to get out of each activity.
3. Take a 30 minute nap each afternoon.
4. Exercise regularly. Exercise is rated as the 2nd most happiness inducing activity- right behind sex.
Summary of Chapter 5
1. Keep a checklist of things to bring on trips.
2. Beat jet-lag by exercising when you get to your destination.
3. Buy a small gift for your family when gone, and call them every single day.
Summary of Chapter 6
1. Avoid meetings when possible.
2. Assign someone to play devil’s advocate at the meetings.
Summary of Chapter 7
1. Decide what your purpose in reading is.
2. Get a grasp of the structure.
3. Read the intro and conclusion.
4. Skim the tops of paragraphs.
5. Write a summary of what you want to remember.
Summary of Chapter 8
1. Outline before you write.
2. Brainstorm, Categorize, then organize.
Summary of Chapter 9
1. Do not write your speech word for word.
2. Start out with a joke.
3. Turn them (the audience) from passive to active listeners by wandering around the audience and asking questions.
Summary of Chapter 10
1. Get everyone to own their own space.
2. This a good chapter to read when beginning a new leadership role.
3. Start innovative awards: e.g. Best New Mistake
Summary of Chapter 11
1. Keep a list of accomplishments that you can send your boss at the end of the quarter.
Summary of Chapter 12
1. Get education (start with hard skills)
2. Learn about other cultures.
3. Network.
Summary of Chapter 13
1. Write down three or four ethical principles that will always guide you.
2. Remember that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to lose it.
3. Think about the New York Times Test.
Summary of Chapter 14
1. Not worth reading.
Summary of Chapter 1
1. This is worth reading.
Summary of Chapter 2
1. Overcome procrastination
-Don’t try methods of unstructuring procrastination
-Set mini-deadlines and reward yourself for meeting them.
-Make yourself accountable to someone.
2. Don’t give into the face time=productivity mindset. Let your followers set their own hours.
Summary of Chapter 3
1. Use OHIO: Only handle it once.
2. Check email on a set schedule.
3. Multitask low-priority items.
4. As a leader, eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder your people.
Summary of Chapter 4
1. Make daily calendars at the beginning of each week for each day.
2. Use split calendar (see pg. 53) and write what you hope to get out of each activity.
3. Take a 30 minute nap each afternoon.
4. Exercise regularly. Exercise is rated as the 2nd most happiness inducing activity- right behind sex.
Summary of Chapter 5
1. Keep a checklist of things to bring on trips.
2. Beat jet-lag by exercising when you get to your destination.
3. Buy a small gift for your family when gone, and call them every single day.
Summary of Chapter 6
1. Avoid meetings when possible.
2. Assign someone to play devil’s advocate at the meetings.
Summary of Chapter 7
1. Decide what your purpose in reading is.
2. Get a grasp of the structure.
3. Read the intro and conclusion.
4. Skim the tops of paragraphs.
5. Write a summary of what you want to remember.
Summary of Chapter 8
1. Outline before you write.
2. Brainstorm, Categorize, then organize.
Summary of Chapter 9
1. Do not write your speech word for word.
2. Start out with a joke.
3. Turn them (the audience) from passive to active listeners by wandering around the audience and asking questions.
Summary of Chapter 10
1. Get everyone to own their own space.
2. This a good chapter to read when beginning a new leadership role.
3. Start innovative awards: e.g. Best New Mistake
Summary of Chapter 11
1. Keep a list of accomplishments that you can send your boss at the end of the quarter.
Summary of Chapter 12
1. Get education (start with hard skills)
2. Learn about other cultures.
3. Network.
Summary of Chapter 13
1. Write down three or four ethical principles that will always guide you.
2. Remember that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to lose it.
3. Think about the New York Times Test.
Summary of Chapter 14
1. Not worth reading.
October 15, 2012
I have read the book 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris a number of times because it has some good tips in it about being effectively productive. But it is also not a very practical book--for instance, I'm not planning on quitting my job anytime soon to take up Argentinean dance nor do I want to completely outsource my life. I also don't have the luxury of focusing completely on one to two things at the expense of everything else I have in my life (like my child). I've read a number of his other books, I'm still a fan, but I regard him as bit of a flim-flam man or a snake oil salesman. His own attention span is short and his work (and writing) is somewhat sloppy, so I continue to dip into his works looking for little nuggets that help.
I am also not a believer in David Allen's Getting Things Done. Blech. Any time I've tried his system I end up with a todo list that is a mile long and so overwhelming as to not be effective at all.
Over the years I've cobbled my own system by setting my goals and priorities ala Covey's First Things First, and a bit of the Pomodoro method thrown in, with a smaller focused "three things that have to be done today" todo list.
Now comes Robertt C. Pozen's book, Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results and Reduce Your Hours. As someone who has read every productivity book out there, this one is a winner. In some ways, Pozen even has some of the same ideas as Ferris...such as excusing yourself from pointless meetings or focusing your talents toward the 20% of Pareto's law for maximum return. But Pozen isn't a snake oil salesman--he is someone extremely accomplished--Harvard Business School Professor, Chairman at Fidelity, maker of Public Policy...and author of numerous books. He is very practical and his productivity is so that he can accomplish more and do it effectively. He also doesn't have you create endless todo lists. I like his focus on figuring out what you do best, do it, and delegating the rest.
I like this book very much--he spends the requisite amount of time on setting goals and priorities, but then the rest of the book has specifics...like how to read faster and how to write more effectively, then there are chapters that have great advice for planning your overall career. I also liked that Pozen addresses the homefront as well as career finding yourself a stay-at-home spouse or a quality support system. And for someone that you might expect to be a bit old-school, I like that Pozen has embraced the flexible workplace.
I am also not a believer in David Allen's Getting Things Done. Blech. Any time I've tried his system I end up with a todo list that is a mile long and so overwhelming as to not be effective at all.
Over the years I've cobbled my own system by setting my goals and priorities ala Covey's First Things First, and a bit of the Pomodoro method thrown in, with a smaller focused "three things that have to be done today" todo list.
Now comes Robertt C. Pozen's book, Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results and Reduce Your Hours. As someone who has read every productivity book out there, this one is a winner. In some ways, Pozen even has some of the same ideas as Ferris...such as excusing yourself from pointless meetings or focusing your talents toward the 20% of Pareto's law for maximum return. But Pozen isn't a snake oil salesman--he is someone extremely accomplished--Harvard Business School Professor, Chairman at Fidelity, maker of Public Policy...and author of numerous books. He is very practical and his productivity is so that he can accomplish more and do it effectively. He also doesn't have you create endless todo lists. I like his focus on figuring out what you do best, do it, and delegating the rest.
I like this book very much--he spends the requisite amount of time on setting goals and priorities, but then the rest of the book has specifics...like how to read faster and how to write more effectively, then there are chapters that have great advice for planning your overall career. I also liked that Pozen addresses the homefront as well as career finding yourself a stay-at-home spouse or a quality support system. And for someone that you might expect to be a bit old-school, I like that Pozen has embraced the flexible workplace.
October 29, 2012
I wish I had read this book before I read this book, because I would know that skipping a few of the less worthwhile chapters would have been more productive. Other than that, it was quite useful.
October 6, 2019
Oh man. I'll tell you how this guy achieved levels of "extreme productivity." His wife did everything. He says "as a regular habit, I leave work in time to get home by 7pm and have dinner with my family." How nice that everything was done for him. He does vaguely address gender roles and how they have helped him, but that is not enough, in my opinion. He also provides other tips such as "slip into the business lounge" on layovers and to buy business class tickets for better sleep on planes. On page 77, there is also a box titled "Why it is easier to sleep in business class?" Thus, this book is written for the independently wealthy white man, who has a nice wife at home to take care of things for him. If you fall into that category, read this book. Or not - who needs to be told why business class is better?
June 1, 2013
This is a collection of tips and techniques rather than a plan for productivity (a fact that he explains in the introduction). It has some useful insights. Like most productivity books, however, there is an assumption that someone else (like your wife) is dealing with all the issues of domestic life and you have only to focus on the important goals of your brilliant career.
May 18, 2013
I felt that I should check the publishing date (2012) as sometimes the advice sounded more like 1953 than 2013. There are a few good items so it gets a slim three.
November 27, 2012
This book is not very good at all.
I found myself skimming to get passed a lot of the 30,000 foot view positional ideas and looking for useful tactics. There are a lot more useful ideas on Lifehacker.
I really won't recommend this.
I found myself skimming to get passed a lot of the 30,000 foot view positional ideas and looking for useful tactics. There are a lot more useful ideas on Lifehacker.
I really won't recommend this.
June 14, 2019
I believe Pozen is extremely productive. However maybe I dont want a detailed account of how he sets out his underwear every evening.
February 27, 2021
Бүтээлч байна гэдэг олон зүйл хийх биш хийдэг зүйлсээ богино хугацаанд амжуулаад үлдсэн цагаа өөртөө зориулах хэрэгтэй талаар, ажлаа хэрхэн хуваарилах талаар энгийн хэрнээ хэрэгжүүлж болохоор санаанууд мэдэж авлаа.
January 25, 2013
A little disappointing. Didn't learn a single new thing and nothing that would help me boost my productivity output! The 3 main points: "don't sweat the small stuff" (um. not an original thought), "articulate goals," and "focus on the final product." I think I can make these fit librarianship but this type of book is definitely more for the business world & not the "people" business that I'm in.
2 points I did like: All workers should take a 30 minute nap following lunch; the author, Robert C. Pozen, apparently does this every day in his office. Hmmm, I guess I need to get an office before I start taking naps in it! #2: OHIO .... only handle it once. I love that idea and work hard to follow the rule.
Now I can say I read a nonfiction book for the month of January. Sticking to my New Year's Resolutions!
2 points I did like: All workers should take a 30 minute nap following lunch; the author, Robert C. Pozen, apparently does this every day in his office. Hmmm, I guess I need to get an office before I start taking naps in it! #2: OHIO .... only handle it once. I love that idea and work hard to follow the rule.
Now I can say I read a nonfiction book for the month of January. Sticking to my New Year's Resolutions!
December 6, 2021
Very informative and copious with tips for good work/life balance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2021
A better title would have been “Life and Business Lessons From Bob Pozen.” Some helpful stuff in here but not quite what the title would lead you to expect.
April 12, 2020
Really liked this one. It's old school no-nonsense approach to better yourself and push towards excellence with practicality. No filler in terms of positive affirmations etc. Even author admits that there really is no big secrets to his productivity besides that he leads quite a boring life behind home walls by modern standards. Routine, integrity, taking care of family and those close to you, be regularly on the look-out for time wasting activities, learn to say no, firmly but politely, etc.
There is one part I did not like though: the chapter about dealing with bad bosses... he basically suggests that you must exit quietly (after you tried everything in your power to make things work) and "don't burn any bridges" as in suck it up and remove yourself surreptitiously from the premise - leaves some mixed feelings in some of today's organizations that have mutated into increasingly personal life invading entities.
Anyway, an inspiring read. Would suggest for career oriented youth.
Solid 4/5
There is one part I did not like though: the chapter about dealing with bad bosses... he basically suggests that you must exit quietly (after you tried everything in your power to make things work) and "don't burn any bridges" as in suck it up and remove yourself surreptitiously from the premise - leaves some mixed feelings in some of today's organizations that have mutated into increasingly personal life invading entities.
Anyway, an inspiring read. Would suggest for career oriented youth.
Solid 4/5
December 8, 2021
เอาจริงคือชอบสีปกหนังสือ และชอบที่ช่วงท้ายของแต่ละบทจะมีสรุป"สิ่งที่ควรนำไปปรับใช้" ทำให้ทบทวนการอ่านได้ง่าย และนำไปทดลองปฏิบัติได้ง่าย ก็ถือว่าเป็นหนังสือที่ให้เทคนิคที่เป็นประโยชน์ในการปรับปรุง Productivity
February 4, 2021
Nos, hát nem lettem extrém produktív a könyvtől, még igazán rendszert se látok mögéje. Inkább a networking volt szerintem az író erőssége, illetve a fókuszálási készség - de az meg átadhatatlan képesség.
Abban viszont igaza van, hogy az órabéres melók nem tükrözik a valódi teljesítményt :/
Abban viszont igaza van, hogy az órabéres melók nem tükrözik a valódi teljesítményt :/
August 10, 2018
Rating: 2.5
Listened to the abridged version on Blinkist.
Listened to the abridged version on Blinkist.
August 17, 2014
“Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours” by Robert C. Pozen contains practical advice for increasing personal productivity aimed at professionals in a more corporate setting. While I think everyone would probably pick up some tips to becoming more productive, those in the corporate setting will gain the most from this book, and some people will find chapters that don't relate to them as much.
The first part of the book contains three chapters that focus on three big ideas: Set and Prioritize Your Goals, Focus on the Final Product, and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Common ideas, but Pozen does a good job of describing them and explaining why they are important to being productive. These ideas can be applied to just about anything by anyone.
Part 2, Productivity Every Day, has three chapters as well. Your Daily Routine, Traveling Lightly, and Efficient Meetings. All of these chapters have good practical advice on the topics, but some people won't find them as useful. The routine is more of the person in a more corporate setting, not a small business owner or someone who works from home. The same goes for traveling and meetings, these are more focused on how the corporate professional travels and attends meetings.
The third part, Developing Personal Skills, provides advice on three topics that I think would help anyone be more productive and effective. Reading Effectively. Writing Effectively. Speaking Effectively. These are three very important skills and Pozen shares some practical advice on all three, especially for the corporate executive.
Part 4, Managing Up and Down, has two chapters that will only be useful to those in some situations. Managing Your Team and Managing Your Boss. You obviously have to managing people, and have a boss to get the most of these chapters. If you do manage others, and have a boss to report to, these chapters provide some great suggestions for being more productive.
The fifth and final part, Pursuing a Productive Life, concludes the book with these three chapters: Maximizing Your Career Options over a Lifetime, Embrace Change but Stay the Same, and Balancing Home and Work. I thought there was good advice on all three of these topics in the final chapters. I agree with the thought that the reason to be more productive is to enjoy a more rewarding life, and that focusing on results produced rather than hours worked is a better way.
Pozen writes from experience, and those who wish to rise to an executive position will find a lot to help them in this book. Others will also find many practical tips on productivity, but may have to modify some or skip some depending on their specific work situation. The chapters end with summary key points and practical suggestions you can put to work immediately. Bottom line: If you want to be more productive, Extreme Productivity by Robert Pozen can help you get there.
The first part of the book contains three chapters that focus on three big ideas: Set and Prioritize Your Goals, Focus on the Final Product, and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Common ideas, but Pozen does a good job of describing them and explaining why they are important to being productive. These ideas can be applied to just about anything by anyone.
Part 2, Productivity Every Day, has three chapters as well. Your Daily Routine, Traveling Lightly, and Efficient Meetings. All of these chapters have good practical advice on the topics, but some people won't find them as useful. The routine is more of the person in a more corporate setting, not a small business owner or someone who works from home. The same goes for traveling and meetings, these are more focused on how the corporate professional travels and attends meetings.
The third part, Developing Personal Skills, provides advice on three topics that I think would help anyone be more productive and effective. Reading Effectively. Writing Effectively. Speaking Effectively. These are three very important skills and Pozen shares some practical advice on all three, especially for the corporate executive.
Part 4, Managing Up and Down, has two chapters that will only be useful to those in some situations. Managing Your Team and Managing Your Boss. You obviously have to managing people, and have a boss to get the most of these chapters. If you do manage others, and have a boss to report to, these chapters provide some great suggestions for being more productive.
The fifth and final part, Pursuing a Productive Life, concludes the book with these three chapters: Maximizing Your Career Options over a Lifetime, Embrace Change but Stay the Same, and Balancing Home and Work. I thought there was good advice on all three of these topics in the final chapters. I agree with the thought that the reason to be more productive is to enjoy a more rewarding life, and that focusing on results produced rather than hours worked is a better way.
Pozen writes from experience, and those who wish to rise to an executive position will find a lot to help them in this book. Others will also find many practical tips on productivity, but may have to modify some or skip some depending on their specific work situation. The chapters end with summary key points and practical suggestions you can put to work immediately. Bottom line: If you want to be more productive, Extreme Productivity by Robert Pozen can help you get there.
Read
December 24, 2012"Unfortunately, you cannot be fully productive by looking only at the supply side - what you want to do and what you are best at doing. You must also consider the demand side - what the world, your organization or your boss needs most from you."
Kindle location 283
"... recognize that the future is inherently unknowable. Any prediction of the future is based primarily on data about the past. But our personal beliefs about the past are highly biased. As the philosopher and author Nassim Taleb put it, we each form a 'narrative fallacy' in our head, placing events in the past within a convenient storyline that neglects the role of luck. If we use our narrative fallacies of the past to make predictions about the future, we are likely to overemphasize known facts and fail to account for unforeseeable random events."
Kindle location 3330
"Don't get snowed by fancy mathematical models with the key assumptions based on historic data. When designing new products or managing risk exposure, take a close look at the changes that would impact those assumptions. And don't automatically go along with models based on normal distribution curves. Reality is often abnormal, as reflected by 'fat' tails at both ends of the curve."
Kindle location 3363
Kindle location 283
"... recognize that the future is inherently unknowable. Any prediction of the future is based primarily on data about the past. But our personal beliefs about the past are highly biased. As the philosopher and author Nassim Taleb put it, we each form a 'narrative fallacy' in our head, placing events in the past within a convenient storyline that neglects the role of luck. If we use our narrative fallacies of the past to make predictions about the future, we are likely to overemphasize known facts and fail to account for unforeseeable random events."
Kindle location 3330
"Don't get snowed by fancy mathematical models with the key assumptions based on historic data. When designing new products or managing risk exposure, take a close look at the changes that would impact those assumptions. And don't automatically go along with models based on normal distribution curves. Reality is often abnormal, as reflected by 'fat' tails at both ends of the curve."
Kindle location 3363
December 27, 2012
"As I've written this book, I have become more and more confident that professionals at all levels should focus on results produced rather than hours worked. It's the best way, in my opinion, for you to get more done at work while enjoying more time with your friends and family. However, I've also been impressed by how much your approach to productivity should depend on your own specific situation. In applying the lessons of this book, you should carefully consider your own stage in life and your organization's culture."
July 9, 2016
A quick, easy read with practical advice. Easy to understand and implement. However, I feel as though the author suffered from an aggrandized sense of self-importance. This manifested itself in an abundance of elitist business jargon and biographical drivel. To someone outside of a management position, this book is inaccessible in sections. Pozen manages to succinctly communicate his own success strategies, but he seems smugly grandfatherly. He's not a bad guy for sure, and it's not a bad book, but it's mostly just a rehash of already timeless, well-established productivity principles.
December 29, 2015
You will probably finds recommendations other authors have made but I guess that would be with many books of this genre.
I still like to "listen" his angle. There are several up to date practical reconsiderations.
It is an easy read. Is no a dry book. He try to cover personal and professional aspects
I still like to "listen" his angle. There are several up to date practical reconsiderations.
It is an easy read. Is no a dry book. He try to cover personal and professional aspects
September 1, 2016
A good solid approach to different facets of productivity, and the key points are nicely summarized at the end of each chapter. However, I felt that this book is more geared to the recent college graduate or someone in the early stages of their career who would likely rate the book higher.
October 23, 2019
Productivity relies on efficiency. That means nothing will stop you from becoming a faster, smarter worker if you set clear goals and priorities. This results-driven approach will do away with procrastination, break up big projects and clearly define your working hours.
May 10, 2015
Очень сильная книга да и сам автор! А ещё здесь множество мощных советов!
Очень рекомендую прочитать тем, кого интересует темы личной эффективности.
Очень рекомендую прочитать тем, кого интересует темы личной эффективности.
October 25, 2014
I loved this book! Pozen was clear and concise, with practical tips to increase productivity. I think it was entertaining and helpful.
January 14, 2020
Success does not mean investing lots of time or keeping ourselves busy; instead it is judged by what we have actually accomplished! Isn't that so true. We all occupy the exact 24 hours per day, yet how we are using that 24 hours can deter the destiny of individual. In overall life, it is more important to see how we have lived life fully and satisfactory, instead of just filling up the time with busy work! I personally do not like to say "I am busy."; instead I like to say "I am productive ;" Leisure and relaxation are important components of productivity. The author invest 30 minutes at a time, to think and reflect each day no matter how busy he may be. We must invest time for our minds to roam around freely so it will result to be productive and creative in the end! This morning I was taking a walk at the Fort Defiance Park in Clarksville, as I listed to audiobook, which was good. But when I actually turned off the phone and just listened to the birds of various color making unbelievable orchestra ensembles, it was even better. I was true to the moments and being a part of the nature that existed at that moment. Those seemingly doing nothing time is actually time to produce! Boosting the result with reducing the hours requires certain level of discipline (such as daily exercise and meditation) and prioritizing the importance of your life tasks.
I got the excellent book summary from fellow reader:
Summary of Chapter 2
1. Set mini-deadlines and reward yourself for meeting them. (Break it down to the manageable unit)
2. Make yourself accountable to someone.
Summary of Chapter 3
1. Use OHIO: Only handle it once.
2. Check email on a set schedule. (Leave my iphone on airplane mode unless I am actually using it)
3. Multitask low-priority items.
4. As a leader, eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder your people.
Summary of Chapter 4
1. Make daily calendars at the beginning of each week for each day.
2. Use split calendar (see pg. 53) and write what you hope to get out of each activity.
3. Take a 30 minute nap each afternoon. (I wish I could do this during weekday!!)
4. Exercise regularly. Exercise is rated as the 2nd most happiness inducing activity- right behind sex.
Summary of Chapter 5
1. Keep a checklist of things to bring on trips.
2. Beat jet-lag by exercising when you get to your destination.
3. Buy a small gift for your family when gone, and call them every single day.
Summary of Chapter 6
1. Avoid meetings when possible.
2. Assign someone to play devil’s advocate at the meetings.
Summary of Chapter 7
1. Decide what your purpose in reading is. (My purpose of reading book: entertainment, self-help, understanding human nature, inspiration, enriching life)
2. Get a grasp of the structure.
3. Read the intro and conclusion. (For non fiction, self-help type of books)
4. Skim the tops of paragraphs.
5. Write a summary of what you want to remember. (I found this to be extremely helpful to REMEMBER …. Otherwise, completely erase from my memory…. Sad reality)
Summary of Chapter 8
1. Outline before you write.
2. Brainstorm, Categorize, then organize.
Summary of Chapter 9
1. Do not write your speech word for word. (Good point!)
2. Start out with a joke. (Any ice breaker, such as “outburst” game at my class!)
3. Turn them (the audience) from passive to active listeners by wandering around the audience and asking questions. (Engage my students)
Summary of Chapter 10
1. Get everyone to own their own space.
2. This a good chapter to read when beginning a new leadership role.
3. Start innovative awards: e.g. Best New Mistake
Summary of Chapter 11
1. Keep a list of accomplishments that you can send your boss at the end of the quarter.
Summary of Chapter 12
1. Get education (start with hard skills then you can learn soft skills on your own.)
2. Learn about other cultures. (TRAVEL!!!!)
3. Network.
Summary of Chapter 13
1. Write down three or four ethical principles that will always guide you. (I am not God but I shine HIS light to those around me)
2. Remember that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to lose it. (Ouch!!!)
3. Think about the New York Times Test.
I got the excellent book summary from fellow reader:
Summary of Chapter 2
1. Set mini-deadlines and reward yourself for meeting them. (Break it down to the manageable unit)
2. Make yourself accountable to someone.
Summary of Chapter 3
1. Use OHIO: Only handle it once.
2. Check email on a set schedule. (Leave my iphone on airplane mode unless I am actually using it)
3. Multitask low-priority items.
4. As a leader, eliminate bureaucratic roadblocks that hinder your people.
Summary of Chapter 4
1. Make daily calendars at the beginning of each week for each day.
2. Use split calendar (see pg. 53) and write what you hope to get out of each activity.
3. Take a 30 minute nap each afternoon. (I wish I could do this during weekday!!)
4. Exercise regularly. Exercise is rated as the 2nd most happiness inducing activity- right behind sex.
Summary of Chapter 5
1. Keep a checklist of things to bring on trips.
2. Beat jet-lag by exercising when you get to your destination.
3. Buy a small gift for your family when gone, and call them every single day.
Summary of Chapter 6
1. Avoid meetings when possible.
2. Assign someone to play devil’s advocate at the meetings.
Summary of Chapter 7
1. Decide what your purpose in reading is. (My purpose of reading book: entertainment, self-help, understanding human nature, inspiration, enriching life)
2. Get a grasp of the structure.
3. Read the intro and conclusion. (For non fiction, self-help type of books)
4. Skim the tops of paragraphs.
5. Write a summary of what you want to remember. (I found this to be extremely helpful to REMEMBER …. Otherwise, completely erase from my memory…. Sad reality)
Summary of Chapter 8
1. Outline before you write.
2. Brainstorm, Categorize, then organize.
Summary of Chapter 9
1. Do not write your speech word for word. (Good point!)
2. Start out with a joke. (Any ice breaker, such as “outburst” game at my class!)
3. Turn them (the audience) from passive to active listeners by wandering around the audience and asking questions. (Engage my students)
Summary of Chapter 10
1. Get everyone to own their own space.
2. This a good chapter to read when beginning a new leadership role.
3. Start innovative awards: e.g. Best New Mistake
Summary of Chapter 11
1. Keep a list of accomplishments that you can send your boss at the end of the quarter.
Summary of Chapter 12
1. Get education (start with hard skills then you can learn soft skills on your own.)
2. Learn about other cultures. (TRAVEL!!!!)
3. Network.
Summary of Chapter 13
1. Write down three or four ethical principles that will always guide you. (I am not God but I shine HIS light to those around me)
2. Remember that it takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to lose it. (Ouch!!!)
3. Think about the New York Times Test.
September 2, 2017
Extreme Productivity is a guide to boosting your productivity through time management and expert control over the scope and requirements of your work. The book will teach you how to prioritize important tasks, end procrastination and generally become more efficient.
About the author: Robert C. Pozen, in addition to being a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, is the author of six books and a number of articles. Previously, he served as the chairman and vice chairman of various large financial companies and worked on the Bush administration’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security.
My highlights:
Prioritize your tasks and invest your time accordingly. Split up tasks into aims, objectives and targets
Career aims take five years or more.
Objectives take between three and 24 months.
Targets are anything that will take three months or less
First focus on the things that both you and your boss want to achieve; once that’s done, you can address the tasks that concern only you.
Quickly handle low-priority tasks by keeping your perfectionism at bay. fight the temptation to be perfect when it comes to your low-priority tasks.
The product you deliver matters more than the time you spend on it. Results are what count. The number of hours spent on any given project is irrelevant.
Unfortunately, lots of managers still put more emphasis on hours worked than on results produced.They tend, often subconsciously, to value workers who put in overtime and weekend hours. As a result, many managers claim to favor results but in practice prefer employees who work long hours.
About the author: Robert C. Pozen, in addition to being a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, is the author of six books and a number of articles. Previously, he served as the chairman and vice chairman of various large financial companies and worked on the Bush administration’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security.
My highlights:
Prioritize your tasks and invest your time accordingly. Split up tasks into aims, objectives and targets
Career aims take five years or more.
Objectives take between three and 24 months.
Targets are anything that will take three months or less
First focus on the things that both you and your boss want to achieve; once that’s done, you can address the tasks that concern only you.
Quickly handle low-priority tasks by keeping your perfectionism at bay. fight the temptation to be perfect when it comes to your low-priority tasks.
The product you deliver matters more than the time you spend on it. Results are what count. The number of hours spent on any given project is irrelevant.
Unfortunately, lots of managers still put more emphasis on hours worked than on results produced.They tend, often subconsciously, to value workers who put in overtime and weekend hours. As a result, many managers claim to favor results but in practice prefer employees who work long hours.
May 18, 2019
I have a reluctance to pick up any book on productivity because, after reading about it for so long, they end up saying the same thing over and over. The only difference is the viewpoint and, sometimes, the examples.
Why did I get this one?
It came from an article on procrastination written by one of the foremost researchers of it in the world. This book is the one he kept referencing as part of his suggested solutions to the issue.
He also happens to be a professor in my hometown, which added to the allure of reading just one more book on the subject.
The first four chapters had a neat perspective on timeless productivity strategies, but interest wavered afterward. It is definitely geared more towards the executive or business manager who is already in the midst of their career and looking to get a handle on getting the most out of each day.
The section on email is a must read.
While there are suggestions we should get rid of email completely (a tongue and cheek title, but not too far off the mark), we’re currently in a cultural milieu of having to handle a constant influx of noise.
I would extrapolate this section (which was published in 2012) to everything you do online with a constant stream—social media, news sites, blog posts, etc. When you get to a point where you are in control of the data instead of the other way around, you can actually feel the anxiety (that you may not have known was present) melt away.
Is this extreme productivity?
Not really.
It’s simply Pozen’s answer to the question, how do you fit it all in?
If you want to know and try the ideas for yourself, it’s not a bad place to start.
Why did I get this one?
It came from an article on procrastination written by one of the foremost researchers of it in the world. This book is the one he kept referencing as part of his suggested solutions to the issue.
He also happens to be a professor in my hometown, which added to the allure of reading just one more book on the subject.
The first four chapters had a neat perspective on timeless productivity strategies, but interest wavered afterward. It is definitely geared more towards the executive or business manager who is already in the midst of their career and looking to get a handle on getting the most out of each day.
The section on email is a must read.
While there are suggestions we should get rid of email completely (a tongue and cheek title, but not too far off the mark), we’re currently in a cultural milieu of having to handle a constant influx of noise.
I would extrapolate this section (which was published in 2012) to everything you do online with a constant stream—social media, news sites, blog posts, etc. When you get to a point where you are in control of the data instead of the other way around, you can actually feel the anxiety (that you may not have known was present) melt away.
Is this extreme productivity?
Not really.
It’s simply Pozen’s answer to the question, how do you fit it all in?
If you want to know and try the ideas for yourself, it’s not a bad place to start.
April 28, 2020
Blinkist.
I Prioritize your tasks accordingly
Aims, objectives, targets
Years, more than 3 months, 3 months or less
How long does it take to target?
Employee and employer work first
Then personal work
Check workdays, monitoring how time is allocated.
Time is usually not used productively.
II Fight procrastination with mini deadlines that hold you accountable.
Tasks in manageable chunks. Avoid having them all pile up in the end.
Calendar event on due dates to be held accountable by the boss.
III Quickly handle low priority task by keeping perfectionism at bay.
Get the smaller pieces out of the way.
Do it quickly to make more time for other tasks.
Only Handle It Once Principle.
Quickly move on to important stuff.
IV Find structure or quiet.
Improve efficiency and quality of writing by adding structure.
Paint the broadest strokes possible.
Efficient writing is about structure, time and quiet.
Go to the office early or stay later to write.
V The product you deliver matters more than the time spent on it.
Results are what count.
Working faster -- should feel free to take time off.
Avoid making remarks that reinforce longer hours.
VI Prioritize private life and find a flexible place to work.
Efficient at work to make time outside of work.
Making time for family is essential.
Learn to say no to late meetings/ postpone/ or dinner with family.
Flexible hours are the single point determining factor for employees.
I Prioritize your tasks accordingly
Aims, objectives, targets
Years, more than 3 months, 3 months or less
How long does it take to target?
Employee and employer work first
Then personal work
Check workdays, monitoring how time is allocated.
Time is usually not used productively.
II Fight procrastination with mini deadlines that hold you accountable.
Tasks in manageable chunks. Avoid having them all pile up in the end.
Calendar event on due dates to be held accountable by the boss.
III Quickly handle low priority task by keeping perfectionism at bay.
Get the smaller pieces out of the way.
Do it quickly to make more time for other tasks.
Only Handle It Once Principle.
Quickly move on to important stuff.
IV Find structure or quiet.
Improve efficiency and quality of writing by adding structure.
Paint the broadest strokes possible.
Efficient writing is about structure, time and quiet.
Go to the office early or stay later to write.
V The product you deliver matters more than the time spent on it.
Results are what count.
Working faster -- should feel free to take time off.
Avoid making remarks that reinforce longer hours.
VI Prioritize private life and find a flexible place to work.
Efficient at work to make time outside of work.
Making time for family is essential.
Learn to say no to late meetings/ postpone/ or dinner with family.
Flexible hours are the single point determining factor for employees.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2024
Like most books of the genre, you probably don't need the book if you're the type of person that can implement the contents.
I did like the idea of only handling things once. I do often find myself wasting a lot of time partially responding to something. It also sometimes describes some basic practical tips about things like air travel that are a bit more concrete than changing your mindset.
Pozen also stresses that a lot of his tips aren't universal. Obviously a low level worker isn't going to have much say on how to plan meetings. He says several times that certain tips won't work in all situations, like scheduling out tasks don't work when your role is more about checking in with stakeholders than working on a project directly.
Finally, he describes his sleeping habits a few times. He uses eye covers, ear plugs and other tools to pretend that he's in a "cozy cocoon". I thought it was a little amusing to picture a high-powered executive discussing serious economic policy with a governor, then spending the next 45 minutes playing make believe that was a cozy little caterpillar to take a nap.
I did like the idea of only handling things once. I do often find myself wasting a lot of time partially responding to something. It also sometimes describes some basic practical tips about things like air travel that are a bit more concrete than changing your mindset.
Pozen also stresses that a lot of his tips aren't universal. Obviously a low level worker isn't going to have much say on how to plan meetings. He says several times that certain tips won't work in all situations, like scheduling out tasks don't work when your role is more about checking in with stakeholders than working on a project directly.
Finally, he describes his sleeping habits a few times. He uses eye covers, ear plugs and other tools to pretend that he's in a "cozy cocoon". I thought it was a little amusing to picture a high-powered executive discussing serious economic policy with a governor, then spending the next 45 minutes playing make believe that was a cozy little caterpillar to take a nap.
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