Jumpstart Your Productivity

About the Author

Shawn Doyle is a distinguished professional speaker, executive coach, and consultant. With over two decades of experience, he has dedicated himself to developing and implementing training programs focused on team building, communication, creativity, and leadership. His work has empowered numerous Fortune 500 companies, and he has authored twelve inspirational books. In his book Jumpstart Your Productivity: 10 Jolts to Get and Stay Massively Productive, Shawn offers practical insights and strategies to enhance productivity in both personal and professional life.

Main Idea

The central theme of Jumpstart Your Productivity is the concept of working smarter, not harder. Shawn Doyle emphasizes that productivity is not about long hours or constant work but about being more consciously aware of how you spend your time and efforts. The book provides readers with tools and techniques to set and achieve goals, manage time effectively, and eliminate distractions that hinder productivity. It also highlights the importance of rest, recovery, and relaxation in maintaining high productivity levels.

Table of Contents

1. Set Goals and Write Them Down
2. Choose a Time Management System
3. Detect and Eliminate Productivity Vampires
4. Create an Effective To-Do List
5. Learn to Say No
6. Manage Interruptions
7. Take Breaks to Boost Productivity
8. Plan for Maximum Success

1. Set Goals and Write Them Down

According to Shawn Doyle, the first step to being productive is defining your goals clearly. He encourages readers to categorize their goals into various aspects of life, such as social, professional, financial, and health. Setting goals can be incredibly motivating and helps in planning better, making informed decisions, and using time wisely. Shawn suggests a methodical approach: write down your goals and then break them down into yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily tasks. This structured approach ensures that you stay focused and aligned with your objectives.

To make goal-setting more effective, Shawn proposes a few guiding questions: "What am I passionate about?", "What is it that I truly want?", and "How would I know if I became successful?" These questions help in clarifying desires and setting specific, measurable goals.

• In the professional domain, one might set a goal to advance to a managerial position within two years by gaining specific skills and experience.
• In the health domain, a goal could be to exercise at least three times a week to improve physical fitness.
• In the financial domain, a goal could be to save a certain amount of money each month to build a financial cushion.

By writing these goals down and reviewing them regularly, individuals can maintain a clear vision of their objectives and stay motivated to achieve them.

2. Choose a Time Management System

Shawn highlights the importance of having a reliable time management system. He categorizes systems into phone-based apps, electronic/online platforms, hard copy/written planners, and collaborative tools. The key is to find a system that suits your needs, is user-friendly, and integrates well with your daily routine. Shawn advises experimenting with different systems and seeking recommendations from others. He emphasizes that a good time management system is crucial for tracking your time and staying productive.