PRODUCTIVITY Productivity and the Letter “P” The letter “p” is surprisingly important when it comes to productivity. First, it is in fact called productivity–the ability to produce. Second, smart businesses follow Pareto’s Principle to know what to produce and for whom. They focus on the 20% of customers/issues/ employees that lead to 80% of the sales/lack of sales/results/lack of results. Third, productivity and actually completing the work often adheres to Parkinson’s Law, which states “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”1 Fourth, productive employees use systems like the Pomodoro Technique (see #311) which creates micro-deadlines (helping you avoid Parkinson’s Law) and gives time for Strategic Disengagement (see the next chapter). Finally, people who follow these principles become successful presidents (CEOs), poster children for success, and “persons, very important.” 2 And, naturally, humor can help every step of the pway. 1 Basically if you give yourself a week to do something, it’ll likely take a week (and often you won’t really work on it till right before it’s due, aka procrastination). See Parkinson’s Law. 2 The “p” is silent. 156