“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” — Paul J. Meyer
This is the manifesto behind Intentional Productivity.
If you’re looking for the practical philosophy and how it shows up in daily work, start here Intentional Productivity Philosophy.
I originally wrote this as an email to a friend to explain why what makes Agile Results different as a productivity system and what I was trying to achieve when I created it.
I haven’t edited yet, so it’s more of a stream of conscious.
I realize the whole thing I fought with “productivity” is that I don’t like productivity for productivity’s sake– I want the outcome, for goodness sake.
And I want to enjoy the journey getting there, with awesome people and epic adventures.
Really, what I want is an intentional life, even if that means sometimes being a River person, sometimes being a Goal person. I embrace the beauty of being and doing.
To put a precise point on it:
I didn’t want to go through life with my ladder up against the wrong wall
I did not want to spend my life doing meaningless activities and chores
I wanted to be inspired, intentional, and innovative.
There is a whole below the line space…
…things must be done
…the slog of clunky systems
…the messy orchestration of people
…the clash of conflicting priorities and goals
…short term goals that rob the future you want
…the distractions that pull you in a downward spiral
…the negative motivational forces and fear that keep you churning and burning
etc.
But there is this other place. It’s above it.
It’s that intentional place. It’s that high ground.
It’s the place where dreams and visions are free to create the future you want.
It’s where your Future Self is free to realize potential, if Current Self doesn’t steal your life force.
It’s where goals are exciting and empowering.
It’s where you continue to create yourself and do more art.
It’s that place where you are free to fly to the limits of your imagination and capabilities.
It’s the Out There view, that future view, that Future You…the one who calls out to you.
It’s where the Big Rocks are.
It’s that place where we Respond instead of React.
It’s that place where we are on top of things and on top of our world.
It’s that place that we need to pull ourselves up to.
It’s that place where we operate at a higher level, flaws and all.
Productivity is not up to that job. Productivity was all about squeeing more units out of you, and, as a result, life. But intentional productivity reminds us of our WHY…our values… our mission… our purpose… and who we want to become. And where our attention goes, energy flows.
Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast, as the military special forces say.
But first you have to align yourself — to the things all of you / all of yourself / all of your parts want…. that’s where the magic happens.
You Might Also Like
Agile Results: Envision. Energize. Evolve.
Day in the Life of Agile Results
Agile Results Productivity System on a Page
How Agile Results Changes the Productivity Game
Agile Results Philosophy and Cornerstone Concepts
How To Spend Your Precious Life Force on Things that Matter Most
3Es of Agile Results: Envision. Energize. Evolve.