For me, productivity has always been about simplicity.
The more I need to think about what I’m doing, the more likely I am to:
- Get distracted
- Start second guessing myself
- Put more energy into thinking than into doing
I’m most productive when I’m simply working my way through a checklist.
This is true in every area of my life, but I have FAR more trouble with it in freelancing and entrepreneurship than I do in any other area of life.
It’s not hard to imagine why.
When it comes to building a business, there are just SO. MANY. VARIABLES.
The options are endless.
The paths to success are numerous.
And there are no black and white answers.
This is why I always find it helpful to turn to other areas of life in learning how to tackle entrepreneurial challenges.
Most commonly, I turn to fitness.
Getting fit has always felt similar to growing a business.
- It requires daily effort over an extensive period of time.
- You can’t see the improvement on a daily basis, and sometimes it’s even hard to notice on a monthly basis.
- Despite infinite content written on these subjects, the core components of both are simple enough to fit into a single blog post.
In thinking recently about how I could improve my focus and productivity as an entrepreneur, I was reminded of a mantra I’ve developed for seasons when I’m really pushing to improve athletic performance.
That mantra is “Every set. Every rep.”
Here’s what it means.
Every good workout program is broken down into the following:
- A collection of exercises for each day
- A collection of “sets” for each exercise
- A collection of “reps” (repetitions) for each set
I never know how I’m going to feel heading into any given day’s workout.
Some days, I feel energized and ready to go.
Other days, I feel like absolute shit.
Whether I feel great or shitty, I go into the workout with that mantra.
Every set. Every rep.
I predetermine that I’m going to complete every single repetition on my workout plan for the day… no exceptions.
If I get 50% through the workout and feel like I don’t have anything left in the tank… too bad.
Every set. Every rep.
If I feel like I’ve overworked a certain muscle group and don’t need to push it any more… oh well.
Every set. Every rep.
If something comes up and the workout is taking longer than it’s supposed to… tough.
Every set. Every rep.
What I’ve found is that if I go into a workout with any other mentality, I end up missing reps, sets, and even entire exercises.
I tend to let myself get distracted or when I reach a physical breaking point, I’m all too happy to call it a day.
When I haven’t predetermined that I’m going to complete the entire workout… I don’t.
When I DO make that predetermination — surprise, surprise — I finish the workout.
And I’ve seen the exact same thing happen in my business.
When I predetermine that something HAS to get done today… it gets done.
When it’s optional… it doesn’t.
This is never more obvious than when deadlines are involved. Most of us have discovered at some point in our lives that we seem to get a remarkable amount done leading up to deadlines as compared with times when we aren’t racing against the clock.
Practically speaking, there are two components here.
First, you have to be able to break out your goals into milestones and then attach daily checklists to those milestones… just like you’d do with a workout program.
But second, you have to be able to decide that you are going to complete that checklist, even when there are no external motivators to ensure you do so.
Every set. Every rep.
I think it’s important to note here that this isn’t a permanent posture.
If I carried this ethos into every workout year-round I’d repeatedly injure myself (okay, I do that anyway).
It’s seasonal.
I’ve had seasons where I couldn’t prioritize my workouts.
My mantra in those seasons was more like “Just do SOMETHING every day”.
I’ve had seasons where I’ve been recovering from injuries or getting back into more serious exercise.
My mantra in those seasons was more like “I’m gonna push myself but listen closely to my body.”
The “Every set. Every rep” mantra is reserved for seasons where I’m ready to really get shit done.
For seasons where mediocre results aren’t going to cut it.
For seasons where I’m willing to make sacrifices in other areas.
Understanding your season is a big part of prioritization and productivity, because by definition, you can’t prioritize everything, and you’ll rarely get the results you want in any area of life without prioritizing it to some degree.
That’s why you need seasons.
But that’s a topic for another time.
It’s also worth noting that “Every set. Every rep” ONLY denotes that I will COMPLETE each repetition.
It doesn’t demand that I hit a particular amount of weight.
It doesn’t require that I lift more than I did last week.
It doesn’t necessitate that I push my body beyond what it’s capable of.
There is plenty of flexibility still baked into this mantra.
What I’m doing here is simply eliminating my ability to bail before the job is done.
If I can’t hit any more repetitions at the current weight, I can lower the weight and keep going.
If I don’t have time to finish the workout, I can come back and finish it later in the day.
I don’t HAVE to do my best work in order to complete the checklist. I just have DO it. I just have to COMPLETE the checklist. I can always make improving my previous work part of tomorrow’s checklist.
But this point where you’re hitting your limit and pushing through is scientifically what accounts for muscle building… and the same is true in business.
When you reach that uncomfortable point where you feel like you are tapped out — and then you push through — day after day after day… that’s where growth happens.
Every set. Every rep.
Love this inspiring post! Thank you!
Thanks Hadassah!
Great analogy Jacob! I can relate to both the workout and business aspects of this. I’ve worked out regularly since I was a teenager (I’m 58 now) — I don’t think I’ve ever gone more than a couple of weeks without working out. I know my limits and what I will and won’t do: I don’t aim for more than 2-3 days a week because that’s not realistic for me, but I do 2-3 days every week, almost without fail. I also know what I will and won’t do for my freelance writing business so I don’t spin my wheels or agonize over things I know are unproductive for me. Staying focused on what I do well and not getting distracted with things I don’t are the biggest productivity keys for me.
“Staying focused on what I do well and not getting distracted with things I don’t are the biggest productivity keys for me.”
Love that Don!
Every set,
Every rep,
Love it!
Great analogy there Jacob! Glad that you are improving both in fitness and in business!
Thanks Michael!
I think I need to apply this philosophy to my freelance career as I get back into shape (oh, it’s always the worst) I’ve always been a big believer that we have a four legged chair or stool and there are legs for health, love, friendship, career and you can have three legs and you’ll still have something to sit on (you’re getting by) and having 4 legs is really hard and not necessarily required. But when you only have two legs going for you – your rear is on the floor and you do not want that to be your life!
Haha very true Valerie! Love that.
This reminds me a bit of the 100% rule by Clayton Christiensen that says it’s easier to stick to your principles 100% of the time that 98%.
It reduces ‘decision fatigue’ as you always know what to do once you have made the commitment.
Best,
Jean
I love content about productivity and habits, so this was a fun read. I like the mantra, and the philosophy behind it, too. It would be good to see an example of how you map this mantra to a typical day or week in freelance writing.
Thanks CJ! Good idea. I’ll try to write down my business “workout plan” for this next week and add it in.
Another great one, Jacob.
I really needed this one actually, so it’s also great timing.
I just finished putting together my website copy (with great help from your website copywriting guide).
And I’m about to start actually building the site (using Divi). But, I’ve been second-guessing myself and I’ve even been wondering just HOW LONG it’ll take to finally hit my income goal as a freelance copywriter.
The worse part of all is that my productivity and focus right now are in deep shit.
This is not only comforting (in the sense that you suffer from it too) but very helpful.
Thanks.
Glad you found this helpful and timely Fadila! I think most of us are dealing with some productivity struggles after this last year. Instead of trying to force any particular outcome, I think it’s important to figure out what season you’re in right now and find your personal mantra for that season.
I feel like I’m JUST now re-entering an “Every set. Every rep.” type season, and trying to force that earlier in the year wouldn’t have worked.
Great article, Jacob. I think, as humans, we can all relate. Personally I can relate in many ways: I am currently on a fitness/health journey and building up a freelance writing business and working my way through your course.
As far as productivity and mindset, well, it comes to many things. About six months ago was when I finally decided what I wanted to do. My freedom is what is important to me, and taking the time to become competent in my own values helped tremendously.
My vision, for my life, knowing what is important for me, overall, is what helps drive me.
I think keeping consistency is the hardest thing, to be honest, and I’ve failed a lot with it, and I still do.
But I keep a to do list every day, and I have a calender on my wall of goals.
I write down 10 things I do in a month, and I pick out 3 that are the most product for my life and my future. And I focus on those things, and it helps with my productivity and progress tremendously.
I personally need structure in my life. I can’t go into each day aimlessly anymore.
Keep writing the great articles.
Thanks Justin, and well said! Consistency is the trickiest part. One of the best things I did on my fitness journey was hire a coach to keep me accountable to tracking my calories until I’d turned that consistency into a habit. Once the habit was built, it was a lot easier from there.
Mindset shifts normally occur after something monumental happens for me; buying a house, moving country, becoming a parent.
Funny because in a way I guess they are all attached to simplicity, or simplifying my life by realising what’s important. A commodity that is meant to make my life easier- by societies standards in the western world at least.
My productivity mantra needs work! Being an employee was so restrictive for so long that I now really struggle unless I’m “in the mood” or there is a looming deadline.
I’d be interested to know how everything else outside of building your business is affected (family and friends) when you choose growth for a season?
Simplicity – love that!
Family and friends tend to be fine in these seasons, because 1) while my availability decreases, it doesn’t disappear, and 2) I tend to be more present when I’m with them because I’m satisfied with what I’ve accomplished and not worrying about stuff I need to get done.
Thank you for this! I have been struggling to keep working consistently on my business. You mentioned all the reasons why and provided a clear solution, change my mindset.
When it comes to sustained productivity, I find knowing my why so important. At least once a year, I sit down and create visuals with my why for every major thing in my life. They go on my walls or on the front of project journals. Remembering my why is what helps me to keep moving through the fear and all the other stuff that gets in the way.
Totally, having those goals and understanding your “why” is so important! And I think the critical step for me has been turning those goals into a clearly defined checklist that I can work my way through.
I love this motivational strategy. It’s simply saying, “there’s no room for excuses. Set the goal and stick to it!”
I’m going to adopt it.
Absolutely, predetermine success and then just go from there!
I struggle with productivity a lot… this really helped me get into a better mindset! Thank you!
Of course! I hope it ends up being a useful tool for you moving forward!