Chapter 5 – Automate: Subtract Yourself from the Equation

The 4 types of automation:

1. Self. Use rituals to make it easier for you to follow through on your highest priorities. The 4 Foundational Rituals: morning, evening, workday startup, and workday shutdown.
2. Template. Automate repetitive tasks with templates. Examples: email templates and PowerPoint presentations.
3. Process. Write an easy-to-follow set of instructions for performing a job or sequence. Correct the workflow as you gather feedback.
4. Tech. Focus on the type of tool you need more than which tool you use. The 4 essential tools: email filtering, macro-processing, text-expansion, and screencast

We also discuss how I've been using AI tools like ChatGPT in my daily life to help automate tasks.

To streamline your tasks, mark candidates for automation and pick one to tackle today. 

Chapter 4 – Eliminate: Flex Your “No” Muscle

If we want to be free to focus, we must eliminate everything standing in our way. That doesn’t mean simply saying no to a lot of bad ideas; it also means turning down a ton of good ideas.

Time is a zero-sum game.

Every yes inherently contains a no.

Everything outside your Desire Zone is a possible candidate for elimination.

The yes-no-yes strategy to give a “positive no”:

1. Yes. Say yes to yourself and to protect what is important to you. This should also include affirming the other person.
2. No. The answer continues with a matter-of-fact no that is clear and sets boundaries. Do not leave any wiggle room or ambiguity.
3. Yes. End the response by affirming the relationship again and by offering another solution to the person’s request.

How to renegotiate existing commitments:

1. Take responsibility for making the commitment
2. Reaffirm your willingness to honor your commitment
3. Explain why honoring your commitment is not the best outcome for the other party
4. Offer to help solve the problem with them

How to create a Not-To-Do List:

• Start with the obvious candidates for elimination
• List the meetings, relationships, and opportunities you should never pursue

Chapter 3 – Rejuvenate: Reenergize Your Mind and Body

Time is fixed, but energy can flex.

There’s an inverse relationship between productivity and time. The more hours you work, the less productive you’ll be.

The 7 practices to renew energy:

1. Sleep. 7-10 hours per night (add a 30-min nap if needed). Turn off screens an hour before bedtime, add blackout shades, lower the room temperature, and use white noise.
2. Eat. Eat natural foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats. Be mindful when eating out. Stick with water as much as possible.
3. Move. Exercise itself is an energizer. Physical activity primes our brains to operate at a higher level.
4. Connect. Some people charge you up while others drain you. Be intentional about connections by conducting a social audit.
5. Play. If you want to stay sharp, you need regular injections of recreation, exercise, and outright play into your busy schedule.
6. Reflect. Strive to make time for reflection every day, either by reading, journaling, introspection, meditation, prayer, or worship.
7. Unplug. Create rules to help you disconnect during nights, weekends, and vacations.

Chapter 2 – Evaluate: Determine Your Course

You can evaluate tasks, activities, and opportunities based on two key criteria:

• Passion: work you love and energizes you
• Proficiency: how well you actually do something that generates results that other people can measure and reward

To determine where you are right now use a tool called the Freedom Compass. 

The 5 Zones of Productivity:

1. Desire Zone. Where your passion and proficiency intersect. Where you are able to unleash your unique abilities to make your most significant contributions.
2. Distraction Zone. Things you are passionate about but have little proficiency for, thus preventing you from making a significant contribution.
3. Disinterest Zone. Things that you’re proficient at but you aren’t that passionate about. These tasks drain your energy.
4. Drudgery Zone. Tasks for which you have no passion and no proficiency. This is the worst kind of work for you to do. 
5. Development Zone. How to gauge work outside your Desire Zone but potentially moving toward it. If we have a hunch we could develop passion and proficiency with a task, we should stay open-minded about it.

True productivity is about doing more of what is in your Desire Zone and less of everything else.

Chapter 1 – Formulate: Decide What You Want

True productivity starts with being clear on what you truly want. 

The objective of productivity shouldn’t be efficiency or success, but freedom. Productivity should ultimately give you back more time, not require more of you.

Freedom to:

1. Focus
2. Be Present
3. Be Spontaneous
4. Do Nothing

You should design your life first and then tailor work to meet your lifestyle objectives.

Formulate your vision for what fewer, more productive work hours could make possible for you. 

How to formulate your productivity vision:

• Start by defining what your productivity ideal looks like
• Then break it down into a few powerful and memorable words
• Finally, clarify the stakes by outlining exactly what you stand to gain if you achieve that vision and what you will lose if you don’t