The Productivity Mirage: Breaking an Illusion

Consider a chocolatier who aspires to create the perfect chocolate—one that every citizen in his town would genuinely love. He works diligently toward this dream. Each working day, he develops a new recipe and invites his clients to taste the chocolate he has prepared. He listens attentively to their thoughts and makes slight adjustments to the recipe the following day.

Over time, our chocolatier succeeds in crafting an exceptional product. He receives compliments for days, sometimes even weeks. However, there are always customers who point out minor imperfections, suggesting changes. It ain’t perfect. Discouraged yet driven by his ambition, he never gives up.

By the time of his death, his product is still not on the market. The chocolatier had never felt satisfied enough to actually sell the perfect chocolate he had envisioned. Despite the strength of its dedication, he never produced a tangible outcome from his dream.

By striving to achieve the perfect output, the chocolatier ultimately failed to produce anything.

Today’s article outlines a productivity model. I have aimed to identify major hallmarks hindering productivity. By definition, productivity is a measure of performance. It encompasses both qualitative and quantitative aspects of output in relation to the initial input you provided.

This article is divided into three straightforward rules:

– do not seek perfection.
– take a step back.
– define the outcome.

As you may have read in the introductory short story, the chocolatier failed to produce the perfect chocolate.

This may be because perfection is not a realistic goal, especially when you produce something for someone other than yourself. The notion of perfection is unique to each individual.

When you are always seeking for something better, even when your achievement is already exceptional, you just lose a lot of time for far too little potential improvement and constantly feel disatisfied.

Do not forget that no matter what you do, some people will not like it anyway. There is a qualitative threshold in your work. The moment you become bogged down by every detail is the moment you stop being productive.

Aim to be great, not perfect.

When you think of productivity, you may have the image of a diligent individual, tirelessly pushing forward with determination and resilience toward their dreams. And yeah, diving into hard work can be great—but only if you take a step back every now and then.

Avoid “tunnel vision”. The term metaphorically refers to a limited perspective that prevents one from seeing the broader context. You may overlook crucial parameters and inadvertently stray from your original intention. Your goal comprises a set of elements. Reflect carefully on the significance of the idea you are currently developing within this set of elements. Stubbornness in pursuing an idea of little value can ruin your productivity.

Be open-minded. Imagine what might have happened if our chocolatier, in addition to striving to create the perfect product, had been resistant to the opinions of his customers. By inviting his customers to sample his chocolate every day and attentively considering their feedback, he can incorporate perspectives beyond his own, thereby gaining a better understanding of the interests of its customers. This openness allows him to explore new ideas and continually refine his craft in pursuit of the perfect chocolate.

Diversify your activities. Taking a step back also involves considering and engaging in other pursuits. Producing something often demands creativity, and new ideas tend to flow more freely after you have temporarily distanced yourself from your project.

The chocolatier aspired to create the perfect chocolate. But what motivated him to pursue this goal? The desire to bring joy to his customers? The glory it would bring him? Did he even comprehend the underlying reasons for his endeavor?

Do not mistake busyness for productivity. It is essential to understand what you wish to produce and why. You must be clear about it.

Do not work just to work, this would be noise. Clarity is important not only for you but also for others. The outcome should be clear, and meaningful, at the very least. This is the best aspiration you can strive for. Set clear goals.

– Achieving excellence is more productive than striving for perfection.

– Taking a step back can be a source of creativity and motivation, allowing you to refocus.

– Clarifying the outcome is both sufficient and necessary to produce relevant results.