Back to Basics Productivity 3 of 7

How do you choose/prioritise from your Master List? Not by order. Nor ease. Nor he/she who is shouting loudest. But by payoff against your objectives.

Your objectives? That’s your Personal Compass, your personal agreement of direction.

TBC

Back to Basics Productivity 2 of 7

You need a ‘bag’ which collects all the things you have to do; all the things you want to do; those crazy ideas; those hopes and wishes and desires. Get them in ‘the bag’ and then you can decide what to do with them.

For me, ‘the bag’ is The Master List. That’s one list in one place on which you capture everything to which you want to give attention. I use a pad of paper. You might use a word doc or an excel sheet or Notes or an app. But great productivity starts with ‘the bag’.

TBC.

Back to Basics Productivity 1 of 7

What is productivity? It’s not getting things done; it’s getting the right things done. How do we know what’s right? How do we get it done? TBC.

B-sides from The Beatles.

  1. “Rain” (B-side to “Paperback Writer,” 1966) Perhaps their greatest B-side. Groundbreaking backward vocals, heavy bass, innovative drumming from Ringo, and a psychedelic sound that was ahead of its time.
  2. “Revolution” (B-side to “Hey Jude,” 1968) The raw, distorted single version that’s more aggressive than that of the White Album. Lennon’s snarling vocals and the fuzzy guitar make it a proto-punk classic.
  3. “Don’t Let Me Down” (B-side to “Get Back,” 1969) Lennon’s emotionally raw vocal performance about Yoko. The rooftop concert version captures the Beatles at their most visceral and honest and Billy Preston’s keyboard work is sublime.
  4. “I’m Down” (B-side to “Help!” 1965) McCartney’s Little Richard-influenced screamer. Pure rock and roll energy with Paul’s unhinged vocals. Their best concert closer and a reminder they could rock as hard as anyone.
  5. “The Inner Light” (B-side to “Lady Madonna,” 1968) George’s beautiful, meditative song based on the Tao Te Ching. Features Indian instrumentation recorded in Bombay and illustrates Harrison’s spiritual and musical growth.
  6. “She’s a Woman” (B-side to “I Feel Fine,” 1964) Funky, bluesy Paul vocal with sophisticated chord changes. The piano work and the line “turn me on when I get lonely” was risqué for 1964.
  7. “Old Brown Shoe” (B-side to “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” 1969) A Harrison gem with complex chord progressions and a driving rhythm. The bridge is particularly inventive and demonstrates George’s songwriting was world-class by the end.

Go listen to some songs!

If

You read long form; do some mini hikes; hold interrupt-free discussions with good friends; dance; study a night sky in an area free of light pollution; write a daily journal.

you’ll feel a whole lot less anxious, stressed and/or overwhelmed.

Go be a human.

That’s a human being not a human doing.

The Pipeline

My three new short stories are just days away. My MEDS, Meditation-Exercise-Diet-Sleep Strategy book is just weeks away. A total revision of my Instant MBA is a couple of months away. Finally I have ‘big picture’ drafted Hunter Gatherer 21C which has been in my head for over a year.

Meanwhile How to Beat ChatGPT is out.

Stay tuned. Keep reading. Be human. Act smart.

Saturday

What a great day: named after Saturn, a Roman god and the only day of the week retaining its Roman planetary name in English. Often rated as people’s favourite day of the week with peak happiness.

Go enjoy a Saturday.