Artwork for podcast Simplicity Specialist Podcast with Jonathan Stewart
Redefining Productivity
Episode 421st November 2022 • Simplicity Specialist Podcast with Jonathan Stewart • Jonathan Stewart, Simplicity Specialist
00:00:00 00:02:42

Share Episode

Shownotes

In this episode, I'm touching on a subject that breaks my heart when talking to clients: the guilt surrounding productivity.

I'll be diving into the etymology of the word "productive" and how it can be redefined to be more personal. I'll also touch on how productivity is not about how many tasks you get done, but about developing and leading yourself in the direction you actually want.

Ultimately, I wanna remind you that they are the solution, and the way you work is the answer.

Episode Link: https://simplicityspecialist.captivate.fm/episode/redefining-productivity

Share with Others: Listen to Simplicity Specialist Podcast with Jonathan Stewart

Want More of Me in Your Ear?

If you're enjoying this conversation, you can find me elsewhere!

Let's Email: I send weekly emails that talk more about the topics from the podcast, as well as building a business that fits you.

See What I'm Up To: See what I'm up to on various platforms!

The PKM Podcast: Where my co-host and I go a little deeper on psychology, learning, and discussing our opinions on the Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) & productivity space.

Simplicity Hub: Get access to free and paid resources to help you bring more simplicity in bitesized pieces.

A Note On Transcriptions - In the interest of simplicity, I'm using Descript* to make podcast publishing as easy as possible. This means that sometimes the transcript won't match what I'm saying and sometimes it'll be hilariously different (tag me on Twitter telling me the funniest transcription you've found).



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Transcripts

Jonathan Stewart:

If there is one thing that breaks my heart when

Jonathan Stewart:

talking to clients, it's when they're talking about their productivity.

Jonathan Stewart:

There is so much guilt surrounding how productive you are.

Jonathan Stewart:

It's as if there is and obsession with optimization of being hyper

Jonathan Stewart:

productive getting more done and doing more things and being busy all

Jonathan Stewart:

of the time however, if you look into the etymology of the word productive.

Jonathan Stewart:

You find it's actually far more interesting than you might

Jonathan Stewart:

think, and might give you the space to define productivity

Jonathan Stewart:

in a way that starts from you.

Jonathan Stewart:

The etymology of the word productive is serving to produce, which in itself sounds

Jonathan Stewart:

pretty much what I said at the beginning.

Jonathan Stewart:

However, once you dive into the etymology of produce, it gets even more interesting.

Jonathan Stewart:

To produce is to develop, to draw out, to lead or bring out.

Jonathan Stewart:

So for me, that means serving to produce means to be in service, to lead or bring

Jonathan Stewart:

out the best possible version of yourself.

Jonathan Stewart:

How that looks is individual because productivity is personal.

Jonathan Stewart:

Now what it can look like is hustling when you need to it's about getting

Jonathan Stewart:

your head down and getting things done.

Jonathan Stewart:

What it is in service to you when it is in service to bringing out

Jonathan Stewart:

the best possible version of you.

Jonathan Stewart:

But it's also about resting and focusing on sustainable work that fits you.

Jonathan Stewart:

It's not about making perfect task list or creating a productivity

Jonathan Stewart:

system that is exactly organizing every single inch of you.

Jonathan Stewart:

The way you work, isn't wrong.

Jonathan Stewart:

As long as it's in service to leading and drawing out the best of you.

Jonathan Stewart:

Your productivity isn't based on how many tasks you get done or

Jonathan Stewart:

how many things you've got to do.

Jonathan Stewart:

It's about developing, leading yourself in the direction you actually want.

Jonathan Stewart:

We are bombarded by hundreds of things each day, telling us to work

Jonathan Stewart:

smarter, harder, faster, stronger, better, whatever it might be.

Jonathan Stewart:

But it completely forgets the origins of productivity:

Jonathan Stewart:

being in service to yourself.

Jonathan Stewart:

What if instead of assuming you're the problem.

Jonathan Stewart:

You're actually the solution and the way that you work is the answer.

Jonathan Stewart:

Need help redefining your own productivity.

Jonathan Stewart:

Reach out to me at simplicity-specialist.com.

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube