First, a disclaimer.
The men who get up at 5am and mow lawns all day in 95 degree sweltering summer heat.. they work hard.
The single women who work 14+ hours a day and still take care of their kids.. they work hard.
Me, working from Starbucks while sipping a girly skinny vanilla latte and working on my 11″ MacBook Air.. not really working hard.
Sure, being an “information marketer” is mentally draining – but when I used to sweat my ass off working until 10 at night at the Children’s hospital.. that was the kind of work where I would collapse after a full day.
So you’ll never find me complaining about what I do. Never. And if I do complain, please give a gentle smack in the ass (in a non-sexual way, of course!).
THE HARD WORK MYTH
Inc. magazine just published an article about the 40 hour work week.
Here was their synopsis after going through handful of studies looking at productivity “clocking over 40 hours a week just makes you unproductive”.
I never believed you had to work 70+ hours a week to be successful. Don’t get me wrong, I used to work long hours when I started, but I didn’t have great leverage at the time. And I NEVER pulled an “all-nighter”.
I was purely trading hours for dollars.
If I trained a client, I made $50 for the hour. And if I didn’t train someone at that time, I didn’t get paid. Simple. And easy to understand.
Now, as I transitioned away from only getting paid “per hour”, I started to truly understand the idea of getting sh*t done. And STILL having a life.
In fact, it’s common for me to see, at least, one movie a week in the middle of the afternoon by myself (yes, I am a movie addict and have a slight problem). I also get a weekly massage in the middle of the day. And spend HOURS at the bookstore and library. And still coach Kindergarten soccer and 2nd grade lacrosse.
My wife and I have a long understood agreement. I will be home by 5pm every day – and I’ll provide us with plenty of income – just don’t ask where I was all day :)
THE RYAN LEE MODEL TO “GET SH*T DONE”!
Here are 3 simple steps to follow to get more done and still have an awesome ass-kicking life.
STEP 1: Schedule your day
There’s an old saying that if you want something done, give it to the busiest person you know.
My wife and I have 4 young kids under the age of 8. Do you think I have time to waste with bullshit “meetings” from people who want to “pick my brain” or just “run an idea by me”?
Hell no. I schedule my day and block off time that is untouchable. I have zero tolerance for people who waste my time. If you want to meet, then send me a full written proposal first – and if you can’t be bothered with that, I can’t be bothered with you. It sounds harsh but you must guard your time.
There’s no such thing as “Hey Ryan, can I have just 5 minutes on the phone”. Five minutes ALWAYS turns to 10-15 minutes. It’s just the way things are – and I learned that the hard way.
The morning is my work time and I protect it with my life.
No coaching calls. No interviews. Nothing before Noon. Ever.
Schedule your day and figure out when your real “work” time is an protect it dearly, my friend.
STEP 2: FOCUSED Work
When you have your focused work time, do nothing else but your work.
This time should be spent doing something that GROWS your business.
Could be sales copy, marketing, emailing affiliates, guest blogging, writing your newsletter, creating a new product, etc.
During that time, you better work your ass off. Don’t stop. Just keep at it and you’ll be absolutely shocked at how much you can get done in just 1 hour.
You can write a quick blog post, email your list and put that post on Facebook & Twitter.
You can email 20 potential affiliates or joint venture partners.
You can create a video sales letter.
You can create an entire module for one of your products.
Just turn off your cell phone. Shut down Skype and IM. And do NOT check your email.
Once you work for 45-60 minutes straight – take a 10 minute break. Stretch. Drink some water. Do some pushups. Anything – just give yourself a mental rest for a bit.
STEP 3: Rinse and Repeat
Do this for 2 to 3 focused work blocks of 45-60 minutes.
If you do this and you stick to it – I guarantee you’ll get so much more done. You’ll make more money. And you’ll have one hell of a great life.
WORK LIKE A SPRINTER
I was a sprinter in college (1oo meter dash) and I believe you should work like a sprinter too.
Work really, really hard for short bursts – then take breaks and refresh yourself.
That’s it. It’s simple and it works.
Now get out there and get sh*t done, will you?
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? AGREE?
ARE YOU BEING PRODUCTIVE?
P.S. Get my real insider tips every week.. LIVE – right here for a little more than a $1 a day
Feel free to post your questions, comments, feedback or ideas below!
Ryan
Extremely useful info in this post (as usual). Thanks for summing up the really important stuff so well and so succinctly, Ryan. You ROCK! :)
Thank you for the article!!
Hey Ryan,
Your post makes perfect sense! It relates really well when you exercise. Use short blocks of time developing specific muscle, working off fat, etc.
Instead of trying to fit everything into 1 hr in your business, prepare and plan on doing ONE thing in ONE hour.
My problem leads to having ideas in my brain of what I’m doing and tweaking it based on those ideas which is a major distraction.
Have you ever had that issue? I attempt to write it down or sometimes ignore it but then my mind is on that idea and seem to be unproductive. Any thoughts on how to overcome this?
Great post!
Scott Lucas
Scott,
Even just a 2-3 minutes of slow, breathing can reset your thoughts.
Take a short break, regain focus and attack it again.
And if your mind keeps going onto the other idea – then just go with the other one for a bit. Sometimes it’s easier to go with it than fight it.
Ryan
Absofrickinlutley true Ryan! Daily sprints! time is precious. plan ahead. then take a break after you do…repeat.
It’s really the “secret” to success.
Everyone focuses on tactics – and THIS is the stuff you need to master first!
Looking forward to seeing you in Utah Casey!
Ryan
Good post. It’s similar to the “chunking” concept. But, my big takeaway here is to guard your time. It’s only recently that I’ve learnt to stop giving “freebies” to clients and really charge for my time.
It’s hugely liberating and something I’m still learning to do profitably. More posts around this topic would be great ;)
Cheers
Tum
Hey Tum,
Thanks for the feedback.
Yes – guard your time with you life! And work in chunks.
I’ll get into it more in future posts…
Ryan
AWESOME advise, as usual, Ryan!! Thanks for reminding me that I need to just get sh$t done!! I LOVE the “Work like a Sprinter” concept. Going to be my new work strategy!
Thanks Michelle.
It’s the BEST way to work – and I guarantee you’ll see huge results!
Ryan
Nice post Ryan. You always deliver the goods while keeping it simple and highly effective.
I appreciate it Donovan.
Thanks :)
Ryan
Simple, succinct, pure Ryan Style!
You know me Karen.
All the meat with none of the bullshit :)
Ryan
This is definitely a great post. And it rings true to my own work ethic. Why spend hours in front of a project trying to finish it, when you could’ve easily completed it 3 hours ago. Good post.
Hey Gabriel,
That’s right.. just get it DONE!
Ryan
Yo Ryan, You just described how I run my life and business. Always room to improve, but getting better each week.
“Hey, can I pick your brain…..?”
Just kidding, I hate that question, too. It’s actually disrespectful. All take, not reciprocation.
And, the visual image is bad.
Enjoy your weekend.
Hey John,
You are one of the most prolific people I’ve ever met!
And you know how much I love “can I pick your brain”!
:)
Ryan
Great article on productivity and if you want more awesome productivity tips, then you must join the ryanleeinnercircle.com
Thank you Chris and I appreciate your promotion of the Inner Circle!
You rock!
Ryan
Good stuff. Lifehacker just had a nice post on “focusing like a monk”: http://lifehacker.com/5895509/train-your-brain-for-monk+like-focus
Thanks for the share Ben – I haven’t been to Lifehacker in a long time.
Ryan
Totally agree. I bought a virtual egg timer for my iPad and set it to countdown in blocks of 60 minutes. During that time I just focus on one thing. Makes a HUGE difference to productivity.
Andrew
Good one Andrew – I also use a timer when I need the extra push!
Ryan
Ryan, This is great…it supports a lot of theories that multi-tasking is actually very unproductive. The habits of being on the phone, checking email, writing a proposal all while feeding the kid, does all of the tasks a diservice and none are done particularly well…AND THE KID NOTICE! ;-). Focus whether it is on a specific topic at a time, or overall in ones business, is to me the answer.
Kimball,
Multi-tasking is a myth. You can work on multiple projects – just not at the same time.
Keep on rockin’
Ryan
Ryan,
It’s so great to be connected to your flow of info. Working in short focused bursts (unless i get totally engrossed ) works best, I agree.
Turning off the distractions! oh yeah ~ they’re infectious…kind of like the people who just stay busy busy busy yet never get anything done.
(uh oh is that a finger pointing at me???)
Actually my biggest problem that needs reeling in like a flailing TUNA is FOCUS and driving my THOUGHTS (not my car thank God) in a straight line. No, I think a WAVY line is more ME.
I tend to get hooked and snagged on splinters and side tracked on TANGENT after tangent.
Continual PRACTICE here is the key to alter that. I’m sure I’m not the only sort of “ADD” adult in the room, “chasing squirrels”, as David wrote by his opening video…yeah, i get it “fo real”!
Anyhoo. Love your post AND that your COMMITMENT and integrity to share what matters in life to make it extraordinary and open to ANY possibility we create.
Hugs & lotsa Love…
Rona
Hey Rona,
You also have to get rid of those distractions.
De-clutter your work space. Unsubscribe to email newsletters (except mine, of course). And just get that one thing done first!
Ryan
Almost anything worthwhile takes focused attention for prolonged periods of time. This is why I worry about the next generation, because from what I can tell, they are unable to focus on just one thing for more than a couple minutes, mostly because they have been conditioned to have many forms of stimulation hitting them at all times, and they are always waiting for the next text.
Hey Mike,
It will be interesting to see how things change and if people can adapt to the different way of life…
Ryan
Hey Ryan, super solid info, great post!! Some of these I’ve learned accidentally along the way… and you’re definitely right on!!
Rock on-
Kevin
Thanks Kevin!
It’s taken me a while to learn all this too – and I’m still on a journey..
Ryan
Great advice!
I waste my time just wandering on the net. I always check email, my affiliate accounts and what seemed to take me 10 minutes will end up taking 30 minutes or so. THis is my regular day. But at times I found myself doing my plan from start to finish. I accomplish 4 or 5 works I planned straight. Then I become satisfied. How I wish if everyday was like that for me! Thanks Ryan!
Hey Dess,
You CAN make your day more productive. Just get the important stuff done FIRST!
Practice, practice, practice.
Rock ‘on
Ryan
I have been learning this process recently. Taking a break is tough to do when I get focused, but I do it when I get to a stopping point.
On my break, I have been known to just run around my house, clean the toilet, or pull weeds. The breaks I take are mental breaks from mentally tasking in my productive time.
And yes, a deep breath does wonders.
Thanks for the article.
Hey Lyle,
You had me up to the “clean the toilet” and “pull weeds” :)
Ryan
Good-looking post Ryan. Sounds like a good life! I didn’t know you were a sprinter.
Witty phrases… “awesome ass-kicking life” , and “gentle smack on my ass”.
I’m gonna get shit done.
Hey Fred,
Thanks for your comments and yes, life is pretty good indeed when you live these principles!
Ryan
Dr. Lee,
All your posts are great on here. However, I think this one can resonate with anybody, whether they are into internet marketing or not. I will share this one on facebook so others may see it. The distinction that you make between working hard and working smart makes sense for any industry. In addition, you then have time to enjoy your work more and being productive instead of working less effectively and having job burnout-think law of diminishing returns. What is especially refreshing about your post on this topic is that you are living this-working smart, making money, spending time with your family, and distancing yourself from the emotional vampires. I also like movies and my friends ask me how I manage to see a movie pretty much every Tuesday afternoon and still do karate with my son and take my daughter for walks in the park-by working smart! Anytime your in Philadelphia my friend, let me know as there is a great local, independent movie theater and it would be an honor to treat you to a movie. Maybe we can also run a few 100′s on the local track too. Best to you, Janet, and the kids. You rock!
Regards,
Cory
Hey Cory,
Thanks for your ongoing support and comments.
Keep on the right track and I’m always down for a few 100′s :)
Ryan
NIce timely post Ryan.
I teach my mentoring clients to use exactly that method to focus like crazy and as a result they are amazed at the transformation in their levels of achievement and productivity, (or as you say…Just getting Sh*t done!).
Reading your post has also reminded me to practice what I preach in terms of being disciplined about not leaving my email open whilst doing focused work!
Thanks Ryan.
Regards
Roy
Hi Roy,
It definitely takes a lot of practice – but soon it just becomes a ritual. And that’s the key to success.
Ryan
Right on, yeah focused time does surprise you when you realize how much you can do in one hour
To me what I found works best is when I wake up early (around 5 or 6am) have some breakfast, shower and do a simple bodyweight workout to stretch out & then get working
It just makes me feel good and refreshed and ready to go and since I am in the zone of having a great day and getting stuff done early, anything else I do later on is more focused
Drinking tons of water, and doing bodyweight movements throughout the day while I work helps tremendously to keep my energy up!
Thanks for the awesome post, now I am gonna get some more shit done :)
Luis Carrillo
Hey Luis,
Water is a BIG one. Even just a little fresh air and some cold water can do wonders to give yourself a break.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan!
Over and over agian, I repeat the same: I L-O-V-E YOUR STUFF! :D
Thank YOU Ana!
Ryan
Dr. lee i seriously need ur help………….believe me its really easy to said , lets get it done……….but what about people like me who cant maintain their focus on one thing. the problem with me is that i lack interest in whatever work i decided to do mainly after 2-3 days or sometimes 2-3 hours and then i certainly change my decision and start doing something else and again i lack interest in the new one…….so its a kind of circle for me…….unable to understand why i lack interest in such a short period and this is something which i am facing from the last 4-5 years. even writing these 6 lines here i took 45-50 minutes……is this related to lack of decision making or something else ??
Hey Raj,
There could be something else more serious going on.. to be honest, that’s beyond my scope and you should consider looking into it more.
Ryan
great advice man, just one question…why do you have to put a * in the title? It makes it really difficult to find you when I do a Google search on ” how to get SHIT done” ;)
Hey Tom,
I don’t do specific titles just to please Google :)
Ryan
It’s a great attitude to have, my husband and I take turns watching our daughter and the other gets some focused work done on our websites. My one weakness is taking sales calls regarding our products/services and not limiting them to a set period of time, often going far too long into advice and education mostly because I’m passionate about what I do but also because of not putting that time limit on the call. I love my customers for sure, however you do get the ones who have no intention on buying anything just wanting free information and if you’re not careful they’ll take up a lot of your time!
Marina,
You should definitely set aside specific times for calls – otherwise the rest of your business will suffer.
Thanks for your comments.
Ryan
I need more of the ‘focused work’
When I do it, things get done, simple really….
Ryan,
Just wanted to say in having come back here to re-read some of the comments that I’m really impressed that you took the time to address almost all of the comments!!
Great stuff – totally agree, as Dan Kennedy says and I’m paraphrasing lol time is the most important commodity, we gotta guard it or accept the consequences. Blocking time is a great way of doing things. Also finding out when you work best – got that tip from Craig Ballantyne – find out what part of the day you work best and do everything you can to guard that time – then work your damn a** off in that time – no distractons just know what you gotta do (have to do lists) then focus on them – starting with the hardest!!
Boom!
Cheers Ryan.
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