One of the biggest hurdles to succeeding in affiliate marketing is the lack of productivity. While some people tout their multi-tasking skills, there is something to be said for single tasking and focusing on the completion of projects.
When I picked up a copy of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen, I hoped to pick up some useful tips on streamlining my operation.
What I got was a new, more efficient way of doing things that has made me more productive. David Allen’s premise is pretty basic: our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax.
That’s not to say that it’s time for all of us to start taking a daily siesta (how nice would that be?!), but that we achieve more efficient results and unleash our creative potential when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized.
Look around your monitor – do you have sticky notes all over the place? And how about that inbox – overflowing to the point where you have no clue what it is you don’t have time to do?
That’s where I was – my mental and physical inbox overflowing with important items and superfluous crap. Though it sounds simple, I have found some great clarity in my work by following the “do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it” rule to maintain a clear inbox, both on my desk and in Outlook.
The basis for David Allen’s system is summarized in a one-page flowchart that is now pinned up over my desk for reference. Honestly, that simple flowchart is worth the price of the book
Another of the really useful instructions from the book is Allen’s Two-Minute Rule: if there’s anything you need to do soon that can be done in two minutes or less, do it now. This will free up your time and mind big time over the long term.
Pick this book up, free your mind, and start making more money.