Don’t you find it frustrating that according to the “experts,” there’s only ever one right way to get things done? Me too.
As a WAHM, traditional advice on how to be more productive doesn’t apply to me. On any given day, I have two or three jobs that need to get done, and I’m not talking about just transitioning between tasks. From my duties as a Domestic Goddess to making sure I’m delivering as a CEO, most “experts” would say I’m doing it wrong. But have you ever noticed that most advice is for a very particular type of personality?
If you’re familiar with Myers-Briggs, it’s advice geared to turn you into an ISTJ. (Just like elementary school is, in case you were wondering.)
Deal with things in a literal and concrete way. Be rational and logical. Do what you say you are going to do no matter what the personal and emotional cost. Don’t depend on anyone but you to get things done the one right way.
That’s not me, and it’s probably not you either.
That kind of advice is tailor made for middle management. So if you’re over white guys at the top of the corporate pyramid dictating how to get things done, check out these how to bust these myths on productivity for good.
1. Meetings are a waste of time.
Meeting with people is the single most valuable thing I do every week. Why? Because people keep me sane. They remind there are people out in the world doing what I do, struggling with what I struggle with, and working towards the same greater good that I am. Connection is invaluable, and it’s where my best ideas are born. Only meet with people you want to, and your meetings will be a driving force in your life and business.
2. All tasks should be treated the same.
Recently, there’s been a large amount of advice encouraging people to hunker down and mindlessly work through their to do lists like everything on it has the same weight. I think that’s ignorant at best and elitism at worst. Have you ever worked with children running around in the background? How about trying to make dinner, take a client call, and make sure you don’t get mommy-brain and forget the thing you’re supposed to do after… What was it again?
3. Feelings have nothing to do with how productive you are capable of being.
I don’t do anything without feeling good first. Yeah, I said it. If I feel shitty, I’m not going to work on anything that requires any sort of creativity until I get myself back into the right frame of mind. When I’m not happy, I don’t do my best work. And if I know that, why would I deliver at a sub par level when I know what I’m capable of when I am on?
So have a cup of tea. Put on some lipstick. Do something that makes you feel good, and then get back to work. 5 minutes of self-care can make the difference between a lackluster performance or a memorable one. Recharge.
4. Doing the dishes is procrastinating.
Getting physical gets your brain moving. Seriously. If you’ve got writer’s block, go do the dishes. Go scrub your toilet, or (better yet) the shower. You’ll be struck by genius in no time. (And hey, even if you’re still brain-dead, your house is clean, right?)
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Dusti Arab, Fractional CMO
And the founder of the reinvention co, a marketing consultancy specializing in working with personality-driven companies with small teams.
Intense, fun, and relentlessly practical, Dusti understands the lives of small business owners are deeply intertwined with their businesses, and if their marketing is going to be sustainable, it can't get in the way of why they do what they do. (And honestly? It should be fun so they actually want to do it.)
She is the host of Referral Worthy, a podcast for small business owners ready to go from "best kept secret" to the go-to name in their niche.