Increased producitivty often means adding more tasks to our plates, more hours to our workdays, and more tools to our stack. We operate under the assumption that doing more is the key to achieving more. However, according to the success by subtraction model, the secret to boosting your productivity lies not in adding more to your plate but in removing stuff.
How subtracting will improve your workflow
The success by subtraction model argues that removing obstacles and distractions is the key to boosting your productivity and achieving better results. By eliminating the non-essential, you can laser-focus your time and energy on what truly matters.
Key principles of success by subtraction
1. Streamline your schedule
Take a hard look at your calendar. Are there meetings or activities that don’t directly contribute to your priorities? Cut them out or reduce their frequency. Protect your most productive hours for deep work on important projects. Learn to say no to commitments that don’t align with your goals.
2. Simplify processes
Complex systems and convoluted workflows slow you down. Map out your current processes and identify bottlenecks or unnecessary steps. Streamline wherever possible. Aim for clear, efficient procedures that allow you and your team to work smarter, not harder.
3. Focus on the essential
We often fall into the trap of trying to do it all. Instead, zero in on the single most impactful action you can take to move the needle. Pour your resources into that critical area. Resist the urge to dilute your efforts across too many initiatives.
4. Prune what holds you back
Success isn’t just about what you do but also what you stop doing. Are there habits, relationships or even physical clutter draining your energy? Identify anything hindering your growth and take steps to shed those limitations. This frees up space for what nourishes you.
Benefits of success by subtraction
Embracing success by subtraction leads to powerful benefits:
By doing less, you make way for breakthroughs. Where can you subtract to multiply your success? Start small – cut one time-waster from your day. Build from there and watch as subtracting transforms your work and life.
Bottom line
Michelangelo famously said that he carved his masterpiece David by chipping away at all the parts of the marble that weren’t David. He knew that his sculpture was hiding within the stone all along; his job was to subtract until it emerged.
Your maximum productivity is hiding within your packed schedule, clogged workflow, and endless task list. Chip away at all the parts that aren’t productively essential. Chisel out the wasted time, low-leverage duties, and draining obligations. Keep chiseling until your most productive self emerges. It’s been there all along, just waiting to be uncovered.
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