3 Secrets to Getting Things Done, Part 1

Here are some personal strategic planning techniques to increase productivity and get things done:

1. Concentrate your power. Concentrate your talents and abilities where they will yield the highest payoff. In corporate strategy sessions, managers focus on the goal of increasing their ‘‘return on equity.’’ In personal strategic planning, your goal is to get the highest ‘‘return on energy.’’ Your job is to allocate your talents and abilities in such a way as to achieve the highest possible return on the mental, emotional and physical energy that you invest in your work.

Your highest return on energy happens when you combine your unique talents and abilities with the specific needs of a given situation. You can then focus and concentrate single-mindedly on that one task—which is the key to getting things done more efficiently. Whenever you face a task, ask yourself if it gives you the highest return on energy invested. Discipline yourself to increase productivity and to apply your skills where you can achieve the greatest results for both yourself and your company.

  2. Focus on opportunities. Increase productivity by concentrating your strengths—and the strengths of others—on your major opportunities first. Focus on the opportunities of tomorrow rather than the problems of yesterday. Concentrate your best talents and energies and those of your best people on those few areas where major breakthroughs are possible.