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Day 7: The Best Piece Of Advice I Was Given About Productivity and Time Management

Embracing Selectivity: A Lesson in Stoic Productivity; The Power of 'Yes' and 'No' in a World of Distractions

When I was 25, one of my mentors gave me an unforgettable piece of advice. I was just starting to get interested in productivity and time management and had been running myself ragged trying to achieve success in every area of my life. But, like most beginners, I was making a lot of mistakes: overcommitting, failing to prioritize, and not giving myself enough time to rest and recharge.

Until one day, my mentor, a big fan of Stoicism, said to me:

"Remember Seneca's words: 'Who is everywhere is nowhere.' Choose wisely what you say 'yes' to, as each 'yes' is a 'no' to something else."

That day, my whole life changed.

I realized that my desire to be everywhere and do everything was actually preventing me from being truly present and productive anywhere. I was scattering my attention and energy too broadly, which led to a lack of focus and the feeling of always being busy, yet achieving little.

Moving forward, I adopted a more Stoic approach to choosing my commitments. I started to focus on what was within my control and aligned with my core values. I began to prioritize, to say 'no' more often, to guard my time and attention more carefully.

Taking advice from Chris Bailey's "Hyperfocus," I learned to manage my attention as a limited resource. Inspired by Ryan Holiday's teachings, I embraced the Stoic principles of conscious choice and personal betterment. My approach to productivity transformed, no longer centered around doing more, but doing what truly mattered.

That simple piece of advice from my mentor provided a compass for navigating the complexities of modern life. It changed the way I perceived productivity and made me understand the power of saying 'yes' and 'no' in a world full of distractions.

Despite these transformations, I sometimes still struggle with these choices, reminding me that it's a continuous journey of self-improvement and conscious decision-making.

In conclusion, the importance of selectivity in commitments and the power of conscious choice have become my guiding principles, echoing Jim Collins's words, often quoted by Benjamin Hardy in his videos, "If you have more than three priorities, then you don't have any." This reminds me to stay focused, mindful, and intentional in a world that often tempts us to spread ourselves too thin.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions, comment below or reply to this e-mail.

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