Productivity Secrets of Highly Successful People

By Brick | January 25, 2010

I watched this interview of Matt Rissell by Robert Scoble (The “Scobleizer”) for Fast Company “TV” (I remember Fast Company being a pretty cool magazine in the 90’s). Matt is the CEO of TSheets, a Boise-based provider of online timeclocks. He discusses how he determined what made the most productive people successful. He provides “10 productivity secrets”. I really liked the following two:

Surround yourself with excellent people: Matt goes out of this way to point out that this is not “hire excellent people”. I think this is really important for freelancers, and entrepreneurs who don’t necessarily have the budget or need for employees in the traditional sense. As the saying goes, “show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future”. As an entrepreneur, you don’t have to hire excellence. You can surround yourself with excellent advisors, excellent suppliers, excellent mentors and yes, excellent (entrepreneurial) friends.

Make your decisions be great: Again, notice that this is not “make great decisions”. I think the key is that you have to be courageous enough to make a choice and put a stake in the sand. You then move forward and don’t look back second guessing or having regrets. Just choose that where you are is the place to be.