When you hear the name Steve Jobs several things instantly come to mind. Much of those things are still to this day on the cutting edge of all we hold dear. If you’re wondering what those things are then you need do nothing more than glance over at your phone, or perhaps you’re reading this article from your phone. No matter whether you use an Android or iOS device the influence is unmistakable and indisputable. And that’s just one of six major breakthroughs that in no small way changed the world.
The next thing that comes to mind when the name Steve Jobs is mentioned is above average. While this was true it is a mistake to automatically assume that he had always been that way. According to he L.A. Times his high school GPA was only a 2.65. Based on his dislike of school and general disdain for all things basic, one of his then teachers probably wouldn't believe it if someone said he would one day change the world.
There was more to him than simply smarts, there was something internal that drove him, kept him seeking when most others would just give in to the rat race.
Watching Steve over the years as I was growing up, I had always been drawn to his life. I watched his interviews, conferences, and did my best to keep up with his next moves. He was a walking, talking demonstration of dominance and determination.
After literally watching a single man change the world for two decades, it was clear to me how he was able to accomplish so much. His level of productivity and output was next level, and it was next level as a result of all of the challenges he overcame, and hard lessons learned in the process.
Below are some very powerful productivity tips that have been revealed over the years through his words, actions and overall body of work. Remember, being next level is not about being the smartest, the best looking, or the richest – No, it’s about perception and understanding fundamentally what it takes to excel.
Focus On What Matters and Ignore The Rest
Steve Jobs famously defined focus as the ability to ignore a thousand other things in order to hone in on just one. As a teacher of productivity this screams out to me as a man who had his ducks in order. Only a sound structure and commitment to that structure can enable a person to so successfully overcome this human condition. In the MAX Productivity course there is a section that focuses on just that, or more specifically; Determining what You Can Delay or Avoid. This habit will be the difference between you taking your aspiration to the next level and it sitting stagnant, bogged down by your inability to focus properly.
Seek Simplicity
Jobs was all about simplicity. At Reid college the only course he had any interest in presented to him the type of elegance produced by simplicity. He would later say that due to that calligraphy course he was able to create the beautiful typography Macs are known for today.
Find and Do What You Love
We’ve all heard it, when we do what we love it’s as though we are not working at all. Without a doubt this is absolutely true. The challenge for many people is that what they love won’t exactly pay the bills. The key is to uncover exactly how you can turn your passion into a career. To achieve this you can do the following; Identify what you love and what you are good at. Once you have done that, lay the two side by side, and what you have in between is what potential customers would pay for. Of course you may have to modify the product or service for consumer consumption, but I think you get the idea.
Reflection: Assess Your Life Daily
Take time to reflect on what your life is about. Consider where you have been, the decisions you have made over the last several hours, days, weeks, months and years. Casually connect the dots and overtime you will have a mapped out overview of your journey that can be used as a map going forward.
Be Unique: Think Different
This is probably the most straight forward of the bunch, but also perhaps the most uncommon attribute among the masses. While no one operates in a vacuum, it is necessary to learn how to develop and trust in your own thoughts. When you think like the herd everything you do will be based off the movement of the herd, and in that mode of thinking you will most likely not advance very far – at least not beyond the limitations established by the Sheppard.
Spread the Love: Delegate Responsibilities and Accountability
A very underrated and even less understood item is delegation. This is a basic matter of economics. Go ask any economics professional and they will tell you that the failure to allocate resources is the hallmark of poor economics. This is another very important area that the Max Productivity course focuses on. When you get this right, you get your system right. Whether that system is a business, department, church, school, volunteer work, you name it.
As a thank you for stopping by I have provided a helpful resource for you to take with you. It’s a Productivity Checklist that is packed with a lot of great information.
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