From: alexhormozi
Selective productivity emphasizes that true productivity stems from the decisions you make not to do certain things [00:03:21]. It is a framework considered more powerful for productivity than many popular “productivity hacks” that often involve adding more tasks [00:04:01].
Core Concepts
- Commitment as Elimination Commitment is defined as the elimination of alternatives [00:03:24]. For example, marriage eliminates alternatives to a spouse [00:03:26].
- Focus as Saying No Focus, in its extreme, means doing literally nothing but one thing [00:03:34]. A truly focused person performs the fewest possible activities outside of their primary objective [00:03:50]. Therefore, focus is about the number of things you say “no” to [00:03:54].
Practical Application
Achieving productivity through focus involves eliminating distractions, both personal and environmental [00:04:12]. This includes things like:
- Minimizing external interruptions (e.g., office windows, knocks on the door) [00:04:16]
- Silencing digital notifications (e.g., Slack) [00:04:24]
The Ladder Analogy
Imagine needing to get over a high wall [00:04:30]. To gain the critical mass needed to climb over, you build a ladder [00:04:33]. The fallacy is attempting to build multiple small ladders (e.g., pursuing three or four different opportunities) [00:04:57]. The reality is that any one of these opportunities could work, but none will succeed unless you commit all your “rungs” (time and effort) to just one [00:05:02].
By consolidating your efforts on a single ladder, you can build it high enough to get over the wall and achieve success [00:05:11].
Avoiding Diversification
This principle applies across all levels of business, from startups to established enterprises [00:05:41]. A common pitfall is getting bored and wanting to start multiple new ventures [00:05:59].
The key to success is to:
- Stick with one project: Imagine someone who improves every year by working on the same project for 20 years; they will become exceptionally good [00:06:10].
- Focus on the process: The plans themselves are rarely the problem; it’s the lack of commitment to working on and sticking with one plan [00:06:41].
- Prioritize a single objective: Achieving 20 years of practice in one area guarantees proficiency [00:06:31].