How To Multiply Your Time | Rory Vaden | TEDxDouglasville

Summary

In this insightful talk, the author of 'Procrastinate on Purpose' challenges traditional time management strategies, arguing that they are ineffective due to their focus on logic rather than emotions. He introduces the concept of 'self-management' and the 'Focus Funnel,' a tool to help prioritize tasks based on their potential to create more time in the future. The speaker advocates for a 3-dimensional approach to time management, emphasizing the importance of significance over urgency and importance alone. By learning to eliminate, automate, delegate, or 'procrastinate on purpose,' individuals can multiply their time and achieve exponential results.

Takeaways

• 📚 The author challenges traditional time management approaches, suggesting that they are based on flawed logic and do not address the emotional aspects of how we spend our time.
• 👧 An interaction with a child highlights the emotional component of time management, showing that feelings like guilt and fear heavily influence our decisions about how to use our time.
• ⏳ Time management is a misnomer; time continues regardless of our actions, making the concept of 'managing' it impossible. The focus should be on self-management instead.
• 🛠️ The industrial revolution brought about one-dimensional time management focused on efficiency, which is limited because it doesn't account for the emotional and human aspects of work.
• 📈 Dr. Stephen Covey introduced a two-dimensional approach with his Time Management Matrix, which considers urgency and importance, but still doesn't solve the problem of creating more time.
• 🔢 Multipliers, a new type of thinker, use three-dimensional thinking that adds significance to urgency and importance, focusing on how long an action will matter.
• 🚫 The concept of the Focus Funnel involves eliminating tasks that are not worth doing, which is a departure from traditional to-do lists that focus on what to do.
• 🤖 Automation of tasks can save time in the future, similar to how compounding interest works for money, making an initial investment of time pay off over time.
• 🤝 Delegating tasks is possible even for things we think only we can do well. With training and patience, others can take over tasks, freeing up our time for more significant activities.
• 📉 Procrastination on purpose is a strategy that involves delaying tasks that can wait, allowing for more significant or time-critical tasks to be completed first.
• 🧘‍♂️ The significance calculation is key to multiplying time, which involves giving ourselves permission to focus on tasks that will create more time in the future.
• 📖 The author's personal story illustrates the power of delegation and the idea that with the right mindset and approach, anything can be delegated, including finding a father figure.

Q & A

What is the ironic statement made by the speaker about the book 'Procrastinate on Purpose'?

The irony is that the speaker, who is the author of the book 'Procrastinate on Purpose', started the event late, despite the book's theme suggesting better time management.

Why does the speaker claim that everything we know about time management is wrong?

The speaker believes that traditional time management focuses too much on logic and efficiency, neglecting the emotional aspects that heavily influence how we spend our time.

What realization did the speaker have after observing Haven's interaction with her father?

The speaker realized that time management is not just about logic but also about emotions, and that feelings like guilt, fear, worry, anxiety, and frustration play a significant role in how we manage our time.

What is the core idea behind the Time Management Matrix introduced by Dr. Stephen Covey?

The Time Management Matrix is a 2-dimensional system that categorizes tasks based on their urgency and importance, helping individuals prioritize what matters most.

Why does the speaker argue that prioritizing tasks does not inherently create more time?

Prioritizing tasks only rearranges the order of tasks on a to-do list; it does not expand the amount of time available to complete them.

What is the new concept of time management introduced by the speaker?

The speaker introduces a 3-dimensional approach to time management, which includes not only urgency and importance but also significance, focusing on how long a task will matter.

What is the significance calculation and how does it differ from traditional time management?

The significance calculation is about assessing how long a task will matter, rather than just its urgency or importance. It encourages thinking about the long-term impact of current actions on future time availability.

What is the Focus Funnel and how does it relate to the concept of multiplying time?

The Focus Funnel is a visual tool that represents the thought process multipliers use to evaluate how to spend their time. It helps in identifying tasks that can be eliminated, automated, delegated, or concentrated on, thereby multiplying time.

How does the speaker define 'multipliers' and what do they do differently?

Multipliers are individuals who use 3-dimensional thinking to manage their time. They make decisions based on urgency, importance, and significance, focusing on actions that will have a lasting impact and create more time in the future.

What is the main difference between the speaker's view on procrastination in his previous book and his current stance?

In his previous book, the speaker viewed procrastination as a negative habit. However, in the context of 'Procrastinate on Purpose', he suggests that waiting to do something because it's not the right time can be a virtue and part of effective time management.

What is the significance of the story about the speaker's mother and Kevin, and how does it relate to the concept of delegation?

The story illustrates that anything can be delegated if you are willing to invest time in teaching someone else. It supports the idea that delegation is not just about tasks but can extend to significant life events, like forming a family.