Quick question:
How much of your week is you doing real work…
and how much is you rebuilding the same stuff from scratch?
Because most “productivity problems” at work aren’t motivation.
They’re wasted repetition.
So here are 5 work productivity moves you can steal and use immediately.
1) Steal with pride
You probably have a coworker who makes clean decks, a manager with flawless spreadsheets, or a teammate who writes sharp emails.
Stop admiring it.
Save it.
Create a folder called “To Reference” and drop in:
presentations you’d copy the structure from
spreadsheet layouts that are easy to update
emails that communicate clearly
The goal isn’t to copy word-for-word.
The goal is to stop reinventing the wheel.
(And if it feels weird: add your spin, and give credit when it’s appropriate.)
2) Template everything that repeats
If you do something more than once, it deserves a template.
Monthly recap emails.
Quarterly budget updates.
Project kickoffs.
Meeting notes.
The best part?
A template saves time every single time after you build it.
Pro move: include a simple “Start Here / Read Me” section so people stop DM’ing you the same questions.
3) Automate the boring parts
If your workflow depends on manual calculations and copy/paste…
…you’re volunteering for stress.
In spreadsheets:
use formulas (SUMIF etc.)
use validation (so people input correctly)
use conditional formatting (so problems show themselves)
Make it easy for others to give you the inputs you need, and you’ll spend less time chasing and fixing.
4) Don’t be the weak link
Organize information by where you’ll use it, not where you found it.
So instead of 14 bookmark folders you never open again…
Put links directly where they belong:
overview tab in spreadsheets
first slide in decks
first page of docs in a “Links” section
And if your project has multiple docs (sheet + deck + doc), link them to each other.
Because if you share one file and they can reach the rest, you just eliminated 10 annoying follow-ups.
5) Make pre-reads great again
Meetings are expensive.
They’re even worse when nothing happens and you end up with:
a follow-up email… or another meeting.
So here’s the standard:
Before a meeting, send a pre-read with:
1 sentence of context
1 sentence of objective
(optional) 1 sentence: why this helps the attendee
And if you’re invited to a meeting with no agenda?
Protect your time.
Ask (politely):
“What’s the purpose of this meeting, and what do you need from me?”
Because reacting faster to other people’s priorities is not productivity.
It’s just faster reaction.
If you try only one thing from this email, try this:
Pick ONE repeating task you do every week and turn it into a template.
That single move pays you back for months.
– Maxim
Reach Your Next LVL
The 15-Minute Retirement Plan
Retirement savings face two quiet threats: cash flow gaps and inflation eroding purchasing power over time. The 15-Minute Retirement Plan helps investors with $1,000,000 or more account for both and build a portfolio designed to last the distance.