In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his brilliant and revolutionary theory of relativity to the scientific world. For the previous three years, he devoted himself entirely to its creation, without being distracted by anything else. This approach to work - that is, when you are completely focused on a specific task - is commonly called the Einstein principle. An example of an outstanding scientist can serve as a vivid illustration of a new trend in the organization of working time, called doing less. Techniques that can do more with less are very popular. New Theory Guru Peter Taylor pushes us in the same direction.
The less work, the more fun
Are you a swan or a chicken?
I am a chicken, and even without a head. When I'm going to do one important thing, I always get distracted by a bunch of parallel cases, sometimes quite deliberately. All this leads to a monstrous waste of forces, and the effect is very unconvincing.
At the same time, I would like to be a swan, gracefully and measuredly move through life from one achievement to another, clearly seeing the goals and ways to achieve them. It's so nice to realize that you combine a successful career with a full-fledged upbringing of children, and even manage to lead a secular life without making any extra effort. You are not pressed by an excessive sense of duty or the fear of refusing someone, the fear of saying the word “no” once again. Everyone wants to be swans.
One of the leading experts in time management, Peter Taylor, believes that the key to reincarnation should be sought in laziness. One should develop in oneself a tendency to idleness and slowness. Once you learn how to use these dubious qualities, you will get more than if you run around with your tongue hanging out, doing a hundred things. You will become more productive, more creative, more enthusiastic about your work, and in addition you will have much-desired free time (really free).
“Tell me, how many unread messages do you have in your mail? Peter asks. “I have four, and you?”
I've lost count. “Well, yes, this is a classic mistake, you are using your mailbox as a closet. This is a funnel into which your free time flows. As soon as you start to go down the list of unread messages, you lose control of the situation. This is the basic rule."
The rule is one that helps Peter live an organized, stress-free life. He shares them in his book The Lazy Winners. With these rules, he promises to rid me of an endless list of things I have to do and teach me how to have the courage to say no. All I have to do is follow a few lazy principles.
80/20 rule
The bottom line is that eighty percent of our activity is initiated by only twenty percent of real need. To put it more clearly, we can say that we wear 20 percent of the clothes in our wardrobe 80 percent of the time, or spend 80 percent of the time in the company of 20 percent of our closest acquaintances. All we need is to isolate those twenty percent of the most effective efforts and not engage in other nonsense.
This is pure theory. But how to put it into practice, in the chaotic living space of an editor who, among other things, is raising two children? “You need to find what you spend the most time and energy on,” advises Peter.
For half a year I cannot choose where to arrange a huge children's party, I consult with all parents by e-mail, I send them SMS. All I had to do was send one letter asking for ideas, cross out the bad options from the list, and then let my sons choose for themselves from what was left. It's their holiday!
Learning to say "no"
I decided to practice the action of this principle at a meeting with a demanding customer, for whom I undertook to write a long article. I understood that I would be given additional tasks that did not involve any payment. In my head, I played Peter's admonition, explaining that my cowardly agreement might save me time now, but it would definitely be a big waste of time in the future. Gandhi once said very precisely about this: “A hard-fought “no” is much better than a “yes” said in order to hush up the problem or, even worse, to avoid it.” The old man knew what he was talking about. It was unpleasant for the customer to hear that he would have to give me an assistant for additional work, he gritted his teeth and ... agreed. In order to behave this way, you must first earn a reputation as a person better than whom no one will do this job. While you earn it, you will have to sweat, working as an assistant for yourself, but then you can harvest - make luxurious, precise, ingenious two hand movements, and blame the whole time-devouring routine on others.
Stop writing a to-do list
This alarmed me. I always rely on to-do lists read also: How making a task list pumps your brain (even if you do not complete the tasks themselves)). But Peter explained that this was just a list of cases, many of which were not even worth taking on. He suggested that, as a test, write a list, sort things by importance, and then, stopping at each item, ask yourself: “Do I want to do this?” and “Do I have to do this?” Are both answers yes? So it's really important. The method did not seem convincing to me. I remember very well the things that I like to do. I go to the bath without reminders. But a yellow piece of paper about unpaid car tax does not hurt at all. Anyway, I've edited my list. There are only three important things left in it: fix the camera, call dad and go to the chiropractor. All these things I wanted and had to do.
It seemed to Peter that this was not enough: “All these things need to be done now, why keep them on some kind of list!” I felt ashamed. On the way home, I called my parents, stopped by the workshop and the chiropractor. And all evening I was twitching because of the unexpectedly empty list of tasks.
Schools doing less
In modern coaching, the philosophy of doing less is very popular. Various theorists offer original approaches. One such approach, based on the mystical practices of Zen Buddhism, is described Mark Lesser(he is both the head of a coaching company and a Zen priest) in the book Achieve More with Less. The experience of a Zen teacher - a successful businessman. “We too often make the mistake of believing that reducing workload makes us lazy and is bad for productivity. However, by doing less, we allow ourselves to enjoy what we actually achieve,” his “Less” manifesto begins with these words. The author recommends that at the height of the working day, set aside some time for meditation, to arrange a "calm of the mind." Even between reading and sending emails, you can balance your breathing. This will allow you to relieve tension and focus on a specific task, as well as find balance with yourself and the world around you, separate really important things from what, by and large, we don’t need.
Pomodoro method (timer)
Doing less includes a lot of interesting techniques, such as, for example, "The Pomodoro Method"(Pomodoro Technique, www.pomodorotechnique.com). This method of working time planning was developed Francesco Cirillo(it got its name from the mechanical kitchen timer, popular in American families, made in the form of a tomato). It is based on the principle of 25-minute work without a break. But after 25 minutes, you should definitely pause.
How it works:
From the list of tasks, you choose the highest priority. Start a timer and work on this task for 25 minutes without distraction until the alarm sounds (each 25-minute segment is called a "pomodoro"). You rest for five minutes and start working again until the next “tomato” is over. Every four Pomodoros, take longer pauses of 10-15 minutes. If the task takes more than five tomatoes, it should be divided into several parts. The Pomodoro Technique allows you to better group tasks, increase focus, and make planning easier. He is especially good at helping programmers.
As long as you have free time, you are open to new interesting offers.
Useful laziness
Of the popular methods of doing less, the following really increase productivity and save time and effort:
Don't do extra work. It's like the golden rule of a bureaucrat: "Each piece of paper must lie down." Some things are not worth taking on.
Say no. This, of course, does not mean that you should kick off all tasks (this way you can quickly find yourself out of work). But it often happens that you really should not do something - an inner voice will tell you this.
Eliminate distractions. Sometimes, for the sake of business, you need to turn off your email and even your phone.
Take a break. Some even advise taking breaks for sleep during the working day. You decide how and how much you like to disconnect.
Manage procrastination. By consciously putting off the things you least love, you can accomplish a lot of useful things that you never got around to doing before. For example, put things in order on the desktop.
Work or life: how to find the middle ground
In 1915, Albert Einstein presented his brilliant and revolutionary theory of relativity to the scientific world. For the previous three years, he devoted himself entirely to its creation, without being distracted by anything else. This approach to work - that is, when you are completely focused on a specific task - is commonly called the Einstein principle. An example of an outstanding scientist can serve as a vivid illustration of a new trend in the organization of working time, called doing less. Techniques that can do more with less are very popular. New Theory Guru Peter Taylor pushes us in the same direction.
The less work, the more fun
Are you a swan or a chicken?
I am a chicken, and even without a head. When I'm going to do one important thing, I always get distracted by a bunch of parallel cases, sometimes quite deliberately. All this leads to a monstrous waste of forces, and the effect is very unconvincing.
At the same time, I would like to be a swan, gracefully and measuredly move through life from one achievement to another, clearly seeing the goals and ways to achieve them. It's so nice to realize that you combine a successful career with a full-fledged upbringing of children, and even manage to lead a secular life without making any extra effort. You are not pressed by an excessive sense of duty or the fear of refusing someone, the fear of saying the word “no” once again. Everyone wants to be swans.
One of the leading experts in time management, Peter Taylor, believes that the key to reincarnation should be sought in laziness. One should develop in oneself a tendency to idleness and slowness. Once you learn how to use these dubious qualities, you will get more than if you run around with your tongue hanging out, doing a hundred things. You will become more productive, more creative, more enthusiastic about your work, and in addition you will have much-desired free time (really free).
“Tell me, how many unread messages do you have in your mail? Peter asks. “I have four, and you?”
I've lost count. “Well, yes, this is a classic mistake, you are using your mailbox as a closet. This is a funnel into which your free time flows. As soon as you start to go down the list of unread messages, you lose control of the situation. This is the basic rule."
The rule is one that helps Peter live an organized, stress-free life. He shares them in his book The Lazy Winners. With these rules, he promises to rid me of an endless list of things I have to do and teach me how to have the courage to say no. All I have to do is follow a few lazy principles.
80/20 rule
The bottom line is that eighty percent of our activity is initiated by only twenty percent of real need. To put it more clearly, we can say that we wear 20 percent of the clothes in our wardrobe 80 percent of the time, or spend 80 percent of the time in the company of 20 percent of our closest acquaintances. All we need is to isolate those twenty percent of the most effective efforts and not engage in other nonsense.
This is pure theory. But how to put it into practice, in the chaotic living space of an editor who, among other things, is raising two children? “You need to find what you spend the most time and energy on,” advises Peter.
For half a year I cannot choose where to arrange a huge children's party, I consult with all parents by e-mail, I send them SMS. All I had to do was send one letter asking for ideas, cross out the bad options from the list, and then let my sons choose for themselves from what was left. It's their holiday!
Learning to say "no"
I decided to practice the action of this principle at a meeting with a demanding customer, for whom I undertook to write a long article. I understood that I would be given additional tasks that did not involve any payment. In my head, I played Peter's admonition, explaining that my cowardly agreement might save me time now, but it would definitely be a big waste of time in the future. Gandhi once said very precisely about this: “A hard-fought “no” is much better than a “yes” said in order to hush up the problem or, even worse, to avoid it.” The old man knew what he was talking about. It was unpleasant for the customer to hear that he would have to give me an assistant for additional work, he gritted his teeth and ... agreed. In order to behave this way, you must first earn a reputation as a person better than whom no one will do this job. While you earn it, you will have to sweat, working as an assistant for yourself, but then you can harvest - make luxurious, precise, ingenious two hand movements, and blame the whole time-devouring routine on others.
Stop writing a to-do list
This alarmed me. I always rely on to-do lists read also: How making a task list pumps your brain (even if you do not complete the tasks themselves)). But Peter explained that this was just a list of cases, many of which were not even worth taking on. He suggested that, as a test, write a list, sort things by importance, and then, stopping at each item, ask yourself: “Do I want to do this?” and “Do I have to do this?” Are both answers yes? So it's really important. The method did not seem convincing to me. I remember very well the things that I like to do. I go to the bath without reminders. But a yellow piece of paper about unpaid car tax does not hurt at all. Anyway, I've edited my list. There are only three important things left in it: fix the camera, call dad and go to the chiropractor. All these things I wanted and had to do.
It seemed to Peter that this was not enough: “All these things need to be done now, why keep them on some kind of list!” I felt ashamed. On the way home, I called my parents, stopped by the workshop and the chiropractor. And all evening I was twitching because of the unexpectedly empty list of tasks.
Schools doing less
In modern coaching, the philosophy of doing less is very popular. Various theorists offer original approaches. One such approach, based on the mystical practices of Zen Buddhism, is described Mark Lesser(he is both the head of a coaching company and a Zen priest) in the book Achieve More with Less. The experience of a Zen teacher - a successful businessman. “We too often make the mistake of believing that reducing workload makes us lazy and is bad for productivity. However, by doing less, we allow ourselves to enjoy what we actually achieve,” his “Less” manifesto begins with these words. The author recommends that at the height of the working day, set aside some time for meditation, to arrange a "calm of the mind." Even between reading and sending emails, you can balance your breathing. This will allow you to relieve tension and focus on a specific task, as well as find balance with yourself and the world around you, separate really important things from what, by and large, we don’t need.
Pomodoro method (timer)
Doing less includes a lot of interesting techniques, such as, for example, "The Pomodoro Method"(Pomodoro Technique, www.pomodorotechnique.com). This method of working time planning was developed Francesco Cirillo(it got its name from the mechanical kitchen timer, popular in American families, made in the form of a tomato). It is based on the principle of 25-minute work without a break. But after 25 minutes, you should definitely pause.
How it works:
From the list of tasks, you choose the highest priority. Start a timer and work on this task for 25 minutes without distraction until the alarm sounds (each 25-minute segment is called a "pomodoro"). You rest for five minutes and start working again until the next “tomato” is over. Every four Pomodoros, take longer pauses of 10-15 minutes. If the task takes more than five tomatoes, it should be divided into several parts. The Pomodoro Technique allows you to better group tasks, increase focus, and make planning easier. He is especially good at helping programmers.
As long as you have free time, you are open to new interesting offers.
Useful laziness
Of the popular methods of doing less, the following really increase productivity and save time and effort:
Don't do extra work. It's like the golden rule of a bureaucrat: "Each piece of paper must lie down." Some things are not worth taking on.
Say no. This, of course, does not mean that you should kick off all tasks (this way you can quickly find yourself out of work). But it often happens that you really should not do something - an inner voice will tell you this.
Eliminate distractions. Sometimes, for the sake of business, you need to turn off your email and even your phone.
Take a break. Some even advise taking breaks for sleep during the working day. You decide how and how much you like to disconnect.
Manage procrastination. By consciously putting off the things you least love, you can accomplish a lot of useful things that you never got around to doing before. For example, put things in order on the desktop.
Work or life: how to find the middle ground
There are not so many main ways to make a profit.
It is important to correctly determine the prospects of a particular method.
The first way is wage labor.
Everyone knows about its “charms” and it is not worth repeating that this is a banal exchange of your time for money, which can stop at any moment and not necessarily at your initiative.
With the prospects here, too, everything is extremely simple. Look at the crowds of laid-offs, laid-offs. And those who are still working do not stop crying about the difficult share and low wages.
The next way is entrepreneurship.
It's more interesting here. No boss, no one to complain to. You can earn more money. But first you have to invest them, and not a little. And you need to understand that there is always a chance of losing most of them. The competition in this sector is very tough and the fittest survive. Where is the guarantee that your offer will always be the most profitable on the market?
There is another way to earn income - investment.
He is the most promising, because. here, as a rule, income always exceeds expenses.
Everyone would like to be only an investor - this is understandable. But, if you have so much money, then you are already a successful person!
If you want to earn money by hired labor, then you have decided to follow the path of least resistance and not particularly strain yourself. Not everyone is ready to take responsibility for business failure.
If you are close to the spirit of entrepreneurship, then let's take a closer look at its different options.
Traditional business.
To start it, you need to have a business plan, choose the form of ownership, register an enterprise, as well as go through licensing and all registration procedures. Rent an office, buy equipment, recruit staff and train them. Create a system of control, business management, a system of personnel motivation. Organizational problems will take a lot of time, and the initial investment will amount to hundreds of thousands of rubles. In addition, you will need business experience.
From the foregoing, it is clear that in modern conditions it is quite difficult to open a traditional business.
Franchising is a ready-made business.
The parent company develops a detailed business plan, provides knowledge, experience and a business system in great detail and allows business to be carried out under its own brand. As a rule, this is a well-known brand. A classic example of franchising is McDonald's restaurant chain. To start a business in this industry, you need to pay an initial entry fee, the amount will be from 25 thousand dollars and above.
This opportunity is less risky than a traditional business, but the limiting factor for us is the amount of investment.
It turns out that a person needs certain resources to open his own business. This is money. Time. An experience.
We have practically no free money, the maximum is several thousand rubles.
There is no time either - we have to work to support the family.
There is also no experience, since we were not taught this either at school or at the institute.
What kind of business can we start under these conditions?
I propose to consider another option that will allow you to take advantage of the idea of franchising without investing so much money.
I will tell you about this in a personal. Any questions please contact.
Many people are forced to work hard, forgetting about family and household chores. But oddly enough, very often everyday hard work does not bring the desired result. Using our tips, you will be able to devote more time to your family and loved ones, while earning decent money.
We were told from childhood: to find a good job, you need to study a lot. Then, to earn a lot - work hard. And in the pursuit of money and prosperity, we tirelessly work all our lives. But there are lucky people who have managed to figure out how to work less, but at the same time do not need money at all. These people can afford to enjoy life without exhausting themselves with overwork.
If you are constantly thinking about how to work less at work, first of all, pay attention to your type of activity. Is what you do your favorite thing? If you love your job, it turns into a hobby that can bring good profit.
Work as little as possible while earning more
If your occupation causes nothing but irritation and fatigue, it is unlikely that you will ever be able to take a break from the intense, exhausting pursuit of big money. Therefore, if you want to learn how to work less but better, choose an activity for yourself. From it you will receive not only pleasure, but also a good profit.
Many wealthy people have long developed an important formula for themselves: if the work does not bring discomfort, then the pay received for it seems to be more. It is one thing, for example, to unload wagons for 12 hours for only $15, and quite another to tutor 2 hours a day for the same fee.
Find your path and improve
Choosing the right occupation largely depends on whether you can count on good profits and a large amount of free time. Think about what exactly your calling is, and get involved in this matter closely. Be prepared for the fact that others may not understand you - but this is your life, and only you are responsible for it. If the chosen activity gives you pleasure, it will surely bring profit.
Improve your knowledge and talents in your chosen niche. The better you understand it, the higher your services will be paid. Therefore, do not stop there, look for new opportunities to develop further and improve your skills. As a result, the work will take less and less time from you, and the profit will not only not decrease, but will grow.
Create your brand
Let people know about your activities. By becoming recognizable, you can get more benefits from your favorite activity. Perform quality work, keep your brand, stand out from competitors. Think about what you are able to offer the world from what others cannot give by doing a similar thing. Try to choose several aspects at once in which you can advantageously differ.
All these actions will eventually allow you to become a leader who earns a lot without much straining.
Work from the heart
You can take a leading position in your industry if you always work not for the sake of monetary units, but for the soul. Do not constantly count profits, do not plan where to spend money that has not yet been earned. It is better to devote yourself completely to your favorite pastime, and the well-deserved reward will certainly return to you.
Even if you reach certain peaks, do not go out of your way. Keep looking for ways and opportunities to work less and earn more. In this respect, you can already afford to have money work for you.
How to earn income without working: practical advice
There are several types of income: salary, portfolio and passive. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
1. Earning income.
You work selflessly in a company and get paid for it - this is the type of income that most people choose. We all hope for and ghostly bonuses. But the fact is that, as a rule, we are sorely lacking this money. We spend them and again work hard for a whole month to get paid for our hard work.
In addition, income is taxed. It turns out that we work not only for ourselves, but also for the state.
2. portfolio income.
If you have paper assets like bonds, stocks, or mutual funds, you can profit from all of this. The same goes for retirement accounts. People rely on portfolio income when they retire.
3. Passive income.
If you are a happy owner of passive income, in some cases you may not work at all (everything, of course, depends on its size). That's exactly the kind of profit you need to strive for, so as not to torment yourself with exhausting work without days off and holidays.
What types of passive income are there?
Of course, in most cases, in order to receive passive income, you need to make preliminary material investments. But it is better to spend money on it than wasted, it is not clear what. There are several ways to earn passive income.
1. Renting an apartment or room.
You are very lucky if the apartment was inherited - in this case, you can receive passive income without prior investments. If you have the necessary amount, you can spend it on real estate, and subsequently rent it out. If you have a free room in your own apartment, you can also rent it, but in this case you will have to sacrifice some personal amenities.
2. Building a successful website.
A promoted and popular site can bring good profits. True, this will require payment for services to promote the Internet resource to ensure good attendance. Using your own website, you can earn money by selling advertising space, information to other Internet resources or goods.
3. Interest earnings.
If you trust banks, put your accumulated "hard money" on deposit. It's better than having your money gathering dust at home in your wallets. Income is directly proportional to the amount of funds deposited on the deposit.
4. Business investment.
If you enter the board of investors of a successful business, there will be a good chance to get rich. You will receive payments from the company's income, the amount of which also depends on your financial contributions. However, by investing in a business, you run the risk of losing everything if the company goes bankrupt. Therefore, when choosing an object for investment, you need to be extra careful, and give preference to trustworthy organizations.
As you can see, it is possible to earn a lot by working little. Do what you love, and put the acquired money into circulation, striving for passive income.
England Transport Minister Ruth Kelly left public service to "put family first". And Tony Fadell, co-founder of the iPad, stepped down from one of Apple's most prestigious jobs to be around his kids. However, this trend is followed not only by people with world names and fame.
Now, for many, changing jobs to one that involves more free time is a priority. The new life philosophy refutes the outdated model, when work and earnings were the only tools for self-realization and personal success.
The new scale of values during the economic crisis turned out to be more effective, and the family, relationships, inner harmony became the basis on which one can (and should) build a life.
Job seekers today prefer lower pay but more freedom
“I don't have the most standard job and I'm not making a career,” says 32-year-old Maria, “but I make a living and that's enough for me. I love what I do, my schedule leaves room for my personal life: traveling, friends, reading. And things like a stock market crash are of little interest to me.”
“The freedom to manage your time is truly a valuable asset,” confirms Alessandra Rizzi, HR director of the world leader in recruitment, Randstad, “I see it in every interview. Many candidates today prefer lower pay but more freedom. And they give preference to firms that have a positive attitude towards charity.”
Create an urgent need
“I am an illustrator,” says 29-year-old Anna, “I draw in my free time. I love seeing my work published in magazines. I love this moment: at the table, with a pencil in my hand, just me and my challenge to myself. How much do I earn? Not much. But every working day gives me a sense of creativity.
This point of view is far from workaholism. “Work is not only a way of self-reliance,” explains Stefano Geno, assistant professor of social psychology at the Catholic University of Milan. “This is one of those activities that most satisfies the need to produce, to be included in reality, to see the result of one’s actions, which is extremely important for any person.”
Take risks: try new professions
“I had to fight for quite a long time with my parents to get them to accept that I was not going to work in my father's accounting office,” says 34-year-old Alexander. - I don’t share my father’s views on life at all: he is pleased that he has a prestigious office, he is proud of his big earnings ... Why does he need them if he spends his whole life at work, including the New Year holidays, and my mother left him for a teacher who has more free time? I opened a small online store, I have a small job, and I have time to just live.
Success today is not money and a career, but an opportunity for creative self-expression
“The definition of career and success has changed,” explains Massimo Cardani, an Italian coach, “in the collective imagination, a hero is no longer someone who has gained power or achieved a highly paid position, but someone who, with all his creativity and opportunities, is able to build a professional path that meets his personal needs."
“For me, a career and success means getting better at what I do, realizing my creativity, not making more money,” says 48-year-old Mark.
Believe in yourself
“Sometimes the idea of a career, imposed by parents or environment, comes into conflict with real desires,” continues Massimo Cardani.
“I work in the Ministry of the Environment: I do what is really useful, I am not overloaded with responsibility, I do not suffer from stress, I have a calm, measured life,” says 38-year-old Mark.
Change at any age
More free time and pleasure from work are wanted not only by young people, but also by those who are trying to start all over again. The period from 45 to 55 inclusive is becoming critical for many: because of the crisis, the staff is reduced, and many professionals, including the elderly, are left without work. For some, this is the end of everything, for others, a new opportunity.
“When the company suggested that I retire early, I was horrified,” says Olga, 52. “However, after a short rest, I found the courage to make my old dream come true: I started painting and got a job as a volunteer.” Today, Olga lives on her pension and the proceeds from the sale of her paintings, without luxury, but without deprivation, and she has enough time to devote it to the little patients of the local city hospital.
But is the lifestyle of a “free artist” suitable for everyone? “Too much free time for people who are used to an active life and a busy schedule is unusual,” said Antonella delle Fave, assistant professor of general psychology at the University of Milan. “The most important thing is the ability to choose and give yourself the freedom to be who you are.”
