Productivity Matrix Template: An Easy Guide to Prioritizing Tasks

A woman looking at a wall of sticky notes to create a productivity matrix template

Do you want to create a Productivity Matrix, but don’t know where to start? What types of tasks require you to work harder? In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt offers a Productivity Matrix that helps you evaluate tasks based on two criteria: interest and skill. Organizing your tasks this way will help you determine how much work is needed to accomplish each task. If you want to create your own Productivity Matrix, keep reading for an easy guide.

5 Factors of Success: How the Winner Effect Sets You Apart

A sketch of silhouettes, with one woman standing apart from the crowd, illustrates the factors of success

What influences success? Why do some people find it easy to go after what they want while others struggle to act? When success finally comes, why do some people thrive while others falter? The journey to achievement involves complex elements that shape our potential. In his book The Winner Effect, Ian Robertson identifies five key factors of success: motivation type, parental influence, opportunity access, biological responses, and social standing. Read on to discover how these interconnected factors might be influencing your own path to success.

How to Stop Being Unproductive: Get Rid of Empty Activities

A man watching TV who needs to learn to stop being unproductive

Do you spend too much time doing activities that don’t benefit you? How can you choose your commitments more wisely? In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt introduces a few strategies to increase your productivity. The first is to eliminate as many unproductive tasks as possible from your life.  Let’s discuss how to stop being unproductive, from removing meaningless activities to turning down requests. 

How to Set Priorities in Life: Decide What Meets Your Needs

A whiteboard with the word "PRIORITIES" on it to show how to set priorities in life

Are you having trouble determining what’s a priority? How do you decide if your commitments meet your needs? In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt reminds you that you can only do one thing at a time and can’t accomplish everything. So, whenever you commit to doing something, you’re also opting not to do other things. Continue reading to learn how to set priorities in life that will benefit you.

Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen (Book Overview)

A man reading a book with a bookshelf in the background

What’s holding you back from achieving your biggest goals? Why might your positive thinking actually be working against you instead of helping you? Gabriele Oettingen’s Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation challenges the common belief that visualizing success is enough to reach your goals. Her research shows that positive fantasies often backfire, and she offers a practical alternative. Continue reading for an overview of this book that will give you a fresh perspective.

What Does Success Mean for You? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself

A woman painting the word "SUCCESS" on a wall illustrates the question, "What does success mean for you?"

What does success mean for you? Have you designed a future that excites you and aligns with your personal values? In his book The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, Vishen Lakhiani suggests rebuilding your vision of success by exploring three key questions. This approach helps cultivate genuine excitement about your future by focusing on what truly matters to you. Read on to discover Lakhiani’s method of redefining success on your own terms and creating a future you’ll be eager to achieve.

Gabriele Oettingen’s WOOP: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan

A man, seen from behind, looking at a whiteboard that says "WOOP" illustrates Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan

Ever wonder why your ambitious goals remain unfulfilled despite positive thinking? What if there’s a more effective way to transform wishful thinking into meaningful accomplishments? According to Gabriele Oettingen, WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) offers a practical approach to achieving your goals by balancing optimism with reality. In Rethinking Positive Thinking, Oettingen explains that merely visualizing success isn’t enough. Keep reading to discover how you can apply this four-step method to finally achieve what matters most to you.

What Is Mental Contrasting? Gabriele Oettingen Explains

A colorful drawing of a man sitting and thinking illustrates the question, "What is mental contrasting?"

What is mental contrasting? Do you want to turn your dreams into reality instead of just daydreaming about them? In Rethinking Positive Thinking, Gabriele Oettingen explains what mental contrasting is, presenting it as a powerful strategy that goes beyond positive thinking. By envisioning your desired future and then identifying obstacles in your present reality, you create productive tension and, ultimately, motivation. Keep reading to discover how mental contrasting can transform your approach to goal-setting and help you overcome the internal barriers that truly hold you back.

Positive Thinking & Motivation: Their Link Might Surprise You

A person with a thought bubble shaped like a smiley face illustrates the link between positive thinking and motivation

Why does daydreaming about success sometimes leave you less motivated to achieve it? Can harnessing both positive and negative thoughts create a more effective path to reaching your goals? Positive thinking and motivation have a complicated relationship. In her book Rethinking Positive Thinking, Gabriele Oettingen reveals how pleasant fantasies about future success can actually undermine your drive to accomplish your dreams. She offers a different approach. Keep reading to discover how you can transform feel-good daydreams into real-world achievements.