Book SummaryThe Productivity Project, by Chris Bailey

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Productivity Project

The Productivity Project is the culmination of Chris Bailey’s year-long project to become as productive as possible. Bailey spent the year after graduating from business school researching, writing about, and experimenting with productivity. The Productivity Project is a compilation of his conclusions from that experiment and a how-to book for anyone who wants to become more productive and, in doing so, have more time for the things that matter most.

Since embarking on his “Year of Productivity,” Bailey has become recognized as a productivity expert. He’s been [invited to speak all over the...

The Productivity Project Summary What Is Productivity?

In this section, we’ll explain Bailey’s definition of productivity and how it challenges a common misunderstanding about what it means to be productive. We’ll also discuss why you should care about your productivity.

When most people think about being productive, they often think about being busy or getting a lot done. Bailey tweaks this definition, arguing that productivity isn't about doing a lot, but about doing what matters. For example, if you spent the day responding to a flood of emails, you might feel busy, but it’s unlikely that you made significant progress on anything important.

(Shortform note: Many economists define productivity as a simple ratio—the amount of output (goods and services) relative to the amount of input (effort and resources). For example, economist Paul Krugman notes that productivity is often defined as the amount of output produced per hour of work. However, business consultants like Peter Drucker and Stephen Covey more closely align with Bailey’s contention that not all...

The Productivity Project Summary How Do You Become More Productive?

Now that we’ve defined productivity and explained why it matters, we’ll dig into specific strategies that will help you become more productive on a daily basis

According to Bailey, becoming more productive requires you to effectively manage three things: your time, your attention, and your energy. (Shortform note: Bailey focuses entirely on personal productivity, but in Smarter Faster Better, Duhigg elaborates on how to build a more productive team. He emphasizes the importance of a culture of psychological safety in which people are sensitive to each other’s needs, and every person is treated with equal respect and value so everyone can perform at their fullest potential.)

Prioritize Your Time

Of the three, you have the least control of your time. Bailey cites author Laura Vanderkam, who writes that everybody only has 24 hours in a day, and 168 hours in a week. There's no changing the amount of time you...

Shortform Exercise: Know Your Why

Bailey argues that to become more productive, you must first have a compelling reason for doing so. He explains that knowing why you want to become more productive will help keep you motivated and hold you accountable.

To start thinking about your why, brainstorm three to five values that are important to you (such as honesty or creativity).

Shortform Exercise: Distinguish Between Your Significant and Insignificant Tasks

Productivity isn't about doing a lot, but about doing what matters, so being able to distinguish between your significant and insignificant tasks is a key part of becoming more productive.

First, identify your significant tasks. Write down three things you do that have the biggest impact on your work or personal life.