This is a Guest Post by Ivan Walsh. Ivan is the editor of the Internet Business Plan, which teaches you everything you need to know about running a successful online business. Check out his blog: http://www.ivanwalsh.com/.

You wouldn’t expect to find productivity tips in JFK’s biography, right? Well that’s what I found when reading how his younger brother, Bobby, would find creative ways to slice time and get more from each minute. What’s interesting about his approach is that it required no skill, no technology, and no tools. It’s really his attitude towards 'slicing time' that made a difference.

Bobby Kennedy’s Productivity Framework

If you run your own business, you know that every minute counts. While there are different ways to be more productive and ‘get things done’, it’s always encouraging to find new tactics that make a difference, especially in everyday situations.

So, what did Bobby Kennedy do?

In the biography, the writer said that every morning Bobby Kennedy would follow the same routine while shaving. Instead of seeing this as another daily task to be checked off the list, he’d listen to tapes of Shakespeare and other great writers. This transformed a very mundane situation into one that became more rewarding and allowed him to continue his quest for self-improvement.

How can we apply this to our daily lives?

Slice Time – Look for situations where you can perform two tasks at the same time, usually one that’s mechanical (such as shaving, vacuuming, and other domestic chores) and one that more intellectual (listening to great books) or emotional (such as classical music).

Listen To Your Heart – You know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? Don’t make a huge effort for a few days and then stop. That’s what happens with New Year's Resolutions. You forget to continue as there was no emotional connection in the first place. Instead, choose something that moves your spirit, for example, if you love poetry, try to learn one Sonnet a week. That’s one line a day. When you see it like that, it’s easy right?

Don’t Defeat Yourself – It’s tempting to take on too much, (for example, to learn a difficult foreign language in 6 weeks) and defeat your will in the process. Make goals that you can achieve and stick to them. Focus on one thing at a time.

Give Rewards – Remember to reward yourself when you achieve a goal. For example, I treat myself to a new bottle of single malt whiskey when I finish a product launch. It’s important to pat yourself on the back occasionally, especially if you run your own business.

Commit – There’s something magical about writing things down on paper. I'm not sure why but when I do this my level of commitment is firmer. By committing to a schedule, you can track your progress more effectively as it gives more definition to your goal. Don’t keep it all in your head. Write it down!

Conclusion

If you do an inventory of your day, you’ll see that there are many places where you can slice time. Remember, this is different than multi-tasking. You're not trying to do more things faster. Instead, like an alchemist, you’re transforming mundane everyday tasks into high-value activities. If you commit to this for three weeks, you’ll refine this tactic and find others ways to extend your time.

Another guest post by Ivan Walsh: A Smarter Way to Manage Your To-Do List

For more insightful and practical guest posts from experts like Ivan Walsh, you can subscribe to our blog. You can also choose to receive updates via emails.

Do join us on Facebook as well: