The Greatest Minds: Interview with Chris Bailey #2
I got the opportunity to get an interview with Chris Bailey! The author of the best-selling book “ The Productivity Project” who is a productivity expert!
Recently, I posted a book “review” with my favourite aspects from “The Productivity Project”, by Chris Bailey.
I loved reading that book, because it gave me awesome insights and strategies to increase my productivity. That’s why I created a blog post sharing with you my favourite ideas from it.
As you know, one of my main goals this year is to interview a bunch of my favourite people in the planet, in “The Greatest Minds” interview project. Those include people that changed my perspective and that gave me resources to become a better person.
I’m really happy, because I contacted Chris Bailey, the author of “The Productivity Project”, and he answered some of my questions!
His answers are full of insights and actionable steps to be more productive and focused! So I definitely recommend you to take notes.
Thank you very much Chris for this opportunity! Here’s my interview with Chris Bailey:
The Greatest Minds: Interview with Chris Bailey
Question 1. I’m a huge fan of morning rituals, because they changed my life. Do you have any type of ritual to begin a new day? If so, please describe it.
Chris Bailey: In the mornings, I love to write. I’m in the middle of writing my second book, and my favorite local coffee shop fills up by 8:30. Most mornings I’m up and out the door by 8, where I write for a few hours. Most of the things I do in the morning — showering and eating breakfast included — are just inconveniences for me to get out of the way as soon as possible! When I’m hungry in the mornings, I’ll usually prepare myself a massive chicken caesar salad to start the day, because it gives me the most lasting energy and fills me up for the longest!
Question 2. How would your schedule look like, if tomorrow you had 100% of focus + 100% of energy + 100% of time (24 hours). Basically, what would you do on a perfect day?
Chris Bailey: I’d get my work done in the first few hours and then, for the rest of the time, I’d write some more, read some more, and spend time with the people I love. I think the purpose of productivity is to lets us accomplish everything we have to get done in a shorter amount of time — so we can carve out more time, attention, and energy for what’s important and meaningful to us.
The weird part about the work I do is that what I do for work today used to be what I did for fun. So my ideal day would look pretty much same — albeit more efficient!
Question 3: What is the most precious advice you can give me to increase my ability to focus?
Chris Bailey: Eliminate as many distractions as you possibly can. I can’t overstate this point enough. Distractions are infinitely easier to deal with before they come up, rather than after. Figure out which distractions you can control — including digital ones, by downloading an app like Freedom or Self Control or Cold Turkey — and eliminate as many as you possibly can.
We fall victim to distractions because, in the moment, they’re more enticing than what we ought to be doing. Making these decisions in advance helps us more than anything else. This is especially essential today, when we do work that requires heavy mental lifting, and a lot of brain power.
The more time, attention, and energy we invest in our work, the more productive we become.
Quick Questions:
1. The Last Book you Read:
Chris Bailey: The Undoing Project. (Great book!)
2. Favourite Quote:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.”
— Steve Jobs
3. 25$ life-changing item:
Chris Bailey: Meditation cushion
Find Chris Bailey here:
http://alifeofproductivity.com/
https://twitter.com/ ALOProductivity
Buy “The Productivity Project “ book
Thank you very much for the great ideas and tips to master the productivity game!
Originally published at filipacanelas.com on March 14, 2017.
