Productivity Methods And Systems

You don’t need 100 productivity hacks. You just need these 6 principles. 1. Do less. The most productive people don’t do more things. They do fewer things and do them better. • Limit your daily to-do list to 5 • Pick 1 “MIT” (Most Important Task) • Make “no” your default answer 2. Protect your golden hours. Everyone has a window of peak energy. For most, it’s morning. For some, it’s late at night. During this time: • No meetings • No email • No distractions Just deep work. 3. Systematize the small stuff. Don’t waste brainpower on trivial decisions. • If it takes <2 min, do it now • Batch emails & errands • Stop multitasking (it doesn’t work) Even Obama wore the same suits to save energy for bigger choices. 4. Track your progress. The biggest motivator isn’t money or praise… it’s momentum. At the end of each day, write down 3 ways you made progress. At the end of each week, review what worked + what didn’t. Progress fuels consistency. 5. Take strategic breaks**.** Top performers don’t grind nonstop, they recover. • Work in 90 min cycles • Move, don’t scroll • Get outside if you can • Social breaks > solo breaks Breaks aren’t laziness. They’re fuel. 6. Consistency beats intensity. Big heroic bursts don’t last. Small, steady habits compound over time. Every day you show up, you’re casting a vote for the kind of person you want to become. That’s the cheat sheet. But if you want the full breakdown with stories, science, and examples I just dropped the long-form video here: https://lnkd.in/eXumTJ7F

After seven months of negotiations, a new shared vision report from Europe’s farming stakeholders - resulting from the Strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture - has recognised the need for “urgent, ambitious and feasible’ reforms in agriculture.” The report says “support is needed to rebalance diets toward plant-based proteins such as better education, stricter marketing and voluntary buyouts of farms in regions that intensively rear livestock…. The stakeholders also agreed on the need for a major rethink of subsidies, calling for a “just transition fund” to help farmers adopt sustainable practices, and targeted financial support to those who need it most…” If acted on, this is a potentially critical step forward in supporting the agricultural sector to transform to live within planetary limits and to support a just transition of the sector. https://lnkd.in/ejYvUg5e

Top achievers know this. Success doesn’t happen by chance. When you study top achievers, one thing stands out: their success isn’t a result of sudden breakthroughs, but of consistent, purposeful habits. Research shows that 40% of our daily actions are driven by habits, meaning the right habits can significantly boost your performance. Here are 11 habits that high performers swear by: 1/ Goal-Oriented ↳ Break down your goals into small, actionable steps. Set a weekly goal, like finishing one chapter of a book, to build momentum. 2/ Time Management ↳ Master time-blocking to prioritise high-impact tasks over the urgent ones. Use a Pomodoro timer - work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. 3/ Accountability ↳ Regular check-ins with a mentor or accountability partner keep you committed. Share your weekly goals with a colleague and review progress together every Friday. 4/ Sleep Importance ↳ Prioritise quality sleep to boost cognitive function and reduce stress. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep, and try winding down with a book 30 minutes before bed. 5/ Networking & Influence ↳ Build meaningful connections consistently, not just when you need something. Attend one industry event each month, and follow up with new contacts over coffee. 6/ Energy Management ↳ Develop routines to maintain physical and mental energy throughout the day. Start your morning with 10 minutes of stretching to release tension and set your intentions. 7/ Focused Productivity ↳ Remove distractions and dedicate specific time blocks for deep work. Turn off notifications and use a “Do Not Disturb” mode during focused work sessions. 8/ Open to Feedback ↳ Seek feedback regularly and use it to improve continuously. Ask a colleague, "What’s one thing I can do better on this project?" and act on their advice. 9/ Strategic Risk Taking ↳ Step out of your comfort zone by taking small, calculated risks. Pitch a new idea to your team or try a different approach to a recurring task. 10/ Exercise ↳ Regular exercise improves brain function, enhances learning, and reduces stress. Incorporate a 20-minute walk into your lunch break to refresh your mind. 11/ Growth Mindset ↳ Turn setbacks into learning opportunities and keep pushing forward. Reframe a problem as a challenge - say, "I’m learning how to do this," instead of "I can’t do this." Want to become a high performer? Start with one habit today and build from there. ⬇️ Tell me below, which habit do you find the hardest to stick with? 💤 For me, it's always sleep - I never seem to get enough of it - even though I know I should! ♻️ Share this to inspire others to step up their game. 🔔 Follow Jen Blandos for more tips on high performance and success.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹-𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴? As I thought about the goals I actually reached over the past year (I didn't hit them all), I realised most of them weren’t about hitting a specific outcome. They were grounded in regular, consistent practice — a system! Traditional goal-setting tells us that a goal needs to have an endpoint. It 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 be measurable, specific, and time-bound. But honestly? That approach can often lead to targets that feel arbitrary or disconnected from what really matters. For example, I could have said, "I want X new clients by June". But that number would’ve been plucked out of thin air and lacked meaning for me. Instead, I focused on showing up consistently, refining what I was doing, and building relationships. Here’s why I’m taking a system-focused approach to 2025 — and why it might work for you too: 1️⃣ Focus on inputs, not outputs. Instead of stressing about the result, concentrate on the actions that will get you there. For example, instead of "I want to read 20 books in 2025", try "I’ll read for 15 minutes before bed every night". Small, consistent inputs lead to big results. 2️⃣ Celebrate progress over perfection. Outcome-based goals are all-or-nothing — you either achieve them or you don’t. But with systems, you can celebrate the small wins along the way. Progress feels good, and it keeps you going. 3️⃣ Keep moving forward. What happens after you hit your goal? Often, progress stalls. But with a system, there’s no finish line. You just keep improving, one step at a time and you can adapt to new opportunities or challenges with ease. Here’s an example: 💡 Outcome-focused goal: "I want to be promoted to a Manager role by July 2025". 💡 System-focused goal: "I’ll complete one Learna topic on leadership, feedback, or coaching every Friday and put it into action during team WIPs.” The second approach builds a habit, not just a result. As James Clear said in Atomic Habits: "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems". So, instead of setting rigid goals for 2025, think about the systems you can create to help you grow. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about showing up, staying consistent, and making progress. What systems are you thinking about for the year ahead? #GoalSetting #SystemsOverGoals #CareerDevelopment #NewYearGoals

Ever felt like 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽? 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟳𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗧 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆! Imagine it’s Monday morning; your task list is overflowing. Instead of tackling the giant project that’s been looming over you, you opt for quick, less impactful tasks. Sound familiar? I’ve been there too, endlessly deferring the 'big tasks' for another day. Here’s a tactic that changed my life: 𝐄𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐠. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 '𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗴'—to boost momentum and set a victorious tone for the day. 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑦 𝑢𝑝 𝑡𝑜 50%. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑟. By adopting this method, you can transform your workflow, ensuring that your significant tasks don't get lost in the shuffle of the daily grind. 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆: Every evening, identify your 'frog'—the task you're most likely to procrastinate on, but which will have a significant impact on your results. 𝟮. 𝗟𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Begin your day with this task. Silence your phone, close your emails, and dive deep. 𝟯. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗜𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻: If the 'frog' is too big, break it into smaller, manageable steps. Each small victory will propel you forward. To your success, Coach Vandana Dubey 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝐸𝑛𝑟𝑖𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑠 #ProductivityHacks #LeadershipDevelopment #TimeManagement

The FM Principle of Productivity Hack stands for Focus & Momentum, two key elements that drive high efficiency and output. Here’s how you can apply it in a simple, step-by-step approach: 1. Focus: Eliminating Distractions & Prioritizing Work • Single-Tasking over Multi-Tasking: Work on one task at a time instead of juggling multiple things. This enhances efficiency and quality. • Set Clear Priorities: Use the Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent vs. Important) or Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) to focus on high-impact tasks. • Time Blocking: Allocate specific time slots for deep work, avoiding interruptions. • Eliminate Distractions: Keep phone notifications off, declutter your workspace, and use noise-canceling headphones if needed. 2. Momentum: Building a Sustainable Work Rhythm • Start with Small Wins: Complete a quick task early to build confidence and energy. • Use the 2-Minute Rule: If something takes less than two minutes, do it immediately instead of postponing. • Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused 25-50 minute sprints with short breaks to maintain high energy. • Leverage Automation & Delegation: Offload repetitive tasks using tools and delegate where possible. • Optimize Energy Levels: Work on high-focus tasks when your energy peaks (morning for most people). How to Implement FM Principle in Daily Life • Morning: Identify one big task for the day and set a focused work session. • Afternoon: Maintain momentum by batching similar tasks together. • Evening: Review your day and set priorities for the next day. By focusing deeply on the right tasks and maintaining momentum with structured execution, you can achieve peak productivity without burnout.

Systems Thinking Rooted in First Principles: A Habit I Built Early One of the most unexpected but powerful habits I picked up during my early days in Japan came from a challenge where I have to explain things from scratch. In Japanese teams, people often rotate roles and departments. So, you cannot assume deep subject matter expertise from everyone at any point. Initially, this made things hard because I had to go back to basics and do a lot of homework. However, over time, it shaped a new mindset. I began to instinctively think from the ground up: - what comes first - what follows - what systems are impacted downstream This is not just to explain better, but to truly understand. It pushed me to visualize flows, predict issues, and see things holistically. Without realizing it, I had started thinking based on first principles. Not the textbook kind, but a grounded, practical version I now call “Systems Thinking Rooted in First Principles.” This approach became my default in anything and everything: - Avoid shallow assumptions - Explain clearly - Build deeper understanding - Make better decisions It is a habit that started in my early Japan days and continues to help me solve complex, multi-dimensional problems as a leader today. This is something that I force upon my team members during any discussions and my usual routine will always be to ask a lot of questions around the basics of the problem statements. #SystemsThinking #FirstPrinciples #CTODiaries #LessonsFromJapan #LeadershipHabits #FormativeYears

Plant breeding as a systems intervention recognizes that developing improved crop varieties must be coupled with the seed delivery, agronomic, institutional, and market systems that determine whether smallholder farmers actually benefit. It maps the feedbacks among genetic traits, local farming practices, seed‐multiplication and distribution channels, and value‐chain incentives to identify leverage points for poverty reduction. By designing both the varieties (e.g. stress tolerance, yield) and the supporting pathways (community seed enterprises, gender‐sensitive extension, market linkages), programs ensure new seeds are affordable, adoptable, and profitable for resource‐poor households. Institutional innovations—such as public–private partnerships and farmer field schools—amplify the impact of genetic gains by strengthening local capacity and trust. A systems‐thinking approach aligns breeding objectives with farmers’ livelihoods, policy environments, and market demands to create sustainable pathways out of rural poverty. The Dryland Crops Program of CIMMYT and the Africa Dryland Crops Improvement Network (ADCIN) embed systems thinking by co-designing breeding goals with farmers, national research bodies, seed companies, and market actors (the Product Design Team!) to ensure traits meet local needs. They share breeding pipelines with national partners to increase ownership, accountability and capacity of NARES, implementing modern breeding schemes. They strengthen seed delivery through community seed enterprises, quality-declared seed production, and training “lead farmers” so improved varieties actually reach remote dryland areas. Participatory varietal selection and gender-responsive extension capture both men’s and women’s preferences, refining breeding targets and maximizing adoption. Finally, they engage with regional policy bodies to speed variety release and link producer groups with buyers, aligning genetic gains with market demands and ensuring sustainable livelihood impacts.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been in a meeting with a CEO/leader/founder/etc. and they have a million ideas about what they should be doing for marketing… with zero idea of what it takes to actually get there ✋ Most teams don’t have a problem with ideas. They have a problem with follow through. Everyone thinks they’re a marketer. But without a system to prioritize, execute, and measure those ideas, creativity turns into chaos. Marketing systems don’t kill creativity; they protect it. They create consistency, accountability, and space for experimentation without everything falling apart. The best marketing engines aren’t powered by constant brainstorming. They’re powered by clear processes that turn insight → action → iteration → impact. If your marketing feels scattered or reactive, you probably don’t need more ideas. You need a system that makes the ones you already have actually work. And you probably need to be doing less, not more. Marketers: what systems have worked for you that haven’t stifled creativity? Leaders/ founders: is your marketing a scalable system, or are you swimming in ideas with no traction? #BurntoutbutBrilliant #MarketingSystems #B2BMarketing #Creativity

Smallholder production of biological fertilizers and pesticides at farm level is a scalable and highly impactful solution to achieve farmer resilience and local food security. Foreign corporation synthetic input dominance in rural communities in the global south ought to transition out. We are witnessing game changing results from our Producers Trust partners in India and Latin America. Farmers are making more money and are living healthier lives by replacing synthetic chemicals. I've listed some of the benefits that we are observing in this game changing transition to farmer driven nature based input solutions. 1. Reduction in harmful human health effects caused by synthetic chemical inputs on farmers, communities and consumers. 2. Reduction in farmer input costs by up to 90% 3. Increased soil health leading to increased yields overtime, and reduced water requirements. 4. Biodiversity protection in the soil and around the farmland. 5. Preventing the pollution of freshwater ground, river and pond resources. 6. Decreased carbon emissions. 7. Economic multiplier by keeping economic resources within local communities. 8. Creative re-use of animal manure and other agriculture and forestry byproducts leading to decreased waste and pollution. I've included some photos of the different ways input solutions are made on farms. I'd love for you to share some of your learnings around farm level input manufacturing with our community!