Procrastinate on Purpose Book Summary - Procrastinate on Purpose Book explained in key points
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Procrastinate on Purpose summary

Rory Vaden

5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time

4.3 (368 ratings)
19 mins
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    Procrastinate on Purpose
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    The most successful people never complain about being busy.

    Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the demands on your time? If you do, you’re not alone. Research shows that the time we spend on routine tasks like getting dressed, household chores and eating can take 5 hours! According to a Newsweek report, simply trying to find our belongings takes sixty minutes of the day. Add in a full-time job, and it’s a wonder we get it all done. So, how can we manage our time better? 

    Surprisingly, the first step is to quit complaining about how much you have to do.

    For many of us, this is difficult. Rory Vaden, for example, used to take pride in telling people how busy his life was. When they asked, he would sigh and explain how much he had to do. Of course, he was busy. Research finds that the average executive now receives a staggering 116 emails a day. As the cofounder of a global consulting practice, Vaden’s inbox was always brimming with demands on his time. 

    Nonetheless, looking back, he believes he crafted this image of being busy because it made him feel important. After talking to highly successful people who maximize their productive hours, known as multipliers, he realized that these high achievers never complain about how packed their schedules are.

    Vaden asked one of these multipliers why they weren’t as busy as he was. She replied that it wasn’t that she didn’t have a lot to do. She just felt there was no point complaining about the demands on her time – that would be a waste of valuable mental energy. Instead of worrying about her to-do list, she gets on with it.

    After spending some time with these prolific multipliers, Vaden noticed that accepting their packed agendas gave them a more peaceful frame of mind. They might have been busy, but they didn’t seem stressed. Instead, the multipliers took responsibility for their own lives and steered clear of a victim mentality.

    You can follow suit by remembering that you made the commitments that make demands on your time. By taking ownership of these commitments, you’ll empower yourself to find a solution to your overloaded schedule. You are not a victim of your responsibilities – and you are not too busy to take care of them.

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    What is Procrastinate on Purpose about?

    Procrastinate on Purpose (2019) provides powerful yet simple techniques for saving time and money. Packed with straight-forward advice, these blinks shed light on how to escape constant busyness. They reveal how to boost productivity by lightening your schedule and focusing solely on your priorities.

    Best quote from Procrastinate on Purpose

    There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

    —Rory Vaden
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    Who should read Procrastinate on Purpose?

    • Anyone seeking time management tips
    • Workaholics feeling overburdened
    • Managers hoping to boost productivity

    About the Author

    Rory Vaden, MBA, is an author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. As the cofounder of Southwestern Consulting, he helps clients all over the world develop their business and improve their customer experience. Vaden’s first book, Take the Stairs was a Wall Street Journal bestseller. His productivity insights have been featured on CNN and Oprah Radio.

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