Steve Jobs’ Top 10 Secret Tips for Insane Productivity

Apple’s co-founder and tech giant, Steve Jobs (“SJ”), was known for his eccentricities, passion for design, and insane productivity. Though he was fired from the company he founded, Jobs returned and led Apple to become the most valuable company in the world. So, what can entrepreneurs learn from the life of Steve Jobs? Check out these 10 insane productivity tips from Jobs himself.

 

What was Steve Jobs’ secret to insane productivity?

 

SJ occupied a central role in many books, articles, and magazines, but one of the most exciting and widely discussed topics is his approach to productivity. What was his secret? According to Jobs, the key to insane productivity is “keep things simple.” He believed in focusing on a few key priorities and tasks each day and not letting himself get bogged down in distractions or unnecessary details.

 

To stay focused, he would constantly ask himself three questions:

1. Is this necessary for me?

2. Is this the most meaningful use of my time?

3. What would be the consequences of not completing the task?

 

The best thing about Steve Jobs’ thinking is that it minimizes the options and reduces distractions, thus allowing anyone to be even more insanely productive than they already are. So let’s take a look at SJ’s insane productivity tips:

 

1. Prioritize ruthlessly.

 

The first pillar of Steve Jobs’ thinking is to make a “to-do list” and prioritize them based on their difficulty and importance. A list would allow you to be insanely productive because you would force yourself to complete your tasks for the day. By scheduling blocks of time free of distractions, you can focus on the most critical work. It would be beneficial if you continued to complete your tasks until you reached your target.

Taking a systemic approach to problem-solving is essential if you are going to be insanely productive. It would be best to focus on concentrated, systematic activities that you can do every day without skipping steps.

 

2. Be simple.

 

Jobs streamlined items by concentrating on their core and removing extraneous components. Machines should be beautiful solutions that adequately empower users rather than confront them. It was such an essential concept for Apple that an early Mac handbook started with a Leonardo da Vinci quote: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Do not make things complicated to achieve your tasks. When you find the simplest solutions, your productivity will be insane.

 

3. Delegate tasks

 

Most individuals experience anxiety, especially when juggling multiple assignments at once. You must understand what you want to achieve. Please write down your desired goals, ways to achieve them, and cover the milestones.

When prioritizing your work, learn to delegate for maximum productivity. The delegation will make you insanely productive. When assigning a task, provide explicit directions to the appropriate individual. You are assuming the risk without clear instructions or by not following up.

 

4. Do not follow your passion.

 

Jobs did not have a strong interest in computers. SJ desired to develop technology that would assist individuals in realizing their full potential. Job’s success was not due to a sudden realization that personal computers were his genuine love, as many people believe. Instead, he was confident that personal computers had the potential to reshape the world, and Jobs wanted to be a part of that revolution. His insane productivity and time management empowered him to launch his creation—the Mac Book.

Steve Jobs’ thinking suggests that no one should not follow their passion no matter what. Instead of following your passion, allow your passion to chase you. Make a sincere effort to achieve the difficult but worthwhile aim of making a difference. Continue to put in your best effort.

 

5. Daily evaluation

 

We all have days full of frustration and misery that drain our energy. Some days, we do not have any motivation to do any tasks. When bad days outnumber good days, it is time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Evaluate. If you do not like that the outcomes do not go well in your favor, it is generally time to consider a lifestyle change.

At the end of each day, learn to evaluate your day by asking questions like:

What was I supposed to do?

Did I do well? If not, what should I do next?

Was I able to complete everything? If not, why not?

Say “no!”

Succeeding in saying “no” is a valuable talent to have at any level of one’s professional life since it helps preserve one’s greatest asset: one’s time. It would help if you said no to anything or anybody not helping you achieve your objectives. Do not be concerned about how the other person will react if you say no. It is not your problem. Let the others deal with their issues of rejection.

“No is a conscious choice. Yes, it is a responsibility.

 

6. Think differently.

 

I recall organizing my music and burning it onto CDs, which I carried about in my vehicle. When Apple introduced the iPod, it was like a miracle for millions of melomaniacs. Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not sell products. Instead, he sold dreams and helped shape the future.

Steve Jobs’ thinking provided consumers with new and better ways to think about issues and solve them, often before they were aware of the need for his assistance.

 

7. Continue to learn.

 

Artists search for new ideas. They look both within and outside of their area of expertise. The top innovators combine ideas from several industries to create new products and services. This individual item results from innovatively combining many regions.

In his work, Steve Jobs tended to combine several interests. “The minute I dropped out, I could stop taking the mandatory classes that didn’t interest me and start dropping in on the ones that seemed intriguing,” he said. Take a glance around now and again to extend your horizons.

 

8. Live in the future.

 

Jobs encouraged his staff to regard themselves as revolutionaries. With that overwhelming goal, Jobs draws individuals who want to achieve important things and walk through fire to make them happen.

More information means that you can anticipate and prepare for the future more effectively and react to challenges. Learn as much as you can and put that information to good use. Every choice you make influences the one before it, so think about the cause-and-effect connection. Evaluate your options and act with an open mind.

 

9. Conventional wisdom

 

Forget technology and modern gadgets. Revert to the old-school wisdom of using a pen and paper when dealing with a problem. Switch off your devices and engage with people personally when encountering an issue.

Stimulate interest in people and tell them what is in it for them. Before you deliver the message, understand the message yourself. Make your products’ stories your own. Jobs told his employees not to use slideshows so that they could talk about, question, and think critically without the help of technology.

 

10. WWSJD?

 

Next time you are stuck or unable to perform your tasks promptly, try looking at the bigger picture taking a step back. Put Steve Jobs’ thinking hat on. Imagine: what would Steve Jobs do (WWSJD) when dealing with his problems?

Also Read: Using Humor To Upgrade Your Work

If you try to deal with many roles at once, you will suffer. Instead of doing many things at once, you should focus on one thing at a time, like a business problem, a big assignment, or an important meeting. Your focus would force you to be insanely productive.