Personal Productivity Secrets

Do What You Never Thought Possible with Your Time and Attention... and Regain Control of Your Life

By: Maura Nevel Thomas

Narrated by: Maura Nevel Thomas

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's summary

Learn tried-and-tested methods for optimal personal productivity! Ever find yourself more than a bit overwhelmed by the constant influx of email and reminders, as well as the ever-present calendars, to-do lists, miscellaneous paper, and sticky notes? Add to that, myriad devices that were originally intended to make us more efficient, but in reality, only end up forcing us to juggle even more. Our brains aren't wired for all this, but we can learn to be productive.

Personal Productivity Secrets gives you everything you need to know to be organized, in control, and to get things done. Understand how your brain absorbs, organizes, and filters the daily deluge of information, and learn to trick your brain into being more productive. Appreciate the difference between "time management" and "attention management" and create workflow processes that help you defend your attention. Create a plan for navigating endless technology options, and implement tools that will keep you productive, focused, and in control. Personal Productivity Secrets reveals updated and vital information for achieving significant results, and being as productive as you can be in a fast-paced, technology-driven society.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2013 Maura Nevel Thomas (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

"In Personal Productivity Secrets, topics range from how to use an online calendar, address book and email, to how to best use an online storage tool, to-do lists and a capture tool, all assisting you with regaining that focus and control, bringing you peace of mind, success, and fulfillment. Whether you feel you need to make a drastic change in your life or you feel you have it together for the most part, Thomas can help." (Molly McManus, Austin Woman Magazine)

Great Book, Needs Updating

Excellent ideas and system structure for increasing overall productivity. Two shortcomings: the technology references need updating after 5+ years; and, many readers listen to audiobooks while driving, etc. The constant references to a PDF that supplements the audiobook is not helpful. By its nature, it is highly unlikely he that a listener would be able to review the PDF document while listening to the audiobook. The suggestion might be to incorporate the aforementioned technology references into the PDF guide so that it could be reviewed separately from the audiobook and thereby eliminating the need for updating the audiobook and instead just update the PDF supplement.

Lifesaver!

This was a huge purchase for me. I was getting swamped at work and starting to miss due dates. Googling 'Time Management,' I came across an article by the author calling for the need to switch from time management to attention management. That definitely fit the bill for me. Based on that article, which was excerpted from the book, I went ahead an picked up the book on audible. I have listened to it at least 4 or 5 times in my car over the last few weeks. The practical methods in the book are laid out simply and easily and I have been able to implement them quickly with good results. In no time I was able to reduce distractions, had a manageable task list that I controlled and that enabled me to prioritize the important things I needed to get done, and have been able to get caught up on my workload. I definitely feel like I've been able to be more proactive in my daily activities in the last couple of weeks also. The best part is every task or responsibility is stored electronically so I don't have to remember everything - it's nice to go home at night or on a weekend and not have that nagging worry that I'm forgetting something - it's all waiting for me when I log on to my computer. The process is also platform independent as well. I'm truly excited about the changes in my 'To Do' process.

The book also provides insight into paper management- what to file, what to keep and even provides a system of how to file those items you do keep. I wish I had this system 10 or 15 years ago! This is the next thing I'll be tackling.

Finally, on a side note, I was able to contact the author through her website and received a timely and helpful response to a question I had regarding her process. What more can you ask?

Copy of "Getting Things Done," just worse.

Don't waste money and time on this one. Just buy "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. If you already know GTD, don't even look at this audiobook. This is waste of money and time. There is almost no practical advices. It is extremely boring. The narrator/author is so boring... She talks about some ideas like they are hers. Well, they are not. She simply copied few good productivity books (David Allen, Brian Tracy, etc.) and put it into one piece of boredom. And if you don't believe me, go ahead and waste time and money. People who gave more than 1 star have to be family or have to don't know about GTD. This audiobook was so bad that I even bothered to give my first review on audible, and I use audible from few years.