Output Productivity

Want to own a Ferrari? Here’s how I did it …

But first: Let’s talk about a generic, catch-all, phrase to denote anything that is produced as a result of Pragmatics.

This is to create a very important differentiation between the perceived ‘productivity’, of creating and maintaining systems which in themselves don’t generate meaningful output, and output productivity wherein you create, distribute, promote and benefit from in any way, anything which you do or make.

But in the creation of ‘new things’, it is critical for your definition of output productivity that it’s aligned with your overall aims and objectives. In other words, you don’t want to be wasting your time doing or creating things which don’t align with your goals.

In building productivity systems and implementing them on an ongoing basis, it’s important that you don’t equate any ‘meta’ personal satisfaction of the systems themselves with you actually being productive! Over the years I have encountered so many instances of people spending countless unproductive hours on productivity systems. Bragging about their microscopic levels of refinement in forums and completely missing the point!

It is only when gauged against the moving the needle of progress towards your whatever predetermined, personal goals you have agreed with yourself, that you can consider your systems to be effective.

Or, perhaps ineffective? In which case, I’d like to think you’re in the right place.

However, it’s important to remember that ‘Pragmatics’ doesn’t have to result in a tangible output.

We’re not all writers or creators. We’re not all involved in “putting something out into the world”.

But the simple acts of learning and understanding and, dare I say it, personal development (wash my mouth out with soap and water!) can bring great satisfaction and engagement for their own sake. So in themselves can be a perfectly acceptable personal reward.

And, in any case, you never know what skills and personal development you acquire along the way, will come in useful at some point later in life. At which time you might then find yourself producing tangible output.

Here’s an example:

Thirty years ago I bought a home computer when they were expensive and unnecessary. My wife at the time railed against the outrageous expense, but I assured her it would pay for itself. I felt that, whilst computing was at the time still in its infancy, it would eventually become ubiquitous and an extremely useful transferable skill.

Bear in mind that I was already a qualified management accountant at this point, my decision to train myself up was simply because that skill was a huge advantage in literally any, and every, type of business venture. So my thinking was that IT would follow suit. I taught myself to program in several languages and how to construct relational databases. Later in life I also worked in online coding skills, design and for the last 20 odd years, among other things, these skills have created a very satisfactory lifestyle.

Admittedly, paying for the computer took some time, but I was right in the end.

And we bought a Ferrari.