E258: 7 Rules for Superhuman Efficiency

7 Rules for Superhuman Efficiency

Stop feeling busy but ineffective. Use this framework to reset how you operate.

1. The A4 Paper Trick

• Fold a blank A4 sheet twice (pocket size).
• Write down only 3 things you want to accomplish today.
• 2 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon. Everything else is noise.

2. Pareto's Law (80/20)

• 80% of results come from 20% of actions.
• Identify the 20% of efforts that produce the bulk of your outcomes and the 20% of distractions causing 80% of your stress.

3. Parkinson's Law

• "Work expands to fill the time available."
• If you give yourself 5 hours, it takes 5. If you give yourself 2, you do it in 2 with higher intensity.
• Urgency forces clarity.

4. The Pareto + Parkinson Combo

• Identify the essential 20% (Pareto).
• Compress the deadline to execute it (Parkinson).
• This turns you into a results machine.

5. Pearson's Law

• "When performance is measured, performance improves. When reported back, it accelerates."
• Track your results visually. Add visibility to add velocity.

6. Learn to Say No

• The gatekeeper of greatness.
• Every "Yes" to someone else's priority is a "No" to your own. Protect your time like it's oxygen.

7. Pomodoro Technique

• Work in short focus sprints (e.g., 25 min work, 5 min break).
• Humans aren't built for marathons; we are built for sprints. Keep mental energy fresh.