In our last +1, we had some fun playing with Cal Newport’s Deep Work equation. We modified it from: 

• High Quality Work Produced = Time Spent x Intensity of Focus

to:

• High Quality Work Produced = Time Spent x Quality of Energy x Intensity of Focus

The basic idea: You can get a TON of high quality work produced when you Focus your best Energy.   Today I want to add one more variable to our equation and then do some quick math to bring the point home.   Let’s go back to that last sentence and drop in another variable.   The basic idea: You can get a TON of high quality work produced when you Focus your best Energy on WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT NOW.   Think about it.   If we have GREAT Energy and we focus that like a laser beam on what’s truly most important right now?    And then we write some algorithms to make THAT our default so we’re accreting more and more value day in and day out?   We can create at an astonishing level.    Enter the latest edition of our equation:

• Astonishing Productivity = Time Spent x (Quality of Energy x Intensity of Focus x W.I.N.!)

Now, let’s do some math to bring the point home.   For the sake of very round numbers while recognizing it’s much more nuanced than this, let’s say your Energy is at a 10. Your Focus is at a 10 and you’re working on a 10-level most important thing.   That part of the equation would be 10 x 10 x 10 = 1,000.   Note: You could spend ONE hour working like that and achieve a 1,000 score on the Astonishing Productivity scale. (Go you!) (Reminds me of our +1 on The 1-Hour Workday. )   Now, to play with the other side of the spectrum, let’s say your Energy is at a 1, your Focus is at a 1 and you’re working on a 1-level of importance.   That part of the equation would be 1 x 1 x 1 = 1.   Note: You’d have to work 1,000 hours that day to achieve the same level of Astonishing Productivity. (Hah.)    Again, it’s a bit more nuanced than that and we can tweak the equation to weigh different variables differently, etc.   BUT…   The point remains.   Get your ENERGY to as high a number as you can. FOCUS that (sun-like) Energy like a laser beam (through a magnifying glass) on THE MOST IMPORTANT THING and…    VOILA.   Astonishing Productivity.   Do that again and again and again?   And, well, you’ll not just produce at an astonishing level, you’ll enjoy the eudaimonic Flow that comes when you consistently high five your daimon.   Let’s do that.   TODAY.