Free to Focus Summary

Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt is a great system to help you focus on working on the right things. First, you’ll stop and define what productivity means to you by formulating, evaluating, and reformulating. Then, you’ll cut the nonessentials by eliminating, automating, and delegating. Finally, you’ll act on by consolidating, designating, and activating.

Executive Summary

In a world where information is freely available, focus becomes one of the most valuable commodities in the workplace. 

Productivity is not about getting more things done; it’s about getting the right things done.

The Free to Focus productivity system follows 3 simple steps (with three actions each):

1. Stop. Unless you first know why you’re working, you can’t properly evaluate how you’re working.
   • Formulate: how to clarify why you want to be more productive
   • Evaluate: how to find your highest-leverage activities
   • Reformulate: how to use rest to boost your productivity
2. Cut. Here you’ll discover that what you don’t do is just as important to your productivity as what you do. Actions:
   • Eliminate: how to cut the nonessentials
   • Automate: how to subtract yourself from the equation 
   • Delegate: how to properly delegate work
3. Act. You’ll learn how to accomplish your high-leverage tasks in less time and with less stress.
   • Consolidate: how to be more efficient by batching tasks
   • Designate: how to prioritize tasks
   • Activate: how to manage interruptions and eliminate distractions