Archives for March 2014

Seven Principles for Setting Goals that Work

March 14, 2014 by Matt Perman

My guest post today at Michael Hyatt’s blog.

Stephen Covey would often talk about people climbing the ladder so fast that they would get to the top, only to discover that their ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.

So how do we set goals that actually take us to a place we want to be? I give seven principles. The first is that a good goal always starts by asking not “what do I want to do,” but “what needs to be done?” That’s the question that orients you toward contribution and service, which is the core principle for being effective in any area.

Read the whole thing.

The What's Best Next Toolkit

March 12, 2014 by Matt Perman

In the back of the book, I mention that there is an online toolkit with additional resources. The toolkit is here.

In it, you will find some chapters I didn’t have space to include in the original book (such as on setting God-centered goals and what it really means to work in your strengths), some quick checklists, and a few really short articles on common issues in productivity.

The short articles might be especially interesting since they are quick reads and because I take a perspective contrary to conventional wisdom. For example, I argue that the concept of “workaholism” is often over-used and misused, and that mistakes are not something to fear at all costs.

The Relationship Between Processing Workflow and How My Creative Process Works

March 12, 2014 by Matt Perman

I’m getting my email to zero right now (a bit late in the day), and came across a great example of how productivity is not just about getting as many things done as quickly as you can, but generating ideas and even taking some potential rabbit trails.

So, here’s how I work. I’m going through my messages one by one, determining the next actions and what responses are needed to each. One of these emails is yesterday’s blog post by Seth Godin on a new marketing class he is offering at Skillshare.

So, what’s the next action on that email? Just read it, decide I don’t have time for the class, and move on? That would be the efficiency model of productivity, which I reject.

Instead, with this email I sat back and asked myself some questions and observations like these:

What does Seth’s blog post here teach us about how we should craft and present ideas in general? Godin is clearly a master at this. A blog post from him announcing a new course he is offering is not just an opportunity to decide whether to take the course or not; it’s an opportunity to learn about communication.
So in that vein, I notice that he talks about the course “changing the way you think about marketing.” Is that way of speaking just a way to get attention? Talk about change, so people will listen? Godin is a person of integrity; he speaks what he believes, rather than making things up just to get a response. Further, in my experience (confirmed more and more every day), things absolutely do need to be changed. This is actually the task of leadership: changing things. We live in a fallen world. So much is indeed sub-par and not helping people. To talk in terms of change is not just a way to “market” an idea. Things really do need to be changed. So I make a mental note that here is yet more confirmation that it is right to talk in terms of changing things, and that it is helpful to do so (the way Godin crafted his post certainly got me thinking in a constructive way).
Godin links the wrong words in his post! You should never say “click here.” The words you link need to be information carrying. That is both more helpful and more effective. So, Godin is great, but not perfect (I’m sure he also has reasons for breaking this rule — but he’s wrong!).

So, though I am not going to enroll in his course, the value of this email from Godin’s blog is far beyond the fact that it notified me about the course. It helped build my thinking, and gave me an opportunity to think about how I do things and how I craft ideas.

That is a huge impact, and an impact that cannot be measured by the response rate to the actual post. That shows how productivity is about much more than tangible outcomes; intangibles (affecting how people think) are just as important — and, in fact, something that actually will result in tangible outcomes and great effectiveness down the road.

And this process also shows how productivity methods, like getting your email to zero every day, are not about rigid structure and just getting things off your list. Rather, they provide a framework in which exploration can happen. If we think of productivity as just getting things checked off our lists faster, we will miss the most important and enriching moments of life.

How the Gospel Makes Us Productive: My Interview on Faith Radio

March 11, 2014 by Matt Perman

The other day I was on Connecting Faith, a program here in the Twin Cities on Faith Radio hosted by Neil Stavem, talking about What’s Best Next and what it means to be productive in a God-centered way.

I really enjoyed the time, and you can listen to a highlight or the whole interview on their site (just scroll down and hit play), or right here:

Highlight:

The whole thing:

Is What's Best Next a Statement or a Question?

March 7, 2014 by Matt Perman

That’s one of the questions from my interview today on the book with Matt Mitchell.

Matt asked fantastic questions, and I really enjoyed doing the interview. You can read the interview at his blog, where I talk about why the book took so long, how productivity relates to sanctification and Christian discipleship, how it builds on but also differs from GTD, and much more.

And, here’s my answer to the first question, on whether “what’s best next” should be taken as a statement or a question:

1. What does the title, What’s Best Next, mean? Is that a statement or a question or both?
It’s first of all a statement. This book is about that which is best next, which is doing the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:15-17).
So, what is the will of the Lord? We all know that what Jesus wants from us is love. So that’s what’s best next — love — and that’s the heart of the book. All of our productivity needs to be grounded in love — first, in terms of our motive (the good of the other person) but also in terms of how we make decisions at all.
And that’s what’s often overlooked: love is not just our motive in what we do, but is also supposed to be the guiding principle by which we decide what to do. What is best for the other person? That’s the question love asks, and therefore that’s the guiding principle of productivity. You don’t make choices based on what’s best for yourself next, but you make the welfare of the other person the motive and criterion for deciding what to do.
And so “what’s best next” is, second of all, also a question as well. We have so many things coming our way today. We have almost limitless options and opportunities now, and a massive amount of information to deal with every day. How do we make good decisions in the midst of this age of unlimited options? “What’s best next” is a question we can use to help guide us. The point is: you don’t need to do everything that’s next. You just need to do what’s best next.
The core principle of productivity is to do what’s most important first. So when you have a thousand things to do, stop and ask “what’s best next?” Then do that. Likewise, don’t do what’s easiest next; do what’s best next. This is a question we can continually use to guide us.

Read the whole thing.

Although Amazon is Sold Out, Barnes and Noble and Westminster Bookstore Still Have Copies

March 7, 2014 by Matt Perman

The book reached #244 on Amazon Wednesday…and then Amazon sold out! They placed another order on Wednesday, and are showing that they will have the book back in stock on Tuesday (but it will probably be sooner).

However, there are still copies in stock at Barnes & Noble and Westminster Bookstore. And, of course, the Kindle version doesn’t run out of stock and, incredibly, is only $8.99.

Let me say that the guys at Westminster Bookstore are especially great, and I highly commend them to you not only for What’s Best Next, but for your book buying in general when it comes to God-centered, gospel-oriented books.

Update: Sounds like Westminster is sold out as well! But they should be shipping again on Wednesday.

Hugh Whelchel's Review of What's Best Next at the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics

March 7, 2014 by Matt Perman

This is a great and helpful review of What’s Best Next by Hugh Whelchel, executive director of The Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics.

Hugh is the author of the fantastic book How Then Shall We Work? You will also find their website to be an incredible wealth of information on faith, work, and economics from a biblical perspective. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Get 5 or More Copies of What's Best Next for 50% Off at WTS Books

March 6, 2014 by Matt Perman

As most of you have probably seen, WTS Books has been doing an incredible deal on What’s Best Next. If you buy 5 or more copies, you they are 50% off ($10/book).

Today is the last day of this deal. It is very much worth taking advantage of, buying a bunch of copies to take your staff or organization or church or ministry or leadership team through. I’ve even seen people on Twitter organizing book groups. So this is a great and timely deal that is worth checking out!

The Table of Contents for What's Best Next

March 5, 2014 by Matt Perman

Here’s the table of contents for the book, What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done.

Table of Contents 2

Table of Contents 3

You can also find out more about the book on the page for it here on the blog, and of course it is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble (especially useful today, as Amazon is sold out), and WTS Books (which has a fantastic deal on bulk orders–buy 5 or more at 50% off).

User Reviews of What's Best Next

March 5, 2014 by Matt Perman

Here are some of the especially notable and cool comments people have been making on the book on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and the Amazon reviews. (I considered a bit whether to do this, but I want to highlight what people are saying, and also say “thanks!”)

Facebook:

“My friend Matt Perman has written the most helpful book on productivity from a gospel-centered perspective I have *ever* read, either as a mom or as a business woman. It’s already changed some entrenched-bad habits and helped me navigate through these crazy days of being a mom/wife/student/health insurance warrior. I can’t imagine what it could have done for my high tech career. It’s already sold out at Amazon, but here’s the link to reviews there anyway. Note that John Piper himself agrees with me, so I must be right.”
“Reading this book has been great. Each chapter contains practical illustrations, bulleted lists, callout boxes, and helpful acronyms. It’s neither condemnatory nor lax, neither overwhelming nor oversimplified. My hope is that you’ll be aware of this helpful resource and you’d want to learn more on the subject.”

Blogs:

“Perman helped me to see that the ordinary activities of my day might not be so ordinary after all. Returning a phone call might lead to an opportunity to encourage. Smiling at the check out clerk at the local store and sincerely asking about his or her day could be the first caring words he or she has heard all day. And organizing your schedule, your desk, and your to do lists, as mundane as these things may seem, are really the things that, if organized well, will result in freeing up more of your time to serve those around you.” (Jeff Kennon)
“If you read only one book this year, it should be What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman. Yes I mean that.
“The aim of the book is “to reshape the way you think about productivity and then present a practical approach to help you become more effective in your life with less stress and frustration, whatever you are doing.” And the book delivers.
Stop everything and read it.” (Matt Heerema)
“I love the subject of productivity. I love theology. I love the concept of stewardship, particularly time stewardship. I have bookshelves full of books related to those subjects. I’ve read every book, article, and blog post about time stewardship that I could get my hands (or my digital hands) on.
And What’s Best Next is the first book I would recommend to anyone wanting to take his or her time stewardship to the next level.” (Loren Pinilis)

Amazon:

“The rest of the book is broken up into seven parts. That sounds like a lot but they move fast. Perman is an engaging writer who doesn’t waste word in bringing his message to his readers. Over those seven parts, Perman explains why it’s had to get things done but why just getting things done isn’t enough. He presents a better–more realistic and purposeful–approach to effectiveness and productivity. This involves figuring out what’s most important and clarifying your roles. For Perman, the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a key factor in this part of his productivity.”
“When I finally took the topic more seriously about a year ago, I found many helpful suggestions. But I didn’t feel ‘whole’ about the matter. Besides missing some of the big action pieces of productivity (which Matt speaks about), I was thinking about productivity all wrong. My starting point was wrong. Matt helped me see that I can’t take out the thread of biblical theology that so naturally weaves itself into how one thinks about work, particularly productive work. Beyond that, Matt weaves together in this one book the principles and practical applications of being productive that is connected to faith.”
“Make no mistake, this is no dry book. What’s Best Next is replete with clear examples and personal anecdotes to give more meaningful application of its principles. I found it difficult to stop reading at times because its conversational prose and eye-pleasing format lead me to want to continue to the next chapter and continue from the “what” and the “why” to get to the “how.” If you are serious about maximizing your time and efforts so you can be an effective steward what Christ has given, this book will be an asset to you.”
“What’s Best Next is sure to be a standard for many years to come.”
“May Be One of the Most Important Books of Our Decade.”
“This is the book I have been waiting for. I love the Bible and I love books on productivity & leadership. What’s Best Next is the first book that I have read that effectively connects both.”
“HOWEVER, THIS BOOK ISN’T JUST FOR CHRISTIANS. Though thoroughly saturated with excellently-done Christian theology, I believe that a non-Christian can get a lot out of this book as well. Any fans of Godin, Covey, Allen, Collins, or Ferris will love this book, which synthesizes all of the best productivity and management thinking out there, and puts it all together in a way unlike any other book I’m aware of. (And if another exists, please tell me!)”

Twitter:

“started reading #whatsbestnext – In ch 3 and already blown away! Just what I needed as I start up a business!”
“Take The 12 Myths About Productivity Quiz wp.me/pTOnf-4P4 cc @mattperman #whatsbestnext”
“One key concept I’m learning in @MattPerman’s new book on productivity is that of the importance of “intangibles.” ow.ly/ugb87”
“If you only read one productivity book, make sure it’s this one. What’s Best Next by @mattperman Out today: chrspb.lt/OXYL3v”
“A gospel-driven Christian is known for both their love and sound theology #whatsbestnext”

And, especially great: