Becoming successful doesn’t just happen to people. The top 1% of achievers are staying productive until they get what they want.

But how are they keeping this up?

Over half the billionaires in the world are self made. That means that they started with no more than the others around them. So what sets them apart from those people, and everyone else, too?

You might be thinking it’s because they work harder, but that’s only part of it. There’s a specific mindset that comes with it, and those who get it, really get it. 

If you’re reading this, you can be one of those people too. It’s a matter of learning how to get yourself at the top of your game. Keep reading to learn how the top 1% of achievers are staying productive.

Top 1% Achievers’ Secret to Staying Productive:

1. Narrowing Down Your To Do List.

You may have heard about the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of the input.

When we apply this to business, it tells us to identify the most productive approaches and prioritize these above the others.

You may not finish everything, but as long as you’re completing the 20% of tasks that are most vital, you’ll be on the right track.

The top 1% of achievers aren’t staying productive by overloading themselves.

Instead, they know how to prioritize and narrow down their to do lists. This makes them a lot less daunting and a lot more doable.

Here’s the truth, assigning yourself more tasks doesn’t increase your capacity for accomplishing these tasks.

Think of it like filling a plate at a buffet. You can pile on a ton of food, but you can only eat so much of it until you’re too full to finish.

The trick to staying productive involves focusing on fewer tasks, but not on any tasks, instead investing energy on those that give most results, those that are most important, and doing them well.

Know how to prioritize things and don’t be afraid to veto the ones that aren’t important.

2. Focusing on One Task At a Time.

The top 1% of achievers are staying productive because they’re excellent multitaskers, right? Not necessarily.

One study found that multitasking actually does a great deal of harm to your cognitive abilities and your emotions.

This is because switching between tasks, especially from a mental task to a physical task, puts a strain on the mind as well as the body.

Even though we’re trying to do the most, we end up flustered and frustrated, often accomplishing very little at all.

Picture this, a shorter to do list of meaningful and doable tasks that fulfill you and keep you moving towards your bigger life goals. Once you have that list, work on each task from start to finish rather than jumping between tasks.

3. Removing Distractions.

Here’s a super secret that the top 1% of achievers are staying productive with, remove distractions.

We know that multitasking and switching back and forth is damaging to productivity, this includes those mundane things that tend to steal our focus and send us down a black hole. This will mean different things to different people.

To give an example, you might be one of the many people who can’t resist the urge to scroll social media.

If this is the case, it’s important to recognize this and keep those apps away from your workspace.

Procrastination is the enemy of success. By surrounding yourself with these small distractions, you’re on the road to self sabotage.

This is why it’s important to bite the bullet and remove these distractions for good.

4. Staying Positive.

Research has shown that happy people are more productive, and this is especially important for those who are trying to grow themselves into a life filled with success.

By staying positive, you’ll be able to stay on track, even when things aren’t going your way.

This includes choosing those you spend time with. If you surround yourself with negative people on a daily basis, then you’re bound to pick up some of that negative energy.

Prioritize positivity and use it to your advantage. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can manifest a million dollars simply by thinking happy thoughts.

But you won’t get very far if you’re letting negative thoughts rule your outlook on life.

5. Working With What You’ve Got.

A lot of people struggle with this one. They look at high achievers and try to mimic their pathway to success.

In reality, the pathway to success is anything but a one size fits all approach.
There is no exact formula. But there are exact principles that all of those who are top 1% achievers follow.

The top 1% achievers who are staying productive have one major thing in common, they’re opportunists.

They use their creativity to solve challenges. Instead of focusing on what they lack, they make the most out of what they have.

While the optimist and the pessimist argue whether the glass is full or empty, the opportunist drinks it.

This also applies to your personal skillset. For example, if you’re not the best with numbers, then don’t shoot for a successful role as a financial analyst. Chances are, no matter what you do, that won’t end up working out.

The good news is that there’s a niche to suit almost any talent. It’s just a matter of finding your niche.

When you’re focusing your efforts on a path that just isn’t in the cards for you, you’re missing out on time that could be spent finding what does work for you.

There is no right or wrong path, there is just a path that is longer for you than another. It’s not just about knowing where you are headed, it’s important to know what paths could be waste of your time and what can bring you closer to your goals.

6. Knowing Yourself.

This one ties in with working what you’ve got, if you want to stay on the road to success, then you have to know what drives you to your peak performance.

You’re not trying to manage your time, but rather your own energy levels.

For example, if you’re able to think the most clearly in the morning, then schedule your more demanding tasks accordingly.

On the other hand, if you’re groggy until lunch, then try to tackle all the easy stuff in the morning and save the more complex roles for the afternoon.

7. Maintaining Good Relationships.

We’ve all had the same thought of telling off certain people, especially those we encounter in our professional lives.

While this might provide some temporary satisfaction, you’ll only be hurting yourself in the long run.

If you burn all your bridges, you’re giving yourself fewer avenues to travel down.

Plus, you never know who you’re going to run into within your business ventures.

People are changing up their positions all the time and you might find yourself face to face with someone who has seen a bad side of you.

The top 1% of achievers are staying productive, no matter who tries to get in their way. And they trade ego gratification to keep the network big.

8. Choosing Quality Players.

High achievers have the confidence and drive to choose top quality players for their team.

They aren’t afraid of being upstaged by someone who is better than they are.

Instead, they see the opportunity in working with these people and building them selves through their example.

Success is often about more than what you’re putting in, it involves the people you’re working with, too.

By choosing high quality players, the top 1% of achievers are placing themselves in the best possible position to succeed.

9. Taking Time for Yourself.

You might think the top 1% of achievers are staying productive 24 7. This is hardly the case.

The key to success is taking a break when you need to, whether it’s to recharge your battery, refresh your creativity, or a combination of the two.

The important takeaway is to allow yourself these breaks so you can return to your tasks with a clear mind.

You’ll also need to find ways to disconnect and take care of yourself on a daily basis.

Many people find positive results through daily meditation, or you can just give yourself time to relax and unwind for a while.

What Unifies All These:

One last point to mention here is this, the top 1% of achievers are 100% dedicated to their vision.

They believe in themselves no matter what obstacles, or people try to stand in their way.

High achievers use this drive and commitment to their vision as a means to keep going forward, even when things don’t go as planned.

They see the opportunity in setbacks and don’t let any failures tarnish their vision.

The top achievers aren’t where they are because they were born special or with something extra than the regular person.

Instead, they know how to work with what they have and believe in themselves 100%, no matter what.

If you’re currently struggling with staying productive, there are ways to turn it around and get back on the path to success.

Now that you know how the top 1% of achievers are staying productive, you’ll be fully equipped for your own pathway to success.

Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn more about the secrets of productivity.

Looking for a productivity expert?

John English is an expert communication trainer, helping well over 2000 happy student learn how to communicate more effectively with their teams, improve their public speaking skills, helping sales professional communicate more effectively with customers and prospects. Consulting and assisting corporate professional get the most out of their negotiations. Go here for a free consultation with John.