The #1 Essential Element of Productivity:
A Super Energy & Enthusiasm Combo Pack!

This is the seventh and final article in the series, which highlights The #1 Essential Element of Productivity. Read the other articles here.

It’s no secret, if you have ever listened to my podcast you know that I’m a huge fan of energy. But, the truth is that I am even more fascinated by enthusiasm and the synergy it provides in the right context.

Photo Credit: Hamad AL-Mohannna

This article is the final installment in my series, The 7 Essential Elements of Productivity, and I honestly couldn’t dream of a better #1 than a super energy and enthusiasm combo pack!

Why are energy and enthusiasm so effective?

I’m so glad you asked.

Energy is Everything

There’s a good reason I begin every episode of my podcast with a big smile on my face (outside of the fact that I probably just finished singing and dancing during my warm up).

I begin each episode with a crazy amount of energy because energy is contagious. It’s exciting, fun, and impossible to ignore.

Energy inspires people to wake up early, make radical changes to their lives, and, remarkably, it is the foundation for everyday productivity.

If there is one strategy above all others that I would recommend to anyone wanting to get more done each day, it would be to jack up your energy and keep it there as long as you can.

Now, before you begin thinking I’m recommending you should chug espresso nonstop, let’s back this train up just a bit.

Lay the Energy Foundation

My morning routine has a theme. Yes, the activities change day-to-day, but there is a through-line, a consistency that ties everything together. That consistency is energy.

I focus on ensuring that no matter which specific morning activities I choose, energy is the reason for everything. Let me be more specific.

First, I drink a liter of water. Then, I walk my dog. I drink a double espresso, read part of an inspiring book, make a 2-liter green smoothie, and go on a run.

All of these activities are geared towards energy. Why? Because energy lays the foundation for the rest of my day. Energy ensures I have the kick start I need to begin, the stamina to work hard, and the endurance to continue working all day long.

Energy is the reason I can check off so many items on my to-do list. Energy is the reason I can exercise AND spend time on my career each day, without having to sacrifice one or the other.

Energy is not only the foundation for what I do, it is in many ways the reason I do everything. What that means is that energy is a self-reinforcer. When you have a lot of energy, you want a lot more of it. When you feel great, you want to feel off-the-charts amazing!

If you want to add more energy, life, and productivity to your day, start by doing the small things that add up. Drink a little more water, walk a few more steps, or build your own standing desk.

Do whatever it takes because energy is freakin’ awesome!

(By the way, if you need a good pick me up, listen to the song Everything is Awesome from The LEGO Movie. It’s impossible not to smile after that.)

Enthusiasm is More Than Ignorance

It might be easy to jump to the conclusion that enthusiastic people are overly-optimistic, naive, or simply don’t live in “the real world.”

Sorry, I’m going to have to stop you there.

Enthusiasm is the by-product of choices. It is the outcome of living, thinking, and acting in a way that cultivates happiness, joy, and creativity.

Sure, you can think that energetic and happy people aren’t doing the hard work that the rest of us are doing, but I would beg to differ. I have found that the hardest working people are also the most fulfilled.

Some of the most productive people are also the most enthusiastic about their work. They look forward to crazy things like Monday mornings and sunrise wake-up calls. They think running marathons are cool and that a positive attitude takes you farther in life than pessimism.

True enthusiasm is the backbone of getting things done because you believe in the work you’re doing. You care about it on a deep level that spills out into the world in the form of excessive smiling, singing, and dancing.

Honestly, wouldn’t it be awesome to live a life that is overflowing with joy? That’s what I’m talking about.

True productivity doesn’t have to be hard. You really can go through your day with intense and eager enjoyment.

The Super-Duper Combo Pack

Watch out, I’m about to combine the two elements I just laid out here.

What if . . . and this is awesome . . . what if you were as enthusiastic about your work as you were about your vacation?

What if you literally bounced out of bed with enthusiasm and maintained rockin’ energy all day long?

What if you were able to optimize the super-duper combo pack of energy AND enthusiasm?

Oh yes, this is the gold nugget of productivity.

Loving what you do, feeling eager to do it, and maintaining all of the energy you need to get the job done every day is like finding a leprechaun at the end of a rainbow.

The snazzy part here is that you rarely find one without the other. In my world, enthusiasm and energy come hand-in-hand, like partners in crime. It’s a weird day when I have a ton of energy but I’m lacking enthusiasm, and vice-versa.

My secret sauce to having both of these essential elements of productivity every day is likely no surprise either: develop intentional healthy habits.

It’s All About Healthy Habits

Getting to the starting line of a marathon, or the beginning of any ambitious and adventurous journey, requires many well-established healthy habits.

The core of health is habits and the core of daily energy and enthusiasm that lead to incredibly productivity is healthy habits.

Running, reading, drinking water, chugging smoothies, sleeping a ton, and hanging out with other awesome people are just a few of the many healthy habits that I try to incorporate in my life as often as possible.

Healthy habits are the foundation of energy and energy is the foundation of productivity.

If you want to get more done, do some pushups. If you want to smile more, take a nap and eat a big salad. Whatever you want to achieve, my guess is that healthy habits are among the first steps to make it happen.

Optimizing the Synergy of the Series

Imagine if you combined all of the 7 elements I have discussed so far in the series into one block of time. Seriously, picture this.

Imagine that you have the desire to work (#7), the wisdom to know what to do (#6), and the pressure to execute your task (#5). In addition, you have the right plan in place (#4) and your focus muscles are flexed (#3). Your distractions have been completely eliminated (#2) and your energy is soaring with a huge smile on your face (#1). Honestly, you just can’t wait to get started.

There is one distinct scenario that pops into my head when I read this description: the starting line of a marathon. For me, that’s where the magic happens. For you, it could be any other starting block.

In the previous moments leading up to an exciting adventure you have everything in place. The moment you have waited for has arrived and everything that could be going right IS ACTUALLY GOING RIGHT!

Now, picture this same level of giddiness and excitement on a regular basis.

Most of us don’t run marathons every day, but we can reach this level of preparation, enthusiasm, and productivity consistently if we have prepared in advance.

How Productive Could You Be?

When I launched my 47 Strategies Self-Assessment I asked the question, How productive could you be? It’s an incredibly important question in that it forces you to dig deep and do some serious self-analysis.

If you are on a mission to truly be as productive as possible, I would encourage you to analyze your life from every perspective you have at your disposal.

Each new perspective allows you to discover a new growth opportunity, or find something to stop doing altogether. Often, being productive is more about NOT doing things than it is about adding nonsense to your already full life.

So, how productive could you be?

Take a few minutes and jot down a few ideas, read back through the articles in this series, and check out my self-assessment. It doesn’t matter which you start with, just make a plan to make forward progress.

After all, productivity is a journey and a daily decision. You always have the chance to start over again with a fresh, energetic, and enthusiastic approach tomorrow at 5:00 am (or whenever you happen to wake up). 🙂