Viken Mikaelian

Or: How to Stop Being Busy and Start Being Effective I Didn’t Invent These Ideas. I Just Paid Attention. Let’s get one thing straight: I didn’t come up with any of this. What you’re about to read wasn’t born in a brainstorming session, packaged as a productivity course, or whispered by a guru in Bali. I learned these habits by listening to people who’ve actually mastered getting things done — and filtering out the noise. This is not a beautifully structured literary piece. It’s a somewhat disorganized brain dump of what works for me — the systems, rules, and random truths I’ve picked up from experience (and from people much smarter than I am). Treat it like a buffet: take what works, leave what doesn’t, and don’t expect a perfect narrative arc. What matters is whether you walk away with something useful — not whether it wins a writing award. Ideas from: Ben Franklin, who literally scheduled every hour of his day Dan Kennedy, who built an empire on time discipline and ruthless ROI thinking Tony Robbins, who reframed productivity as energy and clarity Zig Ziglar, who made motivation actionable And going even further back, the stoic clarity of Seneca, Epictetus, and Socrates The world has changed. Human nature hasn’t. What worked then, works now. How Do I Get So Much Done in a Day? I hear this more than you’d think. Sometimes I ask myself the same thing. But then, I know plenty folks who get far more done in a day than I do. I need to track them down and learn from them. And no, the answer isn’t a magic formula, morning smoothie, or color-coded calendar. The truth is far less glamorous: I’ve built systems that work, and I follow them religiously. How I Structure My Days for Maximum Output I plan ahead I block out time every Sunday night to plan the week When you know what’s coming, you don’t waste time reacting I get up early “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Ben Franklin said it. He was right. I control email — it doesn’t control me I check email three times a day, not 100 Every email is: Replied to Deleted Or filed as a to-do item If it takes three minutes or less, I do it immediately My inbox rarely holds more than 5 to 15 emails I don’t answer every call Just because the phone rings doesn’t mean I need to answer it. I respond intentionally, not impulsively. I empower my staff They’re smart. They’re capable. I don’t micromanage. I don’t invite distractions. I avoid distractions that wear productivity costumes I’m not hanging out at Starbucks three times a day I don’t take random “catch-up” calls I don’t attend meetings that could’ve been an email And I definitely don’t use social media as if it were a full-time job; in fact, real social media is hard work and a full-time job I limit social media I’m not on LinkedIn, Facebook, or GIFT-PL all day I don’t chase engagement You can’t deposit likes into your checking account—I’m in the business of results, not applause I eat for energy Light lunch Lighter dinner A bloated stomach is the enemy of a productive afternoon I delay gratification Happy hour? Sure — after 8 PM, not at 4:45 Unless I’m with a client or spending time with my wife on our deck My Biggest Productivity Hack: ROI-Driven To-Do Lists Every decision, every task, runs through a simple filter: What’s the return on investment? I manage my time through an evolving three-tiered list: 1. Down the Road Ideas. Future plans. Things worth keeping, but not acting on yet. 2. Proactive and Important Where progress happens. Revenue. Strategy. Deep work. This is where I aim to spend most of my time. 3. Urgent Things that seem critical but usually aren’t. I actively work to minimize this category through better planning and delegation. And when I need clarity? I take what I call a thought break. No phone. No noise. Just me, a notepad, and the outdoors — usually at a local park on Tampa Bay. Still the best place to solve problems. The Real Secret? It’s not about counting hours. It’s about making the hours count. As Jim Rohn said, “Don’t major in minor things.” And as Dan Kennedy wrote, “Motion is not progress.” Final Thought There’s nothing trendy about what I do. But it works. Because those who’ve come before — from ancient philosophers to modern masters — understood one truth: The key to a meaningful life is doing fewer things… better. So next time you wonder how I get so much done? Don’t look at my schedule. Look at my systems, my filters, and how I say no — a lot. And ask yourself: Are you being productive… or just busy? Quick Summary: How I Actually Get Things Done Be ruthlessly intentional with how you spend your time. Here’s what I do (and don’t do): I follow Ben Franklin’s advice: early to bed, early to rise I plan my week on Sunday, not Monday morning in a panic I answer my cell discriminately — not everything is urgent I empower my staff so they don’t have to call, email, or Slack me for every minor detail I check email three times a day, not every five minutes like it’s oxygen Every email is either replied to, deleted, or filed as a to-do. My inbox is usually under 5 emails, never more than 30 If a task takes 3 minutes or less, I do it immediately I delete endless joke chains, “funny” emails, and social fluff (unless I am in a social mood or doing cardio on my Lifecycle) I do not tweet, Facebook, or post on GIFT-PL or LinkedIn like it’s my job — because it isn’t; social media is actually a full-time job I’m not at Starbucks three times a day pretending to work. I like