Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time

by Rory Vaden

New York Times best-selling author and sales-performance trainer Rory Vaden brings his high-energy approach and can-do spirit to the most nagging problem in our professional lives: stalled productivity. Millions are overworked, organizationally challenged, or have a motivation issue that's holding them back. Vaden presents a simple yet powerful paradigm that will set listeners free to do their best work - on time and without stress and anxiety.

Genres: Business, Productivity, Self Help, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Leadership, Personal Growth

Audiobook

First published January 6, 2015

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike many Goodreads reviewers, I did not find this book different or amazing. No breakthroughs. The permission to Eliminate/Ignore was discussed in greater detail in both The One Thing and Essentialism, both books better written, more insightful and thoughtful. Ari Meisel's Less Doing, More Living calls it "Optimize, Automate, and Outsource" instead of "Eliminate, Automate, and Delegate." And "Defer and Do" instead of "Procrastinate and Concentrate". Different words, conceptually the same. Less Doing offers far more detailed suggestions and digital tools for automating and outsourcing. Another salesman turned writer, Chris Ducker, goes into yet more detail in Virtual Freedom on how to Delegate/Outsource. And for "Procrastinate", chapter 10 of Frank Partnoy's Wait: the art and science of delay offered more perceptive information. So for me, little incremental knowledge gained with this book. And way, way too many references to author's company Southerwestern Consulting, his coaching services, podcast, and his first book Take the Stairs, big part sales pitch, small part a building upon those lessons. Sales guys turned authors make mediocre writers (just like evangelists, engineers, or any other doer). Thinkers typically write better, pay more attention to the craft, offer more insight and depth. Includes some cute stories to illustrate a user's manual on self-management.

[Kimberly [Come Hither Books]]

To the marketing department of this book: If the contents of a book are going to be from a Christian perspective, please at least hint that in the back copy, inside blurb, or even author biography. There IS a market for productivity and business books from a religious viewpoint, but if you don't make that slant clear, you won't find them consistently. Instead, you'll miss some who are looking for a religious time management book, and get some who actively don't want what you're giving them.

It could be a great book, but it ended up with the wrong audience. Did not finish, at the second scripture reference.

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listen to the audiobook, so I'm not sure if there's much difference. Between the not so subtle advertising, ego stroking, and religious overtones I found this book to be mostly a waste of my time. It seems like the content of this book could have just been a graphic ad. Ironic for a book about time management. In the end, the only reason I'm not rating this one star is that I got paid to read this for work and it may have been the easiest $70 I ever made.

[Dianna Booher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It is definitely NOT the typical 101 ways to manage time. Vaden talks about how the "movers and shakers" think about time differently. You might consider his new book the Rich Dad, Poor Dad version of time.

[Moriah Bushey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would’ve enjoyed this more if I was a bit older and had a full time job. As a student I only found some things helpful otherwise it’s nothing applicable to my life at the moment but I’m sure I will appreciate it more when I’m older.

[Richard Tubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An early contender for my "read of the year".

If you think you've read every kind of book on time management and productivity, then think again as Rory Vaden's "Procrastinate on Purpose" offers a new way of looking at not only how you get things done, but what things you choose to do at all.

The book is a prequel of sorts to Vaden's best seller "Take the Stairs" and focuses on helping you understand that by eliminating, automating and delegating tasks, you are only left with things that you yourself actually need to do. You then have an important decision over whether to do that thing now, or later. While most of us believe that doing things before they are needed is optimal, the author explains why understanding when to put something off - or procrastinate on purpose (POP) - is a better choice.

The author helps you to understand the cost of opportunities, the cost of taking action and the cost of doing nothing. There are also extensive case studies of "multipliers" -- those people who understand that time spent working on an activity that will save you time tomorrow -- who have done great things with their lives.

This "system" may feel like common sense, but I was surprised at the amount I learned and how much I was inspired by the ideas presented!

Definitely recommended.

[Charmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. POP- wait and incomplete (worrier).
- "Too early" has a cost.
- "Now" is not the right time.

2. Multipliers do it on time (advantage). Unexpected Change cost. Create margin. Significant long term impact investments.

3. Tools: Wait. Systematize. delegate. Wait until later.

4. Focus Funnel: 15 min increments

5. High Value: Date night. Eat Healthily. Training & Development. Sleep.

6. Farmer's focus during harvest time: “Double time part-time so you can have free time full time”

7. Procrastinate on purpose (POP): Automate time-consuming mundane tasks. Patience - afford to wait.

8. Wait to last-minute -- Unexpected change cost. "Yes. No. Wait" - time can be on your side to develop and be ready. Patience.

9. Concentrate on the highest value. Multiplier - delegate, outsource things make my talent. Email is a challenge to prioritizing other people's needs.

[Macayla Fryc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big fan. I most like self-help books that are actionable rather than just theoretical. This one is definitely that. Extremely useful in concept, and straightforward in presentation.
It provides reflection questions, outlines proven concepts, and makes you excited to implement new strategies. Already been able to identify multiple things in life I can do differently in order to make life that much better!

Ultimately the premise is "instead of doing just what needs to be done immediately, what can we spend time on now that will actually save us time in the future?" It's about doing what's significant, and what will serve you, your family, and your goals in the long run.

Highly recommend.

[Katie Dalton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me forever to finish, in part a thesis, graduation, and a pandemic where part of that. But it also just hit as a super mediocre book.

It had some great tips along the way but was mostly focused on the business person not the average person. And half the book read like an add for his companies services and other books which was obnoxious.

[Alicja · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was terrible. Nothing new that would change my life anyhow. Moreover I felt like author thinks that people surrounding him are idiots, he repeated himself all the time and simply inserted the same paragraph numerous of times.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent - recommend it to anyone who wishes to get more about of life with the limited time we have here. Will be re-reading very soon. Also recommend Rory Vaden's TedTalk and guest spots on various podcasts

[Lisa Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch my full video review at https://youtu.be/gZyiCMzM5IE - Available on August 24, 2020.

In August 2020, I am reviewing books on habits. I share many of the habits I have built over years and the lessons I have learned as I have worked on this life skill. These are the books that have helped me develop better, more productive, more positive, more proactive habits.

This week’s book review is Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time and Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden. Rory is able to articulate the way I think and many of the ways I understand the world. Reading his books has helped my confidence in my understanding of how I see the world. Take the Stairs helped me to choose to do the hard things and to do them the right way, rather than taking shortcuts. Procrastinate on Purpose solidified and validated why the Sunday Basket® works. The book discusses the procrastination funnel that helps to reduce workload to narrow your focus to what is significant. Listen in to hear all of the steps!

[Molly]

Rory Vaden- Procrastinate on Purpose & Multiply Your Time

How do we keep up with stuff? Time management study—yoga dog.

It’s hard to keep up/be motivated, and there are 3 types of procrastination to combat “to do” stress:
• Classic: Consciously delaying what I know I should be doing
• Creative Avoidance: Unconscious; menial work. Work-life balance, priorities in order.
• Priority Dilution: Conscious/Unconscious. Effects movers/check-listers.

What we notice is that time management is not logical, it’s emotional. You cannot manage time, but you can manage yourself.

Time management began during the manufacturing era. Efficiency is 1D: tools/tech, tips/tricks to do things faster, to-do lists. The idea is, “if I get things done there will be a margin.” But at a certain point, you will see diminishing returns and there will be more to do that we can get to.
So, we need to prioritize- this is 2D. (Matrix) Focus on what matters most- maybe using Steven Covey’s 7 Habits- and remember that you cannot solve today’s digital problems with analog thinking. But even this is challenging, so we need to get to 3D thinking.

3D Thinking is where the “Multipliers” live. Significance, Urgency, and Importance rule here. We want to know how long choosing to do “x” task will matter, as well as how soon it needs to get done and how much importance it has. A broke teenager wanted to make money so he caught up on email to build relationships. Soon he found himself working and making money. Instead of just focusing on job applications and combing through job sites, he focused on emails and building relationships. Doors opened.

• The goal of the Multipliers is to determine which things I can do today to make tomorrow easier. You need to decide what to do, and then give yourself emotional permission to spend time on things today that give you more time tomorrow. But, we need to remember that once we believe we are succeeding at something, our reward pathways in the brain (dopamine) will sync and tell us we are doing a good job. So, it’s really important to do the right things and the right time (utilizing the significance, importance, and urgency “3D” cube).

But how do we multiply? We use a Focus Funnel. What are things in my day/life that I can eliminate? The top of the focus funnel are the tasks that can be eliminated. Then that decision funnels down to what processes/things can I automate? Then the funnel narrows to reveal things you can delegate.

• Tasks to Eliminate: I give myself permission to ignore these things. Perhaps social media. If I say no, I can spend time elsewhere; I can say no to this same thing again and again because the more I say no, the more I am saying yes to something else. (Challenge: How “nicely” can you say no?)

• Tasks to Automate: Here is where your time starts to work like compounding interest. The more you can automate, the more you can multiply. What matters here is how we process the decision. Let’s say we want a $5 coffee. That’s emotional- we want that coffee. But, what we should be asking is and ROI question: is this $5 coffee worth $50 to me 30 years from now? (Opportunity cost= $5; Buy $5 coffee or invest $5. If we invest $5—let’s say at 8%-- and not touch it for 30 years, we end up with $50 at the end of those 30 years).

o Although this is a basic ROI type situation, in the case of multipliers, it’s an ROTI question: Return on Time Invested. So, let’s say we automate our bill pays. Instead of logging into our bank accounts, checking our balance, logging onto every bill website, entering our information, and paying every bill separately, we instead choose to automate our bill way. On average, this process takes let’s say 30 minutes twice a month (1 hour/60miutes total). You have 24 hours in a day to do things, let’s say 8 of those hours are for sleeping. That leaves you with 16 hours to do things. 16 hours is 960 minutes. So, in a month you have 960 * 30= 28,800 minutes to do things. If every month, you take 60 minutes to pay bills, you allocate .2% of your time to paying bills. Now, that might not seem like a lot, but if that .2% could be used to do something else, you’ve now freed up 12 hours a year to devote to something else. What could you do with 12 hours?!

• Tasks to Delegate: Once you have eliminated tasks and automated time-sucking tasks, you can really determine which tasks are important, urgent, and significant to you. However, there’s one final step: delegating. Let’s say it’s important, urgent, and significant to keep your house smelling nice. Well, there’s one main thing that can cause that to go astray: garbage. But you happen to have others in your home that could take that out. Here’s where you can delegate. Maybe it’s James’ job to collect the garbages once a day or once every other day, and take them out. Now, it’s crossed of your list, and you know it’s getting done. You have freed up that time to do/focus on something else. Remember, you can delegate anything.

Ultimately, multiplying our time is nothing new. There’s no need to re-invent the wheel of time management. We just need to apply our 3D thinking to our daily tasks/rituals to free up more time to do the things we genuinely love. And everyone is different. Maybe someone really finds joy in manually paying bills every month- then go for it. Just remember to free up time elsewhere.

[Larry Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rory Vaden takes "time management" one step further into time MULTIPLICATION. It is about creating margin in our lives through doing the significant tasks and giving ourselves permission to do the things that matter. Although written from a mainly business standpoint, the final parges drive home that this is also easily applicable to our lives. Excellent and profound.

[Franklin Truax · Rating 3 out of 5]

The definition of a 3.5 self help book. Got some good nuggets, but nothing truly revolutionary. Definitely worth the price I paid (free through Spotify premium lol), and may even re-listen at some point.

[Michele McKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great information for anyone, especially if you want to to be successful at (direct) sales or really any career

[Carina Olivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books of all time. Life-changing.

[Shorel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This certainly is a good way to start the new year. Here's the gist: It doesn't matter how efficient you are at getting things done or how well you prioritize. You only have a certain amount of time. What you must do is focus on those things which are significant and only you can do. The rest of the things, either eliminate, automate, delegate or "procrastinate on purpose." POP is just putting it onto a holding pattern until it reaches the right time (might I say "kairos time") to do it. What does this mean? It means giving yourself permission to ignore a task (eliminate), invest in a system that will handle the task for you (automate), be willing to settle for imperfect results by having someone else do it (delegate), or know that the task may never be completely finished and therefore isn't as urgent as you think (procrastinate). Finally, if the task gets through all those filters, it means that it is significant enough that only you can do it and it is just the right time to do it. So go with confidence, protect your time by focusing on getting that task done. BAM!

POP is about having a plan to determine which tasks to do that will multiply your time. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

2016/1/7 Update***
Forgot to mention: Tasks assigned by the wife are exempt from the Focus Funnel and any attempt to put a wife-assigned task into the funnel will result in an actual funnel shoved over your head and you being locked outside all night to contemplate what permissions you actually have.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was geared toward people who have their own businesses or who work in sales. I am not either of these, but I still found some good ideas for my own life. I suppose the phrase "Procrastinate on Purpose" is sort of catchy, but it really doesn't capture the main point of this book which is more along the lines of deliberately choosing to do those things now that will save you time in the future. One of the five "permissions" that he talks about in this book to achieve that goal is deliberately putting off doing things for which the opportune time has not yet arrived, thus procrastinating on purpose. I personally found the section on delegation to be more useful to me. So, overall it was a pretty good book.

I have to admit that the author nearly lost me early in the book by attacking the phrases "time management" and "work-life balance" by taking ridiculously literal oversimplifications of those concepts and then telling us how those phrases can lead to wrong ways of thinking. I am certain that no one (except for him apparently) thinks those phrases mean the interpretation he was attacking, and I started to worry whether someone with such a way of thinking could have anything useful to say to me. But, over the course of the rest of the book he won back my trust.

[Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Listend on Audible*

These are very simple rules to give yourself permission. He uses an easy to follow “funnel” or checklist for us to assess the importance of things. Is this task 1) Not Urgent and Not Important, 2) Not Urgent and Important, 3) Urgent and Not Important, or 4) Urgent and Important. Based on the urgency and importance of a task, Rory shares some simple, valuable skills:

Eliminate- give yourself permission to ignore some things

Automate- give yourself permission to invest time for an automated solution

Delegate- give yourself permission to pass something off if it’s appropriate

Procrastinate- give yourself permission to wait. Not everything is an imminent priority and can be handled later

Concentrate- give yourself permission to dive into an activity if it’s not relevant to eliminate, automate, delegate or procrastinate

I listened to this as an audiobook but there would have certainly been sections that I highlighted, especially regarding the four categories of urgency/importance. This was a worthwhile listen and it will help to think about task and the permission I should give myself based on the urgency/importance.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even express how much I loved this book! It makes me want to make better use of my time in every part of my life. I borrowed it from a friend and wish I hadn't because I'd rather have my own copy to highlight and go back to. I'll have to buy it I guess. One thing I really like is that you can tell by the undertones of the book that the author is a Christian. It's not a subject of the book, and shouldn't distract anyone who isn't a Christian from reading it, but I liked knowing that the true objective of the book was to bring more joy and peace to your life, rather being all about getting ahead. I've got little sticky notes all over my office now to remind me to do priority dilution: Eliminate, Automate, Delegate, Procrastinate (that one makes sense when you read it) -> Concentrate! Everyone with a job should read this. It is incredibly inspiring.

[Kimrudnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book, showing how to make the best of the time you have, whether at work or in your personal life. While it did focus a great deal on business time management, there was a lot that you could take and use in your day to day life as well. There were so many eye opening moments in this book that I truly hope I can take and use these skills daily. Rory Vaden was also the narrator of this audiobook and he did a great job, really emphasizing certain things to prove a point. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to make the most of your time, which really, who isn't!?

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a somewhat misleading title, “Procrastinate on Purpose” by Rory Vaden was successful in getting my attention. While the book is interesting and has a great title that draws a person in, I don’t know if it is intended for me. That is my initial thought on seeing the premise of the book. However, in this world, there are always going to be things that try to distract you from what you need to do and spend down your time. So I suppose it is worth a shot to read.

This book is focused on the entrepreneur or office worker who might feel as though they don’t have enough time in the week to get things done. That is the main thing that doesn’t apply to me. My job does not really put me into such a position, although it is true that I feel as though I never have enough time to complete all of my tasks and the things I would like to get done.

Mr. Vaden begins by writing about the usual way people approach “Time Management;” they attempt to either juggle their tasks or do their tasks faster. Eventually, they might reach a state that we call burnout. You feel spread too thin, like butter over too much bread. Forgive the Lord of the Rings reference, but it is quite apt. You just aren’t being chased by Ringwraiths. In any case, we all only have 168 hours a week. Once you take out time for eating and sleeping, you begin to find how much time you really have to work with.

The book is really good for telling you how to manage your time, and it does so in a somewhat innovative way. Rather than acting like a juggling hamster on a giant wheel, we can invest our time to have more time later. This is an interesting idea, and I don’t know if I have read about it before. Most people that are really effective don’t talk about how busy they are since they figure that talking just wastes time.

I liked this book, and perhaps I will check out Rory Vaden’s earlier book if I can find it at the Library.

[David Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently re-listened to this book. The book is about how to become a multiplier by focusing on systems that allow you to maximize (multiply) your time. Eliminate what doesn't matter, delegate what you can. Train others to do things using the 30x rule. Plan on spending 3ox the amount of time it takes you to do it to train others to do it. For things that can't be ignored or delegated be very selective on WHEN you do it. Don't be early and don't be late. Focus on doing it exactly when it needs to be done. All of this is accomplished using the Focus Funnel. Overall a great book I don't agree with the MVOT (Money Value of Time) calculation in all scenarios but I am also not self employed. I might make $100 an hour but I don't get paid that amount 24/7 so mowing my lawn doesn't "cost" me $100 since I was being paid at that time. I appreciate the focus given in the book on priority. Anything that isn't currently working on my priority is a distraction. Maybe in an earlier life. The best part of the book is the focus on intentionality with our time since we don't ever get it back. Another concept that the book did a great job of explaining was the value of SIGNIFICANCE. There are urgent matters, important matters and lastly SIGNIFICANT matters. These are things that will have the greatest impact over time. The last concept the book does a great job explaining is opportunity cost. When we spend $5 on a snack, it costs a lot more than a $5. It also costs us $5 that we could have spent on something else more significant. On top of that if we invested that $5 it would grow to $50 dollars over my lifetime. The $5 snack really just cost me $60 long term. Thinking about this calculation helps me be more intentional with how I spend my money.

[Vanessa Princessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book thanks to Blinkist.

The key message in these blinks:

Even the most ordinary things can bring joy to our lives. We just have to let them. From the colors you choose to paint your walls, to urban buildings that fill you with awe, there are endless opportunities to recognize and celebrate the beauty and joy in everyday life. The benefits joy brings cannot be denied, and once you recognize its place in your life, you too can embrace joy and design your world around it.

Actionable advice:

Keep a Joy Journal.

As you go about your daily life, keep a journal to hand. Whenever you notice feelings of happiness within you, or something that makes you smile or exclaim “Wow!,” make a note of it. Try to track where these feelings tend to come up most often for you, in what settings, and with whom. Over time, your Joy Journal will give you a clear picture of your aesthetic preferences and the types of experiences that elicit the most joy. Armed with these facts, you’ll know just how and when you can introduce more of that joy into your life. 

What to read next:

The Architecture of Happiness, by Alain de Botton

Ingrid Fetell Lee’s hymn to joy has taught you how to look around and elicit joy from thoughtfully-designed spaces and vibrant colors. But appreciating the power of architecture and design can provide even greater benefits.

The Architecture of Happiness explains how architecture can bring out specific aspects of our personalities, resurface long-forgotten memories and even inspire us to improve ourselves as people. After these blinks, you’ll never look at a building the same way again.

[Anca Antoci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden is a book that focuses on how to manage time effectively by making deliberate choices. Although the book is geared towards people who own their own businesses or work in sales, there are still some valuable ideas for the average person.

The author presents five “permissions” that can help individuals save time in the long run. These permissions include eliminating tasks that are not important, automating processes that can be automated, delegating tasks that can be passed on to others, procrastinating on tasks that are not yet urgent, and concentrating on tasks that require immediate attention.

While I found the section on delegation particularly useful for me, the book was mostly focused on business people, which may not appeal to everyone. Additionally, I found that some sections of the book read like an advertisement for the author’s other services, which was distracting.

Overall, Procrastinate on Purpose is a valuable read for those looking to improve their time management skills. The book offers practical advice on how to prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance, allowing readers to focus their energy where it will be most productive.

[Mason Frierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You were put here on earth to do something that no one else can do. It is yours and yours alone to complete. It requires you to be your highest self and if you don’t do that thing, you are going to inhibit those around you from doing theirs. As a Multiplier, it is your obligation to spend time on things today that create more opportunity for those around you tomorrow. It is to do the things that are right, not only for now, but for the future.” - Rory Vaden

I enjoyed the book overall and thought it was a worthwhile investment of my time and money, however, the writing style was my favorite.

That being said, I thought the principles in the book were well thought out and could apply to people at any level in their career and life.

It's a fairly easy read as well. If you are interested in learning about different ways to think about time management and task prioritization, I would definitely recommend the book. I have recommended it to multiple friends and colleagues.

[George Andrews III · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with some good thoughts to ponder

First of all, I as a former summer Southwestern Books student, I appreciate anyone who was as successful as Rory was. It is the hardest and most educational job I have ever held. I learned more that summer about myself, sales and the discipline of success than anything else I have ever done.
There is little in this book that will blow your mind. However, it is a great reminder that time is our most valuable tool and it is to be invested and not spent. How we invest our time decides our return.
The most interesting concept in the book was the addition of significance to the Eisenhower quadrant. It is definitely something that resonated with me and I had not thought of that before. I have added to to my thought process as I think about how I should be investing my time for the greatest return.
A great primer book to get you back into the right mental mindset.

[Nicholas Varady-szabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book isn't really about procrastination.

It is about time management. But I get it - procrastinate on purpose is a much catchier title! After the initial disappointment, I really did like the book. It was a very helpful exploration into the idea that our time is a very finite resource, is very valuable, and then how to most wisely use our time.

Vaden's suggestion is that we run our tasks through a "funnel" that helps us decide how to approach them.

a) Is it important enough to do or can I eliminate it right away?
b) Is it something I can automate (e.g. paying bills online)
c) Is it something I can delegate?
d) Finally, is it something that needs to happen right now, or can I delay it? (this is the procrastinate on purpose part)

This book is great for anyone who wants to do something about the whirlwind of busyness that seems to afflict us so often these days.

[Christina Onasis · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have the same amount of time in a day as Tony Robbins, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, or anyone else who achieved greatness.But.... many of us tired from being overworked with no concrete plan for multiply our time. In this book we will discover how to create more time to do the things we love and get control and inner peace with "multiplier mindset" with the POP (Procrastinate on Purpose) and the five funnel.The POP behavior throughout the five funnel ( eliminate stage: how to eliminate something that we can live without, automate stage: how to automate something that can be systematized, delegate stage: how to delegate something that to be done by someone else, procrastinate stage: how to wait until the proper time (just right), and concentrate stage: how to double-focus on priority). Chris' goodreads rating: 4/5.