Work Less, Do More: The 14-Day Productivity Makeover

by Jan Yager

“I don’t have enough time.” This common complaint resounds in companies big and small, affecting employees at every level. As businesses across the board downsize, and become global operations thanks to the Internet, fewer employees struggle to accomplish more in ever-longer workdays. In this essential guide to getting things done intelligently and efficiently, renowned time-management expert Dr. Jan Yager presents her revolutionary program for taking back control of your life. Filled with worksheets, quizzes, and tips on everything from managing e-mail to dealing with a disorganized boss to enjoying precious family time, this unique system will help you boost your productivity and realize your professional and personal goals.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Productivity

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2008

About the author

Jan Yager received her BA in fine arts from Hofstra University, her MA in criminal justice from Goddard College, and her PhD in sociology from City University of New York Graduate Center. Beginning in her early twenties, with fulltime positions at Macmillan Publishing Company, followed by Grove Press, Jan has been an editor, director of subsidiary and foreign rights, acquisitions editor, book publicist, author event planner, media trainer, consultant, book coach, permissions editor, and award-winning author of 65+ books. Her titles in a range from genres -- from nonfiction and fiction to illustrated children's books and poetry -- have been published by Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Doubleday, Penguin Random House, Square One Publishers, and self-published through the small press she founded almost 30 years ago, Hannacroix Creek Books, Inc. (Her first five books were published under her maiden name of J.L. - Janet Lee- Barkas.) For more on Jan, go to: www.drjanyager.com, www.whenfriendshiphurts.com, or www.hannacroixcreekbooks.com

Reviews

[Gary Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a new word! Distractionistis… (Or is it a new disease?)

In Work Less, Do More: The 14-Day Productivity Makeover, Dr. Jan Yager has put together a program that, if strictly followed, will allow the reader to get into the groove of getting out of having a cluttered life. When I first got hold of Jan Yager’s book the thought that was on my mind was “Now this is something that I will be able to use for my work – it is something that I badly need…” After reading the book though it is clear to see that stretching your time and not getting things done is holistic. You cannot simply work on this at the office and expect to have more time. Habits have to be developed, goals have to be set, plans have to be made and prioritization (sometimes radical prioritization) has to take place.

The author adds several productivity tools throughout the book, some of them are diagnostic exercises and some of them are meant to be used daily. To be quite honest I normally skip these tools when using self help books but then I decided to just keep my phone log, one of the first tools in the book, for one day. It became glaringly apparent to me just the work that needed to be done to get this part of my life under control. And from there I went on and tried other tools as well. Batching work. Working on my “internet addiction” and the author describes it. Putting more time into advance planning rather than just diving into my work. I swear this is like when you haven’t been to the gym in five years and then you decide to jump right in to two full aerobic work outs per day!

As I mentioned earlier, Jan doesn’t leave the productivity at the office. She also makes sure that you are tending to your family, romantic partner, children and others in your social spheres. Some of the hardest part of the “work out” Jan Yager’s book puts you through is coming to terms with the parts of your life that you will have to put on the back burner or even eliminate. I personally have lots of work to do in this realm and can’t find any easy way to get through this. But I suppose the mantra should be “no pain, no gain!” I also have had major problems with delegation, which Jan Yager puts in high stock.

I have put recurring tasks in my Outlook on my computer just so I can revisit Jan Yager’s pointers in the future and to make sure that the new muscles I have stretched haven’t gone flabby again. I think I will keep at it until I wouldn’t be embarrassed to let Jan Yager see my desk…

[Hòa Phạm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bạn đã từng mệt mỏi khi phải nín thở chờ đợi để bắt đầu cuộc sống bạn thực sự mong muốn? Thời điểm nào mới là thời điểm an toàn để bạn không phải làm việc cật lực nữa, không cảm thấy căng thẳng, kiệt sức, để có thể hài lòng với cuộc sống?

Đã đến lúc chấm dứt việc ngồi một chỗ chờ đợi rồi, phải bắt đầu hành động! Bậc thầy về thành công Jennifer White đã chứng minh trong cuốn sách đáng ngạc nhiên này : Bạn hoàn toàn có thể có được mọi thứ - nhiều thời gian hơn, nhiều tiền hơn và nhiều niềm vui hơn - bằng chính nỗ lực của mình- bắt đầu từ ngày hôm nay!

[AJ Conroy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oddly disorganized and over stuffed

[Joyce Gilmour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I always thought that I was quite organized. This book takes “productivity” to a completely new level. It promises on the cover that it will help you: get more done, become more organized, handle distractions, and achieve work-life balance. If you take WORK LESS, DO MORE seriously, it definitely will be life changing. An added benefit to this book is that it is a “workbook” for readers to take quizzes, keep track of activities, make plans and goals, etc. I can’t think of a topic that Author Jan Yager has missed…this is the most complete book I’ve ever seen to help people think through every aspect of how they spend their time and organize their lives. So grab a copy, take a deep breath, and spend the next 14 days conquering the “productivity makeover.” Good luck! It will be well worth the effort.

[Randah · Rating 4 out of 5]

مؤخراً أصبحتُ أقدرُ الكتب التي تشعر مع قرائتها أنك تودُ دراستها وتمسك قلماً ومؤشراً أصفز لتحدد فيها..

هذا الكتاب كان أحدها..
استفدتُ منه وأحس أن معلوماته خزنت في علقي اللاواعي حتى يحين موعد الاستفادة منها ولكن معلومتين جميلتين فيه كانت
-مبدأ أنك يجب أن تساعد زملاء العمل وروساء العمل ليحصلوا على التوازن في حياة العمل.. انت بذلك تسعد نفسك وتسعدهم..وتساعد نفسك على الحصول على بيئة أفضل
- اجبرت نفسي على عدم اخذ مهام كثيره الى المكان الذي اود العمل فيه.. اخذ شيئاً واحداً و انهيه ثم اعود للآخر
وتعلمتراثناء قرائته متعة القراءه عندما تجد أحدهم بين سطور الكتاب ،، وتود تمرير الكتاب له ليستفيد مثلك وان ذلك حافز كبير جداً لإنهاء مابين يديك

[Dinah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an odd one. Some good advice, but a bit jumbled together and prone to oddly worried warnings (e.g. in the section on getting more out of your commute by doing things you enjoy en route there was a warning to knitters not to injure the other passengers!). I would recommend Time Management in an Instant if you just want a roundup of tips. This one does have the potential advantage of being more of a workbook, if you prefer that approach

[Kea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 14-day makeover designed to help people become more productive. I LOVED IT!!

[Abrar · Rating 2 out of 5]

كثرة التكرار والكلام قللت من شأنه ..

[Duong Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bỏ đi cái tiêu đề đậm chất câu khách thì sách này hữu ích, có thể dùng làm tài liệu đào tạo nhân viên mới. Hoặc dùng cho chính các nhà quản lí mới vào nghề.

[المبتعثة إلى الأرض · Rating 1 out of 5]

حياتك الإدراية والعملية .. أجعلها أبسط