Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg’s book “Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business” is one of the best productivity reads on the market today, offering readers an inside look into the psychology driving productive behavior, and how to create, develop and maintain that behavior throughout their lives and businesses.

The book is based around the 8 essential productivity concepts, known as ‘The Productivity Project’ – motivation, focus, decision making, goal setting, managing others, developing habits, absorb information, and leverage technology. Each of these 8 concepts are presented in detail, with numerous tips, tricks, techniques and tools to help readers on their journey to attaining productive behavior and a successful life and business.

The first topic of ‘Motivation’ covers the basis of productive behavior, helping readers to understand the triggers and processes that fuel productivity within themselves. Charles argues that it is not enough to simply set a goal and commit to it, but rather the key is to be aware of, and understand, the various forces, both internally and externally, that motivate us to take action and be productive, and how to use these forces to your advantage.

The second topic of ‘Focus’ looks at how to stay focused on the task at hand and how to effectively prioritize, delegate, and eliminate unnecessary tasks. Charles suggests combating distractions by setting specific activities and goals and since focus is an emotional process, understanding how we feel about specific tasks in order to better focus and stay productive.

The third concept of ‘Decision Making’ examines the various ways to make smart decisions quickly, by breaking down and weighing the various pros and cons of each and every situation. Charles stresses the importance of understanding the implications of poor decisions, as well as understanding that our emotional state can greatly impact decision making.

The fourth ‘Goal Setting’ topics looks at the power of positive thinking and how it can really push us to success. Charles explains the best practices for setting and achieving goals, such as setting realistic goals, breaking them down into clear, doable tasks and breaking large goals down into smaller goals.

The fifth topic on ‘Managing Others’ looks at the power of effective delegation and how to manage and motivate employees and colleagues to work smarter. Charles suggests assessing employees to understand what motivates them, as well as understanding how to both reprimand and reward employees for their behavior.

The sixth concept of ‘Developing Habits’ looks at how to cultivate healthy habits that will help to maintain productive behavior, and how to use scientific methods such as ‘habit loops’ to create long-term habits. Charles discusses the challenges and rewards of developing habits, and how to break unhealthy ones.

The seventh topic ‘Absorb Information’ touches on ways to learn quickly and effectively, for instance strategies for dealing with difficult topics, understanding how to learn in depth, methods for dealing with difficult lessons, and using technology to absorb information quickly.

The last topic of ‘Leverage Technology’ focuses on the impact of technology on productivity, and how to improve *efficiency and save time through technology. Charles offers numerous strategies on how to leverage technology to manage others, track progress, and stay connected.

Overall, Charles Duhigg’s book “Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business” is an excellent read for gaining a better understanding of the psychology behind productive behavior, what motivates us, and how to create, maintain and stay productive in life and business. The 8 essential productivity topics covered in the book provide clear, doable strategies that can be used to achieve long-term growth in both personal and professional life.