Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours Hardcover – October 2, 2012

Upon first being recommended the book I was somewhat skeptical due to the gimmicky title. But I was thoroughly impressed by Mr Pozen's effort after reading through. For all the chronic procrastinators out there, there is an enormous amount of pseudo-scientific strategy and bro-science offered on the internet. Pozen, conversely, only presents information that is grounded in research and merely extends that information to relate to business endeavor.Pozen does not offer a magical or inexplicable solutions to productivity woes, he merely categorizes and explains an array of optimization techniques, that when applied in unison, will add to form noticeable productivity gains. Pozen's prose is efficient, uncomplicated and conveniently summarized where possible. It was almost as though it was written for the busy executive who can only switch on his Ipad for 5 minute intervals during a lull in a meeting. The section on team management probably should have been written less definitively, but the majority of the content was satisfying and applicable. To summarize, this guy aint Pozen.

With an increasingly interconnected world, we have more access to knowledge and each other than ever before. This has been tremendous in some ways, but it has also had some unintended consequences. It has become more difficult for working professionals to separate their work and home life, and this has caused some damage to the social fabric. Just because you can reach your employees at 10 p.m. on a Saturday does not mean you should be doing so. In Extreme Productivity, Pozen provides excellent practical guidance on how to save time getting tasks accomplished in the workplace during work hours so that professionals can have a healthy work/life balance.The tips on saving time in meetings, emails, and travel are extremely beneficial for young professionals. The chapter on writing is great, because professional writing has become extremely sloppy with the advent of smartphones. Although, I think the great purpose of this book is the advice to managers on how not to waste your employees time and damage their morale. Pozen goes into extensive detail on the bad habits that certain types of bosses have, even if they are doing so subconsciously. Pozen's book is not bogged down in dull statistics or research. It is written by a man with a life's worth of experience who is seeking to impart some wisdom on younger managers.I purchased this book because I was having trouble managing time as the director of a small business. The reason I didn't give the book a full 5-star review was because I thought there just wasn't enough for the small businessman, which I was hoping for. This is understandable, because I don't believe Mr. Pozen has operated a small business based on his bio. Pozen talks extensively about dealing with the bureaucracy found in large organizations, which is excellent but that isn't really a factor with small business. Dealing with client expectations and cash flow problems are the huge issues. Pozen advocates spending less time with certain clients, but lack of customer service with anyone can destroy a small business. He also talks about flying business class in order to get a good night's sleep during travel, but, again, this would not be practical for small businesses. Although the book is more designed for people working in the corporate world, it still has lots of practical tips and tricks no matter where you are working.If you are a manager in any type of large organization, stop wasting your team's time and improve their morale by following Pozen's tips. Extreme Productivity is an enjoyable read that is very helpful to any manager's professional development.

While there is less than the book claims to deliver, there are several useful nuggets of wisdom that are valuable, especially for younger individuals near the beginning of their careers. First the good stuff.The 1st chapter is probably the best with a description of the differences among career aims / objectives / targets. By separating into distinct time horizons and the recognition that only a subset of shorter timelines contribute to longer term goals, Pozen succinctly demonstrates his style for prioritization. This is a more nuanced version of the older urgent vs. important distinction that sidetracks so many. The writing and speaking chapters also provide useful advice. The chapter on managing up has some valuable insights. His comments on meetings, especially running them are quite valuable.The less helpful sections offer bland cliches: when traveling, preparation is important (and call home frequently); when managing your team, don't micromanage; when reading documents, find the highlights / recommendations / conclusions and then decide if you need to read the whole thing.For the demanding (and volume consumer) of this genre, there is little that breaks new ground. The book is well organized and the writing style allows for a quick read. For an early entrant to the managerial realm this is a good starting point for things to consider. For the long timer and experienced manager, there is little that hasn't been said elsewhere. This is not a "how-to" book on organizing your workflow, rather, more a listing of considerations to keep in mind as issues arise.

A life changing book - one that covers everything from work to play, family and friends. Pozen covers a lot of ground with his advice - and it is all useful stuff. A great book and one going on my best list.

The chapter on how to write an article or report is worth the price of the whole book alone. In splitting up the work between brainstorming, outlining, writing and editing he cuts through the major causes of writers block. That our brains can not effeciently create and critic at the same time. They can not organize thoughts and write at the same time. That they can not create new ideas and organize at the same time. Trying to do so takes 4 times longer than splitting the work up.Key ideas from the book are* Focus on your Comparative Advantage, not necessarily what you are best at* Focus on Results, not time spent* Think before you Read or Write. The Why.* Plan ahead but be ready to Change during the day* Be open to others ideas in your meetings* Keep your life and work short and simple