In Order to Succeed, You’ve Got to Fail Along the Way: Lessons from Failed Productivity Experiments

Productivity is a highly subjective concept, and what works for one person may not work for another. As someone who has spent a lot of time tinkering with productivity tools and systems, I have come across a lot of successful ones. However, I have also come across several that just didn’t work, either. These failures were more prevalent in my early days of studying productivity, but as time progressed, my chances of success also improved.

Here are three failed productivity experiments I’ve tried:

1. Two Systems: Personal and Professional
At my 9-to-5 job, I kept a planner for work and carried another planner for personal matters. Anything related to work never went in my personal planner and vice versa. However, I soon realized that this strategy was not working. I was unable to be very nimble and had handcuffed my productivity rather than let it flourish. Having two planners created a separation that wasn’t necessary. There needs to be fluidity between work and personal matters, as they both feed off each other.

Time spent on this failed experiment: 4 months

2. Colour-Coded Paper Planner
I used coloured pens and highlighters that were associated with a legend so I could tell what each task was associated with and how far along they were to completion. However, the biggest problem was that I had to carry around a pencil case and make sure I knew what each aspect of the colour-coding represented. This was not the best solution for my personal productivity.

Time spent on this failed experiment: 1 year

3. Things App
When I first started using productivity apps, I chose Things over OmniFocus. However, it had no over-the-air sync at the time, and it was a problem for me when I was away from my Mac for too long with only my iPhone. I eventually switched to OmniFocus because I needed a more seamless experience across all my devices.

Time spent on this failed experiment: 6 months

Learning from Failure
I realize now that it wasn’t the system or tool that was the problem, but rather it was me. When trying to boost productivity, it’s difficult to know what will work best until you try it. There’s more to productivity than the old “just do it” assertion. It requires weighing a number of factors that make it a highly subjective thing.

Through these failed experiments, I’ve been able to concoct my own winning productivity formula. It’s been the failures that have led me to my successes, and I believe that this is true for many others as well. It’s important to keep trying until you find something that allows you to get back up faster and easier.

In conclusion, failure is not a bad thing. It’s an opportunity for growth and learning. When it comes to productivity, trying out different systems and tools is essential to finding out what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to fail, because it’s all part of the process.