Here are three ways this principle affects my approach to life at work

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Today’s bit of inspiration comes from a guy who doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page.

Today’s bit of inspiration comes from a guy who doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page.

Alfred Montapert was a bit of a strange cat but I’ve always loved how he warns against fake productivity or busy work:

“Don't confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but doesn't make any progress.”

Almost everyone will agree with this principle, but how many people actually apply it?

Here are three ways this principle affects my approach to life at work:

1. Don’t emphasize time put in!

Especially not over outcomes delivered. This looks like something. It means tracking the progress and not policing whether people are at their desks.

2. Help your teams focus!

This means clear boundaries on what we are working on right now. It’s easy to start things and hard to finish them, so limiting how much work you have in progress is critical.

3. Celebrate the wins!

Go for lunch. Brag on Slack. Hand out high fives. Make a proper fuss whenever the team makes valuable, tangible progress. Invest in the culture you want.