Early in my career, I made a mistake I see so many of my clients make today.
I thought productivity was about more.
More apps. More tactics. More strategies. More systems.
I would stand in front of audiences and talk about every new tool I’d discovered. I’d share every method I’d studied. And here’s what I noticed:
The same people came back year after year.
They knew the material. They understood the strategies. But they weren’t implementing anything.
It’s like watching YouTube videos on how to swim, buying all the books, talking to every swimmer you know… and never jumping in the pool.
At some point, you have to put on the bathing suit.
The Real Enemy Isn’t Laziness
I started doing my research. I became part psychologist, part coach. I needed to understand why people who know how to be productive aren’t being productive.
Here’s what I found:
- They don’t know how. (Though this is rare—most have access to information.)
- They feel overwhelmed. (“I got so much stuff to do. I don’t know where to start.”)
- They’re afraid. (“What if I make a mistake?”)
And underneath all of it?
Complexity.
Complexity is a barrier to your productivity.
Say that out loud. Let it sink in.
We are more likely to do things that are simple. We avoid things that are complicated. It’s human nature.
Start With the Next Step
I had a client named Tammy. She told me (and I hope she wasn’t just being polite) that what she appreciated most about our sessions was that I boiled things down to simple stuff.
She got more done. Not because she worked harder. Because she worked simpler.
Here’s the truth:
Whatever you’re facing—whether your calendar is a mess, your inbox is overflowing, or you’re just disorganized—don’t look at the big, hairy, audacious goal of being 100% in control.
That’s a huge goal. Especially if your life feels messy right now.
Start with the next step.
What do you need to do next?
That may be having a one-hour conversation with yourself. Brainstorming on a piece of paper. Asking: “Okay, I want to go here. I’m here. What do I have to do to bridge the gap?”
The Mount Everest Example
Let’s say you have a big goal: I want to summit Mount Everest.
Could you summit Mount Everest this weekend?
Of course not. It’s ridiculous.
What would you have to do? Train.
What would you have to do before you train? Research.
Find out what it takes. What gear do you need? What physical preparation is required? What permits are necessary?
Your big goal is summiting Everest. But your next step is research.
That’s simple. That’s doable. That’s where productivity lives.
A Spiritual Perspective: The Lightness of Simplicity
There’s a reason why Jesus taught in parables—simple stories, everyday images, truths anyone could understand.
He didn’t give complex theological lectures. He spoke in ways that reached the heart.
In Matthew 11:28-30, He says:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Notice that? Easy. Light.
Not complicated. Not overwhelming.
When we try to carry everything ourselves, when we build complex systems to manage our lives, we create burdens that weren’t meant to be carried.
Simplicity isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a form of trust.
When you simplify, you’re saying: “I don’t need to figure everything out at once. I just need to take the next step.”
That’s faith in action.
How to Start Today
- Identify the big goal. What’s the Mount Everest in your life right now?
- Ask: What’s the next step? Not the whole journey. Just the next step.
- Make it simple. If the next step feels complicated, break it down further.
- Do it. Put on the bathing suit. Jump in the pool.
The Result
When you stop trying to solve everything at once, you gain momentum.
You stop feeling paralyzed by complexity. You stop waiting for the “perfect” system. You start moving.
And movement beats perfection every time.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Simplify.
Find the next step. Take it. Then find the next one.
That’s how you break through the barrier.
To your clarity,
Mark Struczewski
Mister Productivity