19/90 Productivity Isn’t the Problem. Misaligned Work Is.
Yes, hacks help. But if the work itself isn’t strategic, no system will save you.
We’ve built an industry around productivity.
🧩 Time-blocking.
📅 Color-coded calendars.
🧠 Notion dashboards and task matrices.
And to be clear: I love structure.
Productivity hacks have absolutely helped me - I use them every day.
🛠 They made me sharper.
📌 More intentional.
💡 Better at separating signal from noise.
But here’s the hard truth I’ve learned as a leader:
You can’t optimize your way out of broken priorities.
Because no planner or Pomodoro timer will fix:
- Misaligned goals
- A culture of reactivity
- Endless pivots with no context
- Leadership silence when clarity is needed most
I’ve seen brilliant people burn out not because they weren’t structured…
But because they were constantly compensating for the absence of real strategic direction.
Let’s call it what it is:
📍 When your calendar is full, but your work has no traction -
that’s not a productivity issue. That’s a strategy issue.
📍 When every request feels urgent but none feel aligned -
that’s not a focus problem. That’s a leadership gap.
📍 When you’re delivering outcomes but no one’s measuring the right ones -
you’re not lacking efficiency. You’re lacking executive clarity.
So yes - build habits that protect your time.
Use the tools. Guard your energy. Sharpen your systems.
But don’t stop there.
✅ Ask harder questions.
✅ Challenge misaligned goals.
✅ Advocate for clarity.
✅ Set boundaries not just for your time, but for your value.
Because the real productivity unlock?
It isn’t in another hack. It’s in doing the right work - not just more work.
💬 Where have you seen productivity hide a deeper misalignment?
Let’s talk about it.