“Habit rules the unreflecting soul.” ―William Wordsworth
Years ago, in a controlled setting, I took the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment. It was helpful. In fact, I’d recommend it to most anyone.
The theory is that each individual possesses a certain number of character attributes, which, together, result in a person’s tendency to develop certain skills more easily and excel in certain fields. Of the 34 distinct attributes, the StrengthsFinder test will help an individual discover their top five.
As these assessments usually do, the results brought new words and meaning to my personality, talents, and motivations. Based on the research, a person’s strengths do not change over the course of their lifetime. In other words, though many things have changed in my life over the past ten years, my top five themes have not.
Here they are:
- Achiever. People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.
- Competition. People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.
- Significance. People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.
- Context. People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.
- Woo. People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
Of the most significant driving forces in my life, the desire to achieve, compete, and gain significance rank among the most influential. And I can feel each of them within me every day.
The assessment is based on an important premise: It is wise for us to focus on building our strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. However, every strength can become a weakness if we do not learn to recognize and control it.
The strengths that bring definition to our motivations can just as easily become a detriment to us if we allow them to gain mastery over us. In my own life, I can see how a theme’s excess has caused unhealthy pursuits. In fact, I have written about some of them prior (competition / significance).
But recently, I am beginning to recognize how another strength in my life left unchecked soon becomes a weakness. In this case, Achiever.
I take great satisfaction from being busy and I find fulfillment at the end of a day knowing something has been accomplished. And to a fault, I become restless when sitting idle—I prefer periods of productivity instead.
It’s important for me to add this does not mean every moment of my day is filled with hard work and productive outcomes—I struggle with procrastination and distraction just like everyone. But it does mean that I am naturally drawn to the idea of being productive and tend to fill my hours with pursuits that fit the definition in my mind.
But I am learning more and more, especially over the past year, that being nonproductive is actually essential to mindful, intentional living. In fact, being nonproductive is one of the most productive things we can ever do—even if the behavior wars against every inclination in our body.
This year has been ambitious. I submitted a completed manuscript to my publisher last week, we are launching a nonprofit organization here on November 1st, I have been preparing an at-home program for people looking to implement minimalism in their unique context, speaking heavily, and I’ve been focused on a few other surprises that I can’t mention quite yet.
In all this pursuit of productivity, the important periods of nonproductivity are harder to find—but have become even more essential for me and those closest to me.
It is imperative for me to structure intentional periods and disciplines of nonproductivity into my life. (By nonproductivity, I mean nonproductive on the surface. In each of these pursuits, there is productivity to be found—it’s just not the type that typically motivates me.)
One of the ways I have begun to push against the excess of the achievement strength in my life is to articulate and understand the specific productivity of being nonproductive.
If you struggle with the constant need for busyness and/or achievement in your life, maybe you will find some motivation in the list I have been collecting. In each case, I recognize an essential, “nonproductive” pursuit that does not come natural to me, and then I focus on the benefit it provides for me.
For example:
Relationship. My wife values quality time. She needs and expects periods of time in our day where I am not focused on anything but spending time with her. This can be difficult for me because it feels unproductive at times. But it becomes easier when I remind myself that investing time into a relationship is one essential key to a healthy and stable marriage.
Meditation/Devotion. When I meditate, I focus on my spirituality and my belief in a God who cares about his creation. It is easy to be pulled away from this discipline by the demands of the day. But only those who set aside the time to intentionally pursue a Higher Power, appreciate what is discovered.
Solitude. Different than meditation, I use solitude to focus inward—to discern my motivations and the voices I allow to direct my life. Not only does the spirit of solitude go against my natural inclination to achieve, the pursuit inward is difficult for every human being. But I remind myself: it is in times of solitude and quiet that I am directed toward the pursuits and achievements that matter most.
Rest. Rest is an exercise in contentment. It is the ability to look back at the work I have accomplished over a period of time and slow down in appreciation of it. It requires one to be content with their lot in life and, for a moment, not strive for more. But instead to rest, satisfied. And again, it turns out rest is one of the most productive things we can ever do.
Play. Playing with my kids, literally getting on the floor with them, is important for their well-being and my desire to communicate love and stability in my family. This is productive. But so is play with other adults. Whether it be a game of Settlers of Catan at our kitchen table or a round of tennis with my opponent down the street, play holds enormous benefit for our lives. And adults who don’t recognize the productive nature of it, miss it altogether.
Investing into Others. This past weekend, I asked my son to help with some yard work. We don’t have a large area around our home and, to be honest, I probably could have finished it in less time if I hadn’t asked him to help. But appreciation for hard work is something I want to instill into his life—and getting dirty on Saturday was a good way to do it. Whether at home, at work, or at church, investing into others doesn’t always feel like the most productive use of our time. But in the long run, everybody benefits.
Our natural inclination is to fill our hours with activities we deem to be highly-productive. But this is almost never the healthiest path for us, our families, or our community. So we must push against this habit constantly reminding ourselves…
Lasting productivity requires periods of nonproductivity—or, better yet, a new definition of what true productivity actually looks like.
I totally agree. I had to learn this the hard way. Keeping myself busy over years, college, PhD, job, and small kids, moving to different countries with the family, many things in parallel, I was constanty rotating, the average night’s sleep below six hours. It started to take its toll on me by my mid-thirties. I had gone down burn-out road too far, and started to become severely depressed and suicidal. After spending a week in bed, the blanket pulled up to my nose and basically not being able to do anything else than starring at the ceiling, the message finally sank in.
Going to a shrink for three month helped me to finally accept my limits, and then the revelation: I felt much better and even gained productivity when I took time-outs, when allowing myself to just ‘hang around’ and think. I’ve been really stupid, to the point where I actually put my mental health at danger. Raised with a wrong understanding of work ethics and self-value, it nearly took me 40 years to free myself from this heritage. The hardest part, to accept that these values are wrong. That people who kill themselfs in rates, are no heroes but real loosers.
I still have relapses, but I learned to listen when my mind and body says stop. And i’m very thankful for that.
Keep up the good work! It’s important to get these messages out.
Bravo!
You and I have very similar life stories except I stopped at an MS degree.
My self image was so wrapped up in achievement that I was ignoring or avoiding the real me. It took me to get into my early 50s to figure that out. I don’t regret what I achieved but I do wish I had done it differently and at a different pace.
Love the rest of your life and yourself and your family!
These are all very important I am sure, and I know my life is lacking scheduled non-productive time. The benefits are surely amazing. As a new blogger however, I can’t seem to allow myself to go there. I fear that if I do, I will not achieve success in my endeavor. But maybe that’s backwards. Maybe they are more critical to my success than I realize.
Whether you think you will succeed, or you think you won’t, you will be correct!
Check out http://www.michaelhyatt.com. He has TONS of help for being super productive while not giving up priorities.
As a mom, I think of it this way, when I’m lying on my death bed, what will be my greatest comfort? And will the investment I made in career come back to comfort me then? I believe it will only be the love invested in people that will be the comfort we need. I guess it comes down to keeping an eternal perspective while living in a temporal world. Good luck on your business ☺
Joshua…I’m the opposite! :) Your “nonproductive” pursuit list comes natural to me and your assessments are way different from mine (except for context). I have to push myself to do more physical work around my home and be “productive”. It gets done…eventually. :) :) :) —-It’s not that I’m lazy…but I’m ok with letting a pot soak overnight in the sink, for example. I don’t know…as you work on your “nonproductive” pursuit…I will be working on my “productive” pursuit. :) There is a lot more I can be doing around here. I sometimes wish I was a bit more wound up!
I so understand you.
This is great! Sometimes we get so busy that we forget about stillness and slowness and things that are truly important. Reminds me of a guest post I just wrote for Blonde on a Budget: http://blondeonabudget.ca/2015/10/12/in-defense-of-doing-nothing/
Great reminders, Joshua. I have the same struggles with the Achiever on Strengthsfinder that you do. I have a hard time being present with people without working on something. I really liked your list of the “productive” benefits that come from investing in our relationships.
I strongly recommend that you, yes you, do the StrengthsFinder assessment.
My father was an applied psychologist, he worked in manufacturing and administrative companies helping fit groups of people into the right slots.
Growing up I was given all of the age appropriate assessments and they never seemed to describing me. Interesting info but so what? Until StrengthsFinders.
I was an administrator at a non-profit and what we were attempting to do is not use it as a screening tool at hiring but after we had hired someone because they showed the kind of traits and character that was a good fit for our team we wanted to make sure that now they were on the bus to help us put them in the right seat on the bus.
I took the assessment online, received the immediate top 5 strengths, and I couldn’t believe it. Without saying anything I gave the printout to my wife of 30 years and asked her to read and comment on it. She said it was a perfect descriptor of me.
I read the relevant portions of the book and for the first time, the first time at 50 years old, I really understood why I was really good at some things and terrible at others. Why I didn’t care about some things and some types of people, and why I was passionate about others. Why some jobs felt so perfect for me and others a total disaster.
Do it, it may be the best $40 you ever spend. If I knew then what I know now…
It is absolutely true than any strength, taken to an extreme, can become a weakness. When I took the StrengthFinder assessment a few years ago, I was struck by how much it aligned with the things I considered to be my greatest faults and my biggest opportunities.
This is very true. I would define things different myself though. To me, doing things that can be measured (ie. reports, spending so many hours on this, making phone calls) all fall under keeping busy. I see a difference between being busy and being productive. For me, being productive means working towards important goals. If 20 minutes of meditation clears the mind and gains a sense of balance and real connection, then that would fall under my definition of being productive. Any task or “nontask” that accomplishes something is a form of productivity.
Our society definitely looks at productivity as something that can be measured by dollar signs, awards, and emails, but I see productivity as doing what inspires me and finding a deeper sense of fulfillment and meaning. The more I learn, the more I push myself, the happier I am, those are ALL signs of productivity. The more satisfied I am with myself and life, the more I can accomplish at home and work. I see personal time as being far more productive than anything I can do at work. Yes, it’s important to push myself to be successful (after all, variety and tackling new challenges give us quite the kick), but I need to feel right within myself if I’m going to get anywhere worth going. Nevertheless if I’m going to be in a state of mind where I can REALLY enjoy where I’m going.
Great article from Life Hack on being productive versus being busy.
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/11-differences-between-busy-people-and-productive-people.html
My first strength is Achiever, too. And your struggles are mine. I’m learning that my best creativity comes on the heels (or in the midst of) rest.
I’m guessing you’ve read The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan. Life changing. Beautifully, poetically written. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.
I have not. Thanks for the recommendation Mary.
But I am learning more and more, especially over the past year, that being nonproductive is actually essential to mindful, intentional living. In fact, being nonproductive is one of the most productive things we can ever do—even if the behavior wars against every inclination in our body.
Love this. I’m on week-three of a four-week writing-free vacation, after turning in first-round edits on my next book. I’m reading, relaxing, and filling the well.
Great advice Joshua. I used to meditate twice a day. I’ve let that practice slide the past few years. This is a wonderful reminder to make a place for it again in my busy life. Thanks!
Love this post Joshua! I too have Achiever number one and if I let it, it can rule my life! It was definitely a struggle when my daughter was born – I had to change the way I feel about ‘getting things done’.
I’ve found a list of core values very helpful in keeping Achiever in check. Achiever used to push me to want a promotion, but my values say that relationships and staying close to family and friends are more important than moving interstate or working more hours!
I love StrengthsFinder and through my work as a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach, I love giving people a new perspective on themselves. I highly recommend it!
I’m an achiever
Spending time mindfully working on something that does not come natural to you everyday is something productive I am taking from this post. Simple but I think it will be beneficial.
As always good things for us to thing about. It reminds me of something I wrote about a long time ago how sometimes our strengths can be weaknesses and our weaknesses can be strengths depending on the circumstances. I struggle with similar issues in that I love to be productive. But if I’m not careful, other important things fall to the wayside and I end up being the woman who works too much.
Yes! I find that the things I value the most (time with my husband, playing with my boys, time alone by myself, time spent out in nature, time with friends), are those things that society considers non-productive. It’s a journey for all of us, but I love how living simply gives me more time for the things I truly want to spend my life doing.
Awesome post! I actually just read, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and it has completely transformed the way I interact with my belongings. It was allowed free space and openness to be able to have the headspace to be productive.
Another great post. Excellent. I didn’t realize that the StrengthsFinders attributes could cause imbalances when implemented! The way you described your approach to your attributes does make it seem excessive.
Yes, its a good reminder to play. I am happy I’ve learned to place attention on that.
Amazing how much I can identify with all your Top 5 Strengths, except for maybe in a lesser degree, Context. Nonetheless, nearing my 50’s, experiencing less energy, more frustration & less contentment from overexerting myself regardless of the achievements (which too tend to get old), learning to meditate more and practicing cherishing my friends & family here today, as I know it can all change “in a wink of an eye”, I am more inclined each day to appreciate, learn to cherish and indulge more on your theme of the productivity of being non-productive. Thanks & Namaste.
I think your post is great except for the meditation bit. I too meditate, but I’m an atheist. I find tremendous value in meditation, and in a laid back kind of life. To become truly minimalist, I feel one has to embrace living so that they don’t forget to have a life. It’s not only about how much stuff you have, it’s about the time you have and make for the things that are truly important.
I agree with this point. Relaxing your mind also allows you to refocus and recharge your brain.
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What a great article. I loved your mention of Quality Time. I just finished reading Dr Chapman’s book the 5 Love Languages – (I wish I had found it 30 years ago!) This is my husband’s Love Language.
Great tips – so much that I can relate to in so many ways. Learning how to slow down and take time for non-productive activities is extremely important.
Things have changed drastically since I learned how to slow down and take time for me.
I look forward to your next post!