For those who work hard but see no results—The real secret of fast workers

I am Kumataro Yokoyama, a training instructor and sign language interpreter.

While utilizing AI, I provide information for seniors and introduce books and gadgets.

“I need to be more efficient.”

I imagine many people feel this way.

I used to be the same way.

Every time I saw someone who worked fast, I thought,

“It’s because they are quick-witted,”
“It’s because they are highly capable,”
“They are a different breed from me.”

That is what I thought.

However, after reading an interview with Keiichi Ikunami published in STUDY HACKER, my way of thinking changed.

People who work fast were not people who perform tasks quickly.

Truly fast people are fast at “starting.”

Many people try to increase their work speed.

However, Mr. Ikunami says,

“What is important is not the speed of your hands, but the speed of starting.”

He says.

When you think about it, that is certainly true.

A person who worries for 30 minutes before starting a document versus a person who starts in 5 minutes.

Even if the actual work time is the same, the results will be vastly different.

We spend a surprisingly long time

“before starting.”

spending time on.

Researching.

Hesitating.

Thinking.

Feeling anxious.

And then procrastinating.

That very time might be what is keeping results at bay.

The more you aim for perfection, the less you can move.

When starting something new, many people try to get everything ready.

Gathering knowledge.

Looking up methods.

Searching for a way to avoid failure.

Of course, preparation is important.

However, if you only prepare, you will never get started.

The example of the arcade basketball game introduced in the article was impressive.

Skilled people do not aim for perfection from the start.

They throw first.

Then they adjust.

They throw again.

By repeating that process, they get a feel for it.

Life and work are the same.

There are more things you won't know unless you try.

People who achieve results think about the 'purpose'.

Another interesting point was the way of distinguishing between 'goals' and 'purpose'.

For example, creating a document.

This is a goal.

So, what is the purpose?

It might be to make a meeting run smoothly.

It might be to help the other party understand.

It might be to provide material for decision-making.

People who see the purpose can reduce unnecessary work.

Conversely, if you lose sight of the purpose, you end up working hard without achieving results.

This is not limited to work.

It is the same for side jobs, hobbies, and relationships.

'I'll do it someday' usually means you won't do it at all.

I myself have felt this strongly since entering my 60s.

Time is not infinite.

When I was young,

'I'll do it someday'

was sometimes enough.

However, as you get older,

"Someday"

surprisingly never comes.

That is precisely why,

if you think of something, do just a little bit of it.

If something piques your interest, look it up.

If you want to do it, start it.

Accumulating these small actions is what becomes important.

It does not need to be a big challenge.

Even just five minutes is fine.

People start moving by writing things down

Mr. Ikunami recommends the habit of "writing in zero seconds."

Write down what comes to mind immediately.

There is no need to write well.

There is no need to organize it either.

Just write.

This is very logical.

When people think only in their heads, they go around in circles.

However, when you write things out, they become visualized.

Then, the next action becomes clear.

I personally make a note of article ideas and book concepts as soon as they come to mind.

It is not uncommon for those small notes to lead to significant results later on.

Conclusion

What I felt after reading this article is that

people who achieve results do not possess special talents.

The difference lies in

the time it takes to start,

the habit of considering the purpose,

and the attitude of accumulating actions.

That accumulation is what makes a big difference.

If you currently have something you want to do but are not moving forward,

please try starting small without waiting for perfect preparation.

It may be that the "first step" changes the future more than ability does.

What might change the future is not ability, but the "first step."

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#PurposeDrivenThinking #TaskManagement #TimeManagement #WorkStyle #SeniorChallenge #ChallengeFromYour60s #SideHustle #note #KindlePublishing #ChangeYourLife #TurnLearningIntoPower #Output #SelfGrowth #KeiichiIkuwa