The Lazy Winner

Forget the endless multi-tasking- now there's a theory that says doing less actually achieves more...

The Lazy Winner

Forget the endless multi-tasking- now there's a theory that says doing less actually achieves more. Anna Pursglove investigates...

The Lazy Winner

Forget the endless multi-tasking- now there's a theory that says doing less actually achieves more. Anna Pursglove investigates...

1. Weigh up your options

To help decide whether you should try to negotiate a job offer, research the remuneration package you expect, as well as the current market rates for the type of role you've been offered. It is helpful to have an idea of what your minimum, expected, and dream salary would be.

80/20 rule

This states that 80 per cent of consequences stem from just 20 per cent of the causes. In other words, we wear 20 per cent of our clothes, 80 per cent of the time; we spend 80 per cent of our time with 20 per cent of acquaintances. The point is to identify that productive 20 per cent of your effort, and to not do any more than that. 'You need to identify something that you're over doing, advises Peter.

Learn to say no

The thing to keep in mind, says Peter, is that saying yes might save time now but it's going to eat a lot of it up later. Gandhi, apparently, was big on this and once said: 'A 'no' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'yes' uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.' He was onto something.

Give up multitasking

Single-tasking makes us more efficient, less stressed and gives better results. It also avoids working at 100 per cent capacity, anathema to the lazy winner apparently. When we keep a bit back, goes the theory, we allow ourselves to deal with the unexpected and also stay open to oppprtunities.

Find your Key influences

A quick way to make yourself a lazy winner, says, Peter, is to hang out with them. We are, say psycologists, the average of the five people who influence us most, so you need to be careful who's on your list.

The Lazy Winner

You know you're a lazy winner when...

1. Your inbox is empty.
2. Your to-do list is short enough to be tweeted.
3. You never say yes because you feel guilty.
4. You know exactly how much work needs to be done, and can stop when you've done it.
5. You're mindful of how work can be reused or recycled.
6. You take no pride in multi-tasking.
7. You feel no compulsion to operate at 100 per cent capacity.
8.You have enough time to consider new opportunities as they arise.