FBC – 459 – The small change that allowed me to become more productive

The small change that allowed me to become more productive.

Greetings my friend,

Here's the latest gem that I released for you

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Do you want to get a lot more done and work less?

If yes, then I have something pretty cool for you.

I have been trying this “new method” of organizing my days and it works like gangbusters!

I work 2 times less than before and get a lot more done during the day.

And the best part about it is that this is very simple to do for ANYBODY.

There is just one simple concept that you have to integrate into the tools or systems you use everyday and BAM!

More details on that in today's episode

if you want to get a free account on the tool I recommended please click here

https://martinebongue.com/mindmeister

,

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

“High expectations are the key to everything.”
, Sam Walton, founder Walmart

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Martin Ebongue

Online Entrepreneur & free spirit:

Proud Owner Of The 50K Emails A Day Done-For-You Software

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Your Podcast Host

International Speaker | Podcaster | Free Spirit

Freedom Is A Choice: So choose wisely…

Welcome to the Freedom By Choice Podcast with your one and only hoste Martin. This podcast is reserved for freedom aficionados and entrepreneurs looking to create the lifestyle of their dreams.

In this podcast you will find all the support and answers you need to start, grow and scale a business that gives you the freedom you deserve.

I have compressed years of trials and errors, into easy to consume episodes, to take you from where you are now, to where you want to be.

I wanted to talk to you about a to do list. So you know, everybody has a to do list.

But here's the thing. Do you like this? Should you be using a to do list? That's the question, right?

Some people tell, you know, you shouldn't blah, etc. Well, here's the thing. The way we're using to do lists today is really, really not optimal. I want to tell you the changes that I applied to my to do list, the way I think about stuff and some of the ways that you can actually start using better tools that will help you get more productive.

This is exactly what I'm doing now. And again, I told you today I made some massive progress. It's insane, right?

So here's the thing. What's the problem with a to do list? OK, there are a few problems.  Basically, you're writing things just as they are appearing in your brain. OK, so you just write down everything that comes to your mind at that moment. So you list everything you have to do. You end up with this big list with a bunch of things to do.

And the first problem is that they come in some sort of chronological order, the way they actually came to your brain. OK, so where is the problem in that?

The problem is that they didn't necessarily come with some sort of priority. So you have, I don't know, get the groceries and then go pay the bank because otherwise you’ll get evicted or something like this. And that might be the last one you think about, and it’s at the bottom of the list.

So they don't come with, like a set of priority or anything like this. And very often then we start tackling stuff that actually is a low priority just because it was the first thing in our brain.

Second thing is that the thing with the to do list is that this thing is endless and as soon as you do something, then you will add something. And then it will stress you out and this thing is endless.

OK, so if you've been following me for a while, remember that I told you that what you need to do, one thing that you need to do is have one task that you want to work on for today. You have one main objective. So there are benefits to this.

The small change that allowed me to become more productive

One benefit is a psychological benefit as well, because when you go to bed, you know that you've done what it is that you needed to do. You will sleep like a baby. You're happy, right? It's silly. It's very silly, but it will work like gangbusters, with your energy level and your confidence and all that kind of stuff.

Everything's going to be better because you finished what you had to do. Well, if you have two or three hundred things on the to do list, then yeah it becomes overwhelming.

Also if you have one thing to do, then you just focus on that one thing, that one thing is actually going to get better, right? It's going to be. Much better, and you're going to get better results.

The Small Change That Beats Any Productivity App You Will Ever Download

People chase productivity like it lives inside a new app or a fancier planner. It does not. The change that actually rewired my days was tiny and almost boring. I decided the one thing that mattered most before the day started, and I did it first, before email, before messages, before anyone else got a vote on my time. That is it. No system to learn, no subscription. Most of my old busy days were spent reacting to other people's priorities, and reacting feels like work while moving nothing that is mine.

So protect the first block of your day for the work only you can do, and let the noise wait. Small change, huge compounding. I tell the story of the shift that made me productive on my story page, and I go deeper on how I structure a day on my Freedom by Choice podcast. On why deep focus beats reactive busywork, Harvard Business Review has years of research, and the productivity findings from McKinsey Digital show how much value hides in the hours you stop giving away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective small change for productivity?

The single most effective small change is focusing on one task at a time instead of multitasking. Research shows that single-tasking can boost productivity by up to 40%. By eliminating task-switching, you reduce cognitive load and produce higher quality work in less time, leading to compounding gains over weeks and months.

How long does it take for a productivity habit to stick?

Studies from University College London suggest it takes an average of 66 days for a new habit to become automatic. However, smaller habits like time-blocking or writing a daily to-do list can feel natural within 2 to 3 weeks. Consistency matters more than perfection, so aim for daily repetition rather than flawless execution.

Can one small habit really change your entire workflow?

Yes. Keystone habits create a ripple effect across your routine. For example, starting each morning with a 5 minute planning session often leads to better prioritization, fewer distractions, and up to 25% more completed tasks per day. One intentional change reshapes how you approach everything else in your schedule.

What are common mistakes people make when trying to be more productive?

The biggest mistakes include trying to overhaul everything at once, relying on willpower instead of systems, and confusing being busy with being productive. Around 70% of failed productivity attempts stem from taking on too many changes simultaneously. Start with one small adjustment and build from there for lasting results.

About the Author

Martin Ebongue is the founder of martinebongue.com, an online business and lifestyle design blog focused on helping aspiring entrepreneurs build location-independent businesses. Since 2014, he has been creating and scaling online ventures across multiple niches, from digital products and affiliate marketing to SaaS and content platforms, while traveling the world. He shares the real-world strategies, tools, and systems that work, with a particular focus on AI-powered automation for solopreneurs. Follow him on YouTube, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

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