Top 3 Success Killers
Eben Pagan reveals the top 3 success killers that prevent entrepreneurs from achieving their goals: uncontrolled multitasking, reactive interruptions, and lack of focused work periods. He provides two specific techniques to regain control: scheduling interruptions into designated time blocks and practicing enlightened multitasking with proactive intent.
Teachings 6
Multitasking and constant interruptions rob entrepreneurs of their natural focus power and prevent long-term concentration on important tasks
Tim Ferriss research showing multitasking lowers IQ more than smoking marijuana, plus the concept of living in the 'gray zone' where you're juggling too many balls
Schedule interruptions by setting specific windows for calls and emails, like 11 AM to noon and 4-5 PM, with voicemail and auto-responder messages directing people to those times
Specific voicemail script: 'Hi it's Eben thanks for calling... I'm actually available for incoming calls between 11:00 a.m. and noon and 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m every day'
When making it harder for people to interrupt you, they often figure out how to solve problems themselves instead of relying on you
Creating barriers to interruption forces people to become more self-reliant and solve their own urgent issues rather than defaulting to calling for help
Consciously avoid responding immediately to emails 80-90% of the time to avoid programming people that you're always available
Specific percentage given: '80 or 90% of the time when I'm checking email I try to consciously never respond right back to someone who emails me'
Practice enlightened multitasking by scheduling specific times for multitasking and being proactive about what you'll accomplish during those sessions
Reference to Stephen Covey's Seven Habits concept of being proactive rather than reactive, with specific recommendation for 50-minute multitasking sessions
Combine scheduled interruptions with enlightened multitasking in the same time windows to maximize efficiency and maintain boundaries
Specific recommendation to use the same 11 AM-noon and 4-5 PM windows for both answering calls/emails and doing multitasking work
Perspectives 2
The real problem isn't interruptions themselves, but letting them become the paradigm and norm that controls you instead of you controlling them
Most interruptions come from people thinking short-term and doing urgent tasks that just popped into their mind, but aren't actually important or requiring immediate response
Most people operate in reactive mode, waiting for emails or calls to trigger them into action instead of being proactive about their priorities
Stephen Covey's Seven Habits framework identifying proactive vs reactive behavior, with the metaphor of 'everyone else out there has a little leash on you and they're jerking on it'
Quotable Moments 3
“multitasking lowers your IQ more than smoking marijuana”
— Eben Pagan“we let them control us instead of us controlling them”
— Eben Pagan“everyone else out there has a little leash on you and they're jerking on it”
— Eben Pagan
How to Schedule Your Interruptions
A system to control when people can reach you instead of being constantly available
- 1
Set specific windows
Choose 2 time periods per day for calls and emails, like 11 AM-noon and 4-5 PM
- 2
Create voicemail message
Record a message telling callers when you're available and when they can expect callbacks
- 3
Set up email auto-responder
Configure an automatic reply explaining when you check and respond to emails
- 4
Add emergency contact option
Provide alternative contact method for truly urgent matters, like assistant or text with specific code
- 5
Stick to the schedule
Only check and respond to communications during your designated windows
Questions Answered
How do you schedule interruptions in your workday
“I'm actually available for incoming calls between 11:00 a.m. and noon and 400 p.m. and 5:00 p.m every day”
— Eben Pagan▶ 4:45
Set specific windows like 11 AM to noon and 4-5 PM for calls and emails. Use voicemail and auto-responder messages directing people to contact you only during those times.
Why is multitasking bad for productivity
“Tim Ferris who wrote the 4our work week um you know he talks about how multitasking lowers your IQ more than smoking marijuana”
— Eben Pagan▶ 1:04
Multitasking lowers your IQ more than smoking marijuana and prevents you from staying focused on one thing long enough to get significant results.
What is enlightened multitasking
“enlightened multitasking where when we're going to do multitasking we do it consciously we have the time set aside to do it”
— Eben Pagan▶ 10:30
Enlightened multitasking means scheduling specific times for multitasking and being proactive about what you'll accomplish, rather than reactively responding to whatever comes your way.
How often should you respond to emails immediately
“80 or 90% of the time when I'm checking email I try to consciously never respond right back to someone who emails me”
— Eben Pagan▶ 6:18
Eben recommends consciously avoiding immediate email responses 80-90% of the time to avoid programming people that you're always available.
What happens when you make yourself less available for interruptions
“if you make it so that people can't interrupt you as much they will figure out how to solve the problem that they were trying to call you and get you to solve for them”
— Eben Pagan▶ 3:41
When you make it harder for people to interrupt you, they often figure out how to solve problems themselves instead of relying on you for everything.
Summary
The Hidden Cost of Constant Multitasking
Eben opens by explaining how distractions, interruptions and multitasking scramble our minds and prevent us from using our natural focus power. He cites Tim Ferriss research showing multitasking lowers IQ more than smoking marijuana, making the case that juggling too many things keeps us in an unproductive 'gray zone.'
The Reality Check on Interruptions
Rather than advocating for complete elimination of interruptions, Eben acknowledges they're unavoidable in modern business. The real problem isn't the interruptions themselves, but letting them become the norm that controls us. Most interruptions aren't actually urgent or important - they're just people thinking short-term.
Scheduling Your Interruptions Strategy
Eben introduces the first technique: scheduling specific windows for interruptions like 11 AM-noon and 4-5 PM. This involves setting up voicemail and email auto-responders directing people to contact you during designated times, while also avoiding immediate email responses to prevent programming constant availability expectations.
Enlightened Multitasking Approach
The second technique combines Stephen Covey's proactive principles with scheduled multitasking sessions. Instead of reactively responding to whatever comes up, you consciously decide what to accomplish during designated multitasking windows. This shifts you from reactive mode where others control your agenda to proactive mode where you stay mission-focused.
Counterpoint
Claim: “You need to be available for interruptions and multitasking is just part of modern business”
Reframe: Interruptions and multitasking should be scheduled and controlled, not allowed to control you
Most interruptions aren't actually important or urgent, and when you make yourself less available, people often solve problems themselves
Claim: “Being responsive and answering emails immediately shows good customer service”
Reframe: Immediate email responses program people to expect constant availability and create unhealthy expectations
Eben consciously avoids responding immediately 80-90% of the time to avoid programming people that he's always available
Claim: “Multitasking is necessary in modern business and you just have to deal with it”
Reframe: Multitasking should be enlightened and proactive, not reactive and scattered
Stephen Covey's Seven Habits principle of being proactive instead of waiting for external triggers to determine your actions
Key Points 8
Multitasking and constant interruptions rob entrepreneurs of their natural focus power and prevent long-term concentration on important tasks
▶ 0:32The real problem isn't interruptions themselves, but letting them become the paradigm and norm that controls you instead of you controlling them
▶ 2:19Schedule interruptions by setting specific windows for calls and emails, like 11 AM to noon and 4-5 PM, with voicemail and auto-responder messages directing people to those times
▶ 4:12When making it harder for people to interrupt you, they often figure out how to solve problems themselves instead of relying on you
▶ 3:41Consciously avoid responding immediately to emails 80-90% of the time to avoid programming people that you're always available
▶ 6:18Practice enlightened multitasking by scheduling specific times for multitasking and being proactive about what you'll accomplish during those sessions
▶ 7:22Most people operate in reactive mode, waiting for emails or calls to trigger them into action instead of being proactive about their priorities
▶ 8:26Combine scheduled interruptions with enlightened multitasking in the same time windows to maximize efficiency and maintain boundaries
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Topics
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