Action-Powered Productivity
Accomplish more with less effort,
using a toolkit tailored to your life and work
Join 1,000+ in the free APP community
Productivity Tips, Discussions, Events, Recommendations, and more!
What is Action-Powered Productivity?
Those are big promises! "Accomplish more with less effort?" Sure, but how? And "a toolkit tailored to me" sounds awesome—but who's tailoring that?
Action-Powered Productivity (APP) delivers on these promises through two simple yet powerful core tactics: Take Action and Capture Recurrence™.
Here's how it works:
- Accomplish more with less effort: By focusing on taking immediate action and then capturing patterns of recurrence, you naturally streamline your workflow. Each action you take becomes an opportunity to build efficiency into your future work, allowing you to accomplish more while actually doing less.
- A toolkit tailored to you: You are the tailor of your own system. As you work, APP guides you to create productivity bridges™—tools like templates, procedures, and automations that fit your unique way of working. Your toolkit evolves organically from your actions, ensuring a perfect fit for your life and work.
Think of it this way: Just as the complexity of life emerges from the simple interaction of DNA's four letters, your personalized productivity system emerges from the regular execution of APP's two core tactics. Take Action and Capture Recurrence are simple to execute, but when applied consistently, the result is a productivity toolkit that comes to life, perfectly adapted to your needs.
What's more, this system remains immediately adaptable to the inevitable changes in your life. Unlike rigid productivity methods that can become obsolete when your circumstances shift, APP evolves with you. It's a perfect fit that never locks you in, continuously adjusting to your changing roles and responsibilities.
With APP, you're not forced to adapt to a rigid system. Instead, you build efficiency and effectiveness into your existing workflow, one action at a time. The result? A powerful, personalized approach to productivity that helps you do more with less effort, adapts as your life changes, and leads to a more fulfilling life.
"To say something is life-changing—that phrase gets tossed around a lot, but this literally feels like an inflection point. There's a 'before APP' and an 'after APP' for me. I'm in control of my life in a way that I simply was not previously."
"[In other systems, t]here is usually so much to set up before you can get started, and then the system only works if you adhere to it completely and devotedly. Instead, [APP] is far more modular. Put in place a few good foundational habits, then learn to spot the opportunities to save time and effort in your day to day work, allowing them to compound and build on each other.... [M]any times I found myself going from "Oooh that's a good idea!" to having the particular system set up within a few minutes, and I was already benefitting from many of them before I finished the book."
Principles: What Makes APP Different?
It's easy to say "Take Action" and "Capture Recurrence," but what do these mean in practice? And how does APP stand out from other productivity systems?
Unlike systems like GTD (Getting Things Done) or Franklin Covey, which often require extensive setup and rigid adherence to predefined structures, APP takes a more flexible, action-oriented approach:
| Aspect | Traditional Systems (e.g., GTD, Franklin Covey) | Action-Powered Productivity (APP) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | Extensive initial setup | Minimal - start with what you're already doing |
| Flexibility | Often rigid, requiring adherence to specific methods | Highly flexible, adapts to your workflow |
| Focus | Organizing and planning | Taking action and improving efficiency |
| Evolution | System remains largely static | System evolves with your needs and habits |
APP's focus on action and recurrence leads to a naturally evolving system that becomes more efficient over time. But life is far more than "principles" about efficiency. Is APP just hustle and bustle, or can it also lead to a more fulfilling life? And if so, how?
The magic lies in the connection between efficiency and your roles: the identities you embody in your life and work.
Certainly, as you become more efficient in your tasks, you free up time and mental energy for pursuits that truly matter to you. But there's an even more profound effect: understanding recurrence leads to a clearer sense of identity. As Aristotle is often paraphrased, You are what you repeatedly do. By recognizing the roles you embody—and aspire to embody—in your life and work, you align your actions with what truly fulfills you.
The path from effective to efficient to fulfilling action follows these simple principles:
Take Effective Action
Capture notes, tasks, and agendas that show up when you need them.
Take Efficient Action
Capture Recurrence™ in Recurring Tasks, Procedures, Templates and Automations. There's leverage in repetition!
Take Fulfilling Action
"You are what you repeatedly do." Align your action with your roles: the identities you embody in your work and life.
Join the APP Community
Discover a supportive network of like-minded individuals on their productivity journey.
Connect
Engage with over 1,000 members who share your productivity goals.
Learn
Access exclusive tips, discussions, and events to enhance your APP experience.
Grow
Accelerate your progress with peer support and shared insights.
The Rhythms of Productivity
The Rhythms of Productivity showcases Action-Powered Productivity (APP), offering a flexible, personalized approach for effective work and a fulfilling life. Unlike rigid systems, APP works with your natural way of thinking and working, teaching you to take decisive action, capture recurrence through Productivity Bridges, and align your work with meaningful life roles. Through engaging analogies and practical exercises, Rhythms guides you in crafting a unique productivity toolkit that adapts to your needs, helping you achieve more with less effort and find greater fulfillment in your work.
Reader Praise
I finished 'Rhythms' yesterday, and I want you to know I haven't felt the same confidence and enthusiasm since I first read GTD more than 20 years ago. I have been on the Hyrum Smith/Franklin Covey/GTD/Todoist (Grandmaster)/Roam 'keep it together until it comes together' train for my adult life, and 'Rhythms', to me, is the most 'adult', real-world, holistic, battle-tested, accurate approach that I've come across.
I have been so overwhelmed with trying to manage a work/life balance and this book has helped me so much! I feel like I have concrete tools to manage my time and work on projects instead of just concepts to think about.... I can’t recommend enough to people who are high performing and need better work systems to allow for clearer boundaries between work and life.
"It's interesting for me comparing and contrasting this to a certain other very well-known productivity course that I did not that long ago for six times as much money. I've got 10 times as much out of [APP Live] for one-sixth of the financial investment."
"[APP] has significantly boosted my productivity and confidence. The APP system is effective, practical, and has positively transformed my task management. Overall, it's been a game-changer in my daily routine."
Resources
Ideas without implementation are useless. Because APP is "action first, structure follows," it's simpler to implement than most productivity approaches.
But translating concepts into concrete notes, tasks, agendas, templates, automations, roles, and so forth, can be daunting. The resources below can help you turn your productivity ideas into an Action-Powered Productivity toolkit implementation.
APP Resources
In addition to joining the free community, you can supercharge your productivity with group or one-on-one consulting options.
Fundamentals of Action-Powered Productivity
$649
Take Meaningful Action, Lead a Fulfilling Life
A 12-week live course to develop and refine the toolkit that will keep you productive for the rest of your life.
APP Pioneers Community
$9/mo.
Join fellow trailblazers on the frontiers of modern productivity
Join Masterminds, Workshops, and exclusive presentations while connecting with fellow pioneers and gaining direct access to expert insights and APP discounts. (Previously called "APP Pro")
1-on-1 Consulting
$1,000 & up
Personalized productivity coaching
Turn your ideas into implementations and your potential into action with tailored guidance, app recommendations, and more. Optimize your productivity toolkit with personalized one-on-one consulting sessions.
Tana Resources
APP does not require any specific apps. But R.J. uses Tana as the spine of his productivity toolkit, so he's created a few resources for fellow (or prospective) Tana users.
Tana for Action
$59
A task app, built in Tana
The core of R.J.'s Tana framework, which Tana users can install directly into their Tana workspace.
Tana for Leaders
$397
Build your custom leadership toolkit in Tana
An exclusive live consulting series for executives, entrepreneurs, and managers to elevate their leadership effectiveness using Tana.
@r.j.nestor on Medium
Exponential Productivity: AI to the Nth Power
October 26, 2024
Imitate, Iterate, Innovate: Assembling Your Productivity Toolkit
October 11, 2024
Get Real: Start from Where You Really Are
October 5, 2024
Who Is R.J.?
R.J. Nestor is a productivity consultant, musician, and writer with over two decades of experience in enhancing communication and productivity for individuals and organizations. As the founder of the Action-Powered Productivity (APP) community, R.J. has developed numerous courses and tools that empower entrepreneurs, executives, and freelancers across a wide range of industries, including technology, finance, architecture, real estate, insurance, fitness, and law.
R.J. is the author of The Rhythms of Productivity, a foundational text that serves as the core content for Action-Powered Productivity. His action-first approach and focus on recurrence enable clients to effectively execute their ideas and fully realize their potential. Known for his practical, no-nonsense methods, R.J. tailors productivity strategies to fit individual needs and working styles, leveraging modern note-taking apps and task management tools, including tools for thought like Tana, Obsidian, and Roam Research.
As a sought-after speaker and consultant, R.J. has guided over a thousand people in his community towards streamlined work processes and greater fulfillment. His expertise in personal productivity and knowledge management makes him a trusted authority for those seeking to do more with less effort while leading a meaningful and purposeful life.
Burning Questions
These are more than FAQs. They're Burning Questions because, let's face it, we've all been burned before. It's not that other productivity systems are deliberately misleading us—but that they just don't fit what we need them to be. For us.
Which raises an important question: Why should this time be any different? Is it worth even joining the free Action-Powered Productivity community?
Action-Powered Productivity (APP) stands out by emphasizing immediate action and allowing structure to develop naturally from your activities. Instead of imposing a rigid framework that you must adapt to, APP encourages you to start with what you're already doing and build your productivity tools around that. This approach ensures your system is tailored to your real work, not an idealized version.
Key differences include:
- Action First: APP focuses on taking immediate steps, enabling you to make progress without extensive upfront planning.
- Organic Structure: As you act, APP helps you identify patterns and recurring tasks, allowing a personalized system to evolve with you.
- Roles Over Goals: Instead of setting distant goals, APP uses roles to define important areas of your life and work, keeping you connected to what matters most.
- Flexible Reviews: Regular reflection and adjustment are encouraged based on your needs, rather than sticking to a fixed schedule.
APP is designed to adapt to your unique work style and acknowledges that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. By focusing on immediate action and capturing what works for you, APP helps you build a system that's practical and sustainable. Unlike methods that might feel cumbersome or unrealistic, APP grows organically with your workflow.
Here's why APP can succeed where others haven't:
- Personalized Approach: It builds on your actual tasks and habits, creating tools that fit you rather than forcing you into a preset mold.
- Avoids Overwhelm: By starting small and focusing on key actions, APP prevents you from feeling overloaded.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular reflection allows you to adjust and refine your system as you discover what works best for you.
You can start seeing benefits from APP immediately by implementing small, actionable steps. There's no need to set up an entire system before you begin. Start with simple tools like notes and task lists, and gradually build on them as you become more comfortable.
Key points:
- Immediate Impact: Begin by capturing your tasks and ideas as they come, which can improve your productivity right away.
- Incremental Growth: Add more elements to your system over time, adjusting without feeling overwhelmed.
- Flexible Commitment: You decide how much time to invest and can scale up or down based on your needs.
Recurrence is at the heart of APP because it's where most of your time and effort are spent. By identifying and capturing recurring tasks, you can leverage them to significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. Instead of repeatedly starting from scratch, APP helps you create templates, procedures, and automations that simplify repetitive work.
Benefits of focusing on recurrence:
- Maximize Efficiency: Streamlining recurring tasks frees up time for more meaningful activities.
- Reduce Rework: By capturing and organizing recurring tasks, you avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
- Leverage Patterns: Recognizing patterns in your work allows you to optimize processes and work smarter.
APP acknowledges that distractions are a natural part of life and provides strategies to manage them effectively. When interruptions occur, APP helps you make the most of your limited working memory by quickly capturing essential information—either about the interruption or the task you were working on.
Strategies include:
- Managing the Urgency Illusion: Recognize that not every interruption requires immediate action. APP helps you determine whether to address it now or schedule it for later.
- Quick Capture Tools: Use simple methods to jot down tasks or ideas, ensuring you won't forget them and can maintain focus on your current work.
- Seamless Transitions: By briefly noting where you left off, you can return to your previous task more easily after handling the interruption.
APP is designed to enhance productivity in a sustainable way by ensuring you're engaged in the "right work"—tasks that are fulfilling and meaningful to you. It emphasizes roles over arbitrary goals, allowing you to focus on identities you embody in your life and work.
Ways APP helps prevent burnout:
- Roles Reflect Real Action: By focusing on roles that emerge from your recurring actions, you stay connected to what genuinely matters to you.
- Adjustable Focus: You can identify roles you want to invest more or less energy in, helping you align your work with your personal values.
- Meaningful Progress: Concentrating on fulfilling tasks reduces the feeling of spinning your wheels and minimizes unproductive busywork.
APP has been tested and refined through extensive real-world application. Over the course of 14 live cohorts—including programs like Applied APP and Action-Powered Productivity Live—hundreds of participants have successfully implemented APP principles in their daily lives. Thousands more are part of the growing APP community, providing continuous feedback and success stories.
Evidence includes:
- Proven Results: Participants report increased control over their lives, enhanced clarity, and significant improvements in productivity.
- Positive Testimonials: One user described APP as a life-changing experience, noting a clear distinction between life before and after engaging with the system. Another found it more valuable than other well-known productivity courses, gaining substantially more for a fraction of the investment.
- Community Growth: The expanding community demonstrates APP's adaptability and effectiveness across various industries and roles.