Leave the Office Earlier: The Productivity Pro Shows You How to Do More in Less Time...and Feel Great About It (Paperback)

by Laura Stack (Author) "PREPARATION RELATES TO HOW WELL you've planned and laid the foundation for your daily activities..." (more)
Key Phrases: quiz item, master task list, desk rage, Krispy Kreme, United States, Information Age (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Quoting a 2003 workplace study by COGNA Behavioral Health called "Worried at Work: Mood and Mindset in the American Workplace," Stack argues that workers are stressed to epidemic proportions. Building on the platform of the acronym "PRODUCTIVE," Stark, who holds an MBA and gives inspirational speeches, introduces 10 quizzes and consecutive chapters based on the productivity factors: preparation, reduction, order, discipline, unease, concentration, time mastery, information and equilibrium. By combining fill-in-the-blanks charts and lists with her established techniques, Stark presents a method of organization that can be individualized and effective. Thankfully, her didactic tendencies are muffled by her straightforward style and effort to target each individual organizer. Her book is thorough, and although the payoff is a good one, readers who are truly swamped may not have the time to complete all of the exercises.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
Long hours. Juggling family and work. Deadlines. High stress levels. Today’s professionals are feeling more overworked and overwhelmed than ever before. Yet you CAN get more done than you ever thought possible—and still get home to your real life sooner. Laura Stack, “The Productivity Pro,”® shows you how.

Leave the Office Earlier explores the ten key factors that improve results, lower stress, and save time in today’s workplace. Fun, interactive quizzes speed you to exactly the advice and techniques you need the most. You can tailor this information-loaded book to your own needs by focusing on your problem areas—such as time-wasters, distractions, email overload, or poor organization—and by following the easy-to-implement solutions. With Laura Stack’s help, you’ll work more efficiently and be more productive in every area of your life, so that you can really live according to your priorities. Don’t just work faster. Work better, reduce stress, and leave the office earlier!


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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767916263
• ISBN-13: 978-0767916264
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #129,520 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #42 in	Books > Business & Investing > Skills > Time Management

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Author Has Never Actually Worked in an Office!, March 13, 2005

By	Productivity Junkie (Silicon Valley) - See all my reviews

You have to be carefull with these National Speakers Asso. folks who write their speech into a book. The author says in the book that she heard Zig Ziglar when she was 14, skipped her Senior year of high school, took some business courses in college and went out on the speech circut. Her lack of real world work experience shows in the book. Many many topics with nothing covered in depth. No advice on dealing with conflicting priorities - just the suggestion that you not let your priorities conflict. Lots of her advice has nothing to do with productivity like "you should dress professionally" and when it does it is pretty simplistic like "say no from the heart." I was looking for a corporate veteran who would share proven techniques to get the right things done and get home earlier - I did not find it in this book.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the Busy Executive!, May 15, 2004

By	Chris Widener (Issaquah, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you work 50-75 hours a week, this book is a must-have! It teaches you to be more productive during the day, get your work done in less time, and get home to your life sooner. This is the most complete guidebook on personal productivity I have ever read. It's not just about time management or getting organized or life balance...it's a complete picture of all the things you need to do to improve output, lower stress, and save time at work and home.

Using the word "PRODUCTIVE" itself as a foundation, Stack devotes a chapter to each of the ten key productivity factors: Preparation, Reduction, Order, Discipline, Unease, Concentration, Time Mastery, Information, Vitality, and Equilibrium. Readers determine their own Productivity Quotient (PQ) ™ by answering ten questions per factor, resulting in a cumulative score out of 500 possible points.

I really like the way the book is organized. It's not designed to be read from beginning to end: Stack has used a great hyperlink concept that allows you to "jump" right to the chapter and section where you most need help and begin working on those skills. This modular format is really helping me improve my personal productivity, one habit at a time!

Stack is also collecting the results of the Productivity Quotient (PQ) on her website, so you can compare your performance to others in your industry, income, gender, job function, and age. Cool! You can also register for a FREE monthly follow-up email, which provides support and coaching on productivity concepts. You can sign up on her website at www.TheProductivityPro.com.

If you know someone who works too many hours or needs to improve performance, this will be a great gift...and a must-have addition to your personal library.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even the super-organized people will find tips!, August 18, 2004

By	Dianna Booher "Author, Speak with Confidence... (USA) - See all my reviews

Being "organized to a fault" myself, I really wasn't expecting to find much new here. But I was very pleasantly surprised--particularly in the breadth of the topics covered--everything from how to get your kids off in the morning with all their "stuff" in hand to tips on Microsoft shortcuts. I marked quite a few new tips with Post-Its to share with my assistant to improve our team productivity. Great layout--easy to read. It's a pick-up, put-down type of book as you have a few minutes here and there to read.