Scientists prefer theories that account for results using the simplest available assumptions. They look as hard as possible for a simple explanation for their findings.

This line of thinking led me to ask, “What is the simplest, most basic barrier to real individual productivity?” To answer this, I simply observed individuals’ behavior and one item caught my attention: the tendency for individuals to AVOID the work that they perceive as “not fun,” “hard” or “challenging,” while instead performing the “fun,” “easy” or “less” challenging tasks FIRST. This led me to develop my own self-proclaimed: Ultimate Personal Performance Tip (the Koby Principal). My principal recommends that individuals do the things or tasks that they are most likely to put off FIRST, and then do everything else.

At the most basic level, we all seek pleasure and wish to avoid pain. In terms of our daily tasks, it seems our default function might be to perform the easy, fun or less challenging tasks first, while putting off the work that is a greater challenge. Read the rest of this entry »