There are certain activities that, when done correctly, produce outsized results. We call these high leverage activities. They are the things that, if you focus on them and invest enough time and energy into them, will compound over time to create massive results.
In this article, we will list 45 high leverage activities that you need to know about. If you want to achieve great things in life, then you need to focus on these highest leverage activities and disregard low leverage tasks!
Creating and Publishing Media
Definition: Creating and publishing media is the process of creating and distributing content through various channels such as videos, articles, podcasts, graphics, books, movies, etc.
Creating and publishing media is one of the highest leverage activities because it allows you to reach a large audience with your message.
If you can create compelling content that resonates with people, then you can reach a large number of people with your message.
The single most valuable lesson about creating and publishing media (or code) is that they have zero marginal cost of reproduction.
That means that your productive efforts only have to occur once, and you will continue to see outputs from your efforts over the entire life of the media.
Because of the zero cost of reproduction, the outputs are not directly related to the inputs. You perform the task once and the world may continue to consume the content for years.
Creating and publishing media and code is the creative, high leverage work you want to dedicate your professional life to.
If you have a personal brand, only you are able to create content where your face or voice is the main substance. Focus on this and delegate the other low leverage activities that are required.
Creating and Publishing Code
Definition: Creating and publishing code is the process of writing software or applications and making them available to others.
Creating and publishing code is high leverage because it enables you to automate tasks and processes.
Code can be used to create tools that make your life easier or that make other people’s lives easier.
Along with creating media, it’s one of the highest leverage activities you can dedicate your professional life to.
Code increases the effectiveness and productivity of your work and the work of others. It increases the ability of the person who is using the output of the code.
An example of this is an online store that allows customers to identify products and services they desire and answer their own questions.
Software and code are able to eliminate or automate low leverage activities within businesses, so the team is able to maximize productivity within the organization.
Investing
Definition: Investing is the act of putting money into a venture with the expectation of earning a return on your investment.
Investments are high leverage activities because they allow you to make money without having to work for it. By investing your money wisely, you can make money while you sleep!
Investors don’t have to dedicate their time and their lives to outputs, they simply allocate their finances in a way that generates them income passively.
Creating Content
Definition: Creating content is the process of creating information that can be consumed by others. This can include blog posts, articles, videos, graphics, etc.
Creating content is one of the highest leverage activities because it allows you to reach a large audience with your message.
The point is to create compelling content that resonates with people so that you can reach a large audience who might be willing to buy from you in the future.
Content creation requires creativity, time, and effort.
Capital Allocation
Definition: Capital allocation is the process of allocating capital (money or other assets) to different investments.
Capital allocation is a high leverage activity because it allows you to grow your wealth without having to put in more hours of work. By investing your money wisely, you can make money while you sleep!
Increasing Your Available Time
Definition: Increasing your available time is the process of making more time available in your schedule. This can be done by delegating low leverage tasks, automating processes, or eliminating non-essential activities from your life.
Increasing your available time is one of the most valuable high leverage activities you can do because it allows you to focus on things that have a high impact.
If you can free up more time spent in your schedule, then you can invest that time into activities that will compound over time and make a big impact on your life.
Increasing the Time Efficiency and Accuracy of Important Tasks
Definition: Increasing the efficiency and accuracy of important tasks is the process of making changes to how you do things so that you can get more done in less time.
Increasing the efficiency and accuracy of important tasks is high leverage because it allows you to get more done in less time. This means that you can free up more time in your schedule to focus on big impact and high leverage activities.
Prioritization Based on Impact
Definition: Prioritizing based on impact is the process of ranking activities based on how much impact they will have.
Prioritizing based on impact is high leverage because it allows you to focus your time and energy on activities that will have the biggest impact. This means that you can make the most out of your available time and get more done in less time.
Developing High Impact Relationships
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Definition: Developing high-impact relationships is the process of building relationships with people who can help you achieve your goals.
Developing high-impact relationships is high leverage because it allows you to tap into other people’s networks and resources.
By developing relationships with high-impact people, you can gain access to opportunities and resources that you would not have otherwise had.
Increasing the Impact of Important Activities
Definition: Increasing the impact of important activities is the process of making changes to how you do things so that you can get more done in less time.
Increasing the impact of important activities is high leverage because it allows you to get more done in less time. This means that you can free up more time in your schedule to focus on high-impact activities.
Increasing Your Energy
Definition: Increasing your energy is the process of making changes to how you do things so that you can have more energy.
Increasing your energy is high leverage because it allows you to invest more time and energy into high-impact activities. If you can increase your energy levels, then you can get more done in less time and make a bigger impact.
Applying Specific Knowledge
Definition: Applying specific knowledge is the process of using certain combinations of your knowledge and abilities to achieve a specific goal.
Applying specific knowledge is high leverage because it allows you to get results without having to put in a lot of effort. If you can apply your knowledge effectively, then you can achieve your goals with less effort and make a big impact.
Planning and Organizing Your Day
Definition: Planning and organizing your day is the process of making a plan for how you will spend your time.
Planning and organizing your day is high leverage because it allows you to focus your time and energy on high-impact activities. By planning and organizing your day, you can make sure that you are spending your time in the most efficient way possible.
Exercise
Definition: Exercise is the process of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive for the purpose of developing or maintaining physical fitness.
Exercise is high leverage because it allows you to increase your energy levels. If you can exercise regularly, at least a few times each week, then you can have more energy to invest in high-impact activities.
Content Ideation & Research
Definition: Content ideation and research is the process of coming up with ideas for content and researching those ideas.
Content ideation and research is high leverage because it allows you to create high-quality content which will attract a lot of attention. If you can come up with good ideas and research them properly, then you can create high-quality content that engages, entertains, and inspires your audience.
During the content ideation process, remember the Pareto principle. 20% of your inputs are responsible for 80% of your outputs. Focus on the 20% that matters.
Saying No
Definition: Saying no is the process of refusing to do something that you do not want to do, or that you should not do.
Saying no is high leverage because it allows you to focus your time and energy on high-impact activities. If you can say no to low-impact activities, then you can make more time for the things that really matter and will provide the highest outputs.
Before doing anything, ask yourself “Is this a low leverage activity?”
If the answer is yes, say no. Delegate, eliminate or automate the activity instead.
Architecting Your Habits Around High Leverage Activities
Definition: Architecting your habits involves creating a system that allows you to engage in habits that you want.
Habits automate behaviors that we engage in, often without thinking. It’s the things that we do each day or week that are mainly started by subconscious processes.
Having the correct habits in place to achieve your goals is a crucial element to getting what you want out of life. Motivation and discipline will only get you so far, action is what is really required to produce results.
Creating and Improving Your Offers
Definition: Creating and improving your offers involves making sure that your products and services are valuable to your target market, and that the offer is effectively communicated to your target audience in a way that appeals to them.
Creating and improving your offers is high leverage because it allows you to improve your value proposition. People will only be willing to pay you if you are able to convince them with an enticing and valuable offer for them.
Improving Your Value Proposition
Definition: Improving your value proposition is the process of modifying what you provide to customers into higher quality or lower-cost products or services.
Your value proposition is the core element that your business is centered around, and it is what attracts customers. Improving your value proposition will lead to more leads, more sales, and more revenue.
Radical Innovation
Definition: Radical innovation is the process of creating something new and different that has a huge impact.
Radical innovation is high leverage because it allows you to make a large impact by combining already existing ideas or technologies.
If you can come up with new and innovative ideas, then you can make a big impact without having to put in a lot of time or energy.
Strategy Formulation
Definition: Strategy formulation is the process of creating a plan for how you will achieve your goals. It includes planning for your business and industry as well as your personal life.
Strategy formulation is high leverage because it allows you to focus your time and energy on high-impact activities.
By creating a plan, you can make sure that you are spending your time in the most efficient way possible.
Employing Labor
Definition: Employing labor is the process of hiring people to work for you.
Employing labor is high leverage because it allows you to delegate low leverage activities to other people. If you can hire people to do low-impact activities for you, then you can make more time for high leverage work and increase your own productivity.
Salary and Incentive Decisions
Definition: Salary and incentive decisions are the process of making decisions about how much to pay people and what incentives to offer them.
Salary and incentive decisions are high leverage because they allow you to motivate people to work hard. If you can offer high salaries and good incentives, then you can get people to work harder and achieve more.
Negotiating Major Deals
Definition: Negotiating major deals is the process of negotiating large contracts with other companies or individuals.
Negotiating major deals is high leverage because it allows you to get the best terms for your company. If you can negotiate good deals, then you can save your company money and time.
Designing Systems
Definition: Designing systems is the process of creating systems that will help you achieve your goals.
Designing systems is high leverage because it increases accuracy, efficiency, and automates low-impact activities. If you can create systems that automate repetitive tasks, you can make more time for high-impact activities.
Building Tools to Automate Repetitive Work
Definition: Building tools to automate repetitive work is the process of creating frameworks, processes, or programs that will help you automate low-impact activities.
Building tools to automate repetitive work is high leverage because it allows you to make more time for high-impact activities. If you can build tools that automate repetitive tasks, then you can still complete the things that need to be done, and focus on the things that only you can do.
Recovery & Relaxation
Definition: Recovery & relaxation is the process of taking time to recover from your activities and relax.
Recovery & relaxation is high leverage because it allows you to be more productive and efficient with your time. If you can take time to recover from your activities and relax, then you can be more productive and efficient with your time.
Learning & Education of Specific Knowledge
Definition: Learning & education of specific knowledge is the process of learning new information and skills.
Learning & education of specific knowledge is high leverage because it allows you to be more knowledgeable and skilled. If you can learn new information and skills, then you can be more productive and efficient with your time.
Increasing Your Authority
Definition: Increasing your authority is the process of becoming more respected and influential.
Increasing your authority is high leverage because it allows you to be more persuasive and effective. If you can become more respected and influential, then you can be more persuasive and effective with your time. You will also appeal to a larger audience.
Building Marketing and Sales Funnels
Definition: Building marketing and sales funnels is the process of creating systems that will help you market and sell your products or services.
Building marketing and sales funnels are high leverage because it allows you to sell more products or services. If you can build marketing and sales funnels, then you can sell more products or services and make more money.
Increasing Your Influence
Definition: Increasing your influence is the process of becoming more influential.
Increasing your influence is high leverage because it allows you to be more persuasive and effective. If you can become more influential, then you can be more persuasive and effective with your time, as well as expand your potential audience.
Growing Your Audience
Definition: Growing your audience is the process of attracting more people to your products or services.
Growing your audience is high leverage because it allows you to sell more products or services. If you can attract more people to your products or services, then you can ultimately sell more products or services and make more money.
Writing Sales Copy
Definition: Writing sales copy is the process of writing text that persuades people to buy your products or services.
Writing sales copy is high leverage because it allows you to sell more products or services. If you can write persuasive sales copy, then you can sell more products or services and make more money.
Fixing Repeating Problems
Definition: Fixing repeating problems is the process of finding and fixing problems that keep happening.
Fixing repeating problems is high leverage because it allows you to be more productive and efficient. If you can find and fix problems that keep happening, then you can be more productive and efficient with your time.
Establishing Values & Culture
Definition: Establishing values & culture is the process of creating a set of standards that determines the relationships, responsibilities, and dynamics within your organization.
Establishing values & culture is high leverage because it allows the entire organization to understand its purpose, be efficient and operate without instruction. If you can create a set of values and a culture for your business, then you can be more effective and efficient not only in your own time but the time of your employees and contractors too.
Scaling Your Business
Definition: Scaling your business is the process of growing your business to a larger size, selling more products and services, and delivering more value.
Scaling your business is high leverage because it allows you to make more money. If you can grow your business to a larger size, then you can make more money and be more successful.
Mentoring and Managing New Hires
Definition: Mentoring and managing new hires is the process of helping new employees learn and grow in their job.
Mentoring and managing new hires is high leverage because it allows you to be more productive. If you can help new employees learn and grow in their job, then you can be more productive and efficient with your own time, delegate more responsibilities and take time off without worry.
Practicing Gratitude
Definition: Practicing gratitude is the process of being thankful for what you have.
Practicing gratitude is high leverage because it allows you to be more positive. If you can be thankful for what you have, then you can be more positive and effective with your time.
Gratitude also opens your mind up to future possibilities which will help you generate new ideas and strategies.
Reflection and Self Analysis
Definition: Reflection and self-analysis is the process of reflecting on your life and analyzing your behavior.
Reflection and self-analysis are high leverage because it allows you to be more introspective. If you can reflect on your life and analyze your behavior, then you can be more introspective and effective with your time.
Making Product and Service Improvements
Definition: Making product and service improvements is the process of making changes to your products or services to make them better.
Making product and service improvements is high leverage because it increases quality and customer satisfaction. If you can make changes to your products or services to make them better, then you can be more successful and effective with your time.
Formulating Policies and Procedures
Definition: Formulating policies and procedures is the process of creating rules and guidelines for your business.
Formulating policies and procedures is high leverage because it allows you to be more organized. If you can create rules and guidelines for your business, then you can be confident that your employees will know what to do and when without having to ask you for advice.
Creating & Judging Tests and Experiments
Definition: Creating & judging tests and experiments is the process of designing and conducting experiments to test your products, services, and systems.
Creating & judging tests and experiments is high leverage because it allows you to be more scientific. If you can design and conduct experiments to test your products or services, then you can gain feedback by learning what works and what doesn’t.
Building Models
Definition: Building models is the process of creating models to help you understand or predict something.
Building models is high leverage because it allows you to be more predictive. If you can create models to help you understand or predict something, then you can plan more effectively and exercise better judgment
Cutting Costs
Definition: Cutting costs is the process of reducing your expenses.
Cutting costs is high leverage because it allows you to save money. If you can reduce your expenses, then you can save money and be more effective with your time.
Meditation
Definition: Meditation is the process of focusing your mind on one thing.
Meditation is high leverage because it allows you to be more mindful. If you can focus your mind on one thing, then you will increase your ability to concentrate and perform deep work on a high-leverage activity.
There are many other benefits to meditation, such as allowing you to think more clearly and define who you really want to be in life.
Conclusion
By practicing these high-leverage activities, you can be more productive, positive, introspective, successful, organized, scientific, predictive, and mindful. These activities will help you improve your life and business, make you more money and make you become more successful.
Thanks for reading! I hope this was helpful to you. Please comment below if you have any questions or suggestions about high leverage activities.