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April 15, 2006

Dear friends,

Thank you for visiting my website!

What's the state of U.S. productivity in 2006? First, some context: In 2002, U.S. productivity turned in its best performance since the 1950's---4.7 percent. From April through June 2003, the U.S. Labor Department reported productivity was improving at a blazing 5.7 percent annualized rate. That statistic---a measure of how much an employee generates per hour and a key ingredient in the economy's long-term vitality---should make businesses mighty happy. When productivity is high, organizations don't need to hire as many people.

Yes, in the long run, high productivity will make employees happy too, because companies will be able to pay them more money without raising prices (which ultimately, is good for our economy). However, in the short run, it's hard to be happy about the potential of future earnings when you have no life. Indeed, productivity has continued to decline as employees said "ENOUGH!" 2004 turned a 3.5 annual rate and 2005 was even lower at 2.7%---right back where we started with the dotcom bubble burst of 2000. Employees are no longer kicking out work at the blazing pace of several years ago.

Ask any employed professional today, "How are you?" and you'll get the typical response: "Busy!" When's the last time someone replied, "I have so much free time on my hands, I just don't know what to do with myself!" Everyone's busy. If everyone is busy, then the word "busy" has lost its true meaning. No one is really busy, because "busy" now simply means "normal." Workers are in search of a new, meaningful life outside of work, and productivity figures reflect that fact. As I predicted years ago, the pendulum has swung back in favor of the worker.

Savvy employers are learning that employees who put in 12-hour days aren't necessarily more productive than those who work eight hours. It doesn't matter how many hours your butt is in your seat if you're not producing anything of value. It doesn't matter how long you work; it's how you work. It doesn't matter is you're busy---everyone's busy---the question is: What are you busy at?

If you can figure out how to be more productive during the day and get the same amount of work done in less time, you can leave the office earlier® and get a life.

Let me show you how! I would enjoy presenting a keynote or seminar to your association, agency, or organization, and I'm absolutely certain my presentations would positively contribute to any upcoming meeting, training program, or conference.

I hope to hear from you very soon!

Productively yours,

Laura Stack, MBA, CSP

President & CEO, The Productivity Pro®, Inc.