"La productivité est la capacité de faire des choses que vous n'avez jamais pu faire auparavant"

The essence of this quote is all about growth and achieving new goals. It’s not just about getting more stuff done or crossing things off a to-do list faster. True productivity is when you push your boundaries and accomplish things that once seemed out of reach. It’s about breaking barriers and evolving, both personally and professionally.

Historically, the idea of productivity has evolved. Initially, during the Industrial Revolution, it meant cranking out more goods in less time. But in today’s world, especially with the rise of technology and information work, productivity has shifted. It’s now more about innovation and creativity—doing things better and doing things you couldn’t do before.

Imagine a software developer who’s always been good at coding. They might spend years writing clean, efficient code quickly. But real productivity kicks in when they learn a new programming language that lets them build apps they couldn’t even dream of before. That’s what this quote is getting at.

Here’s a practical application. Think about athletes. Early in their careers, many basketball players might focus on improving their shooting accuracy or speed. But the ones who truly push the limits of productivity are those who add completely new dimensions to their game. Take someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was known for his incredible physical abilities but wasn’t initially a great shooter. Over time, he worked on his shooting skills, eventually becoming a more versatile player. This allowed him to do things on the court he couldn’t before, making him a far more productive player and a bigger asset to his team.

So, how do you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by identifying areas where you feel stuck or limited. Maybe there’s a skill you’ve always wanted to learn but felt it was too difficult. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Set small, achievable goals that stretch your abilities. Over time, these small steps will compound, and you’ll find yourself doing things you once thought were impossible.

Picture this: You’re in your mid-thirties, and you’ve been working in marketing for over a decade. You’re good at it, but you’ve always relied on traditional methods like print ads and TV commercials. You’ve been hearing a lot about digital marketing but have always felt it’s a young person’s game with all that tech. One day, you decide to take the plunge. You enroll in an online course about social media marketing. At first, it’s overwhelming. Algorithms, hashtags, analytics— it’s all foreign. But you stick with it. After a few months, you not only understand it but start incorporating it into your strategies. Soon, you’re running successful campaigns on platforms you once didn’t even understand. Your productivity has skyrocketed—not because you’re working more but because you’re doing things you couldn’t do before.

That’s what real productivity is. It’s not about squeezing more out of your day; it’s about expanding your capabilities. So, next time you’re thinking about how to be more productive, don’t just look for ways to do more of the same. Seek out those new challenges and skills. You’d be surprised at what you can achieve.