1. Productivity For Geeks
By Steven Savage

2. What’s This About
We’re geeks – we’re usually up to a lot of stuff at work and at home.
But we’d like to get more done – or get things done in less time. Or just have time.
So I’m going to share the productivity tips I use for my own endeavors – writing, websites, and more.

3. Who Am I?
I’m a Project Manager, Scrum Master, and general IT Professional.
I also write about geek jobs, creativity, and productivity.
I ALSO run
I kind of get busy.
You can find out more at

4. Where Does this come from
I get busy, so over the years I’ve looked to become more productive. I started with David Allen’s “Getting Things Done,” however . . .
I’m also a PM and Scrum Master, and I began into looking at Scrum and Agile methods in general to get more organized.
If you know about Agile and Scrum, don’t worry, I’m not dogmatic. But let’s have a quick overview.

5. Agile And Such
A quick overview without the preachiness

6. All this Agile Stuff
“Agile” refers to ways to be productive and organize that focus on adaption and communication over ritual, rote, and huge long-term plans that fail.
It has it’s roots in manufacturing processes – and probably has predecessors beyond that.
It got really solidified at a giant meetup in 2001 that created the (worth reading) Agile Manifesto.
It’s also big in software, and also big in talking a lot while actually not doing much, which is where folks get cynical.

7. The Agile Manifesto
We are uncovering better ways of developing software STUFF by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan

8. What’s the core Agile ideas
Well there’s the Manifesto to read, and more books than you’ll ever care about. There’s also lots of methods out there that provide good frameworks to be productive. But I usually boil it down to:
Focus on value.
Interact and connect.
Make real deliverables.
Communicate.
Adapt to change.

9. But enough of that – Let’s talk methods
I’m going to walk through my techniques – but any one can be used ON ITS OWN.
Take what works for you and run with it.
Yes, there’s a handout!
So lets go from most abstract to specifics in order!

10. Value
Get Focused

11. Focus on value in any work
When doing or planning focus on the value of a work – and find a way to measure it.
Use value to force-rank options, goals, or plans – nothing can be of “equal” value.
If you can’t find any value (and “for fun” is a value) then DON’T DO IT. An amazing amount of work gets done by realizing there’s no point (in fact that’s the 10th Agile principle).
TAKEAWAY: Focus on Value to direct your energies.

12. Work breakdown
Learn to think about work

13. Break work into “valuable” parts so you know what to do
I have a simple way to think about work – that’s pretty much Scrum.
Projects – Big goals like books, website updates, or cosplay. It helps if they have defined starts and stops.
Stories – The “parts” of a project that deliver value on their own. In a Project, rank the stories in order of value. When all the stories are done, project is done.
Tasks – The things I need to get each story done. Some people don’t use this.
Let’s talk this story thing.

14. There’s a classic formula for stories that helps
Put a story as “As Person X I want Y thing so Z.” This helps you think of who it’s for, what it is, and what the result should be.
“As a fan of your writing I want chapter 1 done so it can be edited.”
“As a fan of Steven Universe I want to see your cosplay as Rose Quartz have an awesome sword so I’m impressed.”
“As a fan of a clean apartment I want my roommate to pick up his damn sox so it’s not disgusting.”

15. Do Stories in order of importance so you deliver value
Stories should deliver value when done, and tackle them in order of importance.
This means you at least get some work done you can use even if you’re delayed or quit.
It also makes you really ask what’s important.
TAKEAWAYS: Breaking down work helps you think about value and decide what to do.

16. Backlogs
Learn to think about work

17. I keep lists of “what to do” – backlogs. 3 actually.
I keep an Incubator of “maybes” that are possible Projects.
When I decide to do something, it goes into my Backlog, a ranked list of “will dos.” Often I break down stories.
Every month I review the Incubator on what to move forward, and the Backlog on what to do next.
This gives me directions, goals – and I don’t forget!
TAKEAWAY: Backlogs help you review and focus, and remember.

18. Use scrum to focus efforts
Small sprints over big plans that fail

19. I use a “scrum Like” method to stay productive
Scrum is kind of simple at its heart:
Pick time periods of about the same size. These are Sprints (I use a month)
At the start of a Sprint, pick the topmost items in your Backlog you can do.
Do them.
At the end review, reprioritize, and do it all again.
Simple – but why it works is important.

20. Why the whole scrum-sprint thing works
This method works as:
You work in short time frames so you learn, adapt, and can only screw up so much.
Your “planning” is broken into small chunks, so you can reprioritize – and don’t waste time.
It keeps you focused.
TAKEAWAY: Short sprints, done regularly, are great for focusing and don’t require a lot of overhead.

21. Get visible
In your face productivity

22. make your efforts visible
Have some display, chart, or spreadsheet to help you see what you’re doing or plan to do.
It can be as simple as a whiteboard with columns for “going to do, doing, and done.”
This helps you get an idea of what’s up wordlessly.
Making work visible, and reviewing it daily helps you stay on top of things.

23. My recommendations
I just use a spreadsheet – but I’m on my computer a lot.
If you’re not sure, do the big-old-board-on-a-wall.
I chart work as “not started”, “in progress,” “in review,” and done.
TAKEAWAY: Always make your work visible visually – it helps you get more done. It can also help you coordinate.

24. Pace Yourself
Like, seriously

25. Multitasking and context switching will kill you
Try to limit “Work In Progress” with an appropriate limit.
Some people work only on one “story” all the way through.
Others only allow one “story” in preparation, one being worked on, and one being reviewed – you move along as you have space.
Others limit the amount of things you juggle to a number – I use 2, some use 3.
TAKEAWAY: Establish Work In Progress Limits

26. Review and improve
Look back to look forward

27. Work out a review system
Often called a “Retrospective” in various Agile methods.
Take time – end of Sprit, or every month – to review how you’re doing.
Use this review to learn what you did right, can do better, and any surprises.
Make plans with this information – because then you get better regularly. Learn – don’t beat yourself up.
TAKEAWAY: A regular review helps you grow and improve.

28. Stay in touch
Talk to people

29. Work on communications!
Talk to people – clients, folks helping you out, people you’re working on projects on.
Try regular meetings, online sync-ups, and more.
Communications is far better than elaborate plans, giant contracts, and more.
TAKEAWAY: Communications is valuable – and replaces a lot of other elaborate activities.

30. Educate yourself
Keep improving

31. Always work to improve Study various productivity methods.
There are plenty of books and websites to guide you!
You may even look at professional conferences and events.
Always work to get better.
TAKEAWAY: Being productive is about constant improvement – make it its own project!

32. What’s next?
Where to go for here?

33. What do you do next?
Take these tips and pick the ones that work for you – or do it all!
Read up on the productivity guides included in the handout.
Contact me and share your experiences.
Do a presentation like this on your own!

34. Contact Me I can be found at www.StevenSavage.com
My press site is
I also run
Look for my books on Amazon!