--- title: How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts description: Make sure you’re getting feedback canonical: https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-03T04:01:08.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:03:17.958Z article:section: Ideas og:title: How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts og:description: Make sure you’re getting feedback og:url: https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf777b5e87e999bca/69885d628e0601cb5d461a65/business-people-meeting.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: business-people-meeting og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts twitter:description: Make sure you’re getting feedback twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf777b5e87e999bca/69885d628e0601cb5d461a65/business-people-meeting.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts ## Video: The Nantucket Project: How Storytelling is Getting in The Way of Your Success [Watch (HLS stream): The Nantucket Project: How Storytelling is Getting in The Way of Your Success](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HSYDj99Q.m3u8) (17:44)  _Published 2015-02-17. The Nantucket Project: How Storytelling is Getting in The Way of Your Success_ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Aug 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC  Businesspeople beginning meeting in office Businesspeople beginning meeting in officeGetty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Aug 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC ## Expert Tip #1: How To Be More Creative _Your first idea is rarely the best. Always keep pushing and generate more possibilities._ Advice from Andrew Goldberg, writer on [Family Guy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UUF690/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UUF690&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More from Andrew [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/interview-secrets-creativity-learn-writer-family-guy/). ## Expert Tip #2: How To Get Promoted _Ask your boss what they want. Make sure your accomplishments are visible. Build relationships in the organization._ Advice from Jeffrey Pfeffer, Stanford professor and author of [Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don’t](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061789089/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061789089&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More from Jeffrey [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-stanford-mba-school-professor-teaches-secret-promotions-raises-power/). ## Expert Tip #3: How To Make Better Decisions _What would you recommend someone else do if they were in your situation?_ Advice from Dan Ariely, Duke professor and author of [Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More from Dan [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/interview-nyt-bestselling-author-dan-ariely-talks/). ## Expert Tip #4: How To Become An Expert At Something _Make sure you’re getting feedback. Always push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Put in the hours._ Advice from Cal Newport author of [So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1455509124/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1455509124&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More from my interview with Cal [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-author-cal-newport-on-how-you-can-become-an-expert-and-why-you-should-not-follow-your-passion/). ## Expert Tip #5: Be A Better Networker _Take five minutes every day to do something easy for you that is very valuable to someone else._ Advice from Adam Rifkin, who Fortune Magazine declared the most networked guy in Silicon Valley: --- > “” --- More from Adam [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/interview-silicon-valleys-networker-teaches-secrets-making-connections/). ## Expert Tip #6: How To Pitch An Idea Like A Pro _Don’t try to convince them; try to get them to contribute._ Advice from Dan Pink, NYT bestselling author of [Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594484805/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594484805) and [To Sell is Human](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594487154/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594487154): --- > “” --- More from Dan [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/interview-nyt-bestselling-author-dan-pink-explains-secrets-influence/). ## Expert Tip #7: How To Negotiate Like An FBI Hostage Negotiator _Pay attention to emotions and learn to listen._ Advice from Chris Voss, former head of International Hostage Negotiation for the FBI: --- > “” --- More from Chris [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/interview-negotiation-secrets-learn-top-fbi-hostage-negotiator/). ## Expert Tip #8: How To Lead Like An Army Ranger _It’s okay not to know something. Let those who do handle that task._ Advice from Joe Asher, Army Ranger: --- > “” --- More from Joe [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/interview-ranger-special-ops-explains-secrets-persistence-leadership/). ## Expert Tip #9: How To Be A Better Storyteller _You must surprise your audience._ Advice from Howard Suber, UCLA Film School professor emeritus and author of [Letters to Young Filmmakers: Creativity and Getting Your Films Made](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZ92Q1C/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00AZ92Q1C&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More from [Howard](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/interview-ucla-film-school-professor-howard-suber-explains-storyteller/). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/10-insights-from-renowned-experts-that-will-make-you-more-productive-creative-successful-and-smart/)**_._** **Join over 200,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/) [How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/) [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/"},"headline":"How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts","datePublished":"2015-08-03T04:01:08.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T08:03:17.958Z","description":"Make sure you’re getting feedback","url":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","keywords":["Psychology","intelligence","productivity","Success topic"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf777b5e87e999bca/69885d628e0601cb5d461a65/business-people-meeting.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf777b5e87e999bca/69885d628e0601cb5d461a65/business-people-meeting.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"business-people-meeting","caption":"business-people-meeting","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","name":"How to Be Productive, Successful and Smart: 9 Tips From Experts"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Misty Copeland On Changing the Face of Ballet","description":"\"I never thought I could make a career out of something I enjoyed doing something I was passionate about, something that gave me a voice,\" says Copeland, who is one of the first African Americans to be a soloist with American Ballet Theatre.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/hwcdTt33/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-04-16T01:56:48.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/hwcdTt33.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","duration":"PT2M34S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Abby Wambach on Making Her Last Chance Count","description":"“I want to leave the game better than I found it and push it forward,” says Wambach, a champion American soccer player.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/TKM8pUcB/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-04-16T01:03:59.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/TKM8pUcB.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","duration":"PT4M32S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Nantucket Project: How Storytelling is Getting in The Way of Your Success","description":"The Nantucket Project: How Storytelling is Getting in The Way of Your Success","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/HSYDj99Q/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-02-17T21:10:40.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/HSYDj99Q.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/","duration":"PT17M44S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3980738/productive-successful-smart-expert-tips/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```