How to Outwork Anyone (The Habits of Highly Productive Workers)

Here is an excellent video called How to Outwork Anyone (The Habits of Highly Productive Workers) from a great Youtube channel called Essential Craftsman. In this talk, Scott emphasizes efficiency, craftsmanship, and balancing speed with quality to become highly effective in the construction trades.

Key Points

Hurry Every Chance You Get – Be productive whenever possible but recognize when slowing down leads to better results.

Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast – Rushing carelessly leads to mistakes; working efficiently with a steady pace yields better outcomes.

Always Carry Something – In construction (and work in general), maximize every movement—never walk across a job site empty-handed.

You Trot, You Work – Maintain a fast-paced, efficient work style to earn respect and maximize output.

The Crux of Craftsmanship – Know when to prioritize speed and when to focus on quality. Not every task should be rushed.

Optimize for Efficiency – Balance time, materials, and effort to get the best results without waste.

Adapt to Different Work Environments – Some jobs value precision over speed, while others prioritize output. A top professional can thrive in both.

Systems Create Speed – Proper planning, staging, and organization lead to long-term efficiency gains.

Find Your Productivity Mindset – Not everyone has to be the fastest, but everyone should find a way to work effectively and take pride in their output.

Training

I am grateful to have been taught these lessons from great mentors early in my career. Trying to pass them on to the next generation. If you would like help with training, you’re welcome to contact me.