New research shows why remarkably productive people don’t work nearly as hard (or as fast) as you might think

Extreme bursts of productivity are certainly eye-catching. But science shows why steady consistency wins nearly every business race.

I’m a big fan of productivity bursts. Like choosing a task that will take 10 or 12 hours—a task you’ve long been putting off specifically because it will take 10 or 12 hours—and knocking it out in a single day. (Here are the eight steps to an incredibly productive day.)