‘We are not machines’ – Malta’s CEOs on myth-busting productivity 

In a world overflowing with productivity tips, knowing what truly works can feel like navigating a maze. To cut through the noise, MaltaCEOs.mt asked some of Malta’s leading executives to share one tried-and-tested hack that actually boosts their output – and one common myth they’ve left behind.

For Convenience Store’s CEO David Tabone, productivity is all about efficiency and tangible results.  

“I see productivity as a measure of how efficiently a business turns effort and resources into results. My top hack? Empower the right people with the right tools,” he says, adding that consistent guidance, support, and trust are key to keeping the team aligned.

“The biggest myth? That once things are set up, they’ll run themselves. We’re not machines and staying on track requires ongoing motivation, adjustments, and leadership.”

For Stephen Ellul of Growth Bully,  a Gen-Z-powered marketing agency, productivity lies on a working version of the Eisenhower Matrix, which allows him to streamline everything through structuring his priorities.

It goes as follows:

• Urgent & Important – gets blocked into my calendar with zero negotiation.
• Important but Not Urgent – gets planned proactively to avoid becoming a crisis later.
• Urgent but Not Important – flagged and moved quickly, usually delegated.
• To Delegate – kept visible so I don’t get sucked into work I shouldn’t be doing.

“This system makes it really obvious where my time should go. Then I lock that time in with protected calendar blocks. If it’s not in the calendar, it doesn’t get done – simple,” he explains.

“One myth I’ve definitely busted: being busy is not the same as being productive. It’s not about how much you do, but what you choose to work on. Saying no and staying focused on high-leverage work is the real unlock.”

Claire Xuereb is the head of AX Group’s hospitality and care divisions. For her, everything begins and ends with mindset. 

“If you want something, you go get it. That thought alone is enough. It drives the action. And once you act, you feel it…..you know you’re getting closer to your goal. That clarity sets the pace. It drives how I plan, how I move and how I lead. You make it happen or you don’t. That’s the difference. 

“That mindset keeps me productive, pushes me to act, and helps me block out distractions. It also sharpens how I see new opportunities and where they might lead. That forward motion; that’s what keeps me building, growing and moving with purpose.”

Asked about one myth she’s busted, it was clear: “That women have to choose between a serious career and raising a family.”

“Especially in hospitality – 30 years ago, women simply weren’t seen as hoteliers. The expectation was clear: you either dedicated your life to your children or to your career. Doing both wasn’t even part of the conversation.”

She continues: “Back then, you couldn’t look good and be taken seriously. You were either the pretty one, the career woman or the mum. Life was boxed in. And most women only got to fit in one. I went head-on against this rule…I built a career, I am raising four kids, whilst growing businesses and I’m still pushing forward for more growth. I didn’t fit in any of the boxes so I built my own.”

It is clear that there is no one productivity hack that fits all. However, an active will for trials and tribulations can bring out the best tools for a productive tour de force in work and life.