The Paul Akers Lifestyle: Can His Approach Transform Your Workflow?

The Paul Akers Lifestyle: Can His Approach Transform Your Workflow?

I love this topic! If you know me, you know I’m a huge fan of Paul Akers. Out of all the lean influencers, books, and methods out there, Paul is right at the top. Why? Because he doesn’t just teach lean—he lives it. His approach is simple, effective, and built around radical sharing.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through some of the incredible free resources he offers that can help transform your workflow and your life. Stick with me—this is a gem!

Who is Paul Akers?

Paul Akers is the author of several must-read books, including 2 Second Lean, Lean Life, and Lean Health. He’s also the founder of FastCap, a company that started with a simple innovation—a screw hole cover—and grew into a powerhouse of lean manufacturing.

Paul’s lean journey began when he hired Japanese consultants who bluntly told him, “You don’t know how to manufacture.” That was the wake-up call that led him to study lean principles deeply, refine them, and build a system that anyone can apply.

I’ve had the privilege of speaking with Paul, featuring him on my podcast, and even traveling to Japan with him. We reference his methods constantly in our company, and they’ve transformed how we work. Now, let’s see how they can work for you.

How the 2 Second Lean Approach Can Transform Your Workflow:

If you read 2 Second Lean, read it again. Seriously. It didn’t fully click for me until the second read, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Paul simplifies lean into something anyone can understand and apply. It boils down to the 3S System:

1. Sort – Get rid of what you don’t need.
2. Straighten (Set in Order) – Organize what remains.
3. Sweep (Shine) – Clean your workspace.

By making this a daily habit, you start seeing inefficiencies everywhere. Paul encourages teams to “fix what bugs you”—because those little annoyances are signs of waste.

Speaking of waste, he teaches about the eight wastes of lean:

• Overproduction.
• Excess inventory.
• Unnecessary motion.
• Transportation waste.
• Defects.
• Overprocessing (fixing defects).
• Waiting.
• Not utilizing team genius.

When you and your team memorize these, you’ll start spotting waste everywhere. The key? Make two-second improvements every day. That’s it. Just two seconds of improvement can lead to massive change over time.

And here’s the kicker—Paul insists on capturing before and after pictures or videos. Why? Because sharing improvements amplifies the impact across the whole organization.

We’ve applied these principles to construction projects and businesses, and the results have been phenomenal.

How to Apply Lean Principles in Your Daily Life:

Paul doesn’t just stop at work—he extends lean thinking to life itself. His book Lean Life lays out simple principles for decluttering and optimizing every aspect of your day. Here are the key takeaways:

1. Apply lean principles daily.
2. Simplify and declutter your life.
3. Focus on what truly matters—relationships, health, and meaningful work.
4. Be proactive, not reactive.
5. Track your progress if you want to improve.
6. Build positive habits that become second nature.
7. Learn to say no to things that drain your time and energy.
8. Simplify decision-making and automate repetitive tasks.
9. Prioritize relationships—they have the most lasting impact.
10. Practice gratitude daily.

These might seem like common-sense ideas, but Paul makes them actionable and easy to implement. His 2 Second Lean Play app and free PDFs (available in multiple languages) make it even easier to get started.

What Lean Health Principles Are About:

Lean Health is the only health system that has truly worked for me. Paul breaks it down into a simple philosophy: Treat your body like a Ferrari.

Think about it—if you owned a Ferrari, you wouldn’t fill it with cheap gas or skip maintenance, right? Your body deserves the same level of care.

Here are Paul’s core health principles:

1. Make health a priority.
2. Keep your routine simple.
3. Exercise regularly in a way that fits your lifestyle.
4. Eat whole, natural foods (80% veggies and fruit, 20% lean protein).
5. Get enough sleep.
6. Stay hydrated.
7. Take care of your mental health. (Paul encouraged me to get a therapist, and it was life-changing.)
8. Track your health with apps and metrics.
9. Focus on illness prevention.
10. Eliminate toxic habits.
11. Stay consistent.

Personally, I’ve been following Paul’s approach, and I feel healthier than ever. I’m working towards doing 100 push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, and lat pull-downs daily. This structured, progressive approach has made a huge difference.

Could Living a Paul Akers Lifestyle Help You?

For me, the answer is a resounding YES.

Paul Akers’ 2 Second Lean philosophy proves that small, consistent improvements can lead to massive transformations—whether in your workflow, daily life, or health. By simplifying, eliminating waste, and fostering a mindset of continuous improvement, you can create lasting, positive change. Start with just a two-second improvement today, and watch how it compounds over time.