Mike Vardy's Blog, page 27

A Productive Conversation with Leon Ho

I sat down with my old boss – Leon Ho, founder and CEO of Lifehack – to discuss how his organization helps individuals be more productive, effective, and successful. 

1. Do you still think that goal setting is important? Aren’t people tired of setting goals?

We don’t just call them goals: we instead call them life missions. In addition to coming up with a goal—say, to learn a programming language to be more assertive with your boss—it’s important to understand who you are, what makes you tick, and how you deal with others around you.

Life missions are programmed into your subconscious and the reason why you care deeply about certain things. Once you recognize these life missions, you will be a lot more successful. 

2. But if people realize and accept what makes them tick, these life missions, won’t people have to make sacrifices to make sure that they are fulfilling these life missions?

Not at all. In fact, making sacrifices is not good—it causes pain and suffering. 

We’ve seen time and time again that most people think that they have to compromise on the mission: they think they have to give up a lot in order to get to where they think they need to be.

But this is all wrong. Giving up one thing for another just causes frustration and even misery. We believe in compromising the method—not the mission. We believe that people can change HOW they do things rather than abandoning one thing for another. The right skills and the right mindset can help with this.

3. So, what happens if people fail to reach a goal?

It’s time we all stop thinking about winning or losing. It puts too much pressure on ourselves to win at all costs for fear of losing—or to beat ourselves up when we lose—that we never give ourselves the opportunity for true growth.

This is known as a progress or growth mindset. As long as people can capture something from the experience—growth, learning, observations, and improvement, no matter how large or small—you’ve succeeded.

This is not a new concept, and we’re not the only ones who’ve been advocating for this. Yet I’m always surprised how much stock people still put in to winning or losing with nothing in between.

4. So what kind of mindset do people need to make sure that they are on track to achieve their goals?

Consistent actions—doing what is necessary, regularly and to the best of one’s abilities—are the answer, of course. 

But we also realize that these regular behaviors take a lot of willpower and energy. And that can get very tiring, very fast.

Instead of just relying on willpower, we encourage people to train themselves to be able to carry out these consistent behaviors effortlessly, as if they were on autopilot.

This requires a bit of re-programming, so that taking actions towards your life missions becomes something you do unconsciously—as effortlessly as watching TV or going for a jog.

The most effective people, the top performers, create systems in which success is fully integrated into their daily lives. 

5. In other words, the skills to become successful are rather simple, just “stay focused.” Is that it?

Not exactly. To reach your goals and truly live a full life, you need to think differently. Average people only attain average results. 

Even before the arrival of social media, we were distracted and pulled in a thousand different directions each day. Unfortunately, those distractions can keep you from fulfilling your life missions and goals. 

You need to uncover life multipliers to make you better than average—strategies that make you superhuman. 

Ironically, however, these superhuman factors should truly be foundational: part of your everyday routines, skills and abilities that take your confidence and effectiveness to a whole new level.

6. And how do I discover these “life multipliers”?

Good question. You need to take everything I’ve mentioned above and put it all together. 

Recognizing your life missions and not sacrificing other parts of your life to achieve them is a start. Staying focused and consistent on the goal will help you discover things about you you didn’t know existed. 

Further, not getting too obsessed with winning or losing—and capturing learning along the way—will help you recognize, sharpen, and even celebrate these abilities in ways you couldn’t do before.

Leon Ho is the Founder and CEO of Lifehack – a productivity blog he started in 2005. He was listed as Business Week’s #4 “Top 24 Young Asian Entrepreneurs” and has grown Lifehack into one of the most read self-improvement websites in the world – with over 12 million monthly readers. You can check out his book The Full Life Essential Guide, and take a look at his self-improvement mastercourses here or join one of his free classes here.

The post A Productive Conversation with Leon Ho appeared first on Productivityist.

Q&A for Productivityist

Productivityist sat down with Leon Ho, founder and CEO of Lifehack, to discuss how his organization helps individuals be more productive, effective, and successful. 

1. Do you still think that goal setting is important? Aren’t people tired of setting goals?

We don’t just call them goals: we instead call them life missions. In addition to coming up with a goal—say, to learn a programming language to be more assertive with your boss—it’s important to understand who you are, what makes you tick, and how you deal with others around you.

Life missions are programmed into your subconscious and the reason why you care deeply about certain things. Once you recognize these life missions, you will be a lot more successful. 

2. But if people realize and accept what makes them tick, these life missions, won’t people have to make sacrifices to make sure that they are fulfilling these life missions?

Not at all. In fact, making sacrifices is not good—it causes pain and suffering. 

We’ve seen time and time again that most people think that they have to compromise on the mission: they think they have to give up a lot in order to get to where they think they need to be.

But this is all wrong. Giving up one thing for another just causes frustration and even misery. We believe in compromising the method—not the mission. We believe that people can change HOW they do things rather than abandoning one thing for another. The right skills and the right mindset can help with this.

3. So, what happens if people fail to reach a goal?

It’s time we all stop thinking about winning or losing. It puts too much pressure on ourselves to win at all costs for fear of losing—or to beat ourselves up when we lose—that we never give ourselves the opportunity for true growth.

This is known as a progress or growth mindset. As long as people can capture something from the experience—growth, learning, observations, and improvement, no matter how large or small—you’ve succeeded.

This is not a new concept, and we’re not the only ones who’ve been advocating for this. Yet I’m always surprised how much stock people still put in to winning or losing with nothing in between.

4. So what kind of mindset do people need to make sure that they are on track to achieve their goals?

Consistent actions—doing what is necessary, regularly and to the best of one’s abilities—are the answer, of course. 

But we also realize that these regular behaviors take a lot of willpower and energy. And that can get very tiring, very fast.

Instead of just relying on willpower, we encourage people to train themselves to be able to carry out these consistent behaviors effortlessly, as if they were on autopilot.

This requires a bit of re-programming, so that taking actions towards your life missions becomes something you do unconsciously—as effortlessly as watching TV or going for a jog.

The most effective people, the top performers, create systems in which success is fully integrated into their daily lives. 

5. In other words, the skills to become successful are rather simple, just “stay focused.” Is that it?

Not exactly. To reach your goals and truly live a full life, you need to think differently. Average people only attain average results. 

Even before the arrival of social media, we were distracted and pulled in a thousand different directions each day. Unfortunately, those distractions can keep you from fulfilling your life missions and goals. 

You need to uncover life multipliers to make you better than average—strategies that make you superhuman. 

Ironically, however, these superhuman factors should truly be foundational: part of your everyday routines, skills and abilities that take your confidence and effectiveness to a whole new level.

6. And how do I discover these “life multipliers”?

Good question. You need to take everything I’ve mentioned above and put it all together. 

Recognizing your life missions and not sacrificing other parts of your life to achieve them is a start. Staying focused and consistent on the goal will help you discover things about you you didn’t know existed. 

Further, not getting too obsessed with winning or losing—and capturing learning along the way—will help you recognize, sharpen, and even celebrate these abilities in ways you couldn’t do before.

Leon Ho is the Founder and CEO of Lifehack – a productivity blog he started in 2005. He was listed as Business Week’s #4 “Top 24 Young Asian Entrepreneurs” and has grown Lifehack into one of the most read self-improvement websites in the world – with over 12 million monthly readers. You can check out his book The Full Life Essential Guide, and take a look at his self-improvement mastercourses here or join one of his free classes here.

The post Q&A for Productivityist appeared first on Productivityist.

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Episode 400: Dan Clark talks about Brain.fm, Functional Music and Mental States

Find out how functional music can help you reach your desired mental state from the CEO of Brain.fm, Dan Clark.

Brain.fm creates music that sounds different – and affects your brain differently – than any other music. Their science-first approach helps steer you into a desired mental state. How Dan joined the company is an interesting story, which you’ll find out in this interview. Fast forward to today, he is now the CEO.

It was fascinating to learn about how music affects our mental state and productivity. Join us as we discuss the scientific effects of function music, how Brain.fm works, finding your ‘power song’, and what he’s learnt from practising martial arts.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsHow what you listen to has an impact on your productivityTheir science-first approach to functional musicHow Brain.fm compliments other productivity ‘hacks’Active working and planningThe difference between binaural beats and Brain.fmPower songs

“The better tools you have, the better you can dive into a task.“

– Dan Clark

Helpful LinksDavid Bennett PianoBrain.fm/Productivityist

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

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Episode 399: Ron Friedman talks about Reverse Engineering Success

Psychologist and behavior change expert Ron Friedman uncovers how to unlock your creativity by decoding the success of others.

Ron Friedman is an award-winning social psychologist who specializes in human motivation. He is a frequent contributor to HBR, CNN, Fast Company, and Psychology Today, as well as the author of multiple books including ‘Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success’.

Find out how athletes, artists and entrepreneurs succeed so you can create your own breakthrough formula. Ron is on the show to discuss keeping score of success, how to creatively copy, finding your meaningful metrics – and Macklemore’s ‘Ten Thousand Hours’.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsHow to reverse engineer greatnessThe stigma of copyingThe curse of creativity and the confusion with originalityThe Scoreboard PrincipleSetting desirable and undesirable metricsWhy reverse engineering extends to all areas of society

“Make an established idea different.“

– Ron Friedman

Helpful Links‘Decoding Greatness’ by Ron Friedman‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver Burkeman Cal Newport – ‘Take Control of Your Time’DecodingGreatnessBook.comIgnite80.com

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

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Episode 398: Juliet Funt talks about a Minute to Think

Juliet Funt shares how to reclaim time for thinking and make room for what truly matters. It’s time to interlace our days with more white space.

Juliet Funt is a renowned keynote speaker and tough-love advisor to the Fortune 500 who is regularly featured in top global media outlets, including Forbes and Fast Company. She is a white-space warrior as the founder and CEO of The Juliet Funt Group, helping business leaders and organizations to unleash their full potential by unburdening talent from busywork. Juliet has earned one of the highest ratings in the largest speaking event in the world, and she has worked with brands such as Spotify, National Geographic, Vans, Costco, Pepsi, Nike, Wells Fargo and ESPN.

Juliet shares some key insights from her book ‘A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work’. We also discuss finding your spark, making time for mental space, why we fill time, the humane element of productivity – and increasing the sales of salmon tips.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsPerformative busynessThe curse of insatiabilityHow to not confuse activity with productivityWhat is white space?Time sketchingTaking one minute to thinkEstablishing your non-negotiable white spaces

“Interlace space throughout the day.“

– Juliet Funt

Helpful Links‘A Minute To Think’ by Juliet Funt‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver Burkeman‘Indistractable’ by Nir Eyal‘The Reinvention of Work’ by Matthew FoxEpisode 360: A World Without Email with Cal NewportEpisode 229: Exploring Digital Minimalism with Cal NewportEpisode 93: Deep Work with Cal NewportEpisode 238: How to Keep Going with Austin KleonWhy Is My Life So Hard? (Ep. 280) – FreakonomicsThe Busyness TestJulietFunt.com

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

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The 2021 Productivityist Holiday Gift Guide

Last year, I made a video for my YouTube channel recommending 10 gift ideas for the (aspiring) productive person in your life. But that was last year. It’s 2020 and it’s time for a new holiday gift guide.

This year, I’ve got 20 other ideas for you – some ideas that you may want to steal and buy for yourself this holiday season!

Books

Let’s start with books. I’ve been reading more in the past twelve months than I can ever remember doing before, so it’s no wonder that I’ve recommended more books in this gift guide than anything else.

The Practice by Seth Godin

The latest book from the prolific author of The Dip, Linchpin, The Purple Cow, and more has delivered another solid read. I had the pleasure of speaking with Seth for an episode of The Productivityist Podcast. You can view our conversation here. If you know someone who enjoys Seth’s daily blog, then they’ll like The Practice.

How to Decide by Annie Duke

I just received this book, and I’m enjoying it. Decision fatigue is a real drain on people. That drain affects our ability to invest our attention in the things we intend to do. How to Decide offers, as its subtitle suggests, “simple tools for making better choices.” Getting this book as a gift for someone would be a good choice.

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

I’ve been raving about this book since I first heard Matthew McConaughey discuss it with Tim Ferriss on Tim’s podcast. I own both the Audible and hardcover editions. It’s much more than a memoir, so if you want to gift a book to someone in your life who enjoys memoirs, then Greenlights is the book to give them. It’s fantastic.

Punch Failure in the Face (Then Buy it a Beer) by David Knapp-Fisher

When my friend David Knapp-Fisher asked me to read his book as he was putting the finishing touches on it, I was more than happy to oblige. Once I read it, I knew that endorsing it would be the least I could do—I wound up writing the foreword for it! It’s a great read, sharing stories from David’s life and lessons he’s learned along the way. David’s approach to failure – embracing it – might be something you’ve read about before, but the way David writes about it is a real treat.

Start Finishing by Charlie Gilkey

I’ve been friends with Charlie for years, and when he told me he had this book in the works, I knew he’d knock it out of the park. He did just that. Starting something is one thing – finishing it is something else. I’m grateful that he tackled that subject and did it so well.

Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers

I’ve been a fan of Derek’s work for a long time and was grateful when he made an appearance on The Productivityist Podcast to talk about his work with me. He’s written several books already (all of which I own). When he shared that Hell Yeah or No was on its way, I jumped at the chance to order it. It’s well worth your time to share it with someone you care about… or to give it a read (or a listen) yourself.

Keep Going by Austin Kleon

Austin is another author I’ve kept up with for years. I had him on my podcast as well, specifically to talk about this book. The title is especially relevant in today’s climate – and the text within the book is always going to be relevant. Keep Going is a timeless book that deserves a spot on more bookshelves.

Gear

Technology moves at such a rapid pace that I’ve only listed one item in this holiday gift guide that I’d say fits the idea of tech. The rest are timeless, which is why I love all of them and encourage you to check them out.

Letters to the Future Special Edition Confidant

I love Baronfig products. I’ve not exactly kept that a secret over the years. I’m also a fan of journaling. I wrote a letter to my future self a couple of years ago, and I still have a couple of years before I get to open it. Boy, do I wish this Baronfig product was available when I wrote that letter. I suppose I’ll have to use it for even more future versions of myself!

Analog

Simple, elegant, portable, brilliant. All of these words can be applied to Analog. Jeff Sheldon of Ugmonk has built something special with Analog. We even talk about it on The Productivityist Podcast. If you’ve got an analog productivity nerd in your life, then Analog is a gift worth giving them.

Freewrite

I had a chance to test drive the original Freewrite and decided to purchase the Freewrite Traveler because of its small footprint, portability, and e-ink display so that I can write without eye strain on my back deck. Sure, you can use an iPad for writing if you want (I still do occasionally), but I’m a fan of devices that do one thing well. The Freewrite does writing really well.

The Time-Block Planner

Cal Newport has championed time blocking for years. Now he’s developed and released a planner to support those who want to put it to practice without having to design it themselves. I’ve picked it up, and it is a solid entry in the paper planner space.

Bring Gratitude Cards

My friend Karl Staib of Dig to Fly developed these cards a while back, but I have only put them to consistent use this year. Gratitude can be a wellspring for greater productivity, clarifying your intentions, and focusing your attention on those intentions. These cards offer a gratitude jumpstart. They’re a thoughtful and practical gift that I believe is worth gifting this holiday season (or anytime, really).

Sailor Compass 1911 Fountain Pen

I do like my pens. I know I’m not the only one. Fountain pens are a bit of a luxury for me, but the fine folks at Goldspot have given me a few to put through the paces (I’ll have reviews on all of them up soon). This one stood out as a pen I could write with as often as I use my collection of Baronfig Squires. Its ink flows well, it has a soft touch on paper, and green happens to be my favorite color. Goldspot offers plenty of quality products. The Sailor Compass 1911 fountain pen is an excellent place to start.

Software

This wouldn’t be a gift guide if I didn’t include some software solutions. All of these are going to boost productivity, some in more unconventional ways that others.

Todoist

I’ve been using Todoist for years, and it keeps getting better with age. That’s something that I can’t say for some to-do list apps I’ve used. While I don’t think it’s the best option for large teams (yet), Todoist is my pick for a task management app for individuals and smaller teams. It sports a lengthy list of features, and it won’t empty your wallet, either. If you know someone who needs a simple and flexible to-do list app, give them the gift of a Todoist Premium account.

AppSumo

I can’t even tell you how many deals on apps I’ve found through AppSumo. Stock photo services. Marketing tools. Other types of software solutions. Giving the gift of AppSumo to someone opens the door to a wide array of possibilities for them. I know it’s done that for me.

Blinkist

I mentioned earlier in this guide how much I’ve been reading. Well, with Blinkist, I’ve been able to “preview” books before deciding whether or not I want to own them outright. Blinkist delivers condensed takeaways from the books in their library (called “blinks”), and I use those to decide what book I might want to add to my library at home. It also allows me to read more as a result. Blinkist is a great gift for the reader in your life.

TextExpander

Got someone on your list that wants to save time writing repetitive emails and other written copy? Then TextExpander is the gift for them. I’ve found TextExpander to be an indispensable tool for many years, saving me time and energy along the way. TextExpander may not be the sexiest gift I’m recommending in this guide, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great gift.

Scribd

I know, I know—another reading tool. But I love Scribd. With Scribd, you can read all the books, audiobooks, and magazines you want! Better still, the person you’re gifting Scribd to can read all the books, audiobooks, and magazines they want! Scribd is the reading app I use the most. It’s the reading app that my 10-year-old son uses the most. It’s THAT good.

Productivityist Stuff

The last 4 ideas I have on this gift guide are of my own design. All of them will help those in your life benefit from my work. (And who knows? Maybe you can buy one of these as a gift to yourself this holiday season.)

TimeCrafting Trust Membership

I’ve put together a collective of people working with me (and working together) to get better at crafting their time. Members of TimeCrafting Trust get access to all of my courses (even retired ones), paid workshops, biweekly focused work sessions with me, and more. All for $9/month or $99/year. TimeCrafting Trust is my flagship offering, and I’m bringing the best of myself to this community. I’d love to have more people be part of it. Perhaps one of those people is someone you know. Perhaps one of those people is you.

The NOW Year Calendar

The wall calendar I’ve developed with the NeuYear team is available once again in tall and wide sizes (I got the tall one this year). It features several elements of TimeCrafting and gives you a full view of your calendar year at a glance. This is the perfect gift for someone who wants to see the shape of their year to craft it to be the best year possible. You can get yours here.

The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want

While you wait for my next traditionally published book to come out, why not grab my first published book for someone who wants to start the year they want anytime they want? I think it’s particularly relevant – and needed – right now.

The Productivityist Playbook

You can’t get this book anywhere else than Amazon or if you’re a member of TimeCrafting Trust. It’s my most recent book, and you’ll find it contains the best current collection of TimeCrafting in one place. It also features tactics (in the form of “plays”) that the reader can use today.

That’s it for this year’s holiday gift guide. As always, some of these links are affiliate links. That means I’ll get a little bit of money if you use them to purchase anything… at no additional cost to you.

Here’s to a happy – and productive – shopping experience!

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Episode 397: Jesse Mecham talks about YNAB, Money Management and Future You

Discover how to master your finances and live more freely with Jesse Mecham, Founder of You Need a Budget, aka YNAB.

Personal finance expert, speaker, and business leader, Jesse Mecham is the Founder of You Need A Budget (or YNAB if you are very busy and important). He is also a podcast host and best-selling author of ‘You Need A Budget’. He is deeply passionate about teaching individuals, families, and business owners to help them gain total control of their money. Jesse first developed the YNAB method and original spreadsheet as a broke, newly married college student who really needed a budget. Now, YNAB has a growing team living and working all around the world, and has built a thriving remote culture that earned recognition as Fortune’s #1 best small company to work for.

Jesse shares YNAB’s Four Rules, and how we can all master money management. I’m such a huge fan of the tool, so I also explore with Jesse the power of simple tools, building a community, being clear with your expenses, and Alexa requests.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsLaunching YouNeedABudget.com as a spreadsheet businessHow to start budgeting your financesEmbracing your true expensesIdentifying what is urgentSetting intention versus attentionThe parallels between time and money managementBudgeting with your partnerHow YNAB works

“Consider the future within the constraint of current resources.“

– Jesse Mecham

Helpful Links‘You Need a Budget’ by Jesse Mecham‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver BurkemanYNABEpisode 388: Mike Michalowicz talks about Getting Differentjesse@ynab.com

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

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Episode 396: Pieter Geldenhuys talks about Shoshin Walks, Exploring and Nature

How ‘Shoshin’ are you? Find out about this Japanese approach to the beginner’s mindset and how it’s helped entrepreneur Pieter Geldenhuys – also known as PG Geldenhuys – live more fully. 

PG facilitates hikes and retreats in South Africa and abroad to help you turn your focus inward, through his business Shoshin Walks. And he’s also learnt that big shifts come from having a beginner’s mindset. 

PG’s adventurous spirit is infectious. He shares his travel tales and his philosophy with hiking and being in nature. In this productive conversation, we also discuss meditative walks, writing novels, cliches – and observing ducks.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsWhat is Shoshin?The power of meditative walksNavigating uncertainty How writing badly helped PG write a novelLessons learnt from completing the Camino de SantiagoPG’s group tours that include the Inca trail and Kilimanjaro

“Structure will set you free.”

– Pieter Geldenhuys

Helpful Links‘Offsides’ by PG GeldenhuysThe Way (2010)‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver BurkemanMultiplicity (1996)About Time (2013)Shoshin WalksPG’s LinkedInShoshin Walks Facebook

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

The post Episode 396: Pieter Geldenhuys talks about Shoshin Walks, Exploring and Nature appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 395: Jeff Harry talks about Play, Flow and Curiosity

You’re in flow and able to forget about time when you play. Jeff Harry shares how to tap into your true self by playing.

Jeff Harry combines positive psychology and play to help teams and organizations navigate difficult conversations and assist individuals in addressing their biggest challenges through embracing a play-oriented approach to work. 

For his work, Jeff was selected by BambooHR & Engagedly as one of the Top 100 HR Influencers of 2020 and has been featured in the NY Times, Mashable, Upworthy, & Shondaland. Jeff has worked with Google, Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Adobe, the NFL, Amazon, and Facebook, helping their staff to infuse more play into the day-to-day.

I had a really fun time catching up with Jeff. In this episode we explore rethinking how people work, historical innovators, the power of curiosity and long-term thinking – and John Steinbeck quotes.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsJeff’s definition of play Building a psychologically safe place for your companyMeasuring quality over quantityBuilding trust with your staffHow certain environments unlock play and flowIdentifying your play value

“Play is the joyful act when you forget about time.“

– Jeff Harry

Helpful LinksRediscover Your PlayEpisode 365: Purposeful Play with Gary WareEpisode 90: Productivity & Play with Dr. Kirsten Milliken‘Four Thousand Weeks’ by Oliver Burkeman ‘Bullshit Jobs’ by David GraeberEpisode 379: Erin Meyer talks about No Rules RulesDig to FlyEpisode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal@JeffHarryPlays

Enjoy the show? Want to keep up with the podcast? You can subscribe to the podcast feed by clicking the “Share” button in the player above – and you can share it further using the same button as well. You can take things even one step further by rating and reviewing the show wherever you listen to podcasts. (FYI: I use Overcast on iOS.)

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Episode 394: Kristoffer Carter talks about Permission, Purpose and Fear

Kristoffer Carter uncovers how leaning into four types of permission will unlock a purpose-driven life for us all.

Kristoffer Carter is a spiritual teacher at the intersection of consciousness and business. He is the founder of This Epic Life, a website and podcast devoted to conscious living, which has created a daily meditation practice for thousands. He is also an author, international speaker and executive coach. In his latest book ‘Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership’, he reveals how to lean in to what makes us all ‘glow’.

I had a great time catching up with Kristoffer, and hearing about his relationship with fear. We also spoke about the four types of permission such as feeling ‘the feels’, the power of compounding effects, how to overcome ‘work for work’s sake’ – and some interesting parallels with WrestleMania.

Want to support A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy? Then take a look at our podcast sponsors page where you can find a variety of products and services designed to help you lead a more productive life. You can see all of our current sponsors – including the ones for this episode – here.

Talking PointsWhy we need to give ourselves more permissionThe four types of permissionLessons learnt from wrestlersLeaning in to your big scary dreamWorking with coaches and the power of practising

“Dance with the ever-presence of fear.“

– Kristoffer Carter

Helpful LinksThis Epic Life‘Permission to Glow’ by Kristoffer Carter‘A Minute to Think’ by Juliet FuntPeter Gabriel – Don’t Give Up (ft. Kate Bush)

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The post Episode 394: Kristoffer Carter talks about Permission, Purpose and Fear appeared first on Productivityist.