Mike Vardy's Blog, page 36
November 25, 2020
Episode 346: Fostering Clarity with Doug Fraser
As host of NPR’s What We Do, Doug Fraser is not afraid to dive deep and follow his curiosity. Today we learn about the craft of clarity.
This episode is sponsored by Setapp , a large collection of 200+ powerful Mac apps, for almost any task, available by subscription. It’s the best way to discover new, quality apps so you can get all the tools you need to be productive. Plans start from $9.99 per month. With this flat monthly fee you get access to full-featured pro versions of apps, including Ulysses, MindNode and CleanMyMacX. Head over to Setapp.com for a one week free trial today.
I want to share with you today The NOW Year Calendar 2021 edition, from my partnership with the team at NeuYear. It’s a wall calendar that comes in both a tall and wide format to help you plan out the year, and it’s based on my TimeCrafting methodology. If you follow my 30 Days of TimeCrafting program, you can choose your Annual Axiom and put it at the top of this calendar, along with adding Daily Themes to the mix. Simply go to Productivityist.com/NeuYear and then enter the discount code PODCAST to get 10% off your order. 2020 is rapidly coming to a close, so it’s time to start planning the next year now.
This episode is sponsored by Klaviyo – the ultimate ecommerce marketing platform for online brands. With flexible automations, powerful insights and super-precise targeting, it gives you everything you need to send memorable branded emails, text messages, and more. What’s more, Klaviyo customers see on average a 41% increase in overall revenue within 5 months. This is why it’s trusted by more than 40,000 brands, like Living Proof, Huckberry, and Eight Sleep. Want to learn more about how you can grow your brand with Klaviyo? Visit Klaviyo.com/grow to get started with a free trial today.
AppSumo has plenty of deals going on right now… in fact, AppSumo always has plenty of deals going on! Whether you’re looking for software that will boost your overall productivity, help you scale your online efforts (both in your business and personal lives), or you simply don’t know where to start with web apps, AppSumo is a great resource. Check out what AppSumo is offering right now by visiting Productivityist.com/AppSumo today! (Full disclosure: I am an AppSumo affiliate so when you use this link to purchase anything from AppSumo I’ll get a little bit of revenue sent my way… at no additional cost to you)
My guest this time round is Doug Fraser, a creator, producer, and host of NPR’s What We Do. He’s a true expert when it comes to storytelling… be it the history of rats to kitchens. He’s not afraid to ask questions, which makes him a very exciting guest to have on the show.
After years in the ad agency world, Doug now follows his own path to provide a valuable one-on-one marketing experience for businesses of all sizes. From pizza joints to multi-billion-dollar car dealerships, he’s helped brands achieve copywriting, social marketing, and videography success.
Doug and I spend time talking about being present and seeking clarity through simplicity. Join us as we explore taking on new hobbies, capturing ideas, and knowing when it’s the right time to quit.
Talking Points
The impact curiosity has across all aspects of Doug’s life (1:41)Energy from learning new things (6:57)Balancing the time between learning and working (10:37)Everyday tactics to help stay present (12:54)His 4-step process for success (22:14)Overcoming the sunk cost fallacy (36:41)What simplicity shows us (39:13)Process to note new ideas during a podcast interview (42:08)Doug’s most invaluable tools (49:27)Journaling and useful frameworks (51:27)
“Everything that we’re learning is adding up in us.”
– Doug Fraser
Helpful Links
What We Do Podcast
What We Do: The College Curiosity Crisis
What We Do: Becoming the Voice of Porky Pig
What We Do: Creating National Geographic’s Photo Ark
Photo Ark
Ron Finley Teaches Gardening
Headspace
Brené Brown
Episode 238: How to Keep Going with Austin Kleon
The Dip | Amazon
Episode 343: Consistency Over Authenticity with Seth Godin
Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen
Getting Things Done | Amazon
Baron Fig
Deep Work | Amazon
Episode 229: Exploring Digital Minimalism with Cal Newport
The Five Minute Journal
Day One
DougFraserDigital.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.)
The post Episode 346: Fostering Clarity with Doug Fraser appeared first on Productivityist.
November 23, 2020
What Do You Do When You Feel Like You Can’t Do Anything?
You do something.
Something small, like sending an email or throwing a load of laundry in the wash.
Then you do something else.
Something a little bigger, like reading 10 pages of a book or cleaning up your computer’s virtual desktop.
Then you do something else.
Something even bigger, like spending 30 minutes on that report you need to work on or planning this week’s meals for your family.
Then… you build upon that momentum and keep going. And you feel like you can do something now because you have been doing something.
Actually. you’ve been doing some things.
When you’re struggling, start small and stay as small as you need to stay. You can strive for bigger things later. Chances are, some of those bigger things can be broken down into smaller parts anyway.
That’s what you do… anytime.
The post What Do You Do When You Feel Like You Can’t Do Anything? appeared first on Productivityist.
November 18, 2020
Episode 345: Frame Your Week with Racheal Cook
Today’s guest works 25 hours per week since she had kids 10 years ago. Tune in to find out about her impactful approach to productivity.
Today’s episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN. It’s an app that reroutes your internet connection through their secure servers so your ISP can’t see the sites you visit. It’s a must for protecting your online data and activity, which is why I never go online without using ExpressVPN. It keeps all of your information secure by encrypting 100% of your data with the most powerful encryption available. I love that I can use it across all my devices – phones, computers, even my SmartTV! So there’s no excuse for you to not be using it. Check out ExpressVPN.com/TimeCrafting and you can get an extra 3 months FREE on a one-year package.
This episode is sponsored by Setapp , a large collection of 200+ powerful Mac apps, for almost any task, available by subscription. It’s the best way to discover new, quality apps so you can get all the tools you need to be productive. Plans start from $9.99 per month. With this flat monthly fee you get access to full-featured pro versions of apps, including Ulysses, MindNode and CleanMyMacX. Head over to Setapp.com for a one week free trial today.
This episode is sponsored by Klaviyo – the ultimate ecommerce marketing platform for online brands. With flexible automations, powerful insights and super-precise targeting, it gives you everything you need to send memorable branded emails, text messages, and more. What’s more, Klaviyo customers see on average a 41% increase in overall revenue within 5 months. This is why it’s trusted by more than 40,000 brands, like Living Proof, Huckberry, and Eight Sleep. Want to learn more about how you can grow your brand with Klaviyo? Visit Klaviyo.com/grow to get started with a free trial today.
This episode is sponsored by NuCalm . It’s the only stress management system of its kind, clinically proven in over 1 million sessions to improve your sleep, reduce your stress and boost your recovery without drugs and side effects. It’s imperative to your health and happiness to be able to manage stress and not be managed by it. This is why it’s part of my daily routine, and their programmes leave me feeling recharged and energised. As a listener, check out the exclusive link TimeCraftingNuCalm.com and get 50% off your 30-day subscription of NuCalm and their money-back guarantee.
Racheal Cook is a business strategist and business development consultant. Through her signature online mastermind The CEO Collective, Racheal helps women entrepreneurs start and scale businesses without the hustle or burnout. Being a mother herself, I was fascinated by her approach to being a productive CEO.
As a sought after speaker on entrepreneurship, marketing, and productivity, Racheal’s work has been featured on US Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneur on Fire, Female Entrepreneur Association, Inc, Fast Company, Forbes, and more. She’s the author of Fired Up & Focused and Your Business Sweet Spot.
Tune in as we discuss ways to structure the week, results-based outcomes, making personal and family time a priority – and what we can learn from meal planning.
Talking Points
Motherhood forcing clarity on productivity (2:29)The Model Calendar Approach (5:01)Being a morning person (11:04)Setting aside “buffer” time (15:38)The evolutionary nature of the Model Calendar (16:44)Identifying your high value tasks (19:24)Niching down and serving women (33:20)The CEO Date (40:56)
“Productivity is about protecting myself from myself.“
– Racheal Cook
Helpful Links
The CEO Collective
The CEO Planner
Episode 334: Endless Curiosity with Derek Sivers
Fired Up & Focused | Amazon
Your Business Sweet Spot | Amazon
The 4-Hour Work Week | Amazon
‘Most Likely to Succeed’ Documentary
RachealCook.com/TheProductivityist
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 345: Frame Your Week with Racheal Cook appeared first on Productivityist.
November 16, 2020
The 2020 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. Until December 1, you’ll get 10% off when you use this link to buy it.
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!
The post The 2020 Productivityist Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Productivityist.
November 11, 2020
Episode 344: Stop Planning with Greg Reid
We’re much closer to success than we think we are. Today’s guest Greg Reid will help you see what’s possible.
This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs . When your business is ready to make that next hire, LinkedIn Jobs can help by matching your role with qualified candidates so that you can find the right person quickly. You can pay what you want and get the first $50 off. Just visit linkedin.com/timecrafting to get fifty dollars off your first job post. Terms and conditions apply.
This episode is sponsored by Setapp , a large collection of 200+ powerful Mac apps, for almost any task, available by subscription. It’s the best way to discover new, quality apps so you can get all the tools you need to be productive. Plans start from $9.99 per month. With this flat monthly fee you get access to full-featured pro versions of apps, including Ulysses, MindNode and CleanMyMacX. Head over to Setapp.com for a one week free trial today.
I want to share with you today The NOW Year Calendar 2021 edition, from my partnership with the team at NeuYear. It’s a wall calendar that comes in both a tall and wide format to help you plan out the year, and it’s based on my TimeCrafting methodology. If you follow my 30 Days of TimeCrafting program, you can choose your Annual Axiom and put it at the top of this calendar, along with adding Daily Themes to the mix. Simply go to Productivityist.com/NeuYear and then enter the discount code PODCAST to get 10% off your order. 2020 is rapidly coming to a close, so it’s time to start planning the next year now.
This episode is sponsored by Klaviyo – the ultimate ecommerce marketing platform for online brands. With flexible automations, powerful insights and super-precise targeting, it gives you everything you need to send memorable branded emails, text messages, and more. What’s more, Klaviyo customers see on average a 41% increase in overall revenue within 5 months. This is why it’s trusted by more than 40,000 brands, like Living Proof, Huckberry, and Eight Sleep. Want to learn more about how you can grow your brand with Klaviyo? Visit Klaviyo.com/grow to get started with a free trial today.
Greg Reid is a fascinating character, and he’s testament to achieving great things despite the odds. Even with dyslexia, he is the ultimate master storyteller. He has been published in over 78 books, 32 best sellers, five motion pictures, featured in many magazines, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s a highly sought-after keynote speaker, entrepreneur, with a strong win-win work ethic.
I’m excited to catch up with Greg to learn more about his journey, and dive into his book Three Feet From Gold: Turn Your Obstacles into Opportunities!. Join us as we explore timeless authors, unexpected opportunities, and modernising Napoleon Hill’s principles for success.
Talking Points
Why you need to stop planning (2:09)The story behind the title Three Feet From Gold (3:45)Why is Napoleon Hill synonymous with success? (6:19)Greg’s CPC acronym for success (9:21)Ways to stop us from getting in our own way (11:49)An interesting path into filmmaking (21:34)Being a dyslexic author (25:38)Why you need to seek counsel, not opinion (28:57)
“Seek counsel and not opinion.”
– Greg Reid
Helpful Links
The Napoleon Hill Foundation
Think And Grow Rich | Amazon
Episode 258: What You Can Learn from Napoleon Hill with Jeffrey Gitomer
Getting Things Done | Amazon
Wealth Made Easy | Amazon
Think And Grow Rich ‘Stickability’ | Amazon
Make-A-Wish Foundation
Wish Man
The Secret | Amazon
You Were Born Rich | Amazon
Rich Dad Poor Dad | Amazon
The Millionaire Mentor | Amazon
Chicken Soup For The Soul | Amazon
Greg Reid’s Instagram
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 344: Stop Planning with Greg Reid appeared first on Productivityist.
November 9, 2020
46 Things to Put on Your To Do List
Here are 46 things to put on your to do list. Some of these tasks are recurring, so if you’re using a to do list app (like Todoist, for example) make sure to them up as tasks that repeat at the intervals I recommend.
Take a deep breath (repeat at least once daily)Set up your to do list to view it by mode as well as due dateStart thinking about dates on your to do list app as attention dates rather than due dates (repeat daily until habitual)Make a difference in someone’s day (repeat daily)Call a close family member (repeat weekly)Write in journal (repeat daily)Meditate (repeat daily)Floss teeth (repeat daily)Make the bed (repeat daily)Spend quality time with the kids (repeat daily)Review gift list (repeat monthly)Get outside (repeat daily)Check to see if anything needs defrosting for tomorrow’s dinner (repeat daily)Spend 5 minutes connecting with others on Facebook (repeat daily… for 5 minutes only!)Create a playlist of music for the month (repeat monthly)Make sure PVR recording queue is up to date (repeat every season)Review Netflix queue to make sure it’s up to date (repeat every season)Book a personal retreat (repeat annually at minimum)Listen to your body clock (repeat daily)Read Matthew McConaughey’s book “Greenlights” (repeat daily until completed)Take five minutes to help someone out (repeat daily)Review contacts list and update (repeat every six months)Replace batteries in smoke detectors (repeat annually)Make sure each task on your to do list starts with a verbBuild a morning routineBuild a “halftime” routineBuild an evening routineResearch potential vacation spots (repeat annually)Replace toothbrush (repeat every three months)Read a book other than “Greenlights” (repeat biweekly)Write a note to someone and mail it to them (repeat every two weeks at minimum)Take a photo to serve as a reminder of the day (repeat daily)Review your wardrobe to see if it still works (repeat every season)Plan meals for next week (repeat weekly)Water the plants (repeat every week at minimum)Put a notebook and pen in every jacket you ownReview your email signature(s) (repeat monthly)Take a break (repeat daily)Read one of your journal entries (repeat monthly)Decide when to put holiday decorations up (repeat annually)Apply moisturizer (repeat daily)Add bill payment dates to your to do list and date each for at least one week before they’re due (repeat monthly)Create an email folder for emails from your boss for easy filtrationStretch for 5 minutes (repeat daily)Update podcast subscriptions (repeat every three months)Do more of YOUR things (repeat infinitely)
The post 46 Things to Put on Your To Do List appeared first on Productivityist.
November 4, 2020
Episode 343: Consistency Over Authenticity with Seth Godin
Seth Godin is a consistent player in the entrepreneurial space, influencing millions to embrace their inner-creative and best serve their audience. In today’s episode we uncover how you can make that impact.
This episode is sponsored by TextExpander . With TextExpander, you can unlock your productivity with its many features. With TextExpander you can make everything you write repetitively available everywhere you type: text documents, spreadsheets, web forms, and more. Unlock your productivity with TextExpander. Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year.
This episode is sponsored by Setapp , a large collection of 200+ powerful Mac apps, for almost any task, available by subscription. It’s the best way to discover new, quality apps so you can get all the tools you need to be productive. Plans start from $9.99 per month. With this flat monthly fee you get access to full-featured pro versions of apps, including Ulysses, MindNode and CleanMyMacX. Head over to Setapp.com for a one week free trial today.
I want to share with you today The NOW Year Calendar 2021 edition, from my partnership with the team at NeuYear. It’s a wall calendar that comes in both a tall and wide format to help you plan out the year, and it’s based on my TimeCrafting methodology. If you follow my 30 Days of TimeCrafting program, you can choose your Annual Axiom and put it at the top of this calendar, along with adding Daily Themes to the mix. Simply go to Productivityist.com/NeuYear and then enter the discount code PODCAST to get 10% off your order. 2020 is rapidly coming to a close, so it’s time to start planning the next year now.
Seth Godin has had a huge influence over my career, so I’m excited to bring him on (again) to hear about his latest projects and new book ‘The Practice: Shipping Creative Work’. As my first guest on the podcast I did as a productivity parodist, there’s lots to catch up on.
This interview is full of countless gems, but what really stands out is being consistent with whatever it is that you want to achieve. In his own words, the toughest part is that “you have to show up, even if you don’t feel like it”.
Seth blogs daily. He’s been doing it for years now. He’s built a huge following with over a million readers, and is the author of over 19 books, including Purple Cow, Linchpin, and This Is Marketing. He’s also the founder of the altMBA and The Akimbo Workshops, which runs online seminars that have transformed the work of thousands of people.
Join our conversation as we explore indispensable tools, inbox zero, working with intent – and his 16ft cedar strip canoe.
Talking Points
Applying assertion to our work (2:54)Why Imposter Syndrome doesn’t go away (4:12)You don’t even need to meet your mentors (5:18)Seth’s daily boundaries (7:19)Impact of 2020 on his blogging (8:34)Seth’s attitude towards uncertainty (10:35)Defining good taste (12:22)What we actually mean by ‘hacking’ (29:05)Seth’s relationship with ‘trap’ emails (32:22)The trap people fall into when chasing authenticity (34:11)
“Know what your audience wants ten minutes before they do.”
– Seth Godin
Helpful Links
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work | Amazon
Episode 334: Endless Curiosity with Derek Sivers
Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction | Amazon
The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy | Amazon
‘How To Get Your Ideas To Spread’ TED Talk
Necessary Endings| Amazon
Ron Finley Teaches Gardening Masterclass
Freewrite
Inbox Zero: How to Stop Checking Email and Start Finishing It | Amazon
Glowforge
The Authentic Swing | Amazon
TrustYourself.com
Seths.blog
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 343: Consistency Over Authenticity with Seth Godin appeared first on Productivityist.
November 2, 2020
The History of the Missing “I”
This is a guest post from Roberto Rosso. Roberto is Italian, has a Masters Degree in Psychology in which he analyzed how technologies can improve cognitive performance, and another Master Degree in Ancient Philosophy in which he analyzed ancient education systems. He is co-author of the book C. Muccinelli – L’arte dell’agenda – (The Art of Scheduling). currently being published as of this writing.
“Whom, then, do I call educated? First, those who manage well the circumstances which they encounter day by day, and who possess a judgement which is accurate in meeting occasions (τῶν καιρῶν) as they arise and rarely miss the expedient course of action.”
Isocrates, Panath. 30
How many books and blog articles on time management have you read? Many, I suppose. What usually happens? You read about wise advice, great ideas, real proofs from people who put them into practice successfully, then you try to practice them diligently, but there is always something wrong. For example, someone asks you to get up at 5 AM, and this would mean divorcing your wife. Another asks you to go jogging at 8 AM and to not pay attention to the tasks of the day, but you don’t think that your boss would agree very much with that, and you are definitely not someone who runs in the park in the early morning cold. Finally, others tell you not to work after 5 pm, but the evening is the only time of day when you feel a little more lucid. What then? The most scrupulous of you will commit themselves to change their habits and to adapt their behavior to the method. Still, the the experience is similar to when you wear a pair of shoes too small for you—it is uncomfortable, and, after a week, the shoes end up in the attic. You also know what happens next. You look for other advice, but the story is more or less the same. You jump from one professional to another, looking for something suitable, and the story repeats itself, increasing your frustration and your sense of failure. Well, a sentence from Mike’s book, The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want (2012), helped me consider this blog in a different way, which I will tell you about later. Towards the end of the book wrote, Mike wrote:
“My version of simplicity isn’t your idea of the term […] Once you figure out what works best for you, you’ll figure out what your version of simplicity is. Once you do that, your version of simplicity will no longer just be subjective. It will also allow you to better reach your objectives. . .”
Mike Vardy, The Front Nine: How to Start the Year You Want Anytime You Want
It is not a good idea for me to dwell too much on how these words offer a different perspective than what we have said before. It is quite a revolution compared to what we have said so far. One thing that struck me most of all—these words have ancient roots. They can be traced to a great Greek philosopher, Isocrates. Funnily enough, however, the only Greek philosopher Mike mentioned in the book was Socrates. I took the liberty of writing to him to point out the missing “I”, underlining above all, how many confirmations the perspective of this site could draw from that “I” in our search for greater production efficiency.
In his famous theory of education, Isocrates pointed out that we live in a reality too complex to be reduced to a finite set of rules. In order to be effective, a rule should cover a finite number of cases. As the number of cases contemplated increases, its practical effectiveness decreases, becoming a beautiful aphorism of little use. Today, I want to propose the same approach he used with his ancient students, summarized in six simple rules.
1. The protagonist is you; the target is you.
You don’t have to worry about copying someone else’s method perfectly. The situation they describe is not and will never be yours. Instead, you have to identify some critical issues in how you face your workday. Mike rightly suggests finding a way of taking note of everything quickly and easily. You need to have a clear picture of your situation to understand the areas of intervention, and explore the different solutions proposed by the experts, and try each one for a sufficient time until you decide whether to refuse or accept it. After that, you make it yours and shape it into something unique and non-trivial.
2. The situation you live in is complex and paradoxical; listen to it and do not trivialize it.
Be suspicious of too simplistic formulas. It would be like trying to trap the ocean in a bucket. Your life situation is unique and unrepeatable. It cannot be a photocopy of any other experience, no matter how successful this is. Suppose you want a long-lasting and efficient approach to work. In that case, it needs to be flexible, with the ability to adapt to an ever-changing reality.
4. Listen to your physique and your mood.
Your situation is unique. You have the advantage of approaching it from three different and converging points of view. The first is with your feelings at a given moment. It is better to listen to your body and not lie to yourself than to give yourself rules with the clock in hand. In The Front Nine (2012), Mike talks about a possibility that would have made Isocrates happy: organizational systems exist that do not include a daily or chronological scan of things to do. Mike gave the example of the daily scan, but there can be others. The only limit is your patience to wait and listen to yourself. A normal day is like a swing of energies or a succession of waves—you should be able to see them and ride them. When the positive wave has passed, it is useless for you to indulge yourself, as you only waste time, and you will get low-quality products. Commit yourself to recharging your battery with effective rest, relaxing activities, and targeted food intake. It may be that you will do the best things at 3 AM and then allow yourself a more unloaded day. Or that you will keep up a very high pace for an entire week but then have to give yourself a long period of rest. Another Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, tells us something about this that may seem trivial, but is interesting: the way up and down are one and the same (DK 22 B 60). This means that you must give yourself an equal time to rest and recover for every moment spent at your maximum. If you hope to manage your productive life perpetually in top gear, this is a dead dream because you will have to resign yourself to up and down performances, leading you to go back to the point where you started, and wandering from one method to another.
5. The world is full of opportunities waiting for you; learn to see and seize them.
According to Isocrates, the other main point of view on the uniqueness of your situation is about your opportunities. It is useless for me to tell you about the opportunities I have or for Mike to tell us about his (I greatly appreciate that, unlike others, he is very reserved on that point). Everyone lives in a world of different opportunities. Everyone has to learn to see and take advantage of them on their own. However, we can say two things, easily verifiable in any environment—everyone has more opportunities than they think. Look around, really do it, and you’ll find a sea of possibilities. Be honest. Of course, not all will be meaningful, and not all will seem to go in the desired direction. Nevertheless, they are close to us, and it is up to us to build a path through them. Here, Mike recommends the excellent IDEA method (take opportunities that respect your ideals, do not interfere with other things that are exciting to you, whose interest in your life may last, and they can bring active or passive income).
6. There is only this one moment, and you have to learn to be completely immersed in it.
Isocrates is categorical on this point. I believe all of us would rationally agree with such advice. Yet, if you review your workday, it may be broken up by hundreds of unproductive interruptions (emails, notifications, conversations, colleagues, etc.). We must learn to isolate the moment from everything else and avoid the thousands of background noises. Mike’s experience in lifehacking techniques is very useful, as well as the importance attributed by Cal Newport to the concepts of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism. The main point is to learn how to fight all the distractions you are constantly immersed in. I am sure that if I were able to look into the heads of many of you during a specific task, such as preparing a report, it would be full of thoughts about your past self, the failures you have had doing similar tasks in the past, or your future self and what would happen to you, and what they would think of you if something went wrong. This is a mistake. Isocrates would have demanded two things: that you remain focused on the present task without thoughts of yesterday or tomorrow, and that you learn to distinguish between the result of a performance, which can always be improved, and the judgment on your person as a whole, which is not involved in the task.
In the end, I added only a single letter, ‘I’, to Mike’s meritorious essay, but I hope that this new look with an ancient twist will help you look at your daily productivity in a new light.
The post The History of the Missing “I” appeared first on Productivityist.
October 28, 2020
Episode 342: Master Delegation with Barbara Turley
Delegation is overwhelming. But it’s an essential part to any business, so expert Barbara Turley joins the show to explain where to begin.
You can take my Fiverr course ‘How To Prioritize Tasks To Boost Productivity’ on Fiverr’s new platform Learn. Watch this course to gain a greater awareness surrounding your priorities, an increased focus when doing your work, and understand what’s truly important. When you learn exactly how to set your priorities, you’ll be able to make quicker and better decisions, level up your career, and you won’t have the nagging thought that your day went to waste or you let someone down. Simply visit Productivityist.com/LearnFromFiverr/.
Ever feel like your calendar controls you, and not the other way around? Join me as I will present the Control Your Calendar Workshop LIVE on Tuesday November 10th at 5pm ET/2pm PT, which will allow for questions to be answered to live participants. This one hour interactive virtual workshop will help you take control of your days, weeks, and months using a simple and proven framework. I want to share my framework with you so that you can feel the same way I do. Calm, collected, and in control of the weeks ahead. For just $9, sign up at Productivityist.com/CalendarWorkshop/.
I want to share with you today The NOW Year Calendar 2021 edition, from my partnership with the team at NeuYear. It’s a wall calendar that comes in both a tall and wide format to help you plan out the year, and it’s based on my time crafting methodology with monthly themes. If you follow my 30 Days of TimeCrafting program, you can choose your annual action and put it at the top of this counter. Simply go to Productivity.com/NeuYear and then enter the discount code PODCAST to get 10% off your order. 2020 is rapidly coming to a close, so it’s time to start planning the next year now.
How often do you get caught up with small business overwhelm? Today’s guest Barbara Turley, CEO of the Virtual Hub, is a true expert when it comes to hiring and on-boarding staff for small businesses. Barbara is an investor and entrepreneur with a keen interest in scalable business models, systems, processes and automation, content marketing and the power of inspired and empowered teams.
The mission of the Virtual Hub is to eradicate small business overwhelm by simplifying the offshore outsourcing process and facilitating cost-effective business scalability. Hiring support is not easy, so I’m excited to hear what Barbara has learnt from hiring some of the best VAs.
Join our conversation as we explore setting expectations, the “huddle” concept, and learning from the mistakes we’ve made. It’s time to get out of the loop of being stuck in the busy work trenches, and start thinking about the bigger picture.
Talking Points
The simple steps to overcoming overwhelm (1:33)The story behind The Virtual Hub (7:40)A long-term thinking mindset (12:08)Busting the common myths behind ‘I can’t delegate’ (20:19)Procrastinating behind busy work (26:14)The most effective way to recruit and onboard a VA (31:26)Providing structures through tools (38:00)The first step of delegation (39:41)
“Delegation percolates and evolves.”
– Barbara Turley
Helpful Links
The 4-Hour Workweek | Amazon
The E-Myth Revisited | Amazon
Scaling Up | Amazon
Asana
TheVirtualHub.com/Productivityist
The Virtual Success Show
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 342: Master Delegation with Barbara Turley appeared first on Productivityist.
October 26, 2020
How to Make the Most of Your University Education
Whether you are on a taught undergraduate degree or you are studying an MBA online, the outcome that you want to achieve is the same. You want to complete your studies while gaining as much academic experience as possible. Your degree or postgraduate studies may be a stepping stone onto a greater career.
University days should be some of the best times in your life, however, you will want to make the most of them. That means being proactive in your learning and maximizing your productivity while you are able to.
In this article, we will look at how you can make the most of your time in university education.
Be Proactive with Your Learning
When you’re in a university, nobody is going to spoon-feed you information. It isn’t like school where you will sit and listen to the teacher and only have to learn what is on the curriculum. In university, you will be expected to do all of the learning off your own back.
For this reason, you will need to be proactive with your learning. Use your time wisely and spend as much of your spare time reading books that are either from your reading lists or recommended as further reading.
Create a reading schedule. Set yourself time each day to read at least a little bit on every subject that you are studying.
Determine Your Priorities Early On
It is essential that you determine your priorities at the start of your course. Work out what you want to achieve from your degree and then you can work at trying to achieve this.
For example, some people will want to achieve the highest grade possible, while others will see university as an opportunity to gain experience and build up a network of connections.
Wherever the goal you are trying to achieve, the earlier you understand what it is that you want to get out of your course, the more chance you will have of focusing your attention on what matters the most to you.
Capitalize on the Strengths of Your Peers
When working on projects with other students, don’t be afraid to capitalize on their strengths while playing to your own. Your university studies should not be about competing with each other, instead, they should be about complimenting each other and working collaboratively.
University offers great opportunities to learn to work well with others. Make sure that you play up other people’s skills and benefits.
Learning Happens Everywhere
In schools, education happens in the classroom. However, by the time you reach the university level, you should be learning wherever you are. Your studies should take place in the lecture theater, the learning resource center, online, at home, on the train, and anywhere else you can work. By joining a club or society, you will be enhancing your learning too.
Give Feedback
Don’t be shy in giving feedback to course leaders. Your feedback would be what is needed to improve the course for future learners. If something works or doesn’t work on your course, let your lecturers know. Without your feedback, they may never find out.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
University life can be hard. At times you will have an enormous workload and you need to ensure that you can handle anything that you take on. If you are struggling though, there is support for you. Head to your university’s student union or student support department.
If you feel homesick or that you are burnt out, you should get in touch with the university’s health and well-being department.
Mental health issues are particularly prominent among students and it is important that you feel able to speak up about them. As a society, we are becoming increasingly more accepting of mental health conditions and we’re gradually starting to show more of an understanding as a society. And so it follows that there is more-and-more support being offered and provided on university campuses.
There is nothing to be ashamed about in admitting that you are struggling. Reach out and ask for help. Everyone needs a hand from time-to-time. Taking care of both your physical and emotional health is essential. With the right support, you could be back on track for academic success before you know it.
Make Use of Your Network
Many of the people that you meet when you are studying will eventually go on to become market leaders and experts in their fields. Although your peers may just be students right now, they are the next generation of business successes and you should understand that your professional networking should start with getting to know your fellow students now.
There are plenty of networking opportunities throughout your time in university which should be seized upon. Everywhere you turn there is a chance to network with someone that could become a major player in your sector a few years from now. Make sure they remember who you are. Take advantage of these chances to talk whether it be in the university bar, the corridor, the cafe, or after your lecture.
Make sure that you meet as many people as you can and follow up with them. You may need to step outside of your comfort zone in order to do this, but this is how opportunities come to life.
Find a Mentor
When you start your course, you will be assigned a personal tutor. You may not have a connection with this person, however, there may be other lecturers in the faculty that you do have a stronger connection with.
It may seem intimidating to ask one of these other tutors to become your mentor, however, it is really not that difficult. If you are lucky and find the right person, you will find that you will have support from them for many years to come- even after you have finished your studies.
Take the Opportunity to Try New Things
You may never have a time like this again in your life. There will be opportunities for you to join societies and clubs that will provide you with an enhanced experience. Take part in extracurricular activities and build your confidence and strength along the way.
Take Care of Yourself
Studying is hard work. There are no two-ways about it. It is vital that you take good care of yourself. To do this, you should always ensure you are getting enough sleep. Eight hours each night will mean that you will have the mental prowess to thrive in your studies. Make sure that you are eating well. A good balanced diet will give you the energy you need to do the work that you need to. Finally, exercise plenty. This will help you to deal with stress.
Study Abroad
One of the ways to get the most diverse educational experience is to gain first-hand insight into a foreign university system. There may be an opportunity for you to study for part or all of your degree in another country.
Wanderlust comes to many people, but if you have the opportunity to go and see the world and to study while you’re doing so, then you should give serious thought to this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Of course, studying abroad isn’t just about getting the opportunity to jet off on a glorified holiday, you could gain insightful experience with an international internship, learn to speak a new language, or take a course in a foreign university. All of these will enhance your resume and get you ready for the jobs market while opening you up to international work opportunities.
The post How to Make the Most of Your University Education appeared first on Productivityist.
