Mike Vardy's Blog, page 40
June 28, 2020
Episode 315: I Took a Clarity Day

I took a Clarity Day this week.
This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education . Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who’s interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist then enter the promo code timecrafting . Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until July 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. (Please note that this discount is for almost all of the certificate programs. The exceptions only include coding boot camps, international programs, teacher credentialing programs, and test prep courses.)
Not sure what a Clarity Day is? I explain its value on this episode… as well as how I know it’s going to help me with my productivity and prioritization moving forward.
Want to take a Clarity Day for yourself? Here’s how.
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 315: I Took a Clarity Day appeared first on Productivityist.

June 24, 2020
Episode 314: The Only Skill That Matters with Jonathan Levi

On this episode I’m joined by Jonathan Levi. Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur, published author, and podcaster born and raised in Silicon Valley.
This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn Talent Solutions . Now more than ever, we need people with the right skills to support our communities, especially the frontline workers who provide resources and care for those most in need. To help, LinkedIn is offering free job posts for healthcare and essential service organizations that need to quickly fill critical roles with the people who help us all. If you are hiring for one of these organizations, job posts on LinkedIn Jobs can help you quickly find the right people for your front line. To post a healthcare or essential service job for free, or if you’re in another industry and have hiring needs, visit linkedin.com/timecrafting . Terms and conditions apply.
This episode is sponsored by Bambee . When running a business, Human Resources issues can kill you. There’s so much to wrap your head around and hiring an HR Manager is going to cost you – they command an average of seventy-thousand dollars a year! That’s where Bambee comes in. Created specifically for small business, Bambee provides you with a dedicated HR Manager that can craft your HR policy, and maintain your compliance, all for just one low monthly fee. You don’t need to deal with HR issues – let Bambee do that for you. Go to bambee.com/timecrafting now to schedule your FREE HR audit. You’ll be glad you did.
This episode is sponsored by Setapp , a subscription for Mac apps. Setapp packs over 180 high-quality apps into one. There’s an app for almost any task, so you can stay in your flow and finish what you started. Setapp has a dedicated curation team that only selects the highest quality apps. New apps are always being added to Setapp, updates are free and all the apps are full-featured pro versions. And you don’t have to spend time on app discovery and testing. Setapp makes it easy to get the best tools when you need them – they’re already in Setapp. Listeners of The Productivityist Podcast can check out Setapp for free for 7 days. Just visit Setapp.com and give it a try today!
Jonathan is the face of such products and brands as the award-winning SuperHuman Academy Podcast; the bestselling “Become a SuperLearner” series; and, most recently, his new venture, SuperHuman Academy. Jonathan’s media products have been enjoyed by over 250,000 people in 205 countries and territories.
During our conversation we talk about the perils of overdoing optimization, how to avoid information overload, why planning matters, and Jonathan’s exploits into speed reading. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode… I hope you enjoy it.
Talking Points
Jonathan tells us a bit about himself and his origin story. (0:55)How does Jonathan turn off the desire to want to optimize everything all the time? (5:04)Jonathan talks about the filtration aspect of information overload (10:40)This is what Jonathan thinks about planning and plans (14:59)Jonathan and I talk about “speed reading” (23:44)
“I really look to things that have sustained the test of time.”
– Jonathan Levi
Helpful Links
Episode 256: Understanding Ultralearning with Scott H. YoungThe Science of Speed ReadingThe Only Skill that Matters: The Proven Methodology to Read Faster, Remember More, and Become a SuperLearner
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 314: The Only Skill That Matters with Jonathan Levi appeared first on Productivityist.

June 21, 2020
Episode 313: Three Big Days

This episode is sponsored by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education . Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who’s interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist then enter the promo code timecrafting . Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until July 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. (Please note that this discount is for almost all of the certificate programs. The exceptions only include coding boot camps, international programs, teacher credentialing programs, and test prep courses.)
Three big days that happen over a three week period are incredibly meaningful to me: World Productivity Day, Father’s Day, and my birthday. I share my thoughts on all of them in this episode.
Relevant Links
World Productivity DayHow to Be Productive in These Strange Times with Mike VardyHow to Fix Your 2020 Vision BoardWhy You Need A Clarity Day (And How To Make It Happen)
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 313: Three Big Days appeared first on Productivityist.

June 17, 2020
Episode 312: Curating Your Life with Gail Golden

This episode of the podcast delves into the concept of curation with the author of Curating Your Life, guest Gail Golden.
This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Shippo. The #1 challenge for most e-commerce businesses? Shipping. And these days customers expect it to be flawless. That’s why you need Shippo. Whether you’re a major retailer, or just getting started, you will save time and money, fulfill and ship at scale, and make returns easy for your customers with Shippo. Shippo is offering listeners of The Productivityist Podcast their best discount available anywhere – get a shipping consultation and Shippo Pro Plan 6 Month Trial – for FREE – at goshippo.com/timecrafting . That’s up to a $700 value – for free! Check out Shippo to receive this incredible offer today.
This episode is brought to you by Setapp , a subscription for Mac apps. Setapp packs over 180 high-quality apps into one. There’s an app for almost any task, so you can stay in your flow and finish what you started. Setapp has a dedicated curation team that only selects the highest quality apps. New apps are always being added to Setapp, updates are free and all the apps are full-featured pro versions. And you don’t have to spend time on app discovery and testing. Setapp makes it easy to get the best tools when you need them – they’re already in Setapp. Listeners of The Productivityist Podcast can check out Setapp for free for 7 days. Just visit Setapp.com and give it a try today!
This episode is brought to you by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education . Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who’s interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist then enter the promo code timecrafting . Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until July 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. (Please note that this discount is for almost all of the certificate programs. The exceptions only include coding boot camps, international programs, teacher credentialing programs, and test prep courses.)
Gail Golden, MBA, Ph.D., is the Principal of Gail Golden Consulting, LLC. As a psychologist and consultant for over twenty-five years, she has developed deep expertise in helping businesses to build better leaders. Her experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, and consultant to senior leaders of both Fortune 1000 and non-profit organizations informs her approach to executive selection and development.
We focus on the idea of curation – something we are both keen on – and also discuss mediocrity, her thoughts on managing time, her views on comfort, and more.
Talking Points
How does curating your life allow you to have more balance? (0:51)Gail offers her take on mediocrity (5:43)How do you know when it is time to re-evaluate and change what your priority is? (9:08)Gail talks about her views on wanting to escape the comfort zone (28:26)What is one simple action someone can take to start this process after they pick up the book? (32:03)
“Don’t manage your time, manage your energy.“
– Gail Golden
Helpful Links
Gail Golden ConsultingCurating Your LifeGail on Twitter @goldencoach
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 312: Curating Your Life with Gail Golden appeared first on Productivityist.

June 15, 2020
Mobile Productivity: The Secrets To Staying Productive On The Go

Digital technology has allowed all of us to work a lot more flexibly than ever before and we’re seeing a lot of business owners and freelancers move to new kinds of working norms. Working on the road isn’t anything new but what is new is staying connected and using all of the tools you would usually find in an office while on the road. With new trends come new challenges, however, and a lot of people find that when you’re always on the go it can be difficult to get the time and resources you need for mobile productivity. Here are a few tips and tools that can help you manage it.
Maintain Morning Consistency
It can be difficult to keep your mornings consistent when traveling – especially if you’re traveling from one time zone to another and are dealing with jet-lag.
However, it is worth making the effort. You can do things like setting alarms for a consistent time when possible and scheduling your travel so that you don’t have to do it when you would normally be getting up and ready for work. The simple fact is that inconsistency, especially with how you wake up in the morning, can pile the stress onto the body. Managing your stress and staying in good health will be crucial when it comes to maintaining mobile productivity. It might feel like you’re on an adrenaline high for some time if you’re always working while on the move but it will slow you down massively if you let it go unchecked.
(You should also aim to keep your evenings consistent as well. In fact, I’d say that an evening routine is even more important than a morning routine.)
Eat Well and Hydrate
Don’t underestimate how important good physical health is when it comes to your mobile productivity. Being on the move is physically taxing and you need to make sure that you’re eating as nutritiously as possible to give your body the fuel that it needs. It’s also quite easy to lose track of how much water you’ve had throughout the day. Thankfully, there are apps like WaterMinder that make it a lot easier track your water intake.
If your diet is poor, your body will be fatigued. You’ll have trouble focusing, and you’ll be more likely to get sick wherever (and whenever) you go. You really can’t take any chances when it comes to your health. So pay attention to your food and water intake so that your mobile productivity – and productivity in general – doesn’t suffer.
Stay Organized Using the Cloud
One of the biggest advantages that modern technology has offered the flexible worker is just how many different ways you have to backup all the files, notes, and other resources you need to get your work done.
Let’s use notes as an example. It’s always simplest to keep your notes in one place, where you can quite easily find them regardless of location. But now you can take that one place wherever you go with you and keep your mobile productivity game strong. Cloud-based software like Evernote has local storage so you can see your notes if you’re offline – as long as you’re using the device with it installed. However, if you’re not able to use that device because it’s not convenient in the moment, you can just as easily sign in to your profile online with another device (like your tablet or smartphone) and see your notes that way, too.
Embrace Your Energy Levels
Travel can mess with your daily schedule. If you’re going to meetings or you work while traveling the globe, then there are all kinds of hiccups that can completely shatter your routine. As such, it’s important to know and embrace what your energy levels are, and what kind of work you’re able to do with those levels.
If you’re at the airport, then you might have high energy levels after you get checked in, allowing you to do your most demanding work. But after a flight and when you arrive at your hotel, you may not have the same kind of energy. That’s when you should do your low energy tasks. Prepare your day by estimating when your energy levels rise and fall. Then choose the tasks that suit them at different points in the day to aid you with your mobile productivity.
Don’t Forget to Delegate
Running any business requires a lot and if you keep growing you will no longer be able to handle all of the duties that you once could. (I’ve had my fair share of experience with this over the years.) When this happens, you will find optimal mobile productivity to be a challenge without delegating tasks to others.
If you have personnel that’s situated back in the office, then you need to talk to them about duties they should be ready to pick up for you when you’re not able to take them on yourself. However, if you’re self-employed or running a solo business, then you might also want to look into virtual assistants. They can take tasks off your plate, allowing you to make the best use of your time. What’s more, many virtual assistants are small business owners, meaning that they can bring a shared perspective that allows them to handle those delegate duties with the nuance that they might just need.
Be Easy to Reach
If your business and your work demand communication (and most do), then you need to have your contact details available should your team, your partners, or your clients need to reach you. For internal communications team communication software like Flock, for example, can be a great solution. It helps you centralize all of your conversations and track topics you’re discussing with other groups.
For clients, you might need to consider having a work phone number that they can reach when you might not be available online. However, this should be done with the express understanding that you will only be reachable at certain hours of the day. With so much demand on your time due to travel already, you have to set some hard and fast boundaries on your schedule where clients are concerned if you want to maintain high levels of mobile productivity.
Isolate Your Work Environment
If you’re traveling a lot, then you can expect that at least some of your work is going to be done in airports, on planes, on trains, in hotels, and more. Many of these are not going to be the optimal work environment.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to give into the surrounding distractions. One approach to combat this is to invest in some noise-canceling headphones. They can help you get rid of most of the noise around you, which tends to be the main source of distraction – and the toughest to ignore. If you’re staying in a new city for a while and you find it difficult to concentrate in your hotel room then you can find a café with a wi-fi connection or even a local co-working space. When you’re on the go, you have to be able to create or find your work environment on the fly.
Make Sure You Always Have a Connection
Okay… “always” might not be entirely possible. But you should do what is in your power to make sure you can maintain connectivity most of the time.
It might take a little bit of an investment if, for instance, you have to constantly work off a dongle that acts as a wi-fi hotspot. However, with SMARTY SIM only deals that offer a lot of data usage, you can at least make sure your smartphone is almost always connected. If you’re unable to connect to any wi-fi signals but you have a generous data plan then you can also tether your smartphone to your desktop PC, allowing it to connect to any local data source that your phone can connect to and keep your mobile productivity flowing.
Protect Your Data
This might appear not as directly relevant to your productivity, but the fact is that any data breaches (or even attempted breaches) are a major interruption to your working day. And they will also affect your peace of mind.
To that end, make sure that any device you use on the road is secured. Use premium anti-malware software and firewalls. Only use apps that you can be relatively well-assured are trustworthy. It can be difficult to avoid signing into public networks (or semi-public networks) when traveling. When you do, try to limit how much sensitive data you access.
Furthermore, make sure you’re using a secure virtual private network like NordVPN for business that can encrypt all data you send and receive so that even if someone is peering in on what you’re doing they can’t see anything that would put you at risk.
It’s a matter of experience, necessity, and trial and error before you find a way to work on the go that suits you so that you can make mobile productivity something you can make happen anytime and anywhere. That said, you can follows any or all of the steps above to speed that process up. Actively look for the habits that work for you and you will find them sooner… and start ramping up your mobile productivity sooner as well.
The post Mobile Productivity: The Secrets To Staying Productive On The Go appeared first on Productivityist.

June 14, 2020
Episode 311: 3 More Things with KC Procter

KC Procter returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 206 of the podcast.
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 311: 3 More Things with KC Procter appeared first on Productivityist.

June 10, 2020
Episode 310: Trying Times with Bosco Anthony

My guest for this episode of the program is digital strategist, renowned speaker, and good friend Bosco Anthony. When we decided to have this conversation initially, we had a different set of topics in mind. But based on the current climate of the world when we recorded this episode – early June 2020 – the discussion went in a different direction.
This episode is brought to you by Setapp , a subscription for Mac apps. Setapp packs over 180 high-quality apps into one. There’s an app for almost any task, so you can stay in your flow and finish what you started. Setapp has a dedicated curation team that only selects the highest quality apps. New apps are always being added to Setapp, updates are free and all the apps are full-featured pro versions. And you don’t have to spend time on app discovery and testing. Setapp makes it easy to get the best tools when you need them – they’re already in Setapp. Listeners of The Productivityist Podcast can check out Setapp for free for 7 days. Just visit Setapp.com and give it a try today!
This episode is brought to you by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education . Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who’s interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist then enter the promo code timecrafting . Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until July 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. (Please note that this discount is for almost all of the certificate programs. The exceptions only include coding boot camps, international programs, teacher credentialing programs, and test prep courses.)
I’ve known Bosco for years and have seen him speak on many occasions. He knows his stuff and having him on the podcast has been a long time coming. But there’s more to Bosco than I’d known before having this discussion with him.
You see, while Bosco has an insatiable hunger to create and innovate his fervent passion is empowering people. Bosco discovered his personal purpose to live a legacy and in turn leave a legacy behind. From mentoring digital platforms in East Africa to creating empowering conversations Bosco has been making an impact locally and on a global scale. Bosco currently mentors, advises and creates digital strategies for non profit movements and global outreach programs.
During our discussion, Bosco and I went beyond the topic of productivity. We focused primarily on the subject of racism and uncertainty. We also spent some time talking about being a night owl, whether or not the return of sports will serve as a distraction from both the minutia and the important issues of the day, and how to deal with uncertainty in a time filled with it. I’m glad we took the time to shift gears and take our conversation down this path. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Talking Points
Bosco speaks on how he feels about todays on going events and protests (6:04)I ask Bosco if he thinks that when sports come back that it will create a distraction that shifts attention away from the Black Lives Matter movement (11:04)How does uncertainty and unfolding uncertain elements in the world affect Bosco’s productivity? (27:07)Bosco offers some simple steps you can take when you are in trying times and don’t feel like you can keep moving forward (32:30)
“When you’re not biased to one perspective it allows you to absorb more information at a quicker, rapid pace.“
– Bosco Anthony
Helpful Links
BoscoAnthony.comWhy Time Flies: A Mostly Scientific InvestigationThe 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That WayThe Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time1619 | The NY Times Podcast SeriesThe Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the LongestThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
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.)
The post Episode 310: Trying Times with Bosco Anthony appeared first on Productivityist.

June 8, 2020
What To Do When You Notice Your Business Productivity Dropping

Productivity is vital when it comes to business and if you’ve noticed that your productivity levels are dropping, you need to do something about it quickly.
You might notice soon after your productivity levels start dropping that your sales drop along with it. That’s something your business cannot afford. Here are some simple suggestions as to what you should do when you notice business productivity dropping.
Talk To Your Employees
One of the first things you need to do is to talk to your employees. Without them, there is no business because you would never be able to keep up with the demand. As such, this should be your first point of call.
When productivity drops there is usually a reason and you’ve got to find out what it is. Your employees may very well hold the answers. If you want to get those answers from them, you can do one of two things:
Foster an open door policy where you offer your employees the opportunity to come and talk to you if they feel like they have a problem. If they feel like they can come to you with their issues to get help, they are going to be a lot happier than having to hide them from you. If you’re concerned that you may face constant interruption by putting this sort of policy in place, then create “open door hours.” This time is where you dedicate your attention for these kind of discussions. That way you’re in the proper mindset to listen and learn from your employees when they come to your door.You could simply monitor who is doing what and use that tactic to find out where the problem is. When you find it you can call this person – or the people into your office – and ask them if there is anything that you can do to help. Try to find out why there is a problem and if you can help them before taking any further action. Not only will this benefit your business, but it will also build strong relationships with your employees. Again, you can set aside specific time periods for this sort of interaction so that the meetings are as focused as possible.
Invest In New Technology
You should also think about investing in new technology as this could help get things done more efficiently. If the competition is using the latest technology and you’re still using products from 2010, you’re going to have a difficult time keeping up. This isn’t something your employees can handle. Only you can get the ball rolling with the introduction of new technology into the mix.
Figure out what kind of things you’re going to need and then consider them an investment into the future of your business. If you don’t know where to start, then you could look at what other companies in your industry are using. Then just take inspiration from that to get the wheels moving.
You must invest the time and attention into this kind of research. Then you need to implement those tools into your company’s workflow along with the right kind of resources to accompany them. Once you’ve done that and give it time and space to take hold, you should see your productivity start to climb.
Hire Some Help
It might be that you don’t have enough people currently working for you. Or you might have enough people, but you don’t have the right people.
Sometimes you need a specialist for certain areas of your business to ensure everything is done as efficiently as possible. In my business, I’ve hired help that has worked on general business practices (such as administration duties) and more specialized help to handle things like podcast production and video editing.
Similarly, if your business needs help with things like monitoring its own technology to keep it running, then you should look into hiring IT support and a couple of other services that can help boost your productivity. By hiring these experts you are getting the best solution possible for your business, which in turn will make you more successful on the market.
I know that it can be expensive to do this. But if you don’t find a way to get your business productivity increased, then your business isn’t going to generate the necessary profit anyway. A workflow problem becomes a cash flow problem.
One thing I’ve done is reframe how I look at hiring. I think of it as a necessity rather than an option. Follow that line of thinking and you will find it far easier to come to terms with the idea of hiring help.
Get More Involved
Instead of waiting for your employees to come to you, you could go to them. As the boss, you could always get more involved in the company.
If you have experience in the field, then you could be extremely helpful to those working for you. Give them some advice, go around and help them where they need it, and take more of a hands-on approach to your business. One side effect to this – besides a possible boost in business productivity – is that it shows your employees that you care about your business. This is especially important if you run a large company – one that is multi-layered and multi-departmented.
If you jump in and get involved more often, you’re not just seen as a figurehead who sits at the top and doesn’t contribute to the business other than behind the scenes. You give your employees someone to get behind rather than hiding in your office all day with little to no one knowing who you are or what you do.
Try Changing Up The Office
Another thing that you should consider is changing up the office. The mood and vibe of the workplace is important when it comes to productivity. If you have people sequestered in desks trapped away from others, then there isn’t going to be a sense of community in your business. You want people to feel as though they can interact and help each other. That’s how you start to build a productive team.
Changing up the office comes in different forms. If there are currently “boring browns” on the walls, change them for a colour that inspires happiness and energy. The human brain reacts to different colours in different ways. If you’ve got decor that’s overwhelmingly brown – a colour that indicates boring and dull – that can send the wrong message. Why? Because neither of those qualities are ones you want your business to be. (Again, you can talk to the employees and get ideas from them about what would make them happier in the office.)
Set Goals For Your Team
The last thing that I’m going to suggest is that you start setting goals for your team. Come up with one goal per day, per week, or per month that your team needs to meet. Giving them a deadline and something to work towards might improve your productivity quite quickly. People like to meet their targets and when they have something to strive for they are willing to work as hard as possible to get there. That is why targets are such a good incentive for people. In addition, through goals you get to evaluate your employees more readily to see how they are engaging with the work. Unmet targets are often the sign of something bigger that you’ll want to address sooner rather than later.
These goals should be in line with what the company needs at any given time. All goals that you set should benefit the company when they are reached. If you can’t think of any group goals, you can always set each department a goal and see how this works. It’s all about finding what works best for your company.
All of these suggestions are worth exploring – even if you start with just one and make your way slowly from there. The key is to get started before you experience your business productivity dropping so that way you can avoid the decreases as much as possible.
The post What To Do When You Notice Your Business Productivity Dropping appeared first on Productivityist.

June 7, 2020
Episode 309: 3 More Things with Judy Machado-Duque

Judy Machado-Duque returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 205 of the podcast.
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 309: 3 More Things with Judy Machado-Duque appeared first on Productivityist.

June 3, 2020
Episode 308: Talking Slack with Phil Simon

Phil Simon joins me on this episode to talk about his book, Slack for Dummies. If you’ve ever wanted to get more out of Slack then you’ll get a lot out of this conversation.
This episode is brought to you 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 brought to you by SaneBox . SaneBox is the easiest way to automatically organize your inbox and keep it that way forever. SaneBox sorts your emails for you, keeping unimportant email out of your inbox, so you can focus on what matters. See how SaneBox can help you reclaim your time and attention with a free trial. Visit sanebox.com/timecrafting today to start your free trial and get a $25 credit.
This episode is brought to you by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education . Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who’s interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist then enter the promo code timecrafting . Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until July 31, 2020 at 11:59 pm. (Please note that this discount is for almost all of the certificate programs. The exceptions only include coding boot camps, international programs, teacher credentialing programs, and test prep courses.)
Phil is a sought-after speaker and recognized authority on technology, trends, communication, and management. He advises companies on how to optimize their use of technology has written nine books, most recently Slack For Dummies. His contributions have appeared in Harvard Business Review, CNN,& Inc., The New York Times, Wired, NBC, CNBC, Wired, The Huffington Post, FoxNews, abcnews.com, forbes.com, BusinessWeek, and many other high-profile media outlets.
Whenever Phil and I have the opportunity to connect, we have a great discussion. This episode is no exception. We spend plenty of time “talking Slack,” including why Phil decided to write an entire book about it, the most creative use cases he discovered while writing the book, and more. If you’ve been dipping your toe into Slack, then this episode will help you warm up to the idea of not only using Slack… but really making it sing for you.
Talking Points
What was Phil’s reasoning for diving into Slack? (1:45)These are some of the good things to know when first Getting into Slack (4:02)Phil talks about how he makes sure Slack doesn’t go off the rails and become something it wasn’t made for (7:38)What was it like when Phil realized how useful Slack is? (24:33)Phil explains one of the most creative ways he has seen Slack used (29:40)If you’re familiar with Slack and you want to take things to the next level, this is one action you can take (33:14)
“Once you go Slack, you don’t go back.“
– Phil Simon
Helpful Links
PhilSimon.comAsanaGary GulmanHow I Built This with Guy Raz | Slack & Flickr: Stewart ButterfieldSlack for DummiesThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: How I Built This with Guy Raz
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The post Episode 308: Talking Slack with Phil Simon appeared first on Productivityist.
