Mike Vardy's Blog, page 42

Episode 298: Connect First with Dr. Melanie Katzman

On this episode of the program, I’m joined by Dr. Melanie Katzman, the author of Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work.

This episode is brought to you 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 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.)

Dr. Katzman is a business psychologist and consultant to the world’s top public and private companies, government agencies and nonprofits. She is the founder of Katzman Consulting and a founding partner of the social enterprise Leaders’ Quest.

During our conversation we dive into how her work can help people start connecting first, the role connection plays in how much you can impact someone, the word both of us like to use rather than the word “enough” and much more.

Talking Points



How does Melanie help someone break through the bias of connecting first? (1:01)Melanie talks about the idea of “Got it.” (3:13)How important was it for Melanie to make sure that the 52 simple ways were all simple? (6:21)This is what Melanie would say about whether or not engaging your senses has to do with connecting with yourself first (7:11)Melanie talks about the biases she has noticed beyond the book about what people find in their way to connect and how to solve that (8:37)This is the word Melanie used instead of enough and follows up discussing the meaning behind both of those words. (11:14)Why is the idea of apologizing such a key thing to keep in mind? (19:45)Melanie touches on the difference between “complex” and “complicated” (22:03)How can you keep fear at bay so you can continue to connect? (25:37)How does connection play a role in how much you can impact someone? (28:18)Which was the first of the 52 simple ways that Melanie wrote? (30:52)

“We are naturally wired to connect and when we do biology works for us.“

– Dr. Melanie Katzman

Helpful Links



Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at WorkEpisode 246: How to Be Great at Your Job with Justin KerrMelanie’s WebsiteThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Curious with Josh Peck

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 298: Connect First with Dr. Melanie Katzman appeared first on Productivityist.

The Rushing Feeling: How to Hush it

I’ve been feeling rushed lately. Not overwhelmed (yet), just rushed. It’s an uncomfortable “rushing” feeling.

This feeling isn’t new to me; I’ve felt rushed before. I’ve felt overwhelmed before — I know this because that’s the reason that I developed TimeCrafting in the first place.

I know exactly what to do when this rushing feeling comes upon me.

I need to pay attention to fewer things, but I can only do that when I eliminate things from my schedule. I must listen to my own words:

Eliminate the expendable so that you can illuminate the important.

Right now I’m in the midst of eliminating the expendable. If I don’t, then I know that my “rushed” feeling will turn into overwhelm. There have been some hard choices to make, but I’ve made them knowing that it’s for the best.

It’s very easy to get caught up in your feelings, but there are times when those feelings don’t serve you as well as slowing down and looking at things more objectively. It’s better to tackle “one bleeder at a time,” so to speak.

I’m not saying that all emotion should be removed from the equation, but it helps to have harmony between logic and emotion. It helps to have reason in mind when you’re making decisions, especially when you’re considering eliminating things from your plate.

The post The Rushing Feeling: How to Hush it appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 297: TimeCrafting Tactics – The MVP Day

This was not the episode I had planned. I’ve shelved that planned episode for now but while sitting with the dilemma of what episode to deliver to you this time around, I believe I’ve come up with something will do the trick. A series called TimeCrafting Tactics.

Now this series won’t happen in consecutive weeks or in any sort of sequential order. After all, that’s not how most people listen to podcasts.

Instead, I’ll drop an episode in this series every once in a while, taking into account the season that we may be in and any other factors that would make the subject both timely and timeless.

This instalment showcases the concept of The MVP Day. It’s a shorter episode and fits both the season and the series well. The only helpful links you’ll need are below.

Helpful Links



You Could Use An MVP DayMaslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

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 297: TimeCrafting Tactics – The MVP Day appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 296: A Productive Conversation with Thomas Frank

I’m excited to welcome Thomas Frank to this episode of the podcast. Thomas is an author, YouTuber, musician, and podcaster who is passionate about helping people become more capable and productive.

This episode is brought to you 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 brought to you by  Policygenius . We’re always going to get things wrong. That’s just life. But there are also things we can get right on the first try. Like shopping for life insurance. That’s where Policygenius comes in. Policygenius makes finding the right life insurance a breeze. In minutes you can compare quotes from the top insurers to find your best price. You could save $1500 or more a year by using Policygenius to compare life insurance policies. So even if you look back on your triple denim days in distress, you’ll never be distressed about life insurance with Policygenius. In just a few minutes you can find your best price and apply at Policygenius.com. We all get things wrong from time to time. At least we can get life insurance right with Policygenius. Check it out by heading to  Policygenius.com .

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.)

Thomas does most of his work at College Info Geek, one of the world’s largest and best-loved resources for students. College Info Geek includes a blog, podcast, and a YouTube channel with over 1.7 million subscribers.

I’ve been looking forward to releasing this episode for a long time. As a matter of fact, it’s bizarre that I haven’t had Thomas on the show until now. (That’s probably why this episode clocks in as my longest to date, both in terms of length and amount of links in the show notes.)

There’s so much we talk about during this episode – as you can see and soon will hear. I hope you enjoy this lengthy and deep discussion that I’m thrilled to send your way.

Talking Points



When did Thomas decide that video was the route he was going to take? (2:56)Thomas talks about his inspiration to “do video” a little differently (7:46)When Thomas researches these videos, what does that look like? (11:27)Thomas shares how many videos he has in the making process at once (13:34)This is what his framework looks like (29:52)What does a typical day look like for Thomas? (39:15)Who inspires Thomas to make films? (49:32)

“If you’re the kind of person who’s only ever reading productivity books and reading self help books you’re getting a pretty narrow world view.“

– Thomas Frank

Helpful Links



Thomas’s Office TourProductivity Hacks with My Friend Mike Vardy of Productivityist (College Info Geek Ep. 39)The Fizzle Show #356 How Thomas Frank grew his YouTube channel to 1.6 million subscribers and 91 million viewsSPI 324: From College Nerd to Wildly Successful Personal Brand with Thomas FrankEpisode 290: Creative Menopause with Chase Reeves [Recorded LIVE at The BIG Ready]HabiticaEpisode 75: Level Up Your Life with Steve KambNotionThe Good Place: The PodcastProcessThe Money Lab Podcast: Building A YouTube Engine with Thomas FrankThis is How Matt D’Avella WorksJet Parker: Action HeroShould You Add This To Your Workspace?I tracked every minute of my life for 3 months.The Best Book I Read in 201910 Great Gifts for the Productive Person in Your LifeThe One Hour Morning RoutineIcicle Swords (Live Looping)So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You LoveThe Ultimate Study Music PlaylistNebulaBaby Driver, by Edgar Wright (2017) – Opening creditsPotato Jet on YouTubeBEING Potato Jet // Working 70 hours a week to be a YoutuberDeep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted WorldThomas Frank’s WebsiteThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: College Info Geek

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 296: A Productive Conversation with Thomas Frank appeared first on Productivityist.

How to Turn a Negative into a Positive

My friend Patrick Rhone once said that “saying no is saying yes to other things.” Basically, he’s turning a negative into a positive with that phrase.

It’s something that I need to constantly remind myself about. I have an electronic button that I bought at a local dollar store that just screams the word “NO!” whenever I press it. It has moved to different places in my office, but now sits at my primary working space. You know, the place where I get email requests and things like that.

But it’s funny – I am far better at saying no to external requests than I am to internal ones. There are things that I consider doing, but instead of saying no I default to saying yes.

Here’s an example of that.

I have an email list designed to just receive updates for my upcoming book. I set up the landing page for that email list months ago. And I’ve sent exactly zero updates to date. I could have sent updates about the writing process so far. There are a few things that have happened that might’ve been worth sharing already. But I haven’t sent a single email yet.

And I haven’t decided when that first email will be sent. It will happen, but I don’t have a day locked down yet.

(That said, if you want to get that very first email and all subsequent book updates once I start sending them, you can sign up to receive them here.)

In the end, by intentionally not sending a single update as of yet, I’ve essentially said no to myself. And I’ve made that intentional choice of saying “no” in other situations, too. I’ve intentionally chosen to say yes to other things. The things I’ve really needed and wanted to do.

You see, the word “no” doesn’t have to be negative. It can be a positive thing. It’s all in how you use it.

The post How to Turn a Negative into a Positive appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 295: The 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting Series (April 2019)

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast I’m sharing with you insights from my inactive daily podcast “3 Minutes of TimeCrafting”, which concluded after this run of episodes in April 2019.

Some of the insights I share on this episode include:

The importance of flexible frameworksThe concept of “necessary endings”The focus pulling of push notificationsWhat noticing does for your productivityThe problem with hidden tasks

(And that’s just scratching the surface.)

This episode is loaded with three minute bits of productivity and time management tips that you can adopt and adapt as you see fit. I hope you like what I offer in this slightly-longer-than-usual-episode.

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 295: The 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting Series (April 2019) appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 294: Leadership is Language with David Marquet

On this episode of the program I’m joined by David Marquet, best-selling author, student of leadership and organizational design, former nuclear submarine Commander, and named one of the Top 100 Leadership Speakers by Inc. Magazine.

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.)

David’s new book, Leadership is Language, is a re-engineering of the language we use at work and a new playbook for leaders. “It’s time to ditch the Industrial Age playbook of leadership.” This book provides insights on how choosing your words can dramatically improve decision-making and execution skills for teams. 

We talk about the concept that David explores in this book (that leadership is language), why this is as much a playbook as anything else, what leaders need to work on in order to take their leadership skills to the next level, and much more. I enjoyed our conversation and I’m certain you’ll get plenty out of it.

Talking Points



What lead you to writing this book and why is it so important? (0:47)David explains the terms “red work” and “blue work” (4:08)Why do you consider this book to be a playbook? (7:40)What does David mean by the “be good self“ and the “get better self“? (18:55)What can someone do to start applying leadership as language today (25:17)

“Start your question with the word ‘how’.“

– David Marquet

Helpful Links



Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don’tTurn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into LeadersIntent-Based LeadershipDavid on Twitter: @ldavidmarquetLeadership NudgesThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Help Me Pick Future Ones by emailing me at podcast at productivityist dot 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 294: Leadership is Language with David Marquet appeared first on Productivityist.

The Struggle is Real

You might have heard or read this quote before:

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

– Ernest Hemingway

That’s how it feels. But that’s not to say writing is the only thing that feels that way.

Believe me, there are days when I look at my to-do list and feel the exact same way. I can look at my filtered to-do list — you know, the one that only takes into account what the day’s theme is and the tasks associated with that theme — and I can feel the struggle starting to take hold.

What do I do when that happens? I start at a place of strength.

Sometimes that place of strength is doing some low-energy tasks to build momentum. Sometimes it is looking at my monthly theme and choosing one task to do so I can make a little bit of progress on my greater intentions. And sometimes it is tapping into another quote. This one is from Theodore Roosevelt that’s written on a coaster my mother gave me years ago:

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

If you find yourself struggling this week, don’t fret. We all do. Just look for a way forward – even if it’s a small step.

The post The Struggle is Real appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 293: The Fitness Challenge

I’ve tried my fair share of fitness programs and plans over the years and have always found them to be more of a challenge than I’ve been willing to deal with. But the time has come for me to face the challenge that fitness presents and conquer it once and for all.

So on this episode I share with you the things I need to overcome this challenge on an ongoing basis, what I’ve tried before, and what I’m doing that I’m committing to for the foreseeable future.

Helpful Links



P90XBody for LifeIkigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy LifeEpisode 249: The Magic of Metabolic Profiling with Angelo PoliFutureEpisode 109: Whole Life Fitness with Dai ManuelEpisode 265: Bringing Gratitude with Karl StaibEpisode 286: Doing Project 333 with Courtney CarverThe Whole30 ProgramEpisode 116: The Power of When with Dr. Michael BreusCentrDerek Sivers: Keep your goals to yourself



How I’m Challenging Fitness



Couch 2 10KDDPYThe Spotify Playlist I Use When I’m Running

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 292: Why Values Thinking Works with David Allison

I’m joined by David Allison on this episode of the program. David Allison is the founder of The Valuegraphics Database, the world’s first database that can predict and influence behaviour for anything on earth. He is a pioneer of ‘Values Thinking’ as the new best practice for organizational decision-making.

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.)

This episode is brought to you by  LinkedIn Jobs . The perfect hire can have an impact on your business for years to come.  So when you need to find that next person to help grow your business, LinkedIn Jobs will match the right talent with your open role… fast. 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. Find the right person for your business today with LinkedIn Jobs.

I’m thrilled to have met David recently and once we had a conversation about what we were working on, I knew I wanted to have him on this podcast. David has coined the term, and become a champion of, Values Thinking, the new best practice for organizational decision-making in a post-demographic world. I find the practice fascinating and definitely worth your attention.

We talk about why values thinking works, the difference between virtues and values, what led David to pursue this practice, and much more. David and I are aligned in our thinking in plenty of ways and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Talking Points



David explains what he does, how he got into it, and what “Valuegraphics” actually are (1:26)How valuable can data be in times of uncertainty? (3:30)This is what led David down this specific path (8:46)David explains why it’s important to get your values in check to be productive and take productive actions (14:43)Does David believe there’s a difference between values and virtues? (24:00)How validating does it feel for David when he sees something that is proof of his concept? (28:30)

“We have these giant stereotypical ideas in our head of what people are like based on what they are and not who they are.“

– David Allison

Helpful Links



ValuegraphicsHow Our Values Unite Us In Times Of UncertaintyWe Are All the Same Age NowWho We Are is Very Important. What We Are is Not.Episode 251: Being a Late Bloomer with Rich KarlgaardEpisode 234: Bolder with Carl Honoré

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 292: Why Values Thinking Works with David Allison appeared first on Productivityist.