Mike Vardy's Blog, page 44

Episode 284: How to Be a Successful Speaker with Grant Baldwin

On this episode of the program I’m joined by Grant Baldwin. Grant is the founder of The Speaker Lab, a training company that helps public speakers learn how to find and book speaking gigs. He’s also the author of the book The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform.

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  Zapier . When you’re running your own business your to-do list is never-ending. You know you could automate many of the tasks you do, but you don’t know-how. That’s where Zapier comes in. And right now through the end of the month, you can try Zapier free by going to our special link. Just visit  http://zapier.com/timecrafting  and get a 14-day free trial of Zapier – and tell them The Productivityist Podcast sent you!

Through his popular podcast The Speaker Lab and flagship coaching program Booked and Paid to Speak, Grant has coached and worked with thousands of speakers. As a keynote speaker, Grant has delivered nearly one thousand presentations to over 500,000 people in 47 states and has keynoted events for audiences as large as 13,000. Grant has also been featured in national media including Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post. He now lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Sheila, and their three daughters.

I’m happy to have Grant return to the podcast to share some of the ideas and insights he presents in his new book. I look to Grant as someone who knows his stuff about being a successful speaker and there’s plenty you can learn from what he shares during our discussion.

Talking Points



What made Grant decide to take all his lessons and work from his speaking gigs and put them into a book? (1:45)This is the step that Grant thinks is overlooked too often (3:41)How does a budding speaker still come off as authentic but not too polished or over-rehearsed? (8:00)How do you keep in mind while speaking that people want you to relate to them and don’t necessarily care about your thoughts on something? (12:42)How does Grant suggest dealing with the patience aspect of getting good at speaking… and everything that comes along with that? (21:27)This is Grant’s views on slides as a tool for speaking gigs (24:45)How has Grant balanced the travelling life of a speaker with his family life? (30:45)These are the steps Grant takes when he’s building a talk (36:03)

“It’s not an overnight thing… and so one of the things we tell speakers all the time is this is simple but it’s not easy.”

– Grant Baldwin

Helpful Links



The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your PlatformComedianthespeakerlab.com/bookThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Three Month Vacation Podcast

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

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 284: How to Be a Successful Speaker with Grant Baldwin appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 283: Well-Presented with Mike Pacchione

On this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Mike Pacchione. Mike is a speaking expert who helps presenters find their voice on stage. (Hint: putting yourself in your speech, while scary, is a bit of a secret weapon for making your speech memorable.)

This episode is brought to you by  Future . Future pairs you up with one of their world-class trainers, and coaches create your personalized workout plan, tailored specifically to your schedule, your routine, your goals, and your progress all through the convenience of their stellar app. I’ll explain more during the episode but I encourage you to sign up for Future today at  tryfuture.com/timecrafting  and get your first 2 weeks with your personal trainer for $1. Don’t overpay for a trainer. Get the workouts you need to meet all your fitness goals and take your trainer with you wherever you go with Future!

This episode is also 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.

Mike has worked with more than 10,000 speakers from companies all over the world, including giants like Google, Nike, Microsoft, Starbucks and the NSA.

I’ve known make for several years now and I look to him whenever I’m putting a talk or presentation together. I wanted to bring him to the program to not only share with you some of his best tactics and tips that will help you present your ideas and insights well, but also to remind me of what I need to do in order to do the same. After listening to this episode you’ll be able to take Mike’s knowledge and experience and apply it to your presentations so you’ll be able to confidently deliver them in a way that leaves your audience wanting more.

Talking Points



Why is making the assumption that because you have improvisational skills that you can nail a talk a really bad idea? (1:44)How much time should someone take into consideration while making a presentation? (3:56)This is what made Mike decide that he wanted to give talks and help other people with their talks full-time (7:29)How do you balance knowing your stuff but not coming off too prepared or monotone – or looking like you dont know your stuff and are all just “show”? (15:11)Is there such a thing as too many talks? (17:45)This is how Mike is constructing his time, now that he’s running his own business and has a child (23:54)What does a typical day look like for Mike? (27:15)Some thoughtful tools and tips that Mike shares for presenters to use to their advantage (33:10)Does Mike recommend eating before going on stage? (38:17) What advice do you give people when they know they have a talk at a time during the day that isn’t ideal? (39:49)We talk about being the talk that wraps up an event or conference and what you should do if you find yourself in that slot (44:06)Here’s the one piece of advice Mike would give someone who is giving a presentation (46:50)

“I always tell people they should feel like the presenter is a friend.“

– Mike Pacchione

Helpful Links



The Productivityist Podcast #197: Getting Back to Happy with Marc and Angel ChernoffTime Management Ninja: 21 Rules for More Time and Less Stress in Your Life | Craig JarrowPre-order my new book TimeCrafting: A Better Way to Get the Right Things DoneAmy Porterfield’s Podcast: A Week in the Life (7 Days Behind-the-Scenes with Amy)Help for Your Upcoming Presentation (I Know You’re Nervous) | Pat FlynnWorld’s Most Popular TED Speaker, Ken Robinson, Shares 5 Secrets Of Giving A Great Speech | BIThe Grinder is the year’s funniest new show | Vox (from 2015, show was cancelled far too soon)Subscribe to TimeCraftingTVWhen: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing | Daniel PinkSterling K. Brown Explains His “No Gym” Workout | Men’s HealthStoryBrand | Donald MillerAqua Notes Water Proof Note PadThe Productivityist Podcast #161: Overlap with Sean McCabeVoxerMy CreativeLive Course from 2014: Time Management 101Breakthrough Play | Gary WareYour Job is to Make Art – Seth Godin at ConvertKit Craft & Commerce 2017MikeTalks.coThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Rework 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 283: Well-Presented with Mike Pacchione appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 282: The Responsibility Ethic with Adam Kreek

On this episode, I’m joined “in studio” by Adam Kreek. A two-time Olympian, Adam holds 60 international medals, including Olympic Gold, and multiple hall of fame inductions. Adam’s new book, The Responsibility Ethic, teaches us the how of self-leadership, driving personal and professional results in individuals and organizations.

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.

Adam has a slew of additional accolades to his name, one of which is that in 2013, Adam made the first ever attempt to row unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to America, the subject of the NBC Dateline Documentary, Capsized. It was great to have Adam in the studio to talk about his new book, the idea of providence and patience, what he believes the evolution of SMART goals is, and much more.

Talking Points



How does failure and Adam’s knowledge on that play into his book? (2:04)What does Adam think responsibility means? (5:01)Adam shares with me the idea of providence (8:51)This is what Adam uses instead of SMART goals (20:43)How important is it to truly understand your values and how that ties into ethics (30:11)Adam and I talk about deciding where to spend your time and how to come to those decisions (33:20)We (finally) get to talk about patience and its role when you know that you have plenty you want to accomplish in a short timespan… like an athletic career (45:21)

“You visualize the end point and you want the end point to be there now because you can see it, yet you have to put in the work.”

– Adam Kreek

Helpful Links



KreekSpeakFree SoloMatt D’Avella | YouTubeThe Responsibility Ethic | AmazonThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Focused

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 282: The Responsibility Ethic with Adam Kreek appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 281: Accomplish It with Mridu Parikh

On this episode I chat with Mridu Parikh, founder of Life Is Organized and author of Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals.

This episode is brought to you by  Zapier . When you’re running your own business your to-do list is never-ending. You know you could automate many of the tasks you do, but you don’t know-how. That’s where Zapier comes in. And right now through the end of the month, you can try Zapier free by going to our special link. Just visit http://zapier.com/timecrafting and get a 14-day free trial of Zapier – and tell them The Productivityist Podcast sent you!

I’m hosting an event on Saturday February 29th, 2020 – the extra day that we get in a leap year – and I’d love for you to join me and a bevy of stellar speakers and great guests. It’s called  The BIG Ready  and I’m holding this event at The Pace – a venue that’s located in the first city I lived in when I moved to the west coast, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Early bird and BIG Ticket VIP tickets are now on sale, so visit  TheBIGReady.com  to get more details and grab your tickets today!

Mridu helps ambitious people get control of their time, energy, and habits, even when they are overwhelmed by demands and distractions. As a productivity coach, keynote speaker, and best-selling author she teaches people how to focus, overcome procrastination, and squash anxiety.

I had a great time talking with Mridu about her journaling habits (that is, if she has them), her thoughts on capturing ideas and thoughts and how she does that, and we specifically dive into the seven simple actions that she describers in her book.

Talking Points



Mridu and I talk about why people stay in a “state of stuckness”? (3:31)Does Mridu journal? If so, how does she journal? (7:25)How does Mridu get people to take their energy levels into account when making to do lists and accomplishing goals? (10:11)We discuss how to balance recurring simple tasks with bigger, harder tasks (11:57)What are The Seven Simple Actions? (17:57)How do you figure out when to ask for help and for what? (24:45)This is something Mridu said no to after realizing it would be too much (27:16)How does Mridu help people with the idea of writing things down consistently? (31:10)

“Every time you think ‘I’ll remember that later,’ switch that and think ‘I won’t remember that later’.”

– Mridu Parikh

Helpful Links



Life is OrganizedEpisode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David AllenAccomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your GoalsThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Joe Rogan Experience

Remember that simple isn’t the same as easy. So while Mridu revealed 7 simple actions you can take to accomplish what you need and want to do, that doesn’t mean it will be easy to do them. My advice is to start small and build from there. Layer more and more of your ambitions using this formula Mridu shared over time rather than all at once and you’ll have a better chance of accomplishing “it” going forward.

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 281: Accomplish It with Mridu Parikh appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 280: All You Have to Do is Ask with Dr. Wayne Baker

On this episode of the podcast, I welcome Dr. Wayne Baker as my guest. Focusing on social capital, social networks, generosity, and positive organizations, Dr. Baker has published six books and contributed to such outlets as Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive Magazine, and Sloan Management Review. A frequent guest speaker and management consultant, Dr. Baker is a cofounder and board member of Give and Take Inc., developers of the collaboration technologies based on principles in his book All You Have to Do Is Ask.

This episode is sponsored by  HoneyBook . HoneyBook is an online business management tool that organizes your client communications, bookings, contracts, and invoices – all in one place. HoneyBook makes it simple to run your business better. Professional templates, e-signatures and built in automation keeps everything on track and makes you look good. right now, HoneyBook is offering listeners of this podcast 50% off when you visit  http://tryhoneybook.com/timecrafting . Payment is flexible, and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually.

This episode is brought to you by my new online course,  30 Days of TimeCrafting . In this program you’ll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter… for just $5. To learn more, visit  productivityist.com/fivedollars .

I’m hosting an event on Saturday February 29th, 2020 – the extra day that we get in a leap year – and I’d love for you to join me and a bevy of stellar speakers and great guests. It’s called  The BIG Ready  and I’m holding this event at The Pace – a venue that’s located in the first city I lived in when I moved to the west coast, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Early bird and BIG Ticket VIP tickets are now on sale, so visit  TheBIGReady.com  to get more details and grab your tickets today!

Asking for help can be a real challenge – and it keep us from reaching our full potential. The conversation we have on this episode should help you get better at asking. Dr. Baker and I discuss why we need help from others to be more productive, why generosity within a company isn’t the issue when it comes to developing a culture where asking is fostered, and how leaders can use certain techniques and tools to build a habit of asking in themselves and their colleagues.

Talking Points



This is how Dr. Baker looks at the idea of asking in reference to his work (2:02)How can company leaders help cultivate a culture of generosity and nurturing the idea of asking (3:21)Dr. Baker talks about the importance of asking and its relationship to your goals (4:51)This is Dr. Baker’s definition of SMART is when it comes to goals (6:12)
How can someone go through Dr. Baker’s criteria in a fairly quick manner and less onerous? (8:34)If you struggle asking for help for any typical reason, this is what you can do to break that habit (10:37)Can this kind of process be applied internally as well? (13:14)What is The Law of Giving and Receiving? (17:31)What techniques can leaders use to promote and foster the habit of asking in their organization? (21:01)This is what The Reciprocity Ring is… and what it does (24:18)Dr. Baker shares some ideas for rewards that can be put in place to help promote asking in the workplace (28:13)This is what you can do to start right now to get better at identifying where you need help and how to ask for it (30:08)

“The leader needs to be a role model of the behaviour that they want”

– Dr. Wayne Baker

Helpful Links



All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for SuccessThe Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Helpallyouhavetodoisask.comTodoist KarmaThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Productivity Paradox

I’ve always said that frameworks foster freedom. That idea definitely applies to what Dr. Baker shares in his work. The ideas of The Law of Giving and Receiving, The Reciprocity Ring, and much more allows individuals and organizations to forge and foster a culture of asking. And that’s a big win for everyone. Check out Dr. Baker’s book because it’s definitely got some great tactics and tools you can use to make asking a more integral part of your productivity process.

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 280: All You Have to Do is Ask with Dr. Wayne Baker appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 279: Finding Success in Your Sphere with Zvi Band

On this episode of the program I’m joined by Zvi Band. Zvi is the cofounder and CEO of Contactually, a leading CRM platform for relationship-oriented businesses, and author of “Success is in Your Sphere.” An engineer, developer, entrepreneur, and startup advisor, Zvi has been named a Washingtonian Tech Titan four times.

I’m hosting an event on Saturday February 29th, 2020 – the extra day that we get in a leap year – and I’d love for you to join me and a bevy of stellar speakers and great guests. It’s called  The BIG Ready  and I’m holding this event at The Pace – a venue that’s located in the first city I lived in when I moved to the west coast, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Early bird and BIG Ticket VIP tickets are now on sale, so visit  TheBIGReady.com  to get more details and grab your tickets today!

This episode is brought to you by my new online course,  30 Days of TimeCrafting . In this program you’ll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter… for just $5. To learn more, visit  productivityist.com/fivedollars .

Zvi and I talk about the acronym he uses as his CAPITAL strategy, why you need to aggregate all of your relationships (both personal and professional) in a database, and the need for purpose and process when forging and fostering relationships. Considering that my Monthly Theme for February is Relationships this was the perfect conversation to prime me for the month ahead. I trust you’ll get a lot of value out of it as well.

Talking Points



Zvi shares his origin story (2:49)We talk about the role of consistency when it comes to achieving success in your sphere – and the role of the calendar in that (5:05)This is one of the things Zvi did to execute consistently to help himself over both the short and long term (6:36)Where does someone begin aggregating their relationships? And why aggregate at all? (8:31)Zvi breaks this aggregation down into manageable chunks (10:41)This is why Zvi has many separate email accounts (12:02)Zvi explains how to ensure you are going beyond organizing your relationships… and prioritizing them (17:05)What nuances do you need to watch out for as you gain intelligence around your relationships? What does this intelligence-gathering look like? (18:57)You need to keep this in mind as you forge and foster relationships (22:16)How do you handle the person that connects with you with no real purpose? (25:00)We talk about the importance of boundaries (27:01)Why adding value is of the utmost importance in relationships and why you need to ask how you can do that on an ongoing basis (29:54)How can you make all of this easier to do? (32:36)This is how we can get in our own way during this process (35:48)If you want to start doing what Zvi suggests today, here’s the one small action you can do starting now (38:21)

“The important thing is that just because these are different people…doesn’t mean that the people differ or change in importance.”

– Zvi Band

Helpful Links



Success Is in Your Sphere: Leverage the Power of Relationships to Achieve Your Business GoalsContactuallyEpisode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir EyalYour Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial IndependenceDunbar’s number: Why we can only maintain 150 relationshipsThe Pomodoro TechniqueDerek Sivers’s Contact PageTextExpanderTimeCraftingTVsuccessisinyoursphere.comThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Routines & Ruts

I had a great time listening to and learning from Zvi. He’s someone who has a deep understanding of relationships and knows what it takes to organize, prioritize, and add value to them. From there, he can leverage them – and they can leverage him in return. That’s a pretty productive way to keep connected.

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 279: Finding Success in Your Sphere with Zvi Band appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 278: Keeping Productive with Francesco D’Alessio

This week on the program I’m joined by a guest I’ve been looking to chat with for a long time. Francesco D’Alessio runs Keep Productive, a YouTube show dedicated to helping people find the most suitable productivity software for their work and life needs. From helping decision making to curbing switching, Keep Productive is passionate about helping you make long-term decisions about your software.

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.

I’m hosting an event on Saturday February 29th, 2020 – the extra day that we get in a leap year – and I’d love for you to join me and a bevy of stellar speakers and great guests. It’s called  The BIG Ready  and I’m holding this event in the first city I lived in when I moved to the west coast, Vancouver, BC! Early bird and BIG Ticket VIP tickets are now on sale, so visit  TheBIGReady.com  to get more details and grab your tickets!

I remember the days of keeping up with all the latest and greatest productivity news and app updates. There came a time when I decided that wasn’t going to be in my long-term plans, so I moved away from that kind of content (for the most part). Francesco, however, is another story. He loves doing exactly that: sharing all the productivity news and app-related content as possible, as evidenced by his extremely popular YouTube channel. During our discussion we get into why he enjoys producing content around apps and productivity news, how he maps out his content plan, and so much more.

Talking Points



Francesco shares his “productivity origin” story (3:45)This is what Francesco looks for in an app that he showcases on his YouTube channel (6:26)What does Francesco define as productivity news? How does he decide what to share? (9:27)These are the tools that Francesco actually uses (11:56)We talk about the way forward with transitioning between apps that avoid friction and promote flow (17:47)This is what Francesco has used in the past and he shares why he moved away from them (20:30)What about paper? (22:54)We discuss Francesco’s content workflow (25:49)How does Francesco deal with content that can become dated? (31:22)Francesco shares THE productivity app that you should keep your eye on (32:34)

“Tools are going to change you marginally… but it’s really the approach and the methodology that matter.”

– Francesco D’Alessio

Helpful Links



Keep Productive on YouTubeNotion Made SimpleNotion Office Hours with Mike VardyThomas Frank’s Notion VideoMatt Ragland on YouTubeBeyond The To Do List #290 – Distractions: Nir Eyal on Becoming IndestractableThe Productivityist Podcast #266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir EyalFrancesco on TwitterThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: The Freenoter

It’s always gratifying to talk with someone as enthusiastic about productivity as me, and it’s not very often that I get to “geek out” about apps since I’ve largely moved away from creating that kind of content. That’s why I really enjoyed this conversation with Francesco. He knows his stuff and he’s a rising star in the productivity space. I can’t wait to see how the rest of his journey unfolds.

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 278: Keeping Productive with Francesco D’Alessio appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 277: Overcoming Overwhelm with Dr. Samantha Brody

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Samantha Brody. Dr. Samantha is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon. For decades in her private practice and virtual consulting business Dr. Samantha has helped thousands of people transform their lives with her innovative, personalized approach. She is the author of Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out.

Join me at my first-ever live event on Saturday February 29th! I’m holding a BIG event in Vancouver, BC, Canada on the extra day we have in 2020 to help you craft your time bigger and better moving forward. This event will feature actionable workshops, special guests, and a chance for you to spend intentional time and attention with others who want to stop “doing” productive and start being productive. It’s going to be a lot of fun… and I hope you’ll join us! Visit  productivtiyist.com/ready  to learn more. Early bird tickets are going on sale soon so visit that link to be one of the first to grab your tickets when they are released!

This episode is also brought to you by my new online course,  30 Days of TimeCrafting . In this program you’ll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter… for just $5. To learn more about this program, visit  productivityist.com/fivedollars .

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Samantha when we both spoke at Marc and Angel Chernoff’s event Think Better, Live Better. After seeing her speak, I found that there was plenty of alignment with our work and asked her to come on the show. During this conversation we talk about her book, what she means by overwhelm, the steps she believes can help you overcome overwhelm, and the idea of resolutions. There is a lot that we cover in our discussion and I’m pleased to be able to finally bring it to you after many months of trying to make it happen. Enjoy!

Talking Points



This is how Dr. Samantha looks at overwhelm (3:29)Does Dr. Samantha believe in New Year’s Resolutions? (6:06)We start to dig into the steps Dr. Samantha reveals in her book (6:48)This the first step (7:42)Dr. Samantha shares her current values… along with the second step (9:28)How can someone stay on target with their values and the other elements Dr. Samantha shares in her work? (15:55)The third step is revealed…(18:30)I share a fitting story with Dr. Samantha about an obstacle that turned out to be a source of overwhelm (21:40)Dr. Samantha offers feedback after hearing the story of my stressor (23:36)What is “beauty way?”(25:35)Does Dr. Samantha journal? Does she believe the practice is helpful? (27:52)If someone was to start using what’s found in Dr. Samantha’s book, what’s the simplest first step to take? (29:45)

“Life throws curveballs at you. That’s just… life.”

– Dr. Samantha Brody

Helpful Links



Think Better, Live BetterOvercoming OverwhelmEpisode 177: The Four Tendencies with Gretchen RubinPocket BiasesTwo Weeks Notice: My First 20 Hours with The Bullet Journal MethodTAKE: The Values ExerciseDrSamantha.com@drsamantha on Twitter@drsamantha on InstagramThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: Life Skills That Matter

This episode has been in the works for some time and I’m glad I was able to deliver it to you at the start of a new calendar year – and a new decade. While resolutions can be a bit of a trap at this time of year, Dr. Samantha offers alternatives… sound strategies that won’t just help you in the year that’s just begun. They will help you for many years to come.

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 277: Overcoming Overwhelm with Dr. Samantha Brody appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 276: Freeing The Dream with Cliff Ravenscraft

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Cliff Ravenscraft. For more than a decade, Cliff had been known as the Podcast Answer Man. He’s trained tens of thousands of individuals how to successfully launch an audio podcast. Today, Cliff is a business and life coach. He mentors coaches, consultants and thought leaders through the transition from their unfulfilling day job to their own responsible and profitable online business so that they can live the life of their dreams and do the work they feel most called to do in this world.

This episode is sponsored by  HoneyBook . HoneyBook is an online business management tool that organizes your client communications, bookings, contracts, and invoices – all in one place. HoneyBook makes it simple to run your business better. Professional templates, e-signatures and built in automation keeps everything on track and makes you look good. right now, HoneyBook is offering listeners of this podcast 50% off when you visit  http://honeybook.com/timecrafting . Payment is flexible, and this promotion applies whether you pay monthly or annually.

This episode is also brought to you by my new online course,  30 Days of TimeCrafting . In this program you’ll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter… for just $5. To learn more about this program, visit  productivityist.com/fivedollars .

This is a longer episode than usual but it is jam-packed with inspiration – which is the perfect way to wrap up one decade and starting another. Cliff’s energy is palpable throughout as he shares with me his online business story, what the transition from one business brand to another has been like, and his evolving views on productivity over the course of the years. There’s a lot to unpack and you’ll want to just sit back and absorb everything Cliff dishes out over the hour-long conversation.

Talking Points



What has the journey been like for Cliff in the many years he’s been an entrepreneur (3:08)This is Cliff’s advice to anyone who is thinking about jumping into the online business world but wants to play it safe (8:10)What did Year One of Cliff’s online business story look like? (9:20)Cliff shares his burnout stories and why he experiences burnout during those times (10:09)This is what happened in Cliff’s world in September 2017… and it changed EVERYTHING (12:43)We talk about the transition from Podcast Answer Man to what Cliff is doing today (18:35)What the people in Cliff’s life thought about him abandoning his lucrative business (20:46)This is Cliff’s “mission statement” (22:45)What about Cliff’s health? What changes has he made there? (25:24)Cliff shares the workout routine that he committed to so that he could get his health in order (29:00)We start to spend time talking about… Cliff’s views on time (31:02)This is who Cliff learned from as he built his new business (32:35)What does Cliff think of the idea of the “overnight success story” today? (36:25)After Cliff recommended this book, I picked it up (38:00)Cliff takes notes on something I said here… and runs with it! (40:01)Here’s an alarming productivity tip… (42:13)We start talking about planning – especially regarding Cliff’s “Free The Dream” event (45:05)I share with Cliff the idea of the task-based mindset vs the time-based mindset (48:40)When it all boils down to it, this is really all Cliff cares about (49:50)Does Cliff have a team to help him out on an ongoing basis? (52:50)We end on what Cliff did and what he would recommend you do if you’re just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey (54:10)

“Every day is today.”

– Cliff Ravenscraft

Helpful Links



Cliff RavenscraftThink and Grow RichEpisode 239: Free to Focus with Michael HyattSocial Media Marketing WorldSPI 256: Productivity and Frameworks with Mike Vardy from ProductivityistThe Prosperous CoachThe Big LeapFree The DreamBradyMade EventsThis Changes EVERYTHINGmindsetanswerman.com/freeThe Productivityist Podcast Pick fo the Week: Think Better, Live Better

After speaking with Cliff, he sent me a quick email that let me know there were things he shared on this episode that he had never expressed before. He said he “verbally processed a few new experiences” that he had never fully processed until our conversation. The big thing he shared was the idea that he’d been experiencing a flow state pretty consistently as of our conversation but hadn’t really been able to identify it as such until that point. I hope that our conversation helps you either process some new experiences or identify some of the blind spots in your life (hopefully it helps you with both of those things)!

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 276: Freeing The Dream with Cliff Ravenscraft appeared first on Productivityist.

Episode 275: Starting Something Stupid with Richie Norton

On this episode of the podcast, I chat with Richie Norton. Riche is the award-winning, bestselling author of the book The Power of Starting Something Stupid (in 10+ languages) and Résumés Are Dead & What to Do About It. In 2019, Richie was ranked one of the world’s top 100 business coaches by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith. He is an international speaker (including TEDx & Google Startup Grind) and serial entrepreneur. 

This episode is also brought to you by  Woven Calendar . Woven Calendar features powerful scheduling tools built into a smart, collaborative calendar. I absolutely love Woven. It’s allowed me to streamline my appointment bookings on so many levels and is an absolute pleasure to use. The templates are a huge timesaver, the scheduling links are phenomenal, and the ability to quickly toggle between what is “My Time” and everything else on my calendar gives me a quick snapshot of my day like no other calendar app does. Listeners of thus podcast are getting an exclusive offer to put Woven through the paces for themselves. Sign up for free today at  woven.com/timecrafting  and add Woven to your productivity stack and schedule faster than ever before!

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 December 31, 2019 at 11:59 pm.

This episode is also brought to you by my new online course,  30 Days of TimeCrafting . In this program you’ll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter… for just $5. To learn more about this program, visit  productivityist.com/fivedollars .

I didn’t know what to expect when speaking with Richie but I can tell you that I didn’t expect the conversation to be so personal. We talk about why he loves bringing products to life, the axiom he uses as a guiding principle for his life, and solid advice when it comes starting something stupid.

Talking Points



We talk about the origins of his company name (1:42)What led Richie to want to bring products that they are proud of to life (3:24)Richie explains the origins and the meaning behind Gavin’s Law (8:03)This is far more powerful than any New Year’s Resolution (24:18)These are the two songs I have on nearly every monthly playlist I assemble (25:33)Richie and I start talking about whether or not it is stupid for me to make a planner (27:35)These are the people that will try to keep you from doing something stupid even though you feel compelled to do it (31:15)What about finishing? (37:18)These are the two questions Richie asks when evaluating ideas that he may want to bring to life (39:45)What’s the first thing you can do to start something stupid now? (42:47)

“Live to Start. Start to live.“

– Richie Norton

Helpful Links



ProuductSwitchPodThe Freedom JournalThe Power of Starting Something StupidHow to Keep a Library of (Physical) BooksThe Road to CharacterRichie on EOFireI Got a Name by Jim CroceBeautiful Ride by John C. ReillyHow to Live on 24 Hours a DayPocket BiasesStart FinishingThe Messy MiddleRichieNorton.comThe Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Soul and Wit

Ask yourself this question if you’re afraid f sweating something stupid: Will I regret it when I’m 80? If the answer is yes, then forge ahead. If not, then back away. But both Richie and I bet that more often than not you’ll want to forge ahead. You need to get out of your own way. You need to fight back against the biases that show up. You need to start something stupid a little more often. (And maybe start by looking at all of those web domains you bought.)

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 275: Starting Something Stupid with Richie Norton appeared first on Productivityist.