A Productive Conversation

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.My guest for this episode is Marta Zaraska. Marta is a Polish-Canadian science journalist published in the Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, the Atlantic, Discover, and more. She’s the author of the book Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100. Marta reached out to me just before Growing Young‘s release date and after having a chance to check out what the book was all about I knew I wanted to talk to her about it for this program. And talk about the book we did! We talked about why she wrote the book, how challenging it was to write, some of the surprises she came across during the writing process, and more. I had a wonderful time chatting with Marta and I know you’ll get a lot out of listening to our conversation. Talking Points What inspired Marta to write this book? Marta explains why she thinks people focus more on their health when trying to live longer This is something that Marta tried and noticed it was helping her a lot as she worked towards “growing young” What are some things that people can do when they feel like they are stuck in a sense of loneliness? Marta talks about how helping others can boost your happiness What does Marta think are some benefits of meditating and why does she think people are so stubborn to try it? Did Marta find it challenging to write a book that tries to convince people that there is a science-backed way to live longer and happier? Does where one live play a role in “growing young”? Marta suggests one action you can take to start this journey Quote “Spend more time with your friends.“ Helpful Links Growing Young: The Book The Blue Zones of Happiness: Lessons From the World’s Happiest People Zaraska.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: The Tim Ferriss Show Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this solo episode of the podcast, I’m doing something a little different: I’m hosting a guest. Jeff Sheldon joins me on the program to talk about simplicity, productivity, and the story behind Analog. Jeff Sheldon is the founder and designer of Ugmonk, a brand focused on creating and curating thoughtfully designed products. Jeff launched Ugmonk in 2008 as a creative outlet to design products that he wanted to wear and use. Now over a decade later, Ugmonk continues to expand its collection of well-designed objects and clothing and attract a passionate following from around the globe. Jeff and I spend a lot of time talking about his Analog venture – which is something I’ve been experimenting with for several weeks as of this recording. We also talk about design, simplicity, the importance of flexibility, and much more. I’ve been a big fan of Jeff’s work for some time and I’m glad I am able to share our conversation with you on this episode. Talking Points Jeff explains what he does… and what Ugmonk is Did Jeff expect the Kickstarter campaign for Analog to blow up like this? What made Jeff think that this product was useful for you… and that he should share it with the world? Jeff talks about the Analog “card signals” Jeff talks about his design study background and process Quote “It makes you prioritize… okay, I no longer can keep adding to my list because the hours in the day will run out before you can get to all them.” Helpful Links Analog Lore Episode 83: Overnight Success with Aaron Mahnke Episode 213: The Bullet Journal Method with Ryder Carroll Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Episode 73: Deep Work with Cal Newport Dropbox Paper Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design Ugmonk Jeff Sheldon on Twitter | @ugmonk Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.My guest this time around is Jill McAbe. Jill is a business coach, high-performance expert and Amazon best-selling author of It’s Go Time: The ALL-IN System For Unstoppable Success in Business and Life. After seven gruelling years as celebrated restaurateur, 10+ years as a growth consultant to entrepreneurs, and a car accident that nearly took her life, Jill realized she couldn’t spend another minute on a business that wasn’t perfect for her in every way. At 48, Jill turned her business development skills on herself to build a business aligned with her purpose and that fits her life. She now teaches people like herself (misfits who sell their talent and crave lifestyle freedom) how they can do the same. Jill is a Top Teacher on the global career-skills platform, Skillshare. Her official residence is in Toronto, Canada; however, her dream business allows her to work from anywhere. Jill and I spend time talking about what “go time” is, her insights on willpower (and whether or not they align with mine), and much more. It’s always a pleasure to talk with a fellow Canadian, and speaking with Jill was no exception. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did. Talking Points What led Jill to think that this book needed to be out in the world? Jill shares some tips to help you go from feeling uncertainty to feeling unstoppable These are Jill’s thoughts on willpower What is something someone can do either mentally or systematically to prepare themselves for challenges and uncharted terrain? Quote “Your subconscious loves repetition.“ Helpful Links JillMcAbe.com Episode 201: Willpower Doesn’t Work with Benjamin Hardy It’s Go Time: The All-In System for Unstoppable Success in Business and Life Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.I took a Clarity Day this week. 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode, I’m joined by Jonathan Levi. Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur, published author, and podcaster born and raised in Silicon Valley. 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. How does Jonathan turn off the desire to want to optimize everything all the time? Jonathan talks about the filtration aspect of information overload This is what Jonathan thinks about planning and plans Jonathan and I talk about “speed reading” Quote “I really look to things that have sustained the test of time.” Helpful Links Episode 256: Understanding Ultralearning with Scott H. Young The Science of Speed Reading The Only Skill that Matters: The Proven Methodology to Read Faster, Remember More, and Become a SuperLearner Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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 Day How to Be Productive in These Strange Times with Mike Vardy How to Fix Your 2020 Vision Board Why You Need A Clarity Day (And How To Make It Happen) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.This episode of the podcast delves into the concept of curation with the author of Curating Your Life, guest Gail Golden. 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? Gail offers her take on mediocrity How do you know when it is time to re-evaluate and change what your priority is? Gail talks about her views on wanting to escape the comfort zone What is one simple action someone can take to start this process after they pick up the book? Quote “Don’t manage your time, manage your energy.“ Helpful Links Gail Golden Consulting Curating Your Life Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.KC Procter returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 206 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. Bosco Anthony is an International Speaker, Storyteller and Digital Strategist with a background in corporate leadership and business operations. His experience in the corporate sector provides wisdom on operational maturity, business growth, digital strategy, performance efficiencies, and design thinking ideology. Bosco spends much time on research trends and is an idea rebel at heart. Bosco is recognized for his executive mentorship, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for operational maturity. Bosco thrives in a collaborative playground and is known for being an influence to the business and digital community having spoken at TEDx Stanley Park on fuelling life with purpose and alignment. Having roots in Tanzania, East Africa Bosco spent much of his adult life in Vancouver, Canada. He now calls Brisbane, Australia home. 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. 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 today's on going events and protests 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 How does uncertainty and unfolding uncertain elements in the world affect Bosco’s productivity? Bosco offers some simple steps you can take when you are in trying times and don’t feel like you can keep moving forward Quote “When you’re not biased to one perspective it allows you to absorb more information at a quicker, rapid pace.“ Helpful Links BoscoAnthony.com Why Time Flies: A Mostly Scientific Investigation The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life. High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time 1619 | The NY Times Podcast Series The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who’ve Lived the Longest The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: Unlocking Us with Brené Brown Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Judy Machado-Duque returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 205 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? These are some of the good things to know when first Getting into Slack Phil talks about how he makes sure Slack doesn’t go off the rails and become something it wasn’t made for What was it like when Phil realized how useful Slack is? Phil explains one of the most creative ways he has seen Slack used If you’re familiar with Slack and you want to take things to the next level, this is one action you can take Quote “Once you go Slack, you don’t go back.“ Helpful Links PhilSimon.com Asana Gary Gulman How I Built This with Guy Raz | Slack & Flickr: Stewart Butterfield Slack for Dummies The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: How I Built This with Guy Raz Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of the podcast, I’ve decided to share with you the most productive thing I’ve done today. And it’s been a long time coming. I’m taking imperfect action with this episode. I know that I’ve got plenty to learn and a lot of listening to do. But I wanted to start somewhere. This episode is that. There are no show notes for this episode. I’d like for you to give all 22 minutes a listen and then if you’d like to email me to talk about this episode, I’m at [email protected]. Feel free to reach out. Thanks. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.I’m beyond thrilled to bring you this episode of the podcast featuring guest Keith Ferrazzi. Keith is the author of the best-selling book Never Eat Alone and our conversation centers around his latest book – a book I had the pleasure of devouring in advance – Leading Without Authority: How the New Power of Co-Elevation Can Break Down Silos, Transform Teams, and Reinvent Collaboration. Keith’s mission is simple: transform teams to help them transform the world. (I said simple.. not easy.) Beyond his work as an author of #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who’s Got Your Back and Never Eat Alone, Keith is the founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a management consulting and team coaching company that works with many of the world’s biggest corporations. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Keith rose to become the youngest CMO of a Fortune 500 company during his career at Deloitte, and later became CMO of Starwood Hotels. He is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fortune and I am delighted he decided to join me in conversation on The Productivityist Podcast. Keith and I talk about what he means by “co-elevation” and why it’s so vital in today’s world – even beyond the workplace environment. We also spend time discussing the role of ego. in leading without authority, why believing that you work better on your own is not at all true, and much more. I had a great time having Keith as my guest on the program and I know you’ll get plenty out of our conversation. Talking Points Keith explains what he means by leading without authority What is an example of how co-elevation can help you operate beyond your work life? Why can a shift in mindset be such a struggle for people? Keith touches on what it is like to have to change how you work to adapt for someone else How important was it for Keith to include the proof that this can work for people – and lead people in the right direction? How can ego affect the process and the co-elevation way of thinking and living? This is what Keith has to say to people who think they work best on their own Keith shares his thoughts on patience and if patience is required for adopting the elements of co-elevation If someone picked up Leading Without Authority today, what is ONE action that they should start with? Quote “The ability to truly transform, not just you, not just your companies but the people around you.“ Helpful Links Leading Without Authority: How the New Power of Co-Elevation Can Break Down Silos, Transform Teams, and Reinvent Collaboration Ferrazzi Learning Virtual Teams Win Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Matt Bodnar returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 207 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of the program, I’m joined by Amy Woods. Amy has become known as a leading expert and true visionary when it comes to content repurposing, and is the author of Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results. I had the pleasure of meeting Amy a few years ago at a conference and I’ve always wanted to bring her on this program to talk about what she does and how she does it. I’m pleased that I was able to do that with this episode. Amy and I spent time talking about why repurposing your content is one of the most productive things you can do, the importance of planning, Amy’s own productive practices, and more. So sit back, relax, and learn how to 10X your content with Amy Woods – a true expert in the field! Talking Points Amy reveals whether she’s a night owl or an early riser Amy shares her thoughts on people who constantly want to be creating more rather than repurposing Amy shares some of the simply practical things in her book that people can do now She shares the process of deciding to take her expertise on content repurposing and distilling it into a book You’ll find out what Amy believes is the best platform to use as a jumping off point (or primary place) for repurposing content How important is planning in this process for Amy? We discuss the importance of patience in this process as well Quote “You have to plan in advance and you have to know that quality is going to win overall.“ Helpful Links Content 10X (The Website) Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income Amy Porterfield Seth Godin 10 Great Gifts for the Productive Person in Your Life Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Erin Acton returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out her original appearance on Episode 209 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.My guest for this episode of the program is Ron Tite, the author of Think Do Say: How to Seize Attention and Build Trust in a Busy Busy World. A best-selling author, speaker, producer, and entrepreneur, Ron Tite has always blurred the lines between art and commerce. He has been an award-winning advertising writer and creative director for some of the world’s most respected brands including Air France, Evian, Fidelity, Hershey, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Intel, Microsoft, Volvo and many others. Ron and I both have a background in comedy, so there’s a natural connection there. We talk about how that background has helped him in his work, how companies can enact his “think, do, say” philosophy, and much more. Talking Points This is how Ron got to Dexter Guff to “blurb” his book. Why does Ron encourage the order as “think, do, say” and not “think, say, do”? Ron talks about how his book will help organizations think beyond the bottom line Why does Ron think organizations get caught up in making money while the iron is hot? This is the first step Ron thinks you should take when following through with the message in his book Quote “What are you currently doing and how can you do that way more efficiently to carve out time at the end of the day where you have dedicated to personal development.“ Helpful Links Episode 169: Behind the Scenes with Dexter Guff and Peter Oldring Episode 289: The Vision Driven Leader with Michael Hyatt Episode 290: Creative Menopause with Chase Reeves [Recorded LIVE at The BIG Ready] Ron’s Website Think Do Say Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Garry Marshall created many television programs and directed plenty of movies, but one of his most popular contributions to the creative world was the show Happy Days. I used to watch his shows – particularly that one – growing up and have enjoyed the movies he made after he moved on from television. Garry passed away in 2016 but the lessons and laughs he shared in his work live on. Many of them are timeless. I hope that the main lesson I share in this episode is timely… and perhaps a little bit timeless, too. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.This week I’m joined by fellow productivity enthusiast/specialist/strategist, Matt Ragland. This is a conversation I’ve wanted to have for some time and I’m glad I’m able to deliver it as my 300th episode of The Productivityist Podcast. Matt is a YouTuber and productivity coach who shows you how to get your head out of your apps and focus on what matters. His ACE method has helped thousands of people create awareness, clarity, and execution on their goals and habits. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife and two sons. We spend time talking about habits, the tools he uses, journaling, and much more. If you’re really into productivity practices or simply want to hear two people really “nerd out” about that sort of stuff, then this episode of the podcast is for you. Talking Points What led Matt to that moment of realization that he needed to “get his head out of his apps?” This is how Matt got past the feeling of the idea that you must use online tools and apps Matt talks about his views on New Year’s resolutions and annual events How does Matt keep the flow of his day moving in a paper planner? This is what journaling looks like for Matt Matt shares whether or not he uses a paper wall calendar Quote “If I see something that matters to me and I know it improves my life, my only goal is really just to be as consistent as I can with it.“ Helpful Links “Get Your Head Out of Your Apps” – Why the Bullet Journal Method means so much to me Episode 213: The Bullet Journal Method with Ryder Carroll Baronfig (Affiliate Link) ConvertKit (Affiliate Link) Sleep Cycle (Affiliate Link) Philips SmartSleep HF3500/60 Wake-Up Light Therapy Alarm Clock (Amazon Affiliate Link) 5 DAY TIME TRACKING CHALLENGE Episode 238: How to Keep Going with Austin Kleon START JOURNALING Episode 227: Why You Need Atomic Habits with James Clear Podia (Affiliate Link) Matt Ragland’s Website Matt’s YouTube Channel Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Social media and productivity seem to be strange bedfellows. But in the right hands, they can coexist better than you might think. On this episode of the program, I talk about how social media use CAN be productive, how to make that happen, and share the story of my current social media platform experiment with one I never thought I’d use: TikTok. Helpful Links Want to follow me on social? Here’s where I hang out (most of the time productively): Me on TikTok Me on Instagram Me on Twitter | @mikevardy Productivityist on Twitter | @productivityist Me on Facebook Productivityist on Facebook Me on LinkedIn (Sorry, no Snapchat. Yet.) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? Melanie talks about the idea of “Got it.” How important was it for Melanie to make sure that the 52 simple ways were all simple? This is what Melanie would say about whether or not engaging your senses has to do with connecting with yourself first 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 This is the word Melanie used instead of enough and follows up discussing the meaning behind both of those words. Why is the idea of apologizing such a key thing to keep in mind? Melanie touches on the difference between “complex” and “complicated” How can you keep fear at bay so you can continue to connect? How does connection play a role in how much you can impact someone? Which was the first of the 52 simple ways that Melanie wrote? Quote “We are naturally wired to connect and when we do biology works for us.“ Helpful Links Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work Episode 246: How to Be Great at Your Job with Justin Kerr Melanie’s Website The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Curious with Josh Peck Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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 installment 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 Day Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? Thomas talks about his inspiration to “do video” a little differently When Thomas researches these videos, what does that look like? Thomas shares how many videos he has in the making process at once This is what his framework looks like What does a typical day look like for Thomas? Who inspires Thomas to make films? Quote “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.“ Helpful Links Thomas’s Office Tour Productivity 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 views SPI 324: From College Nerd to Wildly Successful Personal Brand with Thomas Frank Episode 290: Creative Menopause with Chase Reeves [Recorded LIVE at The BIG Ready] Habitica Episode 75: Level Up Your Life with Steve Kamb Notion The Good Place: The Podcast Process The Money Lab Podcast: Building A YouTube Engine with Thomas Frank This is How Matt D’Avella Works Jet Parker: Action Hero Should You Add This To Your Workspace? I tracked every minute of my life for 3 months. The Best Book I Read in 2019 10 Great Gifts for the Productive Person in Your Life The One Hour Morning Routine Icicle Swords (Live Looping) So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love The Ultimate Study Music Playlist Nebula Baby Driver, by Edgar Wright (2017) – Opening credits Potato Jet on YouTube BEING Potato Jet // Working 70 hours a week to be a Youtuber Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Thomas Frank’s Website The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: College Info Geek Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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 frameworks The concept of “necessary endings” The focus pulling of push notifications What noticing does for your productivity The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? David explains the terms “red work” and “blue work” Why do you consider this book to be a playbook? What does David mean by the “be good self“ and the “get better self“? What can someone do to start applying leadership as language today Quote “Start your question with the word ‘how’.“ Helpful Links Leadership Is Language: The Hidden Power of What You Say and What You Don’t Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders Intent-Based Leadership David on Twitter: @ldavidmarquet Leadership Nudges The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Help Me Pick Future Ones by emailing me at podcast at productivityist dot com Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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 P90X Body for Life Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Episode 249: The Magic of Metabolic Profiling with Angelo Poli Future Episode 109: Whole Life Fitness with Dai Manuel Episode 265: Bringing Gratitude with Karl Staib Episode 286: Doing Project 333 with Courtney Carver The Whole30 Program Episode 116: The Power of When with Dr. Michael Breus Centr Derek Sivers: Keep your goals to yourself How I’m Challenging Fitness Couch 2 10K DDPY The Spotify Playlist I Use When I’m Running Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 How valuable can data be in times of uncertainty? This is what led David down this specific path David explains why it’s important to get your values in check to be productive and take productive actions Does David believe there’s a difference between values and virtues? How validating does it feel for David when he sees something that is proof of his concept? Quote “We have these giant stereotypical ideas in our head of what people are like based on what they are and not who they are.“ Helpful Links Valuegraphics How Our Values Unite Us In Times Of Uncertainty We Are All the Same Age Now Who We Are is Very Important. What We Are is Not. Episode 251: Being a Late Bloomer with Rich Karlgaard Episode 234: Bolder with Carl Honoré Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of the podcast I fly solo! I talk about why I’ve added a second episode to the podcast each week and present (nearly) all of the story of how I’ve built my business as per a request from a podcast listener. While I’ve shared my story in bits in pieces both on this podcast and elsewhere, listener Jeffrey Fate wanted me to try to share how I’ve built my business in one fell swoop somewhere. I asked him if he’d like that somewhere to be a single episode of The Productivityist Podcast, and he loved the idea! So I share my long and winding journey from Costco to today, with all (or most of) of the “built my business” highlights and waypoints along the way. I also discuss why I’ve decided to double the amount of episodes I produce per week and what that means for the future of this podcast. Helpful Links Jeffrey Fate and Me: The Twitter Thread that Led to This Episode’s Topic Effing The Dog: The Podcast | Episode 3 from 2008 (Effing is short for Efforting) The posts I’ve written for GTD Times My posts at WorkAwesome Articles I’ve authored for Cult of Mac My posts at The Next Web Check out what I’ve written for Lifehack My posts at Lifehacker What The — Happened to Lifehacker? Time to Say Goodbye | My Lifehack Farewell Post System.ly (from Greg Hickman) The Daily Driver: Get my FREE daily paper planning tool Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this special episode I’m joined by Chase Reeves LIVE at The BIG Ready to talk about many things, including something Chase calls “creative menopause.” Chase co-founded Fizzle.co — the first education platform designed for modern indie entrepreneurship — as well as the Chase Reeves YouTube channel, where he makes 60 minute reviews of backpacks that somehow people love watching. When I asked Chase to join us at The BIG Ready I knew that having him record a live edition of this podcast was the way I wanted him to present. Chase has a natural gregariousness that simply fit this model, especially in front of a live studio audience (of sorts). We talked about productivity, his journey from Fizzle to creating a YouTube channel where he shares his insights and ideas on bags of all shapes and sizes, creativity, and much more. It’s an engaging, entertaining, and endearing conversation that I’m certain you’ll get a kick out of. You may even learn a thing or two! Talking Points Why did you choose the word Fizzle for your business? Chase talks about if he taps into or uses willpower at all in his life and work What was so promising to Chase about switching to do YouTube and bag reviews? How important is sitting with questions for Chase? Chase touches on letting go of things and how that can lead to moving on and making new things This is what the word BIG means to Chase How important is patience when it comes to work and knowing when to stop? Quote “We’re constantly stepping in without certainty.“ Helpful Links Corbett Barr Fizzle.co The Fizzle Show #338: The Best Productivity Routines with Mike Vardy and Chase Reeves The Productivityist Podcast #164: Faster Than Normal with Peter Shankman The Diagram of Success Twyla Tharp Alan Watts The Productivityist Podcast #54: Voice Lessons with Todd Henry Seth Godin Chase’s YouTube Channel The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: The Knowledge Project Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.As we head towards the end of March, I wanted to share another bonus episode of the podcast featuring every episode from March 2019 of my inactive daily podcast 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting. On this bonus episode you'll hear me discuss the following: How your to do list can be deceptive The concept of "overchoice" and how it can derail your productivity Why just getting through today is plenty productive Insights on wasting time The reason your to do list is a story ...and much more! This stretch of episodes also includes a mini-series called "Work By Mode" that deals with one of the primary elements of my TimeCrafting method and philosophy: Mode-Based Work. http://productivityist.com/fivedollars/ (Take my 30 Days of TimeCrafting fundamentals course) Want to discover some of the books mentioned in this episode on Scribd, my reading app of choice?https://www.scribd.com/g/9a8d8 (Click here.) If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking https://productivityist.transistor.fm/subscribe (here).Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.Michael Hyatt returns to the show for this excellent episode of the program. Michael is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company. He is also the author of several New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling books, including Platform, Living Forward, Your Best Year Ever, Free to Focus, and his newest book The Vision-Driven Leader. Michael has scaled multiple companies over the years, including a $250M publishing company with 700+ employees and his own leadership development company that has grown over 60% year over year for the past 4 years. Under his leadership, Michael Hyatt & Company has been featured in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for three years in a row. He enjoys The Double Win with his wife of 40+ years, five daughters, and nine grandchildren. I spoke with Michael about the journey he took to get to this book, what it takes to become a vision driven leader, the importance of having a vision, and much more. As always, it’s fantastic to speak with Michael about his work – he’s someone who truly embodies everything that he delivers to the world – and I know you’ll get plenty out of this discussion. Talking Points Michael talks about why he wrote this book now and if it was a progression of his past books or if now was just the right time What does vision mean to Michael? We discuss the difference between a manager and leader Michael shares whether or not you must use the steps to become a vision driven leader in order… or if that is not all that important What can you do to help a leader who has so many ideas and visions execute those ideas and visions? Michael talks about what he would do if someone isn’t really understanding (or interested) in “The Vision Script” that a vision driven leader attempts to bring to life This is the person that Michael considers to be a vision driven leader that he looks up to We talk further about the term “vision zag” What are some things people can take away from the book that they can use if they are not running a company but simply want to run their lives better? This is the first step to becoming a vision driven leader Quote “Leadership by its very definition means that you’re heading towards a destination and if you’re not clear on the destination you really aren’t gonna be leading people anywhere.“ Helpful Links The Productivityist Podcast #239: Free to Focus with Michael Hyatt Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want A Special Offer from Michael Hyatt for You (Bonuses available until 2020/04/04) The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: That Creative Life Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.After stopping the short-lived first edition of 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting, I decided to get back into the idea of producing a daily podcast in February 2019. I began producing shows in earnest following Groundhog Day 2019 (February 2nd) and kept it going for several months. In this lengthy episode, you'll hear me offer insights and ideas on the following: Why you need to make time to sit with feedback Making self-care a part of your productivity practice Embracing the concept of "mise en place" How to get your week to behave better Why theming your days saves time with your kids And that's just for starters. There are 26(!) episodes combined in this lengthy episode, so take your time with it. There's a lot that I offer so spread out your listening as you see fit. And if you like what you hear, let me know. Email me at [email protected] to tell me directly or leave this podcast a rating/review wherever you're listening to podcasts these days. Thanks for listening. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode I’m joined by Pete Mockaitis. Pete is, among plenty of other things, the founder of How to Be Awesome at Your Job and he hosts the popular podcast of the same name. Pete is an award-winning trainer who has served clients in over 50 countries. His work has enhanced Fortune 100 corporations, high-growth startups, and major nonprofits. He’s conducted one-on-one critical thinking coaching sessions for over 700 thinkers from every Ivy League university and numerous world-class organizations such as Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey & Company, and the United Nations. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode – and it’s one that could have gone on much longer than it did. Pete and I talk about prioritization, effectiveness and how to measure it, experimenting with different tactics and tools, and more. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. I know I did! Talking Points Pete shares the reasons for starting his podcast This is how Pete makes it a priority to get his podcast episodes ready for production What are some of the tactics that Pete has put in place to make sure that stays a priority? Pete offers up a tool that he’s found that helps him prioritize – a tool that he didn’t think would work When it comes to The ONE Thing, Pete shares how you can break the bias of giving a credible answer to what your “one thing” is Here is one of the things that Pete has tried that didn’t work for him as well as he’d imagined What is The Effectiveness Ratio? How important is it to let go of things? Pete and I discuss why the thinks people are drawn to certain words, along with the expectations that come with those words and terms Quote “The critical stuff isn’t just a smidge more important but it has sixteen times the impact.“ Helpful Links How to Be Awesome at Your Job #80: Finding and Doing the One Thing with Jay Papasan The ONE Thing Pocket Biases Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 1 Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 2 Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 3 Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Understanding the Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule) Breakthrough Advertising Warren Buffett’s “2 List” Strategy: How to Maximize Your Focus and Master Your Priorities I Will Teach You to Be Rich Pete’s Website Getting started with the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Imaginary Worlds Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.In the following bonus episode, I've combined all of the episodes from the March 2018 run of my now-concluded 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting podcast. The topics I discuss include: Using small but effective boundaries The leap forward to Daylight Savings Time and how to ward off its effects on your productivity Why Mondays might not be the best day to kick off your week Why one question I get asked a lot is a very challenging one to answer I hope you enjoy this bonus episode of the podcast. I'm going to be publishing the archives of 30 Days of TimeCrafting as bonus content over the next several weeks here as well as a bit of an experiment. If you like this episode, please consider leaving a rating and/or review in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you are listening to the show. Thanks for listening. See you later.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of the podcast I’m joined by J. Elise Keith, co-founder of Lucid Meetings and author of Where The Action Is: The Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization. We dive into an area of our work lives that can have a direct impact on our overall productivity both individually and organizationally. That area is… meetings. Meetings can be a real productivity killer. But they don’t need to be. I was grateful to have the opportunity to talk with Elise about her comprehensive book – which is a “must read” if you’re looking to make better meetings happen. We talked about designing meetings that matter, how to break the bias that meetings aren’t productive, and much more. Meetings are going to happen, so why not make them happen in a way that works? This discussion is just the thing to help you turn your meetings from interruptions to productivity to instrumental for purposeful productivity. Enjoy! Talking Points This is what Elise has to say to people who are hesitant when going into meetings because of their aversion to them We talk about words or phrases you can use instead of the word “meeting” What are the 16 different types of meetings and how did they make their way into the book? How does someone get started using these different types of meetings without being overwhelmed with such a drastic change in culture? Elise shares with me her thoughts on “holacracy” and whether or not she’s explored that in conjunction with her work We discuss the five focus areas that Elise brings up in the book that will help you make your meetings better This is one of the key takeaways Elise would love for you to have when reading her book What’s one thing someone can takeaway from this podcast to make their meetings more productive? Quote “Every time we put a meeting on the calendar in this company or in this team, we’re going to include in the calendar why we’re meeting and what we expect to get out of it at the end.“ Helpful Links Where The Action Is Lucid Meetings Resources for Having Great Meetings Holacracy Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.I’m excited that my friend Courtney Carver returns for this episode of the program. We focus our conversation around her book Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More, which is a project I’ve undertaken and am still committed to several years later! Courtney is always a delight to chat with and this episode is no exception. We delve into the core elements of Project 333, some of the things that can hold people back from taking on this challenge, how the challenge affects more than just what’s taking up space in your closet, and more. I hope after listening to this episode that you’ll pick up Courtney’s book and give Project 333 a try. It’s been working for me and I know it can work for you. Talking Points What is Project 333? While it appears geared towards women, is this something men can do as well? These are some of the benefits that Project 333 offers beyond having just a clean closet Courtney talks about decision fatigue What are some of the ways you can “hack” Project 333, if any? Courtney shares an unexpected Project 333 success story What do you do when you’ve added something new and have gone above the limit? We discuss how receiving gifts plays a role in this project How can someone keep the momentum of Project 333 going? What factors does the weather play in Project 333? Courtney discusses what to do when you’re sentimental about certain clothing items These are some tips that Courtney uses to help someone break through the bias that they can’t do Project 333 Quote “We’re spending our resources, our time, attention, and energy on things that we don’t care about.“ Helpful Links Be More With Less The Productivityist Podcast #91: The More of Less with Joshua Becker Weed Out the Clothes You Don’t Wear with a Simple Hanger Trick Everything You Need to Know About Project 333 Check out Courtney’s Instagram! The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Naval The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.I’m happy to welcome to Chris Krimitsos as the guest for this episode. Chris is a father, husband, community builder and ever-evolving innovator. He loves people and their stories and has leveraged his gifts of connecting others to build communities around entrepreneurship, podcasting, and multimedia. Chris was profoundly affected at 16 years of age when he watched his father lose a restaurant he had bought with sweat equity and eventually put the keys in for the last time giving it back to the bank. He vowed then that he would make it his mission to help business owners the world over to avoid that terrible fate. His book, Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change is an extension of that promise and a story that can be understood by all who read it. Talking Points Chris shares the premise of Start Ugly and why it’s been such a powerful thing for him Why did Chris decide to write the book as a parable of sorts? Does starting ugly help with the ability to deal with change? If so, how? This is the single step of the seven Chris shares in the book that he believes is a barrier for most people Chris and I discuss the role that comfort plays when starting something ugly What does Chris have to say to people who are worried about the risk factor and forging a path that seems uncertain? How has Chris taken his family and personal obligations in mind when starting something ugly? This is what Chris sees down the line for the podcasting community Chris and I talk about how he is able to handle all of his obligations… of which there are plenty! We talk about the importance of being nimble What are some of the other biases that Chris has come across and realized that the book may have helped break? Quote “The way you’re going to start is never going to be as perfect as where you’re going to end up, so it’s always going to be an ugly start.“ Helpful Links Chris Krimitsos The One Minute Manager The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea The Productivityist Podcast #222: How to Fight a Hydra with Josh Kaufman Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life PodFest Adam Curry RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Good Life Project The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? This is the step that Grant thinks is overlooked too often How does a budding speaker still come off as authentic but not too polished or over-rehearsed? 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? How does Grant suggest dealing with the patience aspect of getting good at speaking… and everything that comes along with that? This is Grant’s views on slides as a tool for speaking gigs How has Grant balanced the travelling life of a speaker with his family life? These are the steps Grant takes when he’s building a talk Quote “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.” Helpful Links The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform Comedian thespeakerlab.com/book The 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) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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.) 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? How much time should someone take into consideration while making a presentation? This is what made Mike decide that he wanted to give talks and help other people with their talks full-time 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”? Is there such a thing as too many talks? This is how Mike is constructing his time, now that he’s running his own business and has a child What does a typical day look like for Mike? Some thoughtful tools and tips that Mike shares for presenters to use to their advantage Does Mike recommend eating before going on stage? What advice do you give people when they know they have a talk at a time during the day that isn’t ideal? 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 Here’s the one piece of advice Mike would give someone who is giving a presentation Quote “I always tell people they should feel like the presenter is a friend.“ Helpful Links The Productivityist Podcast #197: Getting Back to Happy with Marc and Angel Chernoff Time Management Ninja: 21 Rules for More Time and Less Stress in Your Life | Craig Jarrow Pre-order my new book TimeCrafting: A Better Way to Get the Right Things Done Amy 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 Flynn World’s Most Popular TED Speaker, Ken Robinson, Shares 5 Secrets Of Giving A Great Speech | BI The Grinder is the year’s funniest new show | Vox (from 2015, show was cancelled far too soon) Subscribe to TimeCraftingTV When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing | Daniel Pink Sterling K. Brown Explains His “No Gym” Workout | Men’s Health StoryBrand | Donald Miller Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad The Productivityist Podcast #161: Overlap with Sean McCabe Voxer My CreativeLive Course from 2014: Time Management 101 Breakthrough Play | Gary Ware Your Job is to Make Art – Seth Godin at ConvertKit Craft & Commerce 2017 MikeTalks.co The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Rework Podcast The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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? What does Adam think responsibility means? Adam shares with me the idea of providence This is what Adam uses instead of SMART goals How important is it to truly understand your values and how that ties into ethics Adam and I talk about deciding where to spend your time and how to come to those decisions 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 Quote “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.” Helpful Links KreekSpeak Free Solo Matt D’Avella | YouTube The Responsibility Ethic | Amazon The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Focused Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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”? Does Mridu journal? If so, how does she journal? How does Mridu get people to take their energy levels into account when making to do lists and accomplishing goals? We discuss how to balance recurring simple tasks with bigger, harder tasks What are The Seven Simple Actions? How do you figure out when to ask for help and for what? This is something Mridu said no to after realizing it would be too much How does Mridu help people with the idea of writing things down consistently? Quote “Every time you think ‘I’ll remember that later,’ switch that and think ‘I won’t remember that later’.” Helpful Links Life is Organized Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 How can company leaders help cultivate a culture of generosity and nurturing the idea of asking Dr. Baker talks about the importance of asking and its relationship to your goals This is Dr. Baker’s definition of SMART is when it comes to goal How can someone go through Dr. Baker’s criteria in a fairly quick manner and less onerous? If you struggle asking for help for any typical reason, this is what you can do to break that habit Can this kind of process be applied internally as well? What is The Law of Giving and Receiving? What techniques can leaders use to promote and foster the habit of asking in their organization? This is what The Reciprocity Ring is… and what it does Dr. Baker shares some ideas for rewards that can be put in place to help promote asking in the workplace 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 Quote “The leader needs to be a role model of the behaviour that they want” Helpful Links All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help allyouhavetodoisask.com Todoist Karma The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 We talk about the role of consistency when it comes to achieving success in your sphere – and the role of the calendar in that This is one of the things Zvi did to execute consistently to help himself over both the short and long term Where does someone begin aggregating their relationships? And why aggregate at all? Zvi breaks this aggregation down into manageable chunks This is why Zvi has many separate email accounts Zvi explains how to ensure you are going beyond organizing your relationships… and prioritizing them What nuances do you need to watch out for as you gain intelligence around your relationships? What does this intelligence-gathering look like? You need to keep this in mind as you forge and foster relationships How do you handle the person that connects with you with no real purpose? We talk about the importance of boundaries 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 How can you make all of this easier to do? This is how we can get in our own way during this process If you want to start doing what Zvi suggests today, here’s the one small action you can do starting now Quote “The important thing is that just because these are different people…doesn’t mean that the people differ or change in importance.” Helpful Links Success Is in Your Sphere: Leverage the Power of Relationships to Achieve Your Business Goals Contactually Episode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence Dunbar’s number: Why we can only maintain 150 relationships The Pomodoro Technique Derek Sivers’s Contact Page TextExpander TimeCraftingTV successisinyoursphere.com The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 This is what Francesco looks for in an app that he showcases on his YouTube channel What does Francesco define as productivity news? How does he decide what to share? These are the tools that Francesco actually uses We talk about the way forward with transitioning between apps that avoid friction and promote flow This is what Francesco has used in the past and he shares why he moved away from them What about paper? We discuss Francesco’s content workflow How does Francesco deal with content that can become dated? Francesco shares THE productivity app that you should keep your eye on Quote “Tools are going to change you marginally… but it’s really the approach and the methodology that matter.” Helpful Links Keep Productive on YouTube Notion Made Simple Notion Office Hours with Mike Vardy Thomas Frank’s Notion Video Matt Ragland on YouTube Beyond The To Do List #290 – Distractions: Nir Eyal on Becoming Indestractable The Productivityist Podcast #266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Francesco on Twitter The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 Does Dr. Samantha believe in New Year’s Resolutions? We start to dig into the steps Dr. Samantha reveals in her book This the first step Dr. Samantha shares her current values… along with the second step How can someone stay on target with their values and the other elements Dr. Samantha shares in her work? The third step is revealed… I share a fitting story with Dr. Samantha about an obstacle that turned out to be a source of overwhelm Dr. Samantha offers feedback after hearing the story of my stressor What is “beauty way?” Does Dr. Samantha journal? Does she believe the practice is helpful? If someone was to start using what’s found in Dr. Samantha’s book, what’s the simplest first step to take? Quote “Life throws curveballs at you. That’s just… life.” Helpful Links Think Better, Live Better Overcoming Overwhelm Episode 177: The Four Tendencies with Gretchen Rubin Pocket Biases Two Weeks Notice: My First 20 Hours with The Bullet Journal Method TAKE: The Values Exercise DrSamantha.com @drsamantha on Twitter @drsamantha on Instagram The 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. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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 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 This is Cliff’s advice to anyone who is thinking about jumping into the online business world but wants to play it safe What did Year One of Cliff’s online business story look like? Cliff shares his burnout stories and why he experiences burnout during those times This is what happened in Cliff’s world in September 2017… and it changed EVERYTHING We talk about the transition from Podcast Answer Man to what Cliff is doing today What the people in Cliff’s life thought about him abandoning his lucrative business This is Cliff’s “mission statement” What about Cliff’s health? What changes has he made there? Cliff shares the workout routine that he committed to so that he could get his health in order We start to spend time talking about… Cliff’s views on time This is who Cliff learned from as he built his new business What does Cliff think of the idea of the “overnight success story” today? After Cliff recommended this book, I picked it up Cliff takes notes on something I said here… and runs with it! Here’s an alarming productivity tip… We start talking about planning – especially regarding Cliff’s “Free The Dream” event I share with Cliff the idea of the task-based mindset vs the time-based mindset When it all boils down to it, this is really all Cliff cares about Does Cliff have a team to help him out on an ongoing basis? We end on what Cliff did and what he would recommend you do if you’re just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey Quote “Every day is today.” Helpful Links Cliff Ravenscraft Think and Grow Rich Episode 239: Free to Focus with Michael Hyatt Social Media Marketing World SPI 256: Productivity and Frameworks with Mike Vardy from Productivityist The Prosperous Coach The Big Leap Free The Dream BradyMade Events This Changes EVERYTHING mindsetanswerman.com/free The 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)! Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.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. 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 What led Richie to want to bring products that they are proud of to life Richie explains the origins and the meaning behind Gavin’s Law This is far more powerful than any New Year’s Resolution These are the two songs I have on nearly every monthly playlist I assemble Richie and I start talking about whether or not it is stupid for me to make a planner These are the people that will try to keep you from doing something stupid even though you feel compelled to do it What about finishing? These are the two questions Richie asks when evaluating ideas that he may want to bring to life What’s the first thing you can do to start something stupid now? Quote “Live to Start. Start to live.“ Helpful Links Prouduct SwitchPod The Freedom Journal The Power of Starting Something Stupid How to Keep a Library of (Physical) Books The Road to Character Richie on EOFire I Got a Name by Jim Croce Beautiful Ride by John C. Reilly How to Live on 24 Hours a Day Pocket Biases Start Finishing The Messy Middle RichieNorton.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Soul and Wit Ask yourself this question if you’re afraid of starting 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.) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I’m joined by Andrew (Drew) Tarvin. Drew is the world’s first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with 35,000+ people at 250+ organizations, including Microsoft, the FBI, and the International Association of Canine Professionals. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FastCompany, and his TEDx talk has been viewed over 4 million times. Drew and I talk about his book Humor That Works: The Missing Skill for Success and Happiness at Work. We discuss the ways you. can infuse humour into the workplace, why it’s important to bring hummer into the workplace, how you can overcome those who think adding humour to the mix is a waste of time, and more. As someone who has been immersed in humour in my previous life I was happy to have Drew on the program to talk have a comedic conversation that can take productivity to greater heights. Talking Points Drew shares why introducing humor is important at work and why fostering it is as well Is Drew’s primary interest performing comedy or is it something else? This is how Drew got started with improv What is the goal of using humour in the workplace? This is the definition of “humour that works” How to deal with a “Beatrice” at work as opposed to a “Bill” at work What is a “humour map”? How can humour be used to diffuse conflict in the workplace? What can leaders learn from stand-up comics? These are Drew’s thoughts on authenticity in the workplace This is one of the most important attribute you need in the workplace What would Drew say to the person that thinks adding humour to the mix is a waste of time 31% of people leave their workplace because of this Drew and I spend time talking about commitment Why was it important for Drew to contract the book the way he did? Drew talks about the “conversations” that he had with his editor throughout the book Quote “Many of you are likeable people… at home.“ Helpful Links Humor That Works: The Missing Skill for Success and Happiness at Work Bill Burr| Paper Tiger HumorThatWorks.com @DrewTarvin on Twitter @DrewTarvin on Instagram The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: How Did This Get Made? I’ve always believed that infusing humor in the workplace – and in life overall – is healthy and important. Being able to speak to someone who feels the same way and has taken the time to write an entire book on the subject was a real treat. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did (and, better still, I hope you had a few laughs along the way). Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode I speak with Kris Ward. Kris is the director of a marketing and branding company and it was through her work there that she learned a great deal about productivity versus being busy. Her work with other small business professionals lead to the creation of Win The Hour Win The Day. Kris Ward helps entrepreneurs grow their business so they can get more work done faster and focus on what’s really important in life – and we touch on that throughout our conversation. We discuss the aspects of what she calls the “Freedom Formula” and a slew of other productivity-related topics. There’s a lot to absorb in this episode and I’m glad that us two Canadians finally had a chance to connect in podcast form. Talking Points What does productivity mean to Kris? Kris has had several moments that have incited change in Kris’s life. Here’s one of them. Here’s another one of those moments – a very different moment at that Why winning the hour is vital to winning the day We dive deeper into the idea of the calendar being your “time bank account” This is how Kris likes to work The biases that rear their ugly heads when we try to take on some of what Kris speaks of show up. Here’s how Kris helps people deal with that Kris starts to break down the “Freedom Formula” in greater detail Kris understands the resistance towards building systems We start talking about tools Is Kris more of a morning person or a night owl? And how can she help people listen to their body clocks with her work? Kris believes this is something that we don’t talk about enough that affects our productivity This is one thing that you can do now to start winning the hour and – as a result – win the day Quote “A business is not run on memory.” Helpful Links Win The Hour Win The Day! The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right Kris Ward on Instagram Kris Ward on LinkedIn WinTheHourWinTheDay.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: SW945: A Walk in Japan It’s always a pleasure to speak with fellow time management experts. I’ve been following Kris on Instagram for a while now and there’s a lot of crossover in our work. I trust that you’ve heard that through our conversation on this episode. I think we brought a lot to the table and hope that you’ve garnered some solid takeaways from our discussion. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.

This episode is brought to you by Your Clockwise Week—a personalized weekly structure built around your actual life, not an ideal one. If your week feels full but not fitting, you can learn more at mikevardy.com/yourclockwiseweek.On this episode of the program I speak with J.H. Bunting about the life of a writer and the making of his ambitious new book, Crowdsourcing Paris: Memoirs of a Travel Adventure. J.H. Bunting (or “Joe” as I know him) is a bestselling writer, novelist, and a dad. He leads The Write Practice community, an award-winning community of creative writers. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Talia and three kids and enjoys coffee and corpse reviver no. 2s. Joe and I talk about the evolution of his book, the challenge of doing something different or outside of the usual path, how panic and desperation can fuel productivity, and much more. I had a great time learning about Joe’s process when building this book and I am happy to be able share our conversation with you. Talking Points Who is J.H. (Joe) Bunting? This is how he got his start What Joe discovered about the book while in Paris How important was it for Joe to take on this book – something that was different than what he’d done before Mark Twain played a role in the crafting of Joe’s book We talk about the power of patience Did every suggested challenge that Joe was asked to do while in Paris make the cut? I circle back to the idea of panic and desperation and how it can spur on productivity Does Joe believe in willpower? Joe explains how beneficial it was for his productivity while away from his usual environment Joe offers advice regarding traveling with a young family Quote “The important thing is that you’re doing the work and putting it out into the world.” Helpful Links Crowdsourcing Paris: Memoirs of a Travel Adventure World Domination Summit The Write Practice Ryan McRae’s Burn The Tavern Down The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain Episode 201: Willpower Doesn’t Work with Benjamin Hardy Episode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Joe’s FREE Workation Adventure Worksheet Daddy-Daughter Day: A Workday Vlog on TimeCraftingTV The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Good Place (The Podcast) Writing a book is hard. Writing a book that falls outside of the scope of what you initially intended to write can be even harder. Joe took that on with passion and pride and the results show it. If you haven’t already picked up Joe’s book, do so now. It’s a fantastic read. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices If this episode resonated, I’m exploring ideas like these more deeply in my upcoming book, Productiveness. You can follow along as it takes shape at mikevardy.com/productiveness.