How I Work

My favourite tip from my chat with ex-Google Ventures designer John Zeratsky was on the calendar template he uses to plan his ideal day.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Dr Jason Fox. I’ve known Jason for the best part of a decade. Like me, he is a scientist at heart and has a bias for strategies that are grounded in research. Jason travels the world helping leaders from companies such as Microsoft, Salesforce, McDonalds, and Toyota in the area of motivation design.Jason is also the bestselling author of The Game Changer and How to Lead a Quest, and in 2016 was awarded Keynote Speaker of the Year.Check out the first time I had Jason on the show.In this chat, we cover:* Why Jason hates the concept of “discipline"* Trialling a 7 day rhythm for work and life* How Jason assigns different “modes” to different days of the week* Jason’s daily rituals that set up his work day for success* The value of keeping a daily journal* What’s NOT working well in the world of virtual events and workshops* How to elicit great comments and questions from virtual workshop and keynote participants and audiences* Why virtual events shouldn’t be recorded* Why Jason never finishes a keynote with Q&A* How Jason is seeing companies innovate the experience of virtual keynote presentations* Jason’s favourite questions to ask audiences* The importance of the first five minutes of a virtual experience and how to make the most of them* The apps that Jason is currently lovingConnect with Dr Jason Fox here.And here are some other links to things we mentioned:The Discipline by William van HeckeThe Museletter by Dr FoxThe Character Handbook (featuring the ‘Ritual of Becoming’) by Dr FoxAnd here are the apps Jase spoke about: roamresearch.com, obsidian.md, ulysses.app and ia.net (iA writer).Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Auctioneer-extraordinaire Phillip Kingston was on how to fast track getting to know someone.You can find the full interview here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Dom Price. Dom is the Head of Research & Development and also the resident Work Futurist at Atlassian, one of the world’s biggest and fastest growing tech companies. Dom has responsibilities spanning 5 global R&D centres, and is the in house “Team Doctor” who helps Atlassian scale by being ruthlessly effective, all while keeping one eye on the future.This is my second time having Dom on the show. I was keen to have him back to check in with how he has adapted the way he works during COVID.Check out my first interview with Dom here.In this chat, we cover: Why Dom has found the shift from working at home some of the time to 100% of the time How Dom starts his management meetings now they are virtual to boost interpersonal connections How Dom is reducing Zoom meetings How a virtual art class helped the Atlassian management team bond How the Atlassian executive team are structuring their virtual meetings How allocating clear roles is critical to having effective meetings Making quick decisions rather than perfect ones The optimal size for meetings How Dom uses the chat box in virtual presentations and workshops How Dom makes sure he gives introverts a voice in virtual meetings Atlassian’s 80/20 approach to helping its 4000+ employees cope during COVID What Dom learnt from Trello about remote working How to do water cooler conversation in the remote working world How Atlassian are doing onboarding during COVID Connect with Dom: Twitter Linkedin Atlassianteamplaybook.com Atlassian.com/remote Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Dan Health was on removing recurring irritants from your life.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Stanford behaviour change expert BJ Fogg was on making habits stick.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Amazon executive Paul Migliorini was on banning PowerPoint decks.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is part 2 of my chat with Jake Knapp. If you didn’t listen to last week’s episode, Jake spent the last 10 years at Google and Google Ventures where he created the Design Sprint, which is a method for building and testing a prototype in five days. He then went on and wrote a book about the process, called Sprint, which was a New York Times bestseller. He recently wrote another book called Make Time, which I mentioned on a previous episode. I personally loved Make Time, which is all about strategies to help make time for doing your most important work and really getting the most out of each day.Check out my very first interview with Jake.And check out Part 1 of this interview here.We cover: How Jake and his wife deliberately design each day in 15-30 minute increments The importance of planning his morning to set himself up for the rest of the day Our favourite calendar software On sharing “news duty” with his wife and how it has completely changed the way Jake consumes news Daily dancing to improve mood Using phone calls instead of video calls On trying to be a better listener and stop solving people’s problems. BooksYou’re Not ListeningFind out more about Jake here: Running remote Sprints The Jake and Jonathon podcast Jake’s website Jake’s books Sprint and Make Time Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Columbia Professor Rita McGrath was on how she decides what projects to take on.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Jake Knapp. Jake spent the last 10 years at Google and Google Ventures where he created the Design Sprint, which is a method for building and testing a prototype in five days. He then went on and wrote a book about the process, called Sprint, which was a New York Times bestseller. He recently wrote another book called Make Time, which I mentioned on a previous episode. I personally loved Make Time, which is all about strategies to help make time for doing your most important work and really getting the most out of each day.Check out my very first interview with Jake.And in this chat, we cover: What working from home during COVID is like when you are a solo worker What it was like having all keynotes and workshops cancelled when COVID hit How working from home right now is completely different to working from home pre-COVID How to build self-worth when the majority of your client work has been cancelled Running remote Sprints The importance of planning a highlight for every day Jake’s favourite new mobile app for daily reflection Jake’s biggest struggle in trying to be productive Why email is so addictive and how to kick the addiction Balancing communicating with fans of his work and dedicating time to getting new work done Jake’s new email auto-responder Find out more about Jake here: Running remote Sprints The Jake and Jonathon podcast Jake’s website Jake’s books Sprint and Make Time Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Sandra Sully was on how to conduct a great interview.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Mia Freedman. Mia is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Mamamia Women’s Media Company in Australia. Mamamia has an audience of more than five million women each month and includes the largest women’s podcast network in the world with over 67 million listens and 28 different shows. As many Australian listeners would know, Mia was the youngest editor of Australian Cosmo at 24 years old back in the mid 90s. And because I was one of many loyal Cosmo readers as a teenager, I feel like I grew up with Mia. I’ve also lapped all of her books and I just love how she speaks so honestly and is such a raw way about her life.This is Mia’s second time on How I Work. (Listen to her first time here). I loved her so much the first time that I was keen to check in with her during COVID to see how she was going and how her working life has changed.We cover: Mia’s plan for transitioning back to the office Why her first day back was exhausting New rituals that helped Mia thrive during lockdown The most challenging thing about running a media company during COVID The rules and rituals Mia set for herself around news consumption How Mia maintained social connections during lockdown Mia’s strategy for getting a quick read on how all her staff members were coping during lockdown Check out: Mia on Instagram Mia’s podcasts: No Filter, Mamamia Outloud, and Lady Startup. And on her website. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Dropbox executive Dean Swan was on finding the ideal structure for his day.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with CommBank board director Wendy Stops was on the best career advice she has received.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Scott Young was on the best ways to give and respond to feedback.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Fred Schebesta. Fred is an award-winning business leader, best known for co-founding one of the world’s leading comparison websites, Finder.com. Finder.com was born out of a simple concept: to educate people and directly compare student credit cards. Over the years, it expanded and evolved to compare a range of products across different industries. Today, Finder.com compares virtually everything from cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets, credit cards and insurance to savings, travel, technology and electronics. Finder.com attracts over 8-10 million visitors per month and now operates in over 80 countries.We cover: The most challenging parts of working from home during COVID Using narratives to communicate with his staff How Fred segments his sleep Fred’s approach to eliminating digital distractions Why Fred doesn’t have a TV How Fred consumes the news Having an emotional coach What self-care looks like in Fred’s life Why Fred frequently reminds himself he will die How Fred creates space for creativity in his calendar Fred’s strategies for identifying the best talent in recruitment You can connect with Fred on Linkedin and Instagram. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Adam Ferrier was about how he has built his own personal brand.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Harris Faulkner. Harris is a multiple Emmy award-winning newscaster, anchor, and trailblazer in her field. Harris currently leads two daily programs on Fox News - Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner (weekdays, 1-2PM/ET) and she serves as the co-host of Outnumbered (weekdays, 12-1PM/ET). Harris joined the Fox News Channel in 2005.Throughout her career, Harris has interviewed many notable figures, including President Trump, Senator John McCain, and Bill Clinton, to name a few.We cover: What it’s like broadcasting nationally across America from her basement. The biggest challenges in broadcasting from home How Harris switches off from the news, and why this is critical to her wellbeing Why Harris schedules time for spontaneity Harris’ approach to homeschooling without going insane Why breakfast is the most important meal of the day for Harris’ family Harris’ approach to creating a great interview How Harris’ builds rapport with her guests in the virtual environment How Harris was able to build rapport with President Trump The most challenging thing about interviewing President Trump Why Harris studies people before she interviews them Harris’ rules for engaging with social media You can connect with Harris on Twitter and Instagram. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Michael Stutchbury was about how to conduct a great interview.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Laura Mae Martin. Laura is the Executive Productivity Advisor at Google. So how did this happen?Laura Mae Martin started at Google almost 10 years ago in the Ann Arbor office. Shortly after joining she started a 20% project and developed an internal training on how to manage your inbox effectively. Her continued passion for productivity has developed into a full-time role working 1:1 with Executives at Google and running the Productivity@Google program for all employees.We cover: How Laura scored the job of Executive Productivity Advisor at Google Laura’s top tips for working from home during COVID while being a parent How Laura sets her day up for success Laura’s template for planning her day the night before Laura’s weekly ritual for planning her work How Laura reflects on her energy levels over a week and plans her week based on these insights How Laura has set mental and physical boundaries while working from home during COVID Laura’s approach to making meetings as efficient as possible and her default meeting length time Laura’s email management strategies to dramatically reduce the amount of time she spends in her inbox How Laura manages digital distractions Laura’s favourite productivity apps How Laura and other Googlers are improving social connectedness during COVID. Find out more about Laura here: Laura's blog post about working from home Laura's blog post about mastering email The Suite Life YouTube series, where Laura shares GSuite hacks on a weekly basis Laura's LinkedIn Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with David "Kochie" Koch was about his morning and evening routines.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Michelle Poler. While doing her Masters in Branding back in 2015, Michelle started a project where she would conquer 100 fears in 100 days. This Masters project turned into a global movement that impacted millions of people and received coverage on The NBC Today Show, Fox News, CBS, CNN, to name a few.Since that project, Michelle now travels the world speaking to people at companies such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Netflix, Microsoft, P&G, Toyota, Coca-Cola, and many more, about getting out of their comfort zone. Michelle’s first book, Hello Fears, is coming out on May 5, and teaches readers how to create their own 100 days of fear project.In this chat, we cover: How her life as a keynote speaker has changed dramatically post-COVID How she reacted when her diary was literally wiped of all speaking events and work The detail Michelle goes into when constructing and improving her keynote speeches How she keeps her keynote speeches fresh for every audience Her process for helping her 100 Days of Fear project go viral to millions of people The one question Michelle recommends asking to help overcome fears. Get Michelle’s book Hello Fears, follow her on Instagram, and find out more about her here. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's mini-episode, I explore three science-backed ways to foster social connections in virtual meetings.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today...is me! A week ago, my team mate Charlotte Rush and I hosted an Ask me Anything webinar on the topic of Working From Home. We had over 700 people join us and submit questions and we tried to get through as many as possible. This is a recording of the live event and we cover all sorts of tips for working from home, such as: the ideal home office set up how to stay connected with co-workers how to run better virtual meetings how to maintain motivation during this challenging time how to keep your energy levels high when it feels like Groundhog how to juggle homeschooling with your other full-time job and much, much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***BEST OF HOW I WORK***I'm currently taking a few weeks off, so today's episode is a Best Of episode. I've gone back through the archives of the last 2.5 years of hosting How I Work and picked out my absolute favourite episodes!My guest today is Cyan Ta’eed. Cy is one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs, having co-founded Envato in 2006 and growing it to being valued at over $1 billion. Last year she tried her hand at chocolate (why not?!) and Hey Tiger is now one of Australia’s fastest growing purpose-driven brands. Oh, and in her spare time, she recently launched Milkshake.app, which allows users to make a free website for their Instagram profile all on their phone, instantly.In this chat, we cover: How Cy went from spending four hours a day on her phone to just 15 minutes How Cy changed her mobile phone to make it less addictive The game that Cy’s family play on January 1, every year The five minute activity that Cy does every morning to set herself up for the day How Cy manages her energy levels as a self-described introvert who presents as an extravert. Cy’s approach to constant learning and development How and where Cy has found great people to work in her businesses. Cy’s strategies for overcoming Imposter Syndrome How Cy mentally prepares herself for stressful events Why Cy had an app on her phone that reminded her she is going to die 5 x per day Cy’s go-to apps and gadgets What happened when Cy had an eyesight-threatening ulcer and had to rest in darkness for several weeks. Balancing sprints with periods of rest Find Cy on Instagram at @cyantaeed, check out her amazing chocolate social enterprise Hey Tiger and her most recent business Milkshake that allows users to create a webpage from their Instagram account.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is entrepreneur and philanthropist Andrew Barnes. What you might know Andrew for is the person behind creating the Four Day Work Week, where as the founder of Perpetual Guardian, he trialled having his 200+ staff do a four day work week - that is, fit five days worth of work into four. Andrew now consults to companies around the world, helping them do what he did at Perpetual Guardian.Andrew also wrote a book about his experience with implementing the four day work week, called, The Four Day Week, which looks at the results the firm has achieved and how you can create a shorter week at your organisation.We cover: How Andrew sets boundaries between work and non-work life Andrew’s morning routine Andrews strategies for staying off email on his weekends How Andrew helps his staff stay off their mobile phones at work Andrew’s rules for making meetings more efficient Why Andrew has banned people from eating lunch at their desk How Andrew links meetings to individual productivity outcomes How Andrew transformed his office environment to make it more conducive to productivity Why Andrew’s down time is when he does his best creative and strategic thinking How Andrew’s staff are maintaining connectedness during COVID Learn more about the Four Day Week here. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***BEST OF HOW I WORK***I'm currently taking a few weeks off, so today's episode is a Best Of episode. I've gone back through the archives of the last 2.5 years of hosting How I Work and picked out my absolute favourite episodes!My guest today is Cal Newport. Cal is a computer science professor at Georgetown University. Cal is the author of six books, including, most recently, the New York Times bestseller, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Cal’s work has been published in over 20 languages and has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, Washington Post, and the Economist.It’s probably an understatement to say I was excited for this chat because I am a complete and utter fan girl of Cal’s and it’s fair to say that his work has had an enormous impact on how I work. We cover a bunch of different aspects of the way Cal approaches his work including: Cal’s different Deep Work rituals and why he recommends having different rituals for different types of Deep Work How to know if you are actually doing Deep Work Strategies to break your Shallow Work habit The critical conversation to have with your manager to get them supporting you doing more Deep Work Cal’s ritual for "shutting down” his work day Why Cal rejects the idea that we need to have a phone on us at all times How Cal deliberately builds solitude into his day Why changing workflows is more effective than changing habits when trying to increase productivity The workflow Cal designed while on his book tour to minimise back and forth communication Why giving your time a job is better than using a to-do list How Cal uses weekly and daily time blocking to use his time effectively How to take a “Deep Break" The two key elements of Cal’s email system to minimise communication The topic Cal is exploring for his next book You can find Cal at http://calnewport.com/ and grab his books Deep Work and Digital Minimalism.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Glen Dolman. Glen is one of Australia’s most sought-after screenwriters. Glen most recently wrapped on the second season of his supernatural series for Stan, Bloom, which he created and executive produced. The first season was nominated for an AACTA for Best New Drama Series and the second season kicks off on April 9.Glen has written for a variety of different shows including Britain’s longest running crime drama, The Bill (ITV). He also wrote the highly acclaimed telemovie Hawke for Network Ten, about the controversial life of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, which won the AWGIE Award for Best Original Telemovie and three AFI’s (Australian Film Institute Awards), including for Best Telemovie or Mini-Series in 2010. In this chat, we cover: What the role of a Showrunner entails How to recruit for a writer’s room Glen’s strategies for building the optimal dynamic in a writer’s room Where the idea for Bloom came from Tips for overcoming writer’s block when working in a team Knowing when to trust your ideas The best writing advice he has received. You can check out Bloom on Stan. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***Ask Me Anything: Working From Home***On Tuesday April 21, at 10am, I’ll be hosting an Ask Me Anything Webinar dedicated solely to the topic of working from home. I’ll be drawing on my two decades of experience as an Organisational Psychologist, tips and tricks I have picked up from my guests on the How I Work podcast, and the thousands of scientific journal articles and books I have read on productivity, connectedness, and motivation. All I need are questions to answer!I imagine we will cover topics such as: How to create the ideal physical space for your "home office" How to overcome feelings of social isolation How best to structure your day when working from home Hacks, tips and rituals to help you be more productive Setting boundaries between work and non-work life How to get work done when you are also trying to be a pseudo school teacher And much, much more. So if you are struggling with home working life, or perhaps you are just looking to further optimise what you are already doing, register for the Ask me Anything - Working From Home Webinar and then send over any questions you would like answered.Oh - and it’s completely free to attend! ***Here are links to the six apps from today's show:SereneForestSuperhumanWovenPocketSend from GmailVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oliver Burkeman is a Guardian writer based in New York. He writes the weekly psychology-based column This Column Will Change Your Life. He is also the author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking.In this interview, we cover: Oliver’s tips for parenting in the age of COVID Oliver’s personal method for time management How Oliver decides which projects to prioritise Oliver’s personal Kanban system to planning his time How to overcome procrastination using self-talk Strategies for overcoming writer’s block How Oliver trick’s his brain into getting into flow How Oliver find’s new ideas for his columns every single week Oliver’s go-to sources for inspiration and information Get Oliver’s book The Antidote, follow him on Twitter @oliverburkeman, and check out Oliver’s column for The Guardian.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this How I Work From Home episode, I explore the science behind how to Shut Down your work day.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this How I Work From Home episode, I explore the science behind how to Shut Down your work day.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

***Book in for Inventium's Thriving at Home program***Our most recent cohort achieved the following results in just six weeks: 21% increase in productivity 20% increase in job satisfaction 28% increase in energy levels Overall, the program delivered productivity increases to the value of $10,250 per participant, which represents 20x ROI on the $495 per person investment.If you are struggling with working from home and feeling your productivity plummet - or worse - that of your team - get yourself enrolled in our next Workday Reinvention: Thriving at Home program, starting on May 4.The Thriving From Home program has been designed by psychologists who are experts in how to create behaviour change that lasts. Every program design decision has been made with the purpose of creating long-lasting change.If you would like more details on what the Thriving at Home program entails, read more here.***In this How I Work From Home episode, I explore the science behind how to structure your day.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is John Zeratsky, otherwise known as JZ. JZ is a veteran technology designer, keynote speaker, and the bestselling author of Sprint and Make Time.JZ has worked with more than 200 of the world’s most important and innovative organizations, including Google, Harvard University, Slack, IDEO, and Netflix.For nearly 15 years, JZ was a designer for technology companies. At Google Ventures, he helped develop the Design Sprint and worked with startups like Uber, 23andMe, Flatiron Health, Blue Bottle Coffee, and Nest. Previously, he was a designer at YouTube, Google, and FeedBurner.I am a huge fan of both of JZ’s books and had his co-author, Jake Knapp, on How I Work about a year ago which is an interview you might want to check out too. I think you will find this interview super practical - and note, it was conducted BC (before corona), so if some things seem out of context, like our talk about travel, just keep that in mind.In this interview, we cover: The problematic default behaviours we have at work How JZ structures his workdays Creating a distraction-free phone JZ’s daily reflection ritual Making sure every day has a “highlight” - and how to work out what your highlight should be How JZ’s approach to structuring his day has changed from leaving Google Ventures to working for himself JZ’s approach to making email processing as efficient as possible Why JZ doesn’t have a to-do list, and instead, has a “might-do” list The pro-human smart phone JZ’s litmus test as to whether he is using his phone wisely How JZ schedules walking breaks into his day How JZ uses a calendar template to help optimise his day JZ’s home game routine versus his away game routine (for when he is travelling) JZ’s go-to apps and software You can find JZ here and here, and on LinkedIn and Twitter. Buy Make Time and Sprint and enrol yourself in the Highlight Course here. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this How I Work From Home episode, I explore the impact of greenery in your home office.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with FrankBody co-founder Jess Hatzis was on how she overcame her fear of feedback.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Nir Eyal was about why and how he puts every single activity he does in his calendar.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Phillip Kingston. Phillip is the co-founder of one of the most successful real estate agencies in Australia, Gary Peer. I first became aware of Phillip about 15 years ago when I randomly encountered an auction he was running. And it was the most entertaining 20 minutes of my week. Phillip is hands down the best auctioneer I have ever seen - it’s like going to outdoor theatre. Over the years, Phillip has sold properties for me and I also recently bought one from him too.I wanted to have Phillip on the show as he is one of the best salespeople I have ever met. We talk about his sales strategies quite a bit during this interview, and if you are planning on bidding at an auction at some time in the future, then we also get into the nitty gritty of how to give yourself the best chance of success. More specifically, we cover: Phillip’s number one strategy for being effective at sales How he optimises his energy levels throughout the day How to ask effective questions in a sales meeting How to fast track rapport How to create a sense of urgency in the sales process Phillip’s strategy for bidding effectively at an auction How Phillip creates an atmosphere of pressure and energy on auction day How Phillip introduced theatre into auction day The style of auctioneer Phillip aspires to be How Phillip has gone about trying to create the optimal environment for auction day The critical role of humour in the sales process Phillip’s process for reflection and learning The power of the unsolicited gift Phillips template for an ideal day Check out Phillip’s agency Gary Peer, follow Gary Peer on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Nigel Marsh was about why he responds to every single email he receives.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Dan Heath. Dan is the co-author, along with his brother Chip, of four New York Times bestsellers: Decisive, Switch, Made to Stick, and The Power of Moments. The Heath Brothers’ books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and been translated into 33 languages.Dan is a Senior Fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, which supports social entrepreneurs. I am a HUGE fan of Dan's work and we cover a lot of ground in this interview, including: The importance of trying to solve problems before they happen - and why this is so hard to do How Dan thinks about coming up with titles for his books Why he saw the title of his new book, Upstream, as incredibly risky The value in focusing on recurring irritants to focus upstream thinking Why Dan tracks his time, and the changes this lead to in his life How tunneling gets in the way of solving problems How Dan overcame his procrastination tendencies The importance of momentum in writing The pros and cons of not working with his brother Heath for writing Upstream Dan’s approach to soliciting feedback and the ideal time to seek it Where Dan’s book ideas come from What makes a great business book How Dan develops the frameworks for his books The strategies Dan has written about that have had the biggest impact on his own life. Find out more about Dan at Heathbrothers.com and grab a copy of Upstream here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am running a year-long experiment called My Year of Better. It’s my attempt to test out some science-backed strategies in my own life to become happier, more productive, more creative, and less stressed. If you would like to play along at home, join my pack of 1000+ lab rats at: https://amantha.substack.com/On today’s show, I describe Experiment 3: Minor Acts of Kindness, which has been shown to be a very effective strategy to boost happiness and relationship satisfaction. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Nir Eyal was about why and how he puts every single activity he does in his calendar.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with NYU Marketing Professor Adam Alter was on why he doesn't believe in goal setting - and what he does instead.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite tip from my chat with Stanford behaviour change expert BJ Fogg was on making habits stick.You can find the full interview here.If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am running a year-long experiment called My Year of Better. It’s my attempt to test out some science-backed strategies in my own life to become happier, more productive, more creative, and less stressed. If you would like to partake in the fun, join my pack of 1000+ lab rats at: https://amantha.substack.com/On today’s show, I describe Experiment 2: Failure Resume, which has been shown to be a very effective strategy to boost resilience. If you are playing along at home, complete the pre-experiment survey here.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Rita McGrath. Rita is a world-renowned professor at Columbia Business School, where she directs the popular Leading Strategic Growth and Change program. She is widely recognized as a premier expert on leading innovation and growth during times of uncertainty. She has received the #1 achievement award for strategy from the prestigious Thinkers50 and has been consistently named one of the world’s top ten management thinkers in its bi-annual ranking.Rita is the author of the best-selling The End of Competitive Advantage and her new book is Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen.Rita has been rated one of the 25 smartest women to follow on Twitter by Fast Company and was voted HR Magazine’s “Most Influential International Thinker.”I’ve followed Rita’s work for several years and got connected with her personally after one of my team mates was lucky enough to be taught by her at Columbia.In this chat, we cover:* How she prioritises what projects she decides to work on* How Rita minimises decisions* How Rita gets the most out of her assistant* Where her book ideas come from* How to make something interesting* Rita’s approach to deciding what to read and maximising the impact of what she does read* Having a personal board of directors* On how failure can lead to a better future* How she arrived at the title for her latest book* Rita’s approach to doing Deep Work* How Rita’s approach to writing has changed over the last year* Rita’s go-to sources for informationFind out more about Rita at https://www.ritamcgrath.com/, follow Rita on Twitter, and get your copy of Seeing Around Corners.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am running a year-long experiment called My Year of Better. It’s my attempt to test out some science-backed strategies in my own life to become happier, more productive, more creative, and less stressed. If you would like to play along at home, join my pack of 1000+ lab rats at: https://amantha.substack.com/On today’s show, I describe Experiment 1: Worry Time, which has been shown to be a very effective strategy to significantly reduce stress. Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Paul Migliorini. Paul leads the Amazon Web Services business across Australia and New Zealand - a role that he has been in for the last four years. Prior to joining AWS Paul held leadership roles in Asia and Australia with BT, Motorola, Regus and Ernst & Young, most recently as the CEO for Regus ANZ and Regional Managing Director for South Asia at BT.I was keen to speak to Paul because I have heard a lot of things about Amazon’s culture and ways of working that fascinated me. And there is nothing better than being able to get an insider’s perspective on how it all works.So if you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of one of the world’s fastest growing and most powerful companies, I think you’ll love my chat with Paul.We cover: How Paul has dramatically changed his mobile phone behaviour Amazon’s 14 key leadership principles How being frugal leads to innovative The importance of “two pizza teams" Why leaders at Amazon do more coaching rather than managing Why input measures matter more than output measures The two types of decisions that can be made at Amazon and how this impacts decision-making speed The importance of disagreeing and committing to decisions How strong opinions are encouraged at Amazon How Amazon identifies people who will fit with the culture during the recruitment process The 50% test that Amazon use in their recruitment process Why Powerpoint is banned at Amazon The critical role of long form narratives at Amazon Why the first 15-20 minutes of meetings at Amazon are spent reading Why Amazon create fictitious press releases for products that don’t exist Amazon’s working backwards process Why Paul sees it as his job to say yes to as many requests as possible. Learn more about Amazon's Summit, check out career opportunities at Amazon and connect with Paul on Linkedin.Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's mini-episode describes a brand new project I am launching - My Year of Better. I'd love you to be a part of it.Sign up here (it's free!).Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF 2019**My guest today is Dan Pink. Dan is the author of six bestselling books, including Drive, A Whole New Mind, and his latest book "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing", which has spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list. You might also be familiar with Dan through his TED talk about the surprising science of motivation, which has been viewed over 20 million times.I am a big Dan Pink fan so I was very excited to be able to chat with him. I think he has such a knack for dissecting complex science and finding a way to make it not just accessible, but memorable and impactful for his readers.We cover a bunch of things during this chat, including: How Dan works out whether an idea is great or whether it stinks How the idea behind his latest book "When" came to be The importance of the structure of a book, and Dan’s approach to mapping out a book’s structure Dan’s process for coming up with the title for a book or project How he came up with the title for Adam Grant’s bestselling book Give and Take Why Dan structures his work day into three distinct sections Why Dan isn’t a big believer in willpower How Dan constructs his working environment to make it easy to stay off digital distractions Dan’s approach to radically reducing the amount of emails he receives How Dan decides what to say yes to and what to say no to Dan’s approach for saying no politely Dan’s process for translating a book into a keynote speech Why Dan asks his wife to read his books out loud to him during the editing process Find out more about Dan at danpink.com and subscribe to his newsletter right here. And you can check out his latest book When here.For comprehensive show notes on this episode, go to: https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcastGet in touch at [email protected] you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.