How I Work

In this episode, I talk about seven (lesser-known) apps that make me more productive at work. Check them out at:SuperhumanWovenPocketSend from GmailFreedomOvercastContactOutVisit 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 recently attended TED2019 in Vancouver and recorded a bunch of interviews with some very inspiring speakers and attendees while I was over there.My first interview in this series is with Priya Parker.Priya Parker teaches people to gather better at home, work, school and in our communities. She is the bestselling author of The Art of Gathering and is also a strategic facilitator with a background in conflict-resolution. Her company Thrive Labs has worked with organisations as varied as MoMA, the World Economic Forum and the International Finance Corporation on strategy, vision and purpose.In this interview, we cover: Priya’s advice for how to have great sales meetings How Priya approaches her own client meetings The role language plays in how Priya gets to know her clients’ motivations Priya’s favourite questions to ask at gatherings How to get better at "holding the silence" in group work Priya’s process for creating her TED talk How Priya manages her nerves before high stakes events How Priya would improve the TED conference experience. You can learn more about Priya at priyaparker.com and sign up to her newsletter. Get your hands on a copy of Priya’s bestselling book The Art of Gathering.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.

This episode looks at three strategies for effortlessly changing your behaviour - no willpower required.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 favourite tip from my interview with Dr Jason Fox was on how he identifies fulfilment factors - critical things that need to be present in our lives for us to feel happy, energised and fulfilled.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 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 interview with comedian/writer/performer/producer Baratunde Thurston was hearing about his Sunday reflection ritual.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 amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jocelyn literally wrote the book on good email habits - it’s called Unsubscribe. So my favourite tip from this interview was hearing about Jocelyn’s own email habits, especially after writing that book.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 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 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 favourite tip from my chat with award-winning writer/director Natasha Pincus, in which she talks about how she uses location and clothing to delineate the different parts of her day and get in the “zone".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 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 Vanderkam. Laura is a global expert on time management, and helps people spend more time on what matters, and less on what doesn’t. She is the author of a bunch of bestselling books, ranging from Off the Clock, 168 Hours, What the Most Successful People do Before Breakfast, and her latest book, Juliet’s School of Possibilities.Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fortune, and Fast Company. And her TED talk, “How to gain control of your free time,” has been viewed more than 5 million times.I’ve followed Laura’s work for several years and I’ve always felt that she takes a really novel view of the whole time management concept. I think you’ll find this a really practical interview as Laura goes through a bunch of different strategies that she uses to make the most of not only her work time, but also her leisure time.We cover: Why Laura has tracked her time in 30 minute increments for four years Why many people overestimate how many hours they work per week Why Laura runs every day How Laura creates new habits that stick Where Laura’s ideas come from Laura’s Friday afternoon planning ritual Laura’s tricks to creating a great weekend The importance of scheduling “anchor” events Why planning things in advance increases happiness How Laura managed to read over 100 books in 2017 And a whole lot more. Find out more about Laura on her website, and listen to her podcasts Best of Both Worlds and Before Breakfast.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.

This episode looks at three very simple words that psychologists have found create huge change.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 Pippa Hallas. Pippa was just 33 when she became the CEO of Ella Bache. Ella Bache is one of the leading skincare brands in Australia, has over 150 salons. When Pippa is not busy being CEO, she is the mum of two young boys aged 3 and 6 and has also just released her first book called "Bold Moves: How to stand up, step out and make your next bold move".I first met Pippa maybe 7 or 8 years ago when my company Inventium worked with Ella Bache on an innovation project. We talk about a bunch of things in this chat ranging from: Pippa’s annual reflection ritual What Maker versus Manager time looks like in Pippa’s world How Pippa organises her diary How Pippa is trying to get better at saying ’no’ and her strategy for saying no politely How Pippa uses her time while driving Pippa’s framework for making sure meetings are always productive How Pippa balances being a CEO with being a mum of two little people Why Pippa doesn’t believe in work-life balance, and instead sees being a CEO as a lifestyle choice Why Pippa ends her workday at 4pm How she manages her nerves How she found mentors for her role as CEO And more!You can read Pippa’s new book Bold Moves here and find out more about Ella Bache here.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 favourite tip from my chat with Netflix’s ex Chief Talent Officer Patty McCord was her advice about how to be radically honest at work and why this is so critical.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 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 Julian Morrow. Julian is co-founder of The Chaser and Giant Dwarf. He has been the executive producer, writer and performer on various shows including The Chaser's War on Everything, Hamster Wheel, and the The Checkout.I was keen to have Jules on the podcast to unpack his approach to writing comedy. Jules is a master of this and we talk about a number of different topics in this episode. We spend the first little bit talking about what The Chaser are probably most well known for, which was how they snuck into APEC with Chas dressed as Osama Bin Laden over a decade ago and we talk about what was involved in creating that stunt. We then move on to talking about: How to write a joke Julian’s favourite definition of comedy How to know whether something is funny How Julian overcomes writer’s block How Julian records and files his ideas What procrastination looks like for Julian And a whole lot more You can find out more about Julian and his adventures at Giantdwarf.com.auGet in touch with me 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 innovation guru Scott D Anthony was his advice around finding and killing zombies at work.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 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 Naomi Simson. Naomi is one of Australia’s most well known entrepreneurs. She is the founder of RedBalloon and co-founder of the Big Red Group, which turns over more than $100m. Naomi is also the shark that wears red on Shark Tank, and happens to be the most followed Australian on LinkedIn, with over 2.7 million followers.I caught up with Naomi at her office in Sydney to chat about her approach to work, which she clearly has thought a lot about. One of the things that I loved about her philosophy is that structure and rhythm will set you free. We talk about the different structures she has built into her working week and a bunch of other really practical stuff.Topics we cover include: Naomi’s morning routine Why Naomi doesn’t have meetings on Fridays How Naomi finds time to write Why Naomi sees everywhere as an office How Naomi decides what to say no to How Naomi wrote a book in 14 days Naomi’s approach to social media When Naomi’s best ideas come to her The role Naomi’s blog plays in her life Why Naomi unpublished 500 blog posts over the summer You can find out more about Naomi at Naomisimson.com and sign up to Naomi’s Monday espresso for weekly inspiration. You can also follow Naomi on LinkedIn.Get in touch with me 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 Adam Grant came about when I asked him what was his favourite research study into productivity. Turns out it’s one to do with meetings, and how to improve them.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 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 Matt Mullenweg where he talks about some really practical strategies for tuning out digital distractions and creating healthy tech habits.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 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 journalist Nellie Bowles. Nellie covers tech and internet culture for The New York Times. Before joining The Times, she was a correspondent for “VICE News Tonight.” She has written for Recode, The Guardian, and started her writing career at the San Francisco Chronicle.I met Nellie because she interviewed me for a story a couple of months ago and I thought it would be fascinating to hear about how a NYT journalist actually spends their days. We cover lots of topics in this interview, including: How Nellie scored herself a job at the NYT Nellie’s quirky strategies for becoming a better writer Where Nellie finds ideas for stories How Nellie prepares for an interview Nellie’s go-to interview questions Why Nellie doesn’t like reading about people before she interviews them Nellie's approach for tuning out digital distractions Nellie’s Digital Shabbat Nellie’s go-to websites for staying up-to-date with tech news Why Nellie doesn’t listen to podcasts And much more.Find Nellie on Twitter at @NellieBowles https://twitter.com/nelliebowlesVisit 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.

This episode looks at challenging the standard 9-5 default that most businesses run by, and instead, using neuroscience to guide how we structure our workdays.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 Dr Catriona Wallace, who is the Founder and CEO of high-profile FinTech and ASX Listed company Flamingo. Flamingo provides a Cognitive Virtual Assistant (Artificial Intelligence) called ‘ROSIE’ that helps Financial Services companies across the world improve online sales conversion rates and the better servicing of customers.Based between NYC and Sydney, Dr Catriona Wallace is one of the world’s most cited experts on the Future of Customer Experience, Artificial Intelligence and Bot Strategy.Catriona was recently named one of the AFR’s 100 Women of Influence and topped the Business and Entrepreneur category. Catriona also happens to be one of my most influential mentors and a really good friend.We cover so much ground in this interview, including: The difference between being a CEO of a private company versus a publicly listed company - and why it requires a completely different skill set How Catriona became a "gun" salesperson Catriona’s secret to building rapport in sales meetings How she structures a typical one hour sales meeting How to build credibility quickly Catriona’s counterintuitive strategies for engaging prospects How to pack three week’s worth of clothes in a carry-on suitcase Catriona’s secret for getting over jet lag Why Catriona doesn’t believe in work-life balance How to build deep connections quickly when networking And much more.You can find Catriona at www.flamingo.ai, and also on Twitter and LinkedIn.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.

This episode looks at performance reviews, and why it’s more important to have your team review their own performance.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 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.

My favourite tip from my chat with Janine Allis was how she structures her working week with some very interesting rules.You can find the full interview here: https://www.amanthaimber.com/blog/janine-allis-on-her-rules-for-the-work-week-her-trick-for-making-emailIf 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 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.Something I really like about how Jason organises his working life is that he thinks a lot about rhythms and rituals. In this chat, we talk about many of the ones he has incorporated into his life, from his daily rituals through to weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually.Here are some of the other things we cover in this chat: Why he picks a one-word theme at the beginning of every year, and his process for picking one Why Jason and his partner Kim track progress against their “fulfilment factors” - and how to identify your own fulfilment factors Jason’s process for making small versus big decisions Jason’s daily, weekly, quarterly and annual rhythms and rituals for work Jason’s morning routine Gratitude Calendars and how Jason uses one How Jason uses his time on planes Jason’s experiments into how to make email more bearable Jason’s strategy for saying "no" politely Jason’s process for reading non-fiction books Find Jason at drjasonfox.com and you can subscribe to his muse letter at drjasonfox.com/ahoy. And you can listen to Jason’s podcast The Cleverness at drjasonfox.com/podcastFor 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.

My favourite tip from my chat with Amanda Palmer was how she has three basic benchmarks or rituals that she uses to check in with herself about how she is going.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 amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode looks at three simple changes managers can make to help their team’s productivity skyrocket.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 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.I was so excited to have Jake on the show, as I’ve followed his work for several years. What I particularly loved about this chat was how practical Jake is in his strategies and how he applied them during his time at Google. Now I should warn you that this chat somehow ended up starting with a story about a near-death experience - but don’t worry, it gets more upbeat from there!We cover a whole lot of things, including: How a near death experience lead to Jake becoming a self-confessed “time dork" Jake’s number one tip for creating a great day Why Jake hates the traditional to-do list How Jake created a distraction free phone - and how it changed his life The importance of boredom How to take back control of your calendar How Jake managed his calendar at Google Ventures How Jake approaches his email Being productive versus being purposeful Why you need to be prepared to let little bad things happen in the pursuit of using time well Find out more about Jake at https://jakeknapp.com/ and get a copy of Make Time here. You can also listen to Jake’s awesome podcast, the Product Breakfast Club.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.

My favourite tip from my chat with Dom Price was the strategy he used to eliminate a tonne of meetings from his diary.You can find the full interview here: https://www.amanthaimber.com/blog/atlassian-s-dom-price-on-how-he-uses-imposter-syndrome-to-his-advantageIf 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 amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This mini-episode will help you re-think the seemingly innocuous "out of office" auto-responder and make yours be impactful and memorable.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is Eddie Perfect. Eddie is a singer-songwriter, an actor, a comedian, and currently has not one, but two shows on Broadway - King Kong and Beetlejuice. Australian listeners might know Eddie from playing Mick Holland in Offspring, and theatre-goers might be familiar with some of Eddie’s work such as Shane Warne the Musical and Vivid White.When Eddie and I spoke, King Kong had literally just launched on Broadway and he was deep in re-writes for Beetlejuice. This interview really deep dives into what goes on behind the scenes in writing a musical, which for a musical theatre boffin such as myself, was delightful.And here are some other things we cover during the chat: How Eddie came to be working on not one, but TWO Broadway musicals at the same time How he wrote Beetlejuice’s introduction song for Beetlejuice The Musical His process for coming up with titles for songs Where Eddie does his best writing Why Eddie aims to complete with himself, and not with others How Eddie deals with criticism and bad reviews The role social media plays in Eddie’s life You can find Eddie on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And you can learn more about Beetlejuice the musical here and King Kong on Broadway 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.

In the first mini-episode for 2019, I talk about the absolute quickest way to boost your mood and productivity at work (it will only take you 40 seconds!)Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How I Work: Summer SeriesMy guest today is Carolyn Creswell. As Australian listeners probably know, Carolyn is the founder of Carman’s muesli, which is in pretty much every supermarket in Australia and is exported to 32 countries around the world. Over the last 25 years, Carolyn has built Carman’s into a $100 million dollar business.But there is so much more to Carolyn that just delicious tasting muesli. She has given so much thought to the way she works and this interview is full of really practical gems. We talk about: Her morning routine Why she doesn’t do coffee meetings - and what she does instead Her trick to making new year’s resolutions stick Her annual self-reflection ritual The role self-discipline plays in her life Why Carolyn doesn’t listen to the news Carolyn’s happy place How she plans her year in advance Why she books all her hair appointments for the whole year in January How she protects family time Why Carolyn never eats lunch at her desk Her favourite productivity apps Carolyn’s novel way of using to-do list software Why you will never catch Carolyn in a lie Carolyn’s approach to giving feedback You can find more about Carolyn and Carman’s at https://www.carmanskitchen.com.au/Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How I Work: Summer SeriesRachel Botsman is a world renowned expert on technology and trust, and the author of bestselling books “Who Can You Trust?” and “What’s Mine Is Yours”.Rachel is a lecturer at Oxford University and has been recognised as one of the “Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company and as one of the 50 most influential management thinkers in the world.We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including: Why Rachel never sleeps near her phone “Big stride days” and how to have one How the weather effects her productivity Her unusual but very awesome way of crafting presentations How Rachel hit a ridiculously tight book deadline Why she finishes her day midway through writing a paragraph Her one minute mindfulness routine Rachel’s “tips” to make it easier to say no And a whole lot more.You can find Rachel on Twitter and Linkedin at @Rachelbotsman and via her website https://rachelbotsman.com/For comprehensive show notes on this episode, go to: https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcastIf 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.

How I Work: Summer SeriesMia Freedman is the co-founder and creative director of the Mamamia Women’s Network, Australia’s largest digital women’s media company. They reach 4 million women per month and also have the world’s largest women’s podcast network, with eight shows that reach millions of women.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.I found it fascinating to sit down with Mia and learn more about how she structures her days and the routines that she has. I particularly loved hearing about her methods for overcoming procrastination, which I think every listener can benefit from.We covered a whole range of topics in our chat, including: How Mia carves out time to write books Why Mia hates long deadlines Mia’s daily rituals to stay on top of her mental health Why Mia has stopped reaching for her phone first thing in the morning Mia’s favourite podcasts Why Mia’s productivity peaks after 9pm Why Mia is spending less time on Facebook How Mia is rethinking her inbox How Mia reduces the amount of decisions she needs to make Mia’s top parenting hacks How Mia re-energises herself during the workday And a whole lot more.If you want to learn more about Mia, you can find her at www.miafreedman.com or via www.ladystartup.com.au which is her brand new project that includes an Online Bootcamp will help you activate your business idea in just 6 weeks.Full show notes and a transcript of this episode can be found at www.amanthaimber.com/podcastWant to get in touch? Reach out at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How I Work: Summer SeriesOn today’s show, I speak to organizational psychologist, best-selling author and Wharton’s highest-rated professor, Adam Grant.His books Give and Take, Originals, and Option B have sold over one million copies and have been translated into 35 languages. Adam has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most influential management thinkers, was named one of Fortune’s 40 under 40, and he also happens to be the host of one of my favourite podcasts, WorkLife which is a TED original podcast.In this conversation, we cover a whole bunch of topics such as: How to make email more bearable How becoming a parent completely changed Adam’s way of working How Adam approaches social media usage How Adam starts every week Why meetings kill productivity The podcasts Adam is listening to and books he is reading And a whole lot more.You can sign up to Adam’s e-newsletter Granted (one of my faves!) here: https://www.adamgrant.netFor comprehensive show notes on this episode, go to www.amanthaimber.com/podcastIf 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.

Jocelyn K. Glei is a writer who is obsessed with how we can find more creativity and meaning in our daily work. She is the author of several books and was formerly the editor in chief of 99U. She also hosts the podcast Hurry Slowly, which is about how you can be more productive, creative, and resilient through the simple act of slowing down.Not surprisingly, Jocelyn thinks very deeply about how she works. And she is very deliberate about how she structures her day.In this episode, we cover:* Jocelyn’s number one tip for not letting email take over your life* How Jocelyn uses the VIP feature of email* The big problem with the majority of productivity advice* The two hours of the day when Jocelyn produces her best work* Why Jocelyn works in sprints rather than marathons* What Jocelyn does to reenergise* Why taking breaks is so important, and what Jocelyn does to refresh her mind* How to carve out time for unstructured thinking* The best time of day to think creatively* What happens behind the scenes to create an episode of Jocelyn’s podcast Hurry, Slowly.* Tender discipline - what it means and how to do it* How she builds in time for reflection into her day* The role important journaling plays for JocelynSign up for Jocelyn's Reset course, which is like a cosmic tuneup for your workday. And you can read more about Jocelyn here and follow her on Twitter @jkgleiCheck out amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest today is…me! I thought I’d turn the tables and share with you how I run my own workday. The delightful and wise Dr Jason Fox joins me on the show to sit in the interviewer chair. We cover all sorts of ground, including: My morning routine My system for to-do lists How I try to minimise morning decisions How I fit both Deep Work and Shallow work in my life My Deep Work “rituals" Why I left Facebook and Instagram My favourite go-to productivity and time management apps How I transition from Deep Work to Shallow Work The work that goes on behind the scenes of creating How I Work How to design a better workday if you don’t feel like you have control over your diary How to persuade your boss to give you more time for Deep Work. You can find more about Dr Jason Fox at drjasonfox.com and I highly recommend checking out his podcast “The Cleverness with Dr Jason Fox”.Check out amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you planning on setting new year's resolutions for 2019? If you are, this episode will give you the best chance of success.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying focused on work that matters and resisting digital distractions can be a big challenge for the best of us. In this mix-tape episode, you’ll get to hear several guests’ strategies for how they maintain focus in a world full of digital temptations.This episode covers:* Why bestselling author and Wharton Professor Adam Grant doesn’t recommend going cold turkey on social media and other “distractions"* Adam Grant’s “rules" for checking social media* Why Rachel Botsman, the world’s leading authority on technology and trust, stopped using her mobile phone as an alarm clock* How planning ahead helps WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg resist the temptation of digital distractions* How Matt Mullenweg creates healthy habits and hacks to minimise unhelpful temptation* Why Sarah Green Carmichael, Executive Editor at HBR, loves working from home* How Sarah Green Carmichael deals with procrastination* Moment CEO Tim Kendall’s tactics for staying focused, including a very extreme method* Where Tim Kendall leaves his phone at night.Check out amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you planning on making any decisions today? Listen to this episode first.Visit 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 Janine Allis. Janine is the founder of Boost Juice, which now has over 500 stores globally. You might also know Janine as an investor on the TV show Shark Tank. Janine has received a tonne of awards including the Telstra Business Women of the Year. She is also a mother of four kids. Needless to say, she is a very busy person.We cover a heap of different topics in this chat, including: How Janine structures her week to maximise productivity Why Janine doesn’t believe in work-life balance Why Janine doesn’t do back-to-back meetings Why Janine doesn’t come to the office before 11am Janine’s system for remembering everything - and letting nothing slip through the cracks The role that yoga plays in Janine’s life, and how to find a great teacher Her “trick" for making email checking fun Why Janine is more likely to pick up the phone that have a conversation by email Her mobile phone rules for her family The last thing Janine does on her phone every day to help switch off Why Janine prefers audiobooks to physical books And so much more.You can find Janine at https://www.janineallis.com.au/ and on Twitter at @janineboostVisit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you currently use your mobile phone as your alarm clock? If so, you might rethink that after listening to today’s mini episode.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is Tim Kendall. Tim is the former President of Pinterest, where he led global sales, marketing and product development. Prior to Pinterest, Tim was Facebook’s Director of Monetization, where he led the development of Facebook’s advertising business.During his last year at Pinterest, Tim began noticing his own “bad” phone habits, not to mention the poor habits of everyone around him. Tim is now the CEO of Moment, a mobile app that helps you to use your phone in a healthy way, giving you back time for the parts of life that matter most.We cover a bunch of things in this chat, including: Tim’s quirky technique for keeping staff focused while he was President at Pinterest Tim’s extreme tactic for controlling mobile phone usage Tactics that Tim uses for setting himself up to have a productive day The role sleep plays in Tim’s life Why Tim takes ice baths most mornings, and what lead to this being a part of his routine Tim’s email hack that helps him stay focused The email software that has dramatically sped up the amount of time Tim spends responding to email Tim’s email rules for employees at his company, Moment. The damaging culture that exists in many Silicon Valley tech companies Why Tim is contemplating moving Moment to a four day work week and having parent-friendly hours Two books that have had a profound impact on Tim’s thinking Why Tim stays away from consuming the news And a whole lot more.You can find out more about Tim and Moment at http://inthemoment.ioDownload Moment on the iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moment-track-how-much-you/id771541926?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Christmas holidays nearly upon us, this mini-episode reveals five science-backed (and counterintuitive) ways to create the perfect break.Warning: after listening to this episode, you might want to change your Christmas holidays plans.Visit 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 Patty McCord. Patty McCord served as chief talent officer of Netflix for 14 years and helped create the Netflix Culture Deck, which has been viewed on Slideshare over 15 million times (Sheryl Sandberg has referred to this deck as “ the most important document ever to come out of the Valley.”). She is also the author of "Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility". In this episode, we talk about: How Patty uses her time on planes How her life is different post-Netflix How Patty prepares for presentations The key to making unlimited paid leave work Her commutes to work with Reed Hastings and the critical role this played Where she conducted most of her one-on-one meetings The importance of being radically honest at work - and how to get better at it How to change a culture Why many companies’ bonus systems are broken What executives need to expect from their HR people Find Patty at pattymccord.com, check out her book Powerful (https://www.amazon.com/Powerful-Building-Culture-Freedom-Responsibility/dp/1939714095) and take a look at the Netflix Culture deck (https://jobs.netflix.com/culture).Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you need to get your creative juices flowing this week, I cover four incredibly simple-to-apply tips to instantly boost your creativity on today's show. All backed by science.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I thought I’d try something different this week and share some cool stuff I learnt from a book I just read this weekend. It’s called "Make Time” (https://maketimebook.com/) by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky. These are the guys that wrote Spring and used to work at Google Ventures.The book was awesome and has inspired me to try a bunch of experiments to improve my own working days. I outline five of those experiments in this episode.One of those experiments involves Freedom - so here is the link if you are curious: https://freedom.toVisit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you decide what to say "yes" to and what to say “no" to? And how do you say “no" in a way that doesn’t offend?Guests on the How I Work podcast struggle with like the rest of us. They literally get hundreds of requests on their time and can’t possibly say yes to everyone. So they develop methods to make the decision-making process easier, and have specific strategies for saying no nicely.This episode covers the following: Adam Grant’s strategy for prioritising requests The two types of requests Adam Grant loves receiving How Mia Freedman learnt to become great at saying no Mia Freedman’s rules for saying no Why Mia Freedman tries to say no quickly Rachel Botsman and the “clean” no How Sarah Green Carmichael frames her “no’s” when rejecting submissions to HBR How Nancy Duarte uses her assistant to say no. And much, much more! Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love to-do lists. But the problem with most to-do lists is that they don’t discriminate between the type of thinking different tasks require and the fact that our brain is suited to different types of thinking depending on the time of day. This episode will teach you how to re-think your to-do list.Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes.Get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is a blast from the past (and by that, we mean one from a few months ago because Amantha is on holidays right now!).This episode features Matt Mullenweg. Matt is kind of like internet royalty because he is a founding developer of WordPress, which is the Open Source software used by over 31% of the web. He also founded Automattic which now employs around 700 people. Matt has been named one of PC World's Top 50 People on the Web and Business Week's 25 Most Influential People on the Web.In this conversation, we cover a whole bunch of topics such as: Matt's innovative approach to consuming books How Matt stays focused on important tasks Matt's approach to meetings Techniques to create healthier habits What's on Matt's smart phone home screen Matt's favourite productivity apps Why Matt still uses a paper notebook The podcasts Matt is listening to and books he is reading And a whole lot more.You can find out more about Matt via his blog https://ma.tt/ or via https://automattic.com/For comprehensive show notes on this episode, go to: www.amanthaimber.com/podcastIf 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 howiwork.coWant to get in touch? Reach out at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.