How I Work

You’ve heard it a million times by now: you need to start meditating. Maybe you’ve tried, like I have, but it just won’t stick. Maybe you can’t sit still for longer than five minutes, or maybe the whole thing feels a bit too woo-woo. If the latter is true, “Morning Pages” might sound like more of the same. But listening to Brian Koppelman break down his morning rituals, “woo-woo” definitely doesn’t come to mind. After beginning his career in the music industry before becoming an enormously successful screenwriter, director, producer and now show-runner, Brian’s nailed the delicate art of balancing hard-nosed professionalism and open-minded artistic creation. How? Well, like anything, it starts with his mornings. Brian’s an absolute devotee of Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages,” which he believes clears the “detritus” of the mind that can hold an artist back. And I say he’s a devotee, because he follows Cameron’s rules to the T. Except for one thing: meditation comes first. Connect with Brian on TwitterYou can find the full interview here: Learning on the job - how Brian Koppelman turned his first movie into a DIY film school***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picture this: you’ve been invited to pop icon Bjork’s Big Day Out afterparty. You rock up to her trailer and dance music’s pumping. You step inside and everyone’s having a grand old time, including Bjork herself, who’s posted up behind a set of turntables, grooving to the music. You figure you should congratulate her on a great set, but when you get closer, you notice… She’s got black gaff tape across her mouth?It’s a bit weird, sure, but according to one of Australia’s most successful music exports, Eddie Perfect, it’s also genius. When Eddie heard this story from his manager, he knew Bjork was onto something. The discipline required to properly care for and rest your voice is what separates the amateurs from the professionals in the world of performance, and Eddie’s a more seasoned professional than almost anyone else. He shares the industry’s most effective tips for caring for the instrument inside you, including a surprisingly simple trick for recovering quickly after you’ve completely lost your voice. Eddie also details the chaotic but incredibly efficient “29-Hour Read” process responsible for many of Broadway’s most beloved shows, as well as his own process for placing and writing songs for the stage. Connect with Eddie on Instagram or find his performer page on the 9 to 5 The Musical website***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the first question you ask yourself or your team when you need to make a big decision? Do you double-check your processes, weigh out the pros and cons? Meetup CEO David Siegel wants you to ask one question before any others when it comes to important decisions: ask yourself, ‘is this a trapdoor decision?’Trapdoor decisions are irreversible - once you’ve made the call, it can’t be unmade. Scary stuff! But David believes trapdoor decisions are far, far less common than most of us realise. He also believes most of us vastly overestimate how irreversible certain decisions are, while massively underestimating how reversible they actually are. Usually, he says, anything can be pivoted, altered, undone or redone… It might just require a bit of time. So how does David then make those decisions? Well, first - he delegates. David explains how getting your hiring process right will end up eliminating 98% of your decision-making down the line. Connect with David on Twitter or LinkedIn, or grab a copy of Decide & ConquerYou can find the full interview here: Meetup CEO David Siegel teaches you to make better, faster, more purposeful decisions***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know what it’s like when you move house – you’re tripping over boxes for weeks, eating takeout on the floor while you wait for that new dining table to arrive, and lamenting that the rest of the world – including work – doesn’t take a pause while you get your life in order. We’ve all been there, but have you ever used that moment of chaos as the trigger to start writing a book?It sounds insane – and as someone who’s been working on a new book for some time now, I feel certified to call it that – but for economist and Wharton professor Katy Milkman, it made perfect sense.Katy’s learned to take advantage of “fresh starts,” which can be anything from New Year’s Day to a relocation – or even just any old Monday.She breaks down the most effective ways to change your behaviour for the better, whether that’s to break bad habits or form new ones. And it’s all backed by science.Connect with Katy on Twitter or Linkedin CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You value your time pretty highly, right? That’s part of why you listen to How I Work - you’re trying to get the most out of what precious time you have, whether it’s a matter of getting more done when you’re in the office, or freeing yourself from distraction when you’re with your family. So you’d hope others value your time just as much - and therefore, you need to show others how much you value their time, especially if you’re hoping to use some of it. This is the underlying principle in all of Janice Lintz’s cold reachouts: whether she’s writing a letter to the queen or trying to sort out her phone bill, Janice knows people want to protect their time. Janice Lintz is a hearing loss consultant and accessibility advocate, so when she wants to speak with someone, it’s pretty damn important. But she recognises that if she’s going to ask for someone else’s time, she needs to demonstrate that it’s worth her time, too. Enter the rule of fours. When the late, legendary activist Vernon Jordan finally answered Janice’s phone call on the fourth attempt, he told her he only answered because she called so many times!Janice shares why this rule of four is so powerful, and explains how to apply the methodology to other parts of your work. Connect with Janice on Twitter or LinkedIn You can find the full interview here: Janice Lintz teaches you how to be heard by people who don’t want to listen***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exercising every single day sounds like playing the game of fitness on the hardest mode, doesn’t it? It sounds like the kind of regime only the ultra-disciplined, shredded-to-the-teeth among us can ever truly achieve. But… what if it was actually the easier option? Sam Wood, founder of Australia’s number-one home fitness program, 28, exercises every day. But it’s not because he’s some kind of workout robot - it’s because it’s the simple approach: it’s the decision that eliminates a thousand decisions. If your routine is to move every day, there’s no room for the endless internal battles that come up when you’re free to shuffle your rest days around. As a business owner, podcast host, husband, and father to young kids, Sam knows all to well just how hard it can be to fit exercise into a busy schedule, but he also knows a healthy body is key to a healthy mind, a healthy soul, and a healthy level of productivity!Connect with Sam on Instagram or at the 28 by Sam Wood website***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re pitching to your close-knit project team over Zoom, presenting as a keynote speaker to a packed conference hall, or writing an entire book, great stories are at the heart of any effective communication. And no modern non-fiction author spins a better yarn than Dan Pink, the man behind bestsellers like When: The Scientific Secrets of Timing and more recently, The Power of Regret. The psychology of regret and its many incarnations might sound like dense reading, but Dan proves it doesn’t have to be. Some of the first-person case studies in The Power of Regret are as affecting and thought-provoking as any great fiction tale, which makes the underlying science much, much easier to remember and understand. And therein lies one of the keys to Dan’s fantastic storytelling: sometimes, you’re not the one who should be telling the story! In preparation for his latest book, Dan ran a number of huge surveys and interviewed countless people to better understand the impact certain moments had on their lives. This made it far easier for Dan to test the strength of the stories he wanted to include in his book - if he found his interviewees fascinating, he figured his readers would too. Dan also shares his biggest grievance with the non-fiction market, and how he avoids it in his own work. Connect with Dan on Twitter or at his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Dan Pink on how the “no regrets” life philosophy misses the point***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you actually want from life? It seems like a pretty simple question, but if it’s not properly understood, it could lead you and your family down a very complicated path. When parenting expert Justin Coulson asks this question of clients, readers and audiences, he’s always met with the same response. First, he gets blank faces - most of the time, we’re too busy trying to keep the household afloat to sit and ponder our ideals. But when Justin frames the question around parenting specifically, he’s usually met with the same answer: everyone wants their kids to fulfil their potential. Sounds nice, right? Sure, but… Have YOU reached your potential? Justin’s follow-up question is one of many ways he encourages us to think more deeply about what it means to be a parent, a professional, and a person. He knows the value of this kind of thinking because it was a key part of his decision to leave behind a successful career in radio to pursue higher education and an entirely new field. Justin shares how he applies his expertise to all different formats, including the new season of his successful Channel 9 show, Parental Guidance. Connect with Justin on the Happy Families website or listen to his and his wife’s parenting podcast ***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all want to be successful, and as a How I Work listener, you’re actively looking for tools, tips and tricks that’ll get you there. You’re seeking out the best modern minds and trying to understand what’s made them successful. Good on you! But before you celebrate, you might need to consider the complete opposite approach…Darius Foroux writes books, articles and blog posts for people who want to keep growing wiser and wealthier - so he’s spent a lot of time thinking, reading and writing about the art of investing. The most powerful tool he’s come across in his years of research - sourced from the investing giants Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet - is a very simple thought experiment: invert the question. “How do I become successful?” is a well-intentioned question, but it welcomes far too many possible answers. Instead, Darius finds clarity by asking what would make him unsuccessful…Connect with Darius on Twitter or at his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Darius Foroux on writing, investing and living like a Stoic***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you were anything like me as a kid, you had your fair share of idols, and the majority of them spoke to you through the covers of magazines. If you were a little girl, most of those idols were probably fashion models. Beautiful, immaculately dressed and impossibly cool, we’ve all wished at one point or another that we could be just like those models.Lise Carlaw and Sarah Wills, otherwise known as Those Two Girls, or the hosts of the Forty podcast, lived that dream. The only thing is… it wasn’t the dream they were sold. Selling your image means turning how you look into a commodity, and while it might be nice to pay the bills with some photos on a beach in Greece, it also makes it really, really hard not to value yourself solely on your appearance. The pursuit for a more holistic sense of identity kicked into overdrive for Lise and Sarah as they neared the big four-zero, and it spawned a media empire catering to women who wanted more from their fifth decade than to simply wind down and step out of the limelight. Lise and Sarah share the most transformative lessons they’ve learned through the podcast, and through writing their new book, Forty Favours the Brave.Connect with Lise on InstagramConnect with Sarah on InstagramGrab a copy of Forty Favours the Brave ***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the internet era, there’s an infinite number of opportunities, information, activities and events we could get involved with, which is great… But there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and when you say “yes” to anything, you’re also saying “no” to something else.So how do you decide what to say “no” to, and just as crucially, how do you say “no” when it’s really hard? Whether you’re a people-pleaser or you just want to do a bit of everything, turning down an opportunity - even when you know you should - can be really tough.Bestselling author, psychologist and Wharton professor Katy Milkman struggles saying “no” herself, but she doesn’t have to go it alone - she’s gathered a group of trusted peers who know what she wants from her life and her career, and they’re always on hand to offer Katy advice when she’s not sure if she should say yes or no.Connect with Katy on Twitter or LinkedInYou can find the full interview here: Fresh starts, commitment devices and collaboration - changing for the better with Katy Milkman***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three men walk into a bar, and see a huge gap in the market - while wine, whiskey and beer were all receiving the craft treatment, gin was largely being ignored. And even better, these three men lived in Australia, and knew the land down under was the perfect place to create not just great gin, but the world’s best gin. Matt Jones, one of the three co-founders of Four Pillars Gin, is also the Brand Director, and brought to the new company decades of experience in marketing and branding. Matt shares his obsessions with aesthetics and storytelling, and his goal to approach branding with the same level of meticulous craftsmanship as the distillers who make the drink itself. Connect with Matt on Twitter or on the excellent Four Pillars website***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a great question? Well, it depends on what you’re trying to figure out. Are you interviewing someone for a job, or on TV? Are you asking someone on a date? Are you trying to learn something? Whatever it is, you probably have an answer, a solution or a direction in mind when you ask a question. That’s great, but it’s not always the path to the best outcome. Zoe Chance, author of Influence is Your Superpower and a professor at the Yale School of Management, prefers to ask a question that allows for answers she never could’ve imagined…Zoe tells the story of the women from a small village near Zambia who eradicated sexual slavery in their community by… building an electric fence around their corn crop? Well, if that’s what it takes…Connect with Zoe on Twitter or LinkedInYou can find the full episode here: Persuasion, not manipulation: Zoe Chance on how to influence for good***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to make someone give up on their dream? Which straw breaks the camel’s back? For Hugh Van Cuylenburg, a simple but critical mistake in his calendar almost spelt the end of The Resilience Project before it’d truly begun. But it didn’t. Why not? Where did Hugh find the strength to keep pursuing his goals, even after messing up the best opportunity he’d ever had? Hugh’s a master storyteller, with no shortage of material. He shares which moments in his life turned out to be make-or-break, and what he learned from each one. He also teaches you how to quickly build rapport with new people, and how to improve your business by stepping out of its centre. Connect with Hugh on The Resilience Project’s website or listen to The Imperfects podcast***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you go when you need career guidance? Maybe the right book or video or article can help, but what about when your questions are more specific? What about when you’re in a truly unique situation, and you just can’t figure out the next step - the right direction for you?Well, maybe it’s time to find a mentor! But before you go cold-emailing all the top thinkers in your industry, you might need to check some of your assumptions about mentorship… Enter Dr. Ruth Gotian, leadership expert, author, educator and mentoring master. Ruth is well-versed in the cold reachout, but she doesn’t approach it exactly how you might expect: for one thing, she never asks for anything in the beginning, and she’s careful not to call anyone her mentor - at least, not to their face. But why? And if she’s not asking for anything, what’s she actually saying in those outreach messages? Ruth teaches you all the ins and outs of seeking and securing your perfect mentor. Connect with Ruth on Twitter or LinkedInYou can find the full episode here: Ruth Gotian on studying the habits and mindsets of the world’s most successful people ***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard praise showered on the concept of being a “lifelong learner”? You might’ve missed it in school, but our kids’ generation are reminded everyday that learning should continue far beyond the classroom. And if you didn’t hear it in school or in parent-teacher conferences, you’ve surely heard it at work by now. But what does it actually mean, and how do you become a lifelong learner yourself? Enter Dom Price, Atlassian’s Work Futurist and a celebrated keynote speaker. Given his title, it makes sense that Dom spends a lot of time thinking about the future of work, but he’s certainly not keeping it to himself! Dom discusses how the future of work might look, but cruciually, he’s just as passionate about sparking broader conversations on the future, so that we can all design it together. He covers everything from updating our methods of communication, to designing a working world that can truly support its workers’ physical and mental health. Connect with Dom on Twitter or Linkedin***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trying to call Jordan Calhoun, Editor in Chief at Lifehacker, isn’t easy. Trust me - I’ve tried!Jordan simply doesn’t take chances when it comes to his attention and his productivity. While it might be slightly tedious to have to pre-organise every phone call ahead of time, it’s more than worth it when it means your attention is entirely under your control. Jordan shares his step-by-step process for ensuring his phone and computer only command his attention when he wants them to, and breaks down his more intense, “nuclear” option for those who really want to drill down on their device usage. Connect with Jordan on Twitter or InstagramYou can find the full interview here: Weaponising accountability with Lifehacker editor-in-chief Jordan Calhoun***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you say no to a million dollars? Imagine if your business was minutes away from securing a huge investment boost, only for the founder to turn it down. What could possibly make her say no to such a big payday? A nose ring. Dr Catriona Wallace founded Flamingo AI, which became only the second women-led company to list on the ASX, and she takes money seriously. She explains how some investors inject “bad money” into your business, and teases out the most important lessons she’s learned about leadership across the course of her career. She also details the differences between running a public and a private company, and shares her excitement over the future of healing and wellness practices across the world. Connect with Catriona on Twitter and Linkedin***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you get right down to it, being a leader is ultimately all about being a decision-maker. Everything from hiring a team to devising a business strategy is built on your ability to make all kinds of decisions. So if you’re a leader, and you want to be a better one, you need to learn how to make better decisions. For Phil Libin, cofounder of Evernote and mmhmm, this process began with introspection - in particular, Phil wanted to understand what a “difficult” decision actually is, and in the process, realised that more often than not, we think a decision is difficult, when it’s actually just uncomfortable. He was surprised to find that 90% of the time, he knows what the right answer is, but what’s holding him back is that enacting that decision feels uncomfortable. So, how do you know whether a decision is truly difficult or not, and how do you make the right decision, even when it’s uncomfortable? Connect with Phil on Twitter or Linkedin You can find the full interview here: Evernote co-founder Phil Libin on the key to making better decisions at work ***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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 Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a frequent How I Work listener, you’ve probably noticed how frequently I’ve been asking guests for specific advice on tackling big projects, developing focus, and writing. And it’s because writing a book, no matter how many times you do it, is really difficult! But thanks to this show, I have first-hand access to some of the sharpest minds of our day, and I want to share that access with you. I talk to Charlotte Rush, Inventium’s Head of New Product Development, about the process of writing Time Wise, and which tips and tricks from this podcast helped me out along the way.***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Collaboration can be a pretty volatile part of work… working alongside great people can make even the most mind-numbingly boring tasks feel like pure play - but when you don’t gel with a particular team, even a passion project can become a drag. So how do you make sure you’re collaborating with the right people? And collaborating the right way? Author and coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier wants you to have these conversations before you even start working with a new collaborator. Before any project begins, he recommends co-writing an ‘operating manual’, a set of processes and guidelines for collaborating. He shares the most effective questions to ask when you’re thinking of working with someone, and breaks down the reasons every team needs to have discussions like these. Connect with Michael on Twitter or at his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Michael Bungay Stanier teaches you how to beginVisit Inventium Labs to download your operating manual.***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you know anything about magic, you know a true magician never reveals his secrets. While psychologist and author Richard Wiseman might not share the secrets behind his favourite magic tricks, he’s more than happy to share how magic has made him a better thinker, a better psychologist, and a better public speaker. Richard also shares how focusing more intently on listening has led to some of his most successful outings as an author, and describes his unconventional - and frightening - method for pitching experiments. Richard’s also the creator of the beloved YouTube channel, Quirkology, where he demonstrates short experiments and explains unusual facets of psychology. He shares how the channel came about, and why he works across so many platforms. Connect with Richard on Twitter and at his website ***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you ever have a great study buddy? Someone in high school or university who made those long sessions on the books a little less punishing? What did that person actually do? Were they giving you tips? Or was it enough to just have them… there? I know I work with a whole lot more concentration and energy when my teammates are around. And Taylor Jacobson does too - he had such a great study buddy in college that he turned the experience into a company. Taylor explains how Focusmate works, and crucially, details the processes that go into turning a regular social interaction into an accountability tool. Connect with Taylor on Twitter or try Focusmate hereYou can find the full interview here: Focus! Why Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate to force himself to concentrate***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All entrepreneurs get things wrong; it comes with the territory. But great entrepreneurs love getting things wrong, because it means they’re learning. Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO of O2E (which includes brands such as 1800-GOT-JUNK and Shack Shine), is no different, and as tough as the pandemic was, he still sees it as an invaluable learning opportunity. One of O2E’s iconic practices is its enormous, company-wide “huddle”, in which all employees gather in one giant room for seven minutes every morning to discuss the action plan for the day. Brian loved the huddles, loved seeing everyone together, in one place. So he was worried the company would love a vital bit of magic when they moved to remote work during COVID. But then, something brilliant happened - the huddles ended up being even better online. Suddenly, instead of everyone in the room looking at one person amidst a sea of backs, every single person could see every other person’s face on the Zoom screen. And Brian realised he’d been wrong - and he was pumped!Brian shares the other unexpected lessons and surprising wins encountered during the pandemic, as well as his process for turning visions into reality. Connect with Brian on Twitter and Linkedin***Get your hands on a copy of Time Wise.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think back to something… scary. Intimidating. Something you signed up for and thought was a great idea in the moment, but that grew more and more unnerving as it grew closer. Maybe it was an athletic endeavour, an overseas adventure, or a serious stretch goal at work. If you asked friends for advice as the big day crept ever closer, they probably asked you the classic question: “What’s the worst that could happen?” And for a second, you might’ve calmed down. You might’ve remembered the big event wasn’t going to kill you. But if that wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, what was? You could’ve been utterly humiliated. Maybe you could’ve lost a lot of money, or ruined your reputation? You could’ve been injured, or rejected, or… See? Now your mind is spiraling, overflowing with worst-case scenarios. Michelle Poler, who speaks on fear and the comfort zone, has heard that advice countless times, and she’s fed up. When you ask yourself for worst-case scenarios, surprise: you get them. She has a better question for you to ask when something’s scaring you, and I share it in this extract from my new book, Time Wise. Connect with Michelle on Instagram or on her websiteYou can find the full interview here: Michelle Poler on how she overcame 100 fears and the key question she asked to help conquer them***Order my new book Time Wise.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taking on a long-term project can be incredibly daunting, and writing Time Wise was no different! Thankfully, I had Izzy Yates by my side every step of the way to make sure my book would not only cross the finish line, but do so in better shape than I could’ve ever expected. Izzy’s the Head of the Penguin Publishing Lab at Penguin Random House Australia & New Zealand, assessing and overseeing a tonne of books every year, including mine. She breaks down what makes a great book proposal stand out, and shares the process she has to go through to shepherd a project from that initial proposal all the way through to its arrival on the shelves. Connect with Izzy on Linkedin***Get your hands on a copy of Time Wise.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re anything like me, networking feels like a necessary evil at best, and an overwhelming nightmare more often than not! But it doesn’t have to be that way. In an extract from my new book, Time Wise, I share a simple trick I learned from Marissa King that’s helped me return to in-person events with a newfound confidence - even when I don’t know a single other person when I arrive. Marissa’s a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Yale School of Management and has spent fifteen years researching social networks, but she’s the first to admit she doesn’t love networking herself - so her tips are not only expert advice: they’re field-tested! Connect with Marissa on TwitterYou can find the full interview here: Bigger is better, and other misconceptions about networks with Marissa King***Order my new book Time Wise.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final installment of this listeners’ choice series, we go back to one of the toughest challenges facing knowledge workers today: saying no. In the internet era, there’s an infinite number of opportunities, information, activities and events we could get involved with, which is great… But there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and when you say “yes” to anything, you’re also saying “no” to something else. So how do you decide what to say “no” to, and just as crucially, how do you say “no” when it’s really hard? Whether you’re a people-pleaser or you just want to do a bit of everything, turning down an opportunity - even when you know you should - can be really tough. How I Work listener Bianca was struggling with exactly this problem until she listened to bestselling author, psychologist and Wharton professor Katy Milkman describe her approach to saying no. Katy doesn’t do it alone - she’s gathered a group of trusted peers who know what she wants from her life and her career, and they’re always on hand to offer Katy advice when she’s not sure if she should say yes or no.Connect with Katy on Twitter or LinkedInYou can find the full interview here: Fresh starts, commitment devices and collaboration - changing for the better with Katy Milkman***Pre-order my new book Time Wise: www.amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m calling it: the to-do list is the most misunderstood concept in our working lives, and in productivity in general. Of course, they’re super important - in fact, they’re so central to our work today that even if you don’t physically or digitally write one down, you’ve still got some version of a to-do list knocking around your noggin.So what do we all get wrong about them? Well, most of us are pretty good at knowing what we need to do, but if that was the whole game, no one would need a show like How I Work, and I wouldn’t need to interview the world’s leading thinkers…How I Work listener Trudi unlocked the power of a good to-do list after listening to bestselling author and New Yorker contributor Cal Newport break down his daily and weekly planning process. Cal’s a verified productivity machine, so when he starts talking about how time boxing is at the core of his incredible performance, we’d all better listen up!Connect with Cal on his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Cal Newport on why you need to change your workflow, not your habits, when it comes to boosting productivity***Pre-order my new book Time Wise: www.amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If you love your work, you’ll never work a day in your life.” A nice sentiment, but unfortunately, completely false. My source? Me! As someone who loves my work, I can tell you that I’m not skipping through the office with a cheesy grin on my face all day, every day. So how do you learn to enjoy more of what you do? Whether you’re in a job you love but you have to endure some pretty tedious admin, or you’re working in a place you don’t really gel with, there’s gotta be a way to lean in and learn to love it more, right? Right! How I Work listener Michael has seen immense improvement in his day-to-day mood thanks to the advice of athlete, engineer and author Turia Pitt, who knows a thing or two about making the best of a bad situation. After being caught in a grassfire during an ultra-marathon, Turia almost died, and spent a gruelling two years in recovery. But along the way, she learned the incredible power of a deceptively simple reframe in her thinking: instead of saying “I have to do this”, she started saying “I GET to do this.” Connect with Turia on LinkedIn or subscribe to her musings hereYou can find the full interview here: Turia Pitt’s Next tuesday rule, hacks for dramatically improving self-talk, and how to be useful when someone is going through a rough time***Pre-order my new book Time Wise: www.amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sending an email to a colleague? You’re telling them a story. Talking to your boss during your performance review? You’re crafting a narrative? Pitching to a prospective client? Yep, you’re spinning a yarn. Whenever you communicate with someone else, you’re telling a story. And given how often we need to communicate with others to do modern knowledge work, we’d all better learn how to be more engaging and effective storytellers. For How I Work listener Dee, there’s no better teacher for that than Dr Norman Swan, the celebrated journalist, author, and host of Coronacast.Find out why we all need to be better storytellers, and how we can get there. Connect with Norman on Twitter or LinkedInYou can find the full interview here: More naps, less coffee: Norman Swan’s tips for the good life***Pre-order my new book Time Wise: www.amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building your own productivity practice can feel like a mammoth effort - so if you’re also trying to do it for your whole family, you need all the help you can get! Thankfully for How I Work listener Tracey, parenting expert Dr. Justin Coulson has just the trick, and it’s broken up into four rules to follow every single day. =Whether you’re working on making sure you and your little ones are getting the right nutrition in before the day kicks off, or you’re just trying to get everyone out of bed on time, Justin’s “Making Mornings Magic” framework will help the whole family get out the door on time, well-fed, and ready to attack the day. Connect with Justin on LinkedIn or at the Happy Families websiteCheck out Justin’s New York Times article about his Making Mornings Magic processYou can find the full interview here: Making mornings magic with parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson***Pre-order my new book Time Wise: www.amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The perfect day starts with the perfect morning routine, right? Or is that too late? How I Work listener Jason was struggling to juggle his workload as he transitioned from primary to secondary school teaching. A new system, new spaces, and constant COVID-induced interruptions to the status quo were making it all but impossible to always be in the right place at the right time. That is, until he heard that Laura Mae Martin, Google’s Executive Productivity Advisor, doesn’t make a plan of attack every morning. Instead, she plans the night before. Jason says this deceptively simple adjustment to his routine has been a lifesaver, especially when last minute classroom changes inevitably crop up!Connect with Laura on LinkedInYou can find the full interview here: Google’s Exectuive Productivity Advisor, Laura Mae Martin, on how she dramatically reduced the amount of time she spends in her inbox***Pre-order Amantha's new book Time Wise at amantha,comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have a cheerleader? Someone who’ll congratulate on the little wins, who’ll remind you that you’re doing well, encourage you to keep going? I hope so!And even if you do… I’ll bet it’s still sometimes not quite enough. After all, we’re usually our own toughest critics, and even the completely legitimate kind words of the people closest to us can’t overpower that little voice in the back of our minds: the one that says “you’re not doing enough.” How I Work listener Melissa knows this voice all too well, but after listening to author Oliver Burkeman’s advice to keep a “done list”, she realised the only voice that might be able to balance out the inner critic was her own inner cheerleader.Connect with Oliver on TwitterYou can find the full interview here: Get your priorities straight with Oliver Burkeman***Pre-order Amantha's new book Time Wise at amantha,comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re into productivity, you’ve probably tried to become a “morning person”. Maybe you’ve tried it a couple of times. You set your alarm for 5am and go to sleep dreaming of pre-dawn yoga sessions and meditation, followed by some journaling and a bit of deep work before the office even opens. And maybe it worked! But maybe it didn’t - no matter how many times you tried. If you’ve tried waking up early over and over again, and felt like a zombie over and over again, you might actually be a square peg, trying to squeeze through a circular hole.Whether you’re struggling to wake up all morning, or failing to power through a mid-afternoon stretch of mentally demanding work, the problem might be the same: you might be working against your chronotype. How I Work listener Kristy certainly was, until she listened to Dan Pink’s advice about learning your unique circadian rhythm, and tailoring your schedule accordingly. Connect with Dan on Instagram or TwitterYou can find the full interview here: Dan Pink on coming up with great titles for projects, how he structures his working days, and why he doesn’t believe in willpower***Pre-order Amantha's new book Time Wise at amantha,comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first episode of this new mini-series, How I Work listener Ruth writes in to share what she’s learned from bestselling author and computer science professor, Cal Newport. Cal’s “To Discuss” List is his method of saving countless hours of unnecessary, unscheduled back-and-forth emailing. While it might feel easier to quickly dash off an email when you need something from a colleague, Cal implores you to think long-term, and to save the discussion for when you next meet face-to-face.Connect with Cal on his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Cal Newport on how to eliminate 80% of emails in your organisation***Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.com Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re often told not to take advice blindly, and this is especially true for productivity advice. The rise-and-grind schedule might work for a Lark, but it’s a recipe for a disaster if you’re a Night Owl. Sourcing ideas from people you admire is a great start, but you need to run your own experiments to figure out which ideas actually work for you. That is, unless your partner is a chronic experimenter! Frances Frei, a professor at Harvard Business School, doesn’t run experiments because she doesn’t need to. Her wife, Anne Morriss, runs them herself, and shares the best practices and ideas with Frances. As well as being Frances’ wife and most valuable productivity resource, Anne is a leadership couch and the Executive Founder of The Leadership Consortium. Frances and Anne share their favourite tools for staying focused, productive and present, including their yearly “visioning” process, their methods for building trust, and the best career advice they;ve ever received. Connect with Frances and Anne on LinkedIn***Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most guests on How I Work will tell you to turn off your phone if you want to get work done. They’ll probably tell you to leave it out of the bedroom when it’s time to sleep, and to keep it out of reach when you’re meant to be spending quality time with friends and family. It’s easy to forget sometimes just how useful that little super computer in your pocket can be - and that applies to life admin, too! Life Admin Hacks authors Mia Northrop and Dinah Rowe-Roberts put me onto the untapped power of Siri, and I’ve never looked back. And now they’re teaching you how to use it, too. If you’ve never used Siri for anything other than a Google search while your hands are full, you’re missing out on an on-demand, high-powered digital assistant. From reminders to calendar updates, Mia and Dinah share how to use Siri to supercharge your life admin. Connect with Mia and Dinah on their website and pick up a copy of Life Admin HacksYou can find the full interview here: Get professional about your personal life with Life Admin legends Mia Northrop and Dinah Rowe-Roberts***Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.com**If your job title is “Executive Productivity Advisor for Google,” you probably need a pretty refined definition of productivity, right? And Laura Mae Martin certainly does. But she says it’s equally important that every individual has their own, unique definition of productivity. It’s all too easy to fall into “busy language”, she says. Back-to-back meetings and a three-page to-do-list might make you feel productive, but if you’re not making time for your most important work (and for rest), you might just be running in circles. So how do we see through the guise of busy-ness and get the real work done? For Laura, and the suite of Google execs she coaches, everything starts with the calendar. Whether you’re in too many meetings or spending too much time in your inbox, poor calendar hygiene is probably the root cause. Laura teaches you how to implement “zero-based calendaring”, calendaring for focus, calendaring for connection, and much more. Connect with Laura on her YouTube channel or at the Google Keywords blog***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might not be surprised to find out Lisa Leong has a colour-coded calendar. She’s the host of hit ABC podcast This Working Life, after all. But what might surprise you is how her attention to diaristic detail helps her when she’s not at work.Her ABC work is orange, and the sessions working on her new book were red. But she also blocks out her e-bike commutes and social activities. Why? For one thing, it ensures nobody schedules her into a meeting when she’s meant to be out for dinner. But perhaps more importantly, it means she has something like a birds-eye-view of her life, one week at a time. Too much orange and red? Not enough yellow and blue? At a glance, Lisa knows whether she’s overworking (or spending a bit too much time on the town!).Lisa also gives you what she calls a “compassionate challenge,” and asks you to work if you might have more autonomy at work than you initially thought. Pick up a copy of Lisa’s book, This Working LifeOr connect with her on Instagram or TwitterYou can find the full interview here: Lisa Leong wants you to forget work-life balance and cultivate work-life cohesion instead***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.com**It’s 5am, and Linktree co-founder Anthony Zaccaria’s already up. But this isn’t some productivity-robot morning routine he’s lifted from another tech leader’s biography. He’s up because he’s got twin toddlers, and when they’re up, he’s up. Linktree’s a global company, so any number of emails, messages and project updates have probably come through already, but Anthony’s not checking his phone. It’s his kids’ best time of the day - the only time they’re well-rested! So how does the co-founder of a unicorn startup balance the incredible demands of a rapidly growing business with the equally demanding job of being a new parent?It’s all about focus. When it’s time to knuckle down and get some serious work done, whether it’s powering through emails or working on strategy, the noise-canceling headphones go on, and the rest of the world goes out. Anthony shares his top tips for focusing when it matters, and reflects on the key decisions he’s made as Linktree has grown to employ almost 300 people. Connect with Anthony on Twitter***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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 Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you even lift? Oh, you do? Great! But do you train for endurance too? Your heart health is super important. Oh, you do that too, amazing! How long can you stand on one leg? Yep, you should really test how long you can stand on one leg - it’s an important measure of your fitness, which in turn is an important indicator of your health more broadly. Author, television journalist and former doctor Michael Mosley is tired of all the conversations around resistance training and cardio, because they’re completely excluding balance! Just like with your muscles or your aerobic fitness, if you don’t use it, you lose it. And if you’re wondering why that matters so much, Michael references a study of that one-legged test, and the ability to balance was the best predictor of longevity. So, you don’t want to lose it!Michael shares how you can keep your balance going strong, and how to accurately do the test yourself.Connect with Michael on Twitter, Instagram, and on his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Get a handle on your health with Michael Mosley**Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a mystical wizard with very specific powers and a very strange agenda cast a spell on me, dictating that I could only listen to one podcast for the rest of my life - that podcast would be Mamamia Out Loud. And based on the Apple Podcast homepage charts, I wouldn’t be alone.Mamamia Out Loud is one of Australia’s most popular podcasts, and it’s just one of many incredible woman-led shows in the Mamamia stable, which is the largest female-led podcast network on the planet. Out Loud’s three co-hosts, Mia Freedman, Holly Wainwright and Jessie Stephens also have their hands full with an array of high-level jobs at Mamamia, so getting this show out three times a week (and even more frequently for subscribers) is a feat beyond comprehension.Mia’s the co-founder of the Mamamia Women’s Media Company and also the host of No Filter. Holly’s the Head of Content for Mamamia and a bestselling novelist. Jessie is Mamamia’s Executive Editor, as well as the host of the podcast, Cancelled. Alongside her twin sister, she writes about reality television, pop culture and current affairs. The Mamamia Out Loud hosts break down how they manage their overlapping schedules, where they go to find their news and fresh takes, and why modeling respectful disagreement is so important to them.Use Instagram to connect with Mia, Holly and Jessie, or find their work at the Mamamia websiteYou can find my recent appearance on Mamamia Out Loud here ***Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.comConnect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The modern office dress code is a pretty nebulous thing nowadays. Most industries have been slowly moving away from strict “business attire” for decades now. The full suit and tie gave way to the business shirt, before modern tech entrepreneurs popularised the image of a t-shirt and jeans as the uniform of the workaholic disruptor. And that’s all before we started working from our couches! But Chris Oliver-Taylor, the Director of Production for Netflix Australia & New Zealand, doesn’t want to hang his suit up for good just yet. When he first left the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he bounded into an interview for a new position, dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. When he accepted the job, his new mentor told him that his first port of call was to go out and get a suit. He’s never been entirely sure if she just wanted him to dress a bit sharper, but he found deeper meaning in that advice nonetheless: smarten up. Demonstrate that you know the importance of your role, and remember that you’re always on show. Connect with Chris on LinkedInYou can find the full interview here: The art of the pitch with media executive Chris Oliver-Taylor***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.com**It’s the greatest productivity debate of our time: how do we achieve work-life balance? Or maybe the real debate should be: is work-life balance even possible? Eric Barker, the author of Barking Up the Wrong Tree and now Plays Well With Others, doesn’t think work-life balance is truly achievable. At least, not if you want the best possible results in a given field. The problem, he says, is that most of live an unbalanced life by accident. Because of the internet and the rapidly increasing pace of everything from the news cycle to the way we socialise, we’re all doing too much of something, and not enough of something else. It’s overwhelming, and we’re constantly playing catchup. Eric’s solution is to abandon balance, but to do it on purpose. Decide what you want to be really, really good at it, and accept that you won’t be world-class in your other pursuits. Eric also shares why he sets a five-hour timer at the start of every work day, how he deals with contradictions in his own writing, and how he developed his sense of humour.Connect with Eric on Twitter or LinkedinPick up a copy of Plays Well With Others***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David had it pretty good. He was working in a great university. His students loved him. His peers loved him. He had plenty of friends who loved him. And then he became a successful playwright. Life couldn’t get any better!Except reaching the dizzying heights David reached in the theatre world didn’t come cheap. For most of his life, he was like anyone else. You might have the occasional tiff with a co-worker or acquaintance, but generally, you’re well-liked by the people you care about. And all of a sudden, hordes of strangers started to hate David Williamson. Already a self-conscious man, the idea of people making a living by tearing apart his every thought was almost debilitating for David. He shares how he learned to train his focus onto the audience, rather than the critics, and reflects on the help he received from his wife, who would conduct audience surveys in the women’s bathrooms after his shows. Pick up a copy of David’s book, Home TruthsOr connect with him at his websiteYou can find the full interview here: Playwright David Williamson on negativity, perfectionism and the myth of writer’s block***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Pre-order your copy of Time Wise at amantha.com**For productivity geeks like us, the professional writer can become a bit of a mystic figure. When we fantasise about finally perfecting our morning routines, finally clearing out enough time for a fruitful Deep Work session, setting up the ideal workstation - we’re often thinking about a writer. There’s something idyllic about the idea of being a writer: it’s just you, your thoughts, and the blank page. It’s the platonic ideal of knowledge work! But… it’s not that simple. Take Brian Koppelman, for example. Inarguably one of the most prolific and successful screenwriters working today, you’d think Brian spends most of his life holed up in a cabin in the woods, clacking away on a typewriter, free from any and all distractions. But Brian lives in New York City, the busiest, most distracting place on the planet. Oh, and he’s not just a screenwriter. He’s also a director, producer, and showrunner. Brian’s “average” day looks a lot less like that of a reclusive artist, and much more like that of a busy CEO. So, how does he still manage to produce so much incredible work? Brian shares how meditation, morning pages and music help him focus, and recalls the most powerful lessons he learned on the set of his very first film. Connect with Brian on Twitter***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Siegel’s in his third CEO role, and if all his years of experience as a leader have taught him anything, it’s that most people take too long to make a decision. The clearest example: company strategy. When David joined Meetup, he drafted the new company strategy as quickly as possible. At first, that sounds like a pretty irresponsible treatment of such a huge part of the business… but David’s underlying reasoning reveals why we should all speed up a little bit!David teaches you to make better, faster decisions, and to uncover the blind spots in your own decision-making process.Connect with David on Twitter or LinkedIn, and grab a copy of Decide & Conquer***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction Support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producer: Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A productivity tip that’s hard to swallow for people who like productivity tips: nothing except doing the work will get the work done. You can have the cleanest calendar, the emptiest inbox and the tightest morning routine, but if you’re not sitting down and putting in the work, your “hacks” serve as little more than decoration. Unless those tips and tricks steer you towards the right kind of deep work? Liane Moriarty, the incredibly prolific author of Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers and Apples Never Fall, uses a website blocker, puts her phone outside her office, and even uses a little egg timer for “Pomodoro” sessions. But all of these techniques serve a much greater function - the rituals program her to do the actual writing!Connect with Liane on her website, and pick up a copy of Nine Perfect StrangersYou can find the full interview here: Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty on writing, self-talk, and what she’s learned from Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon***Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things 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.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at [email protected] CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**BEST OF**It’s 9:30, and you’ve got just under an hour before your next Zoom meeting. There’s already just a bit too much caffeine buzzing around your brain, and your eyes are half-crossed from the last video call. So how do you recharge and show up refreshed for that next one? If you’re Evernote and mmhmm co-founder Phil Libin, you swim laps. Thanks to the “distributed” nature of mmhmm’s workforce, he can punctuate his work days with distinctly not-work activities. Some days, it’s laps between meetings, other days it’s a stroll around one of his favourite museums while he ponders new ideas.Whatever he chooses on any given day, it’s only possible because of one of the many superpowers of the internet. Phil is happy to solve a few problems with our new way of working, if it means he gets to keep the many, many benefits of working asynchronously and away from a traditional office in the big city. Phil shares his favourite tips on making the most of remote work (including why he doesn’t like the term “remote”) and some of the biggest lessons he learned as the CEO of Evernote. Connect with Phil on Twitter or 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.co CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction support from Deadset StudiosEpisode producer: Jenna KodaSound engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.