The Profit Productivity Podcast: Recent Episodes

Michael Tipper

Discover what is time management and how to be more productive so you too can avoid procrastination, eliminate distraction and sharpen your focus to get things done.

Join productivity specialist Michael Tipper's on a journey of discovery and development as he applies the best tools and techniques in a 2 year long self-experiment to become even more productive.

You too can profit even more from your time by tuning in to just a handful of Michael's daily episodes that share his lessons, his frustrations, his wins, and his mistakes - warts and all.

If he can do it, then so can you.

I’m taking a break and here’s why….

This morning when I woke up, I really didn't want to. I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep. The last week or so has been emotionally draining for a number of reasons and it would have been easier not to do ANYTHING today. However, last week I Turned Pro...and Pro's don't give up like that. In this episode I explain what happened today.

It’s all in today’s title.

I think the title says it all.

I’ve been thinking a little more about yesterday’s episode and wanted to dive a bit deeper. Listen in to hear my thoughts.

There comes a point in every productivity podcasters life where they need to make an important decision....no not that one (Turning Pro) - I've already made that one. No, this decision is whether to take the hard road or the easy road. Ironically the road less travelled isn't the hard road...too many make that choice. In this episode I explain the crossroads I'm at and the decision I've made.

Here's an update on how I'm settling in having made the decision to Go Pro. It's definitely a work in progress about the activities...but the Mindset shift is a step change and it's definitely complete.

So today was the first day since making the Steven Pressfield inspired decision to "Turn Pro". How's it been? Well, listen in to find out. Spoiler alert...there were no award ceremonies and no one but me really cared (or even noticed!).

Probably the shortest podcast episode you’ll ever hear,

Yesterday I talked about my reluctance/resistance to not fully committing to my current goals. Well I'm still on the fence today. So listen in, be prepared to shout JFDI at your device.

Yesterday's episode was all about me realising why I wasn't making progress on my goals at the moment. Fundamentally, I'd not made the decision yet. I hinted yesterday that was all I had to do...decide. Well in today's episode I explain why I've not made the decision yet. This is probably one of the most honest episodes I've ever recorded.

It hit me last night. It came clear to me what's wrong. Why I'm not making the progress I want to. I didn't like the realisation. But it's not a new one. I've thought this before. Perhaps now I might do something about it... who knows. What do you think?

I was on a zoom call with my 90 Day Sprint coaching group today. One of the other participants made a point of thanking me for something I'd recommended to him at our last session. He had tried it. He was amazed by what it revealed...AND he was astonished at how he became more focused as a result. Listen to find out what I shared with him. I challenge you to try it too.

Todays episode started off with nothing much to share. However I quite quickly got into pondering on whether I'm missing something. Confused? Well listen in and let me know what you think I should do.

Today was my first full day back on the job after spending a couple of days at the spa. Last week I set a series of activity goals to help move me towards the goal of my 90 day sprint. On Sunday I reviewed my KPIs against those activities. In this episode I share what I discovered and explain how I'm going to adjust my behaviours as a result. Listen to this episode to find out how I did.

In this episode I share how I'm feeling now that I've returned from my short stay at a health spa. We all know we should take time out for ourselves, but do we do it often enough. As a result of my two days away I've come to my own conclusion about that and if you listen in you'll here my thoughts. I also post you a challenge...for your own good of course.

Is today’s episode longer and more informative than yesterday’s? Well why not listen and find out.

I’m spending a couple of days sat in saunas, steam rooms and pools. If I recommend taking time out, I should practice what I preach.

I watched a video of a presentation given by a guy called Ian Stanley today. He is reputed to be the world's number 1 e mail copywriter. He was delivering a session at a marketing conference. He's a funny guy with a great track record of success behind him. The first half of the presentation was full of great ideas on email marketing. However the second half focused on some very powerful personal development strategies. You don't get to be responsible for over $100m in sales if you haven't developed yourself in ways you can share with others. I thought his message was so powerful that I wanted to share it with you. Listen in to find out more.

I'm sure I've asked this question before on this podcast so it's not a new topic. Well today I was caught between trying to be proactive but settling for reactive. I explained what happened and share some things I'm going to be experimenting with to keep me on the proactive pathway and off the reactive rails. Listen in and let me know what you think.

In today's episode I share my reflections on the day. I'm still tracking my time and so could see where my day has gone. I'm rather pleased with the results but can see how I can do better. There are a few obvious changes I'm going to make. I'm still mulling over the insights from Nir Eyal's webinar I reported on yesterday. I share my "mulls" with you too.

Today I have been experimenting with chunking instead of chipping away at tasks and I reveal how that has gone. I also mull over a Jordan Peterson quote. And then I dive deep into the lessons I learnt from a webinar I attended this evening given by Nir Eyal and the folks at Mindvalley. The title was 4 Keys To "Indestractable" Focus. It was a glorified (but elegantly done) sales pitch that had some tremendous value. I took notes and share what I learnt which is why the episode is slightly longer than usual.

Today I realised my approach to my 90 day sprint wasn't working well for me. I have certainly been too ambitious with what I'm trying to achieve each day, but I may have been going about it in the wrong way. In today's episode I reflect on what I've learnt from my reflection and how I intend to adjust my approach.

Yesterday I tried to take some time off and it didn't go very well. Today I was back at work and getting things done again. However the day didn't go according to plan and some things happened that were unexpected and other things didn't that I wanted to. In this episode I reflect on my day and share the lessons I take from it.

At the end of yesterday's episode, I hinted I might take today off. Well I did experiment with not working today...err...sort of. So in this episode I share what I actually did, how I felt about it, and what I'll do next time I commit to taking some time off. It's not pretty.

In today's episode I share my experience of marginal gains and how I've applied them in the past. I then bring you completely up to date and explain how they've impacted my effort today. And I make a commitment to you about tomorrow, I'm not convinced I'll keep!.

Today has been a landmark day. I had one of those earth shattering realisations that seem blindingly obvious when you look back at it. I've not been making the progress I would have liked and so in this episode, I explain why I think that is. I share how I came to my insight and mull over how I might accelerate my progress moving forward.

It's a special day today and I offer my rambling appreciation of those who've served and sacrificed.

In today’s episode I share with you something that happened to me that was completely unexpected. It happened right at the end of the day. It has something to do with the use of technology. But this episode focuses not on the problem technically, but on how we deal with the unexpected.

In today's episode I share a common challenge I get when I am delivering my Power of Focus Workshops. It's about interfacing with other people when I'm recommending they isolate themselves from any distraction so they can focus and get stuff done. There's some practical advice I share about dealing with others and today I had to walk the talk and do the same myself. Listen in to hear what happened.

In today's episode I share insights about 90 Day Goal Setting gleaned from listening to the amazing Gavin Ingham on his IAM10 Accelerator Programme. It covers the following:

A couple of specific features every 90 day goal MUST have.
The four key areas to set your goals in.
How many goals to pick (it's probably not as many as you might think!).
The importance of identifying appropriate KPIs.
How to kick start your action taking process.

Last week was a week focused on my Power of Focus workshop and the fall out from that. This week I am going to begin working on my first 90 day sprint. In this episode I share with you the philosophy behind what I'm doing and explain the things I've put in place so far.

Today I have been putting together a presentation on procrastination. It has been interesting feeling the reluctance and resistance I’ve had to actually putting together a presentation on procrastination.

So listen to this episode and hear my thought processes for doing this and how I overcame it.

I think the title says it all.

Today hasn't been a very productivity day. That's because my morning routine was interrupted. I didn't get up at the usual time of 5.00am because of something that happened last night. In this episode I explain what that was and share how it has affected my day.

It’s been a long day delivering not one but two Power of Focus workshops.

Tomorrow I am running one of my power of focus workshops with two groups of people. So tonight I’m in a hotel in London ready to deliver my sessions in the morning. In this episode I share the thought processes I go through before I deliver a session and share some of the things tomorrow delegates have told me they want to work on

I'm on my third week of tracking my time and today has been a good day because of it. I experienced a boost to my productivity that's been somewhat lacking over the last few months. In this episode I share my re-discovery and ponder on what other characteristics I might start developing to increase my productivity.

The clocks went back an our here in the UK today. I'd missed that it was happening this morning and so was somewhat confused in my "just got out of bed" stupor to see different times on my iphone and kitchen clock. In this episode I explain what happened, how I dealt with it and then ponder on the prospect of releasing an extra hour EVERY day for ourselves.

Today I have been doing something called Single Handling. It's a powerful way of getting focused and getting more done. If you don't know what it is, listen to this episode and you soon will.

Today I have taken my prototype process for planning my day and run it once more. It's still a work in progress and in today's episode, I share my thoughts on that and explain what I think my next steps are.

After a couple of weeks of experimenting with tracking my time and how I plan my days, I've finally found a way that works well for me. In hindsight it appears obvious but as we all know, hindsight is a wonderful thing. So today I stumbled across a way that works for me. In today's episode I tell you all about it.

The review of and reflection on my daily time tracking activities continues. Today I gained some very useful (if not painfully embarrassing) insights into how I'm using my time during the day. I bunked off what I'd planned to do so I could attend a webinar on finding my MOJO. Whilst it was a deviation from my plan it was a good use of my time. Attending it was a good thing because it was very relevant to how I've been mismanaging my day today. A useful day of learning for me (and if you listen, for you too).

In today's episode I reflect on how my day actually turned out compared to how I planned it to evolve yesterday. I share what worked, what didn't, the mistakes I made and what I'll do differently for tomorrow.

During last week's time tracking experiment (which is still ongoing), I realised one of the reasons for being so easily distracted was not having decent goals. It became very obvious as the reason behind being so easily distracted. The black and white data in my tracking spreadsheet told me something was wrong. A bit of digging helped me realise the lack of goals was the root cause. Well in today's episode I what I personally discovered from the UK's leading sales and motivational speaker about why normal goal setting doesn't work and what to do instead. SPOILER ALERT - it's 90 day goal setting. I explain what it is, how to do it and how I've applied it myself today. At the end of the episode I also throw out a challenge to you dear listener... up for it?

Why indeed? Listen and find out.

This last week I have tracked exactly what I've been doing throughout the week. Every time I changed tasks, I recorded the time and what I switched to. I did that all week, Monday through to Friday. Today I spent some time analysing the data to see what it revealed about my productivity. In this episode I share what I discovered, what I learnt and what I am going to change about next week. It's quite revealing and on one level I'm somewhat embarrassed to share this with you. But this is why I'm doing this - to hold myself to account.

No. Listen and find out why

This week I have been tracking how I am using my time. It's a simple exercise of recording every time I change tasks. I've amassed 4 days worth of data. In this episode I explain what I'm going to do with that data.

Never would I have imagined I'd hit 400 episodes when I first started this journey of developing my own personal productivity. But here I am so in this episode I reflect on the lessons from episode 100, 200 and 300 and share my additional insights after 400 episodes.

Today is the second day of my time tracking exercise. In this episode I share more of the benefits of doing this and what I'm learning as a result. What really surprised me was the number of short term interruptions I allowed to sneak in. One of which was taking 7 minutes to iron my shirt in what was my prime time. I can tell you that opened up a whole can of productivity worms. Listen to hear me rant about that.

Yesterday I announced I was going to track my time for 2 weeks. Well today was day 1 of this current experiment. I've done it a couple of times in the past, the last time over 2 years ago. In this episode I share how I'm doing it and reveal the lessons I've learned from just the first day.

In yesterday's episode I shared Dan Kennedy's brilliant definition of productivity. I've been mulling on that definition overnight and have decided to reboot my own productivity skills again. In this episode I share my ladder with four steps which explains the evolution of a productivity behaviour from knowledge to a skill. I then explain the principles of the Productivity Improvement Operating System I've developed over the last couple of years and how they're used to help develop productivity. And finally I explain the first steps I'll be taking over the next couple of weeks to begin the reboot of my own productivity development.

I sometimes struggle to define what productivity means and over the years I've tried a number of different variants. Yesterday I came across a brilliant definition from a very famous marketing legend. So I thought I'd share it with you and break it down a little.

In yesterdays episode I shared how I was procrastinating over a really trivial task. Well today I finally got round to completing that task and thought it would be a good idea to engage in a bit of self-kicking - which I'm quite good at. After beating myself up publicly for a few minutes I then get into a few solutions of how to overcome the resistance of procrastination and get things done. And to cap it all, I share a bit of Marcus Aurelius's stoic wisdom curated from Ryan Holiday - one of today's modern stoics.

In today's episode I reflect on how the day has gone in light of my thoughts shared in yesterday's episode. In it I cover:

How being human is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to being productive.
The impact of planning your day and the best time to do it.
My current battle with procrastination.
A vital personal quality to develop.
Why going internal is sometimes the only way to fix your external problems.

This morning I attended a fabulous webinar called "The 5 Cs of Peak Performance" delivered by my good friend Gavin Ingham. I first met Gavin 20 years ago but lost touch and only reconnected with him again during Lockdown last year. Since then I've been an avid follower of his and a huge fan of his material. Although I'm familiar with his 5Cs model, I thought it was time to get a refresher. So this episode of the podcast shares:

How I discovered I was addicted to self development material.
Gavin's 5 C's of peak performance.
Key questions to ask yourself to supercharge your progress towards your goals.
How I'm going to use the 5 Cs to boost my business.

It's been a few months since I posted an episode. A lot has happened in one sense and not much has happened in another sense. In this episode I announce I am back in the saddle and spend a few minutes justifying. Perhaps my most pompous episode yet.

It will take me longer to type this than the time it took to record today’s episode. It was one of those nondescript days.

Having just moved there are still lots of boxes to unpack. Many of them contain books. This presents me with an interesting dilemma. What would you do?

It looks like my brief computing sabbatical is unexpectedly coming to a close. I’ve learnt a few things from the experience that I share today.

I have found being without broadband and being surgically separated from my MacBook Pro has been mentally liberating. My morning routine has taken a bit of a hit for other reasons though. All is revealed in today’s episode.

The trials and tribulations of moving house are a great testing ground for emotional awareness and self regulation . When you listen to how my house move has gone, how well do you think you’d have handled things?

At last the house move is done and I’ve officially changed addresses. Just got to De-Box now.

This episode was recorded in the middle of moving my stuff from my old home to my new home.

Today I was supposed to move into my new home. It didn’t happen and this episode tells the whole story. It covers themes around accountability, professionalism, ownership, emotional intelligence and emotional regulation. It’s a longer than usual episode but there are so many lessons to come from what happened today.

Tomorrow I leave my home of 7 years and move into a new place just down the road. So I thought I'd take a few moments and mull over the significance of that for me in the context of the changes I am making in my business life.

I was part of a speakers panel today talking about the habits of high-performance leadership. The conversation covered decision-making, it covered procrastination, it covered dealing with emails, it covered deep work, and a whole range of other fabulous topics on the the subject of leadership, decision-making and productivity. In this episode I share some of the highlights I picked up from this conversation on Clubhouse.

I got caught short and needed to record this whilst out walking. It's short and focused.

Today I noticed that I am gathering things to do again and not really progressing them in the way that I would like. So I thought I'd share that experience with you. However in doing so I came up with an idea that will help me be more proactive about applying my ideas. And in this episode, I apply my idea about dealing with my ideas in real time.

Confused?

Well it will make sense when you listen to the episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Moving house comes with a lot of pressure, effort, hassle, inconvenience, doubt, uncertainty and the inevitable discomfort of change. As I've been packing up bookshelves and going through old folders of notes and course materials from the many development options I have taken, I started to ponder.

I began reflecting on what could have been had I applied even a fraction of what I have known in the past. I try not to get into a deep and meaningful as I ponder on what has stopped me from applying some fabulous ideas and knowledge.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Have you done more than you set out to today or have you fallen far short of your intentions? The feelings associated with either outcome are very different. But we do have a choice. That’s what today’s brief episode is about.

4 weeks ago I was given 6 months notice to move out of my flat. I was going to hang around for 3 months before seriously looking for a new place to live. But I stumbled across my perfect "next place" a week ago and move in a week today. So there is a lot of "moving house" activity going on. The question therefore is "should I let the house move get in the way of my business?"

Well in this episode I answer that question but I also explore what else I'm discovering that the house move will mean to me. It almost gets deep and meaningful at one point!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I found myself diving into the detail of a really tricky and complex task. But I think it was necessary in order to make a big difference to a presentation I’m putting together and so in this episode I just wax lyrical about why I think it was a good idea and how that reflects on the other work that I do.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today, in terms used by Steven Pressfield in his excellent book "The War of Art", I hit resistance. Yes, procrastination reared its ugly head again in my day. In fact it appeared twice. The first time I spotted it, rode the wave and burst through into activity. The second time (at time of writing) I am still in that place of lethargic limbo where I know I should but the resistance is holding me back. Or should I say, I am letting the resistance hold me back.

So today's episode is all about exploring my thoughts on these delaying experiences of the day. I also give a bit of context in what is going on in my life that reveals now is not the time to be putting things off.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I had an experience that blew my mind this morning. Well when I say blew my mind, what I mean is that it blew away some limitations my mind was carrying about what I can do. I went from being ale to do something at one level to increasing my performance by as much as 30%. And all I did was change my thoughts on something. The experience was quite profound me me. And got me thinking. And that's what I share with you in this episode. It might be worth a listen if you fancy shifting your expectations up a few gears too.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I've just started week 5 of the Shirzad Chamine Positive Intelligence Quotient training. This week we're looking at the Empathise power of the sage. There's an exercise where we go back and reconnect with our 5 year old self. That's what this episode is about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is Sunday. Today is finish work at 1.00pm day. So not much has happened today for me to share with you. So what I've done is talk about what could I talk about in my Sunday episodes. I share a number of options and give my initial thoughts on each.

If you have any suggestions for me (polite ones of course :-)) then pop over to the website and leave me a comment on the show notes for this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Two weeks ago I committed to finishing work at a regular fixed time, every day that I work. After a couple of weeks I decided to do an on air Win, Learn, Change review of my experiences so far.

That is what this episode is about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I'm working with an amazing 17 year old student at the moment who is teaching me about people development by the way she is applying what I'm sharing with her. I talked about what it was like having the perfect coaching client in a previous episode and this is another story about them.

It leads into why we often don't apply what we know and how I am looking at those lessons to help me apply what I'm learning in my own self development.

I share some simple techniques and strategies you can apply and give an overall self development framework that I use to help people become even more productive and that can be used for any personal growth.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

How do you deal with self doubt? Well in this episode I explore where it comes from and what triggers it. The reason is I have a "friend" who occasionally suffers from it and so this is a good opportunity to explain a few things for me....err I mean him. So I look at my current situation, ponder on how and why self doubt occurs and then ponder on what Positive Intelligence guides me to do.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

There is an ebb and flow to the quality and and length of a daily podcast. Yesterday I snuck in a quick 3 minuter to meet my 7.00pm daily work finish time. Well today I had a bit more time to reflect on what I wanted to share with you and when I finished, I realised it was one of the longest episodes I'd done for a while.

I covered quite a few things in this episode including:

My mixed feelings about doing such a short episode yesterday but hitting my finish time target.
How I hit a wall of overwhelm yesterday and what I've done to break through it.
An update on how I'm getting on developing my Positive Intelligence quotient (spoiler alert - it's going well)
An episode in distraction even though I should know better.
Why I'm going to become a pain in the ass to a friend I'm concerned about.
The value of friendship and association with your peers when in business for yourself

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It’s not that I’ve left it too late it’s just that a whole load of things backed up at the end of the day. Overall another great day and having a hard fix deadlines really helps. I share my thoughts about this in this episode.

I have now finished my first week of my fixed finish time work schedule. Yesterday was the first Sunday of my new regime and in yesterday's episode I expressed the frustration I had. In today's episode I share what I ended up doing yesterday and how ironically, I seem to be productive and effective today as a result. I update you on the Positive Intelligence training I am doing and then look ahead to how I will be necessity, be finishing well after 7.00pm today.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is the first Sunday of my new early finish routine. It coinciding with Valentine’s Day hasn’t helped.

Today has been a head down, get on with it kind of day. I've got a lot done because I have just powered through and got on with it. And not only that, I'll finish at 5.00pm today too according to plan.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today’s episode I share how I stumbled on a creative process that has worked out really well for me.

In today's episode I give you an update on how the early finish project is going and how that is affecting my work. Today has been a day of calls, most of them planned. But one call stood out in particular as it was a blast from the past when an old ship mate from 25 years ago called me. I look at the concept of Deep Work again and overall feel rather smug that I've had a good day.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am on day 3 of my drive to finish work at 7.00pm on a week day. In this episode I report on how close I was to achieving that last night and what I did instead of being glued to my MacBook Pro like I used to be before going to bed. I give a quick update on how the Positive Intelligence work I am doing on myself addresses procrastination and share the lessons I've learned today about getting more done in my afternoons.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today's episode reports on how I fared last night in my latest quest to finish work at a more reasonable time. On the one hand there was a victory but on the other there was a slight discretion. However there are mitigating circumstances which I think will let me off with a warning. I give an overview of what is happening with the Positive Intelligence development third week and I share how today is going. Will I finish work before 7.00pm or not?

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last night was Super Bow LV, won by the dominant Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by the unrivalled Tom Brady. It meant a late night for me because I watched the whole game. It also meant I started my day a couple of hours later than normal so I could catch up on my sleep.

That's not necessarily a good start to my new daily productivity regime. Yes I am trying out something new. Not because it will make me more productive and more focused....but because it might be the thing that stops my relationship deteriorating beyond the point of no return.

So in today's episode I explain what I am doing today that's different, why I'm doing it and how the first day has gone.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is Sunday and in an ideal world it'd be a day where I chill out, kick back and relax.... well it's not and I didn't. So what did I do? Well in this episode I share my current thoughts on how a Sunday could be used and wax lyrical about the difference between Work Life Balance and Work Life Integration. I tell you what I actually did and then reflect a little on what the next 90 days look like for me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I've been working today even though it's a Saturday. I have a coaching client and we've been working on developing her study skills. And she is the PERFECT coaching client. In today's episode I explain why and share how that feels. I also get into a bit of a "deep and meaningful" about the prospect of taking weekends off (including Fridays) and what might be at the heart of my need to work so hard. And then I paint a rosy picture of the future.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A plumber rear ended my partners car today so I’m off to give her some TLC - hence a shortened episode.

Today has been an "I'm on a mission" type day. A really productive day where a lot of stuff got done. It also prompted me to consider quite a few productivity oriented things that I thought I'd share with you today. These include:

Being better prepared for meetings
Getting into a "Just In Time" problem solving mode
Being able to take Friday's off - mindset or just better planning?
The importance of regularly connecting with other people for relationship purposes and not just transactional reasons
The power of a good old tick sheet.
An update on my Positive Intelligence Quotient development
....and yes I sing the Mission Impossible theme tune.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share how my morning momentum varies depending on a number of factors and I tie that in for the need to structure my day a little better. I marvel at the human ability to adapt and respond to circumstances that may seem overwhelming unless you're in the middle of it. And I share today's experience of my Positive Intelligence Quotient training. All in all, a fascinating day!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share more of the progress I am making with the Positive Intelligence Quotient and add an update to the work I am doing in my business. However the thing I think is most worth a listen is a story about hair dressing that I found hilarious. There are business lessons in it too but it was just too funny not to share with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I seem to be lurching from one extreme to another with the podcast at the moment. Yesterday I had nothing to say and today is the longest episode I have done for a while. But that's the nature of doing a self-reflective podcast. So in today's episode I share:

An update on my first week of developing my Positive Intelligence Quotient
A preview of what the second week has in store for me (and it might not be very pretty!
The power of an open and honest get together with people travelling the same journey of self development.
My new direction which is really completing the circle of my people development journey.
How I'm approaching my current project.
What is going to happen in my personal life in the very near future and how I'm handling it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I think the title says it all

In today's mixed bag of an episode I wax lyrical about a range of unrelated topics that include:

Why numbers end in a 0 are significant.
How the Green Bay Packers not reaching the Super Bowl has affected me.
Why teaching something you have just learned is a great way of embedding its learning.
The pointless productivity mis-guidance students are given by teachers
The struggle I have treading the fine line between perfectionism and professionalism

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I left it until too late in the day...tsk tsk

It's a mixed bag of thoughts and reflections in today's episode:

This morning was the second full morning of me recovering my morning routine. It raised a number of interesting questions and a idea of an approach to be flexible and less harsh on myself.
My Positive Intelligence Quotient efforts continue, though today there was evidence of potential sabotage.
Taking time out to go for a walk resulted in a bit of an inner conflict and reluctance stand off. This was only released by the use of a PQ rep.
I have been using divergent and convergent thinking to help design a coaching session for a new client.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am currently developing my Positive Intelligence Quotient by working through Shirzad Chamine's excellent coaching programme. Part of that is the development of the self-command muscles through something Shirzad calls PQ reps. The training and coaching this week is about developing PQ muscles and create a habit of doing frequent "PQ reps". In todays episode I share my experiences of the development of this habit. I share some principles of habit formulation and describe the options of have to make these new behaviours permanent and long term.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I thought yesterday was the first day but after consulting the PQ App and following its guidance, today was the true day 1. So in today's episode I share my experiences of going through the first full day. In it I share my thoughts on the first PQ Pod meeting I attended last night as well as my feelings about the exercises I have done today.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

If you've been listening to me for a while, you know I bang on about my pretty hardcore morning routine. Well I am embarrassed to inform you that two weeks ago I allowed my routine to be interrupted. I had a couple of days where I didn't get up and 5.00am and meditated/yoga/wim hof/press up/cold shower....and that was enough to completely stop me.

So in this episode I share my thoughts and feelings on that and what I have learnt about myself from the experience. I also outline how I am going to get back on that particular horse.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I announced yesterday that I was heading in a new direction for my own self development. There's plenty of work to be done on self esteem, self concept and self worth. It's an area I've been aware that needs work for some time but have avoided it as much as I can. Recent events and challenges have more or less forced my hand. In addition to realising I needed to do that work, I am also developing my emotional intelligence (and perhaps getting to the bottom of my self esteem challenges) by going through Shirzad Chamine's Positive Intelligence Quotient training for coaches.

In this episode I explain what that is all about and summarise the things I have discovered about that programme after starting it yesterday. I cover:

What the programme is.
The format of the Positive Intelligence Quotient (PQ) training for coaches.
The fundamental problem with most personal and professional development training
The PQ operating system.
How to develop your PQ muscles

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I gave an overview of Robert Craven's session on goal setting and business planning. That triggered an intention to reset my goals and plans for taking my business forward from survival to thriving.

However on reflection I think there is deeper work to be done.

And so I share all in this episode.

It's another one of honesty, authenticity and vulnerability.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I recently interviewed Digital Agency Business Guru Robert Craven on my other podcast. It was a great interview with a focus on business goal setting and planning.

In this episode I share some of the great insights Robert shared with me on that episode. They include:

The different roles a business owner plays in its success and failure.
How to set and plan your business goals
The importance of visualisation in goal setting
How and when to reflect on the progress you are making towards your goals
The importance of values in business decision making

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I decide it is time to come clean and share exactly how I am feeling about what is happening in the world and my world right now. I was surprised what happened when I did this with a couple of people I have HUGE respect for. Recording this episode was hugely cathartic for me and i was surprised how it made me feel.

All is explained if you listen to this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today's episode is one of those pondering type episodes. I address the recent direction I have been taking (information consumption) and give an insight into the next step.

But I also share a growing sense of "something is missing" in the work I'm currently doing.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It's only a short time since this (short) information management journey began, but now I'm at a place where things have started to work. I'm now effectively consuming the content that previously was sat on my hard drive doing nothing.

Then next step is to look at how I start to apply the ideas I am gathering.

In this episode I share my thoughts on this.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I defined what was my minimum viable behaviour (MVB) for consuming the subscription content I have invested in. It consisted of listening to the podcast when doing my daily walk to accumulate my steps. And it consisted of scanning through the pdf newsletter whilst eating my meals.

Today was the first day of trying that approach out and I learnt a lot from just one day of trying out my new MVB.

Once again I proved the power of Implementation Intention when setting up your new behaviour goals but.....

....there were a few things I didn't anticipate and as a result I've got to make some subtle shifts.

All is explain in this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

The last few days has seen me deviate somewhat from my original plan as I overcomplicated things which triggered a bit of overwhelm and a couple of less resourceful days. But after a couple of days off to regroup and gather my senses, I am back on track and have started working on my original information processing project.

So in this episode I cover:

A quick summary of how I got to where I am today.
The concept of a minimum viable behaviour (MVB)
How I'm going to implement my new MVB to deal with information I have to process
Implementation Intention and how that works when developing new productive behaviours
How to supercharge behaviour development

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today was a day of doing nothing. Was it the right decision? Time will tell.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

These past few days have seen me in a far from productive state. Over the last few episodes I have shared how I have been feeling. In this episode I reflect on the week and review what I've learnt about me and the way I apply myself to my work.

I also look at what I'm going to do to recover from the side step the experience of this week has forced me to take.

It's an episode about emotional awareness and emotional regulation.... or at least what happens when you don't have sufficient levels of emotional intelligence to take control of your state.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This is yesterday part 2 as I share how I’m feeling with a second day of being in a poor state.

I'd love it for every day to be a focused one with the benefits of a disciplined focus and an applied effort.

Unfortunately not all days are like that.

Today was one of them.

So today's episode is really an apology of an episode.

It happens sometimes.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been a very interesting day for me. At least that's the form of words I use when I've had one of those challenging days when your plan suddenly hits a wall and you realise your plan is either not robust enough, or may even be the wrong plan.

I started to think about how I was going to process a set of information I have subscribed to. I did my usual thing of working out how I could do it in a step by step fashion to make it systematic and repeatable. And then it hit me. I may well be overcomplicating things.

So this episode is my short rant about hitting that wall.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been one of those wake up call episodes. I started today with good intentions to move my Information Processing project forward but left it late in the day. Why? Well I overestimated my ability to sort things out and completely underestimated the amount of effort needed to get on top of this information challenge.

In this episode I share my addiction to the SOS - shiny object syndrome - and share how it manifests in my life. Then I talk through what I am trying to achieve by taking control of some information that I am paying for. And best of all, I come up with a 5 step (yet to be proven) process of how to deal with this.

It makes for interesting listening (at least IMHO).

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After giving some consideration to the problems we have in dealing with information, today has been about getting clear on what I need to think about when deciding what to do. There's a great Tony Robbins quote that I share at the beginning of the episode that really defines the approach I am going to take.

Listen in and you'll hear all about the importance of directional clarity, how it applies to me and what I'll need to do to get on top of all the information that bombards me every minute of the day.

This episode will set the stage and lay the foundation for being able to successfully eliminate information overwhelm and overload from my professional life.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After reviewing the Interview I did with Nick Isaac QC in yesterday's episode, I have been mulling over the points that came out of that and have decided what I am going to focus on over the next week.

I hinted at it at the end of yesterday's episode and I am happy to confirm I'll be looking at dealing with information overload.

Today I have been mulling over that and have gathered my initial thoughts. I share what I think are the problems, ponder over some of the brain related challenges I face and even dip into a bit more stoicism.

And then at the very end I link it all back to productivity and how it can help you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Continuing my theme of taking lessons from my interview podcast at www.PeakPerformanceProductivity.co and unpacking them here, today I review the interview I did with Nick Isaac QC.

Nick is a property litigator and kindly agreed to come on the show to discuss how a busy barrister stays productive. It was a great conversation and we discussed amongst other things these aspects of personal productivity :

Foreign language learning
Processing large amounts of information
Speed reading
The time of day to do your best work
How to switch off at the end of the day
How to focus more effectively
Ways to develop your concentration

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

These last 7 days have absolutely flown by and it seems such a long time ago since I first started experimenting with the 5 minute journal. In this episode I review how the last 7 days has gone applying it to my productivity. I share the things I have learnt, what I like and don't like about the tool and the impact it has had on my behaviour and more important, my productivity.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am really pleased to have found the 5 Minute Journal approach (thank you Tim Ferriss) and have continued to use it. I'm still evolving how I use it but even whilst I develop my abilities with it, it is still highlighting areas I need to work on and things I need to do to enhance my productivity.

In today's episode I share what I'm discovering about myself and I explain the psychologically proven strategy I will be using to make sure I automatically complete the 5 Minute Journal behaviour when it needs to be done. Behaviour modification at its best.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This morning I had an insight or should I say revelation about my efforts to implement the 5 minute journal process into my daily routine. I'm not firing on all cylinders yet and the flash of inspiration I had was that it was because I'm not clear enough on why I am doing what I am doing.

Dr Joe Dispenza talks about the importance of understanding the purpose of what you do when you are learning to do new things. It helps the learning and accelerates your growth.

In this episode I dive a bit deeper into each component of the 5 Minute Journal approach and review the purpose of each bit in an effort to ramp up my success in its implementation.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I decided I would get back into journalling using the 5 minute pages approached endorsed by Tim Ferriss. Today was my first day taking that approach. In this episode I cover the following:

Why I have chosen Evernote to capture my journalling
How I set up the template
What my first journal entry looked like
What I learned from using it during the day
How I ended my day with the approach
The lessons I learned from day 1

I also reflect on how my approach to journalling may not stop here and what else (and when) I might do as well.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After making the decision to re-introduce journalling into my daily routine, this morning I accidentally (serendipitously?) stumbled across an excellent video by Tim Ferriss on how he takes notes and journals. Once I got down into the YouTube rabbit hole, I also came across a great video by Ryan Holiday on 7 things you could learn from Marcus Aurelius about journalling.

In todays episode I reflect on the lessons I pulled from those two videos and explain how I am going to implement them in my latest quest to use journalling in my daily productive practice.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I've started another podcast where I interview successful people and productivity experts about what they do and know about being productive. I'm using this podcast to take the productivity gems from those interviews and explore how to apply at least one productive technique to my own efforts.

My first interview was with CEO Coach and occasional entrepreneur, Adam Harris. I've known Adam for a while now and was delighted when he agreed to be a guest on the show. In this episode I summarise the gems Adam shared with me and explain which one I'm going to implement into my daily routine and why I've chosen it.

You'll discover the the very powerful theme that emerged from our conversation and the techniques Adam uses to get the most out of his efforts and the efforts of others. I'm always surprised how how such a simple insight can have such a profound impact on the things we do.

I'm looking forward to benefitting from it myself too.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

At the beginning of last month I decided to park the podcast whilst I took the time out to take stock of the year. In this episode I share what I have been doing in those 30 days and outline how I see this podcast working as I move forward. It will be delivered in conjunction with a new interview podcast I have now started (that's what I was doing during my short podcast sabbatical). I explain how that will work and share how I will be pivoting my productivity activities over the coming days, weeks and months.

It is an exciting time and I am thrilled to be sharing my journey with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It's coming up to the end of the year and with everything that has gone on this year, I am going to spend December reviewing and reflecting on my productivity development progress made so far. It's the perfect time to take stock and regroup before the New Year beckons.

In this episode I explain what I'll be doing and why.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I did another interview for my other podcast today with Dietician and Well Being Expert Celynn Morin. We talked about rest and recuperation and how she helps her clients sleep much better. I was amazed and impressed by her approach that I’ll share and summarise in today’s episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

As part of my morning routine I do sets of press-ups. I’ve been doing them most of the year, building up the number of reps in each set. But recently I reduced the number of press-ups I am doing….and actually it’s made them harder.

In this episode I explain why.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Good quality questions have featured a lot in my thoughts recently for a variety of reasons. So I have been pondering a lot on some very powerful questions just recently. Unfortunately I discovered a problem with that sort of focus.

And that’s what I share with you in today’s episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today’s episode is one of mixed metaphors. My productivity development needs a boost. Or perhaps it needs a revamp. Or maybe its a complete rethink.

Not sure what it is, but I know something needs to change and that is what today’s episode is all about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Whilst working with a group based mainly in Australia this week I talked about the importance of marginal gains. Today I encountered one of those small things that can make a big difference if left unchecked.

And that is what today’s episode is about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Let night I ran a Productivity Masterclass for an Australian Audience. It went very well but because of the time difference I went to bed well past 1:00am. Yet I still chose to get up as usual at 5:00am.

Now why would I do that. I share the answer to that question in this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I am running a masterclass for a predominantly Australian audience. That means I’ll be starting it at 10.00pm my time.

I’d cleared my day to be able to make the final preparations so I wouldn’t be rushed…yet I find myself with 4 hours to go and I still haven’t really got started on what needs to be done.

I muse on this in today’s episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I love a good system. They give certainty, predictability, consistency and confidence when put together properly. I’m creating one now but I am faced with a dilemma that might just be holding me back from diving in and getting things done… or at least it would have done in the past.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After a 2 week sabbatical whilst I work on another podcast project, I am back and raring to go. It’s not that I haven’t been busy or there’s been nothing to share, but I needed to focus. In hindsight I probably wimped out but hey…it’s all a learning experience.

In today’s episode I look at how to get focused when there is so much to do

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Do you know what your surge capacity is? No neither did I until someone in the know shared the concept with me. In this episode I share what I’ve gleaned about this important aspect of our productivity.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’d love to say I was a paragon of virtue when it comes to being productive and the effect use and deployment of highly productive tools, techniques and behaviours. However, the reason I’m not is the reason why I do this podcast. But I am seeking the ideal and whilst I’d like to concentrate on the positive, I think it’s sometimes a good idea to recognise the negative

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

There’s a power and an efficiency in finding others who’ve achieved the success you’re after. It today’s episode I share my thoughts on modelling the success of others.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I got up VERY early to deliver a Productivity Masterclass to an audience based in Australia and New Zealand. I was asked a very interesting question and thought I’d share both the question and the answer I gave.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last year I did a couple of episodes on the importance of values to developing your productivity. Well I have revisited them again in the last couple of days and have made a few changes following a significant insight that shifted how I think about values.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Here’s what happens when you leave things to the very last minute. After a good productive day where I was focused and on task, I let myself down by leaving my podcast to the very last minute

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Spring forward and Fall back is how to remember what the clocks do when they change as they did last night. And because it is October, we gained an extra hour in bed.

In this episode I share how that threw me this morning.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

My journey to develop my productivity is taking me down all sorts of paths regarding personal development. Today I came across some information that I found quite remarkable, as well as quite scary. As it’s really relevant to developing productivity, I thought I’d share it with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This week I did a productivity masterclass on cognitive loading, the Zeigarnik effect and reducing mental friction. I touched on the topic of mental burnout and thought I’d share some of my findings in this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This is supposed to be a daily podcast and after over 80 daily episodes after kickstarting the podcast again in the summer, it’s been 4 days since my last episode.

So what is going on?

In this episode I explore and explain why.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

When I reached the previous 100 and 200 episode milestones I shared the 10 most important lessons I’d learned from my (nearly) daily podcast about developing my productivity.

In this episode there’s a slight nod to those lessons but I share what I think is the deeper, more profound lesson I’ve learned after 300 days of podcasting over the last 18 months.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I ran a productivity masterclass for a highly successful training company based in Pakistan. We had attendees from Pakistan and the Middle East. I called it “Not All Hours Are Made Equal” and in this episode I summarise the key takeaways I shared with the audience.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Publishing a Daily Podcast is no mean feat and sometimes the day runs away with you and there’s nothing I’ve prepared to tell you. This is one of those days. Listen in to see what I do end up talking about…It might surprise you, but then again it might not!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I may have mentioned that I have a morning routine. It consists of a number of things including doing the plank for 60 seconds at a time. I was going to write 1 minute but 60 seconds sounds like a much bigger number and far more impressive.

Now the plank isn’t easy and I’ve tried various things to keep me focused. I thought I’d share my experiences of this morning’s plank.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

At the weekend I decided to make a monumental shift towards being more focused on how I use my time during my day. I realised I was getting sucked into trivial, reactive tasks at the expense of more important stuff. As a result I was bunching up my project work.

Well today is the first day I am experimenting with my new system and I thought I’d share my experiences with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I was going to start tracking my time again. After a couple of days of data I thought I’d share what I’ve discovered and reflect on the value of doing this exercise.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Having time to reflect on your challenges and consider your options is an important thing to include in your way of working. That’s why I like Saturdays so much. The usual hustle and bustle of the business week has subsided and I have the time, space and mental energy to think.

Well today I have done just that and have got clear on what at least one of my issues is, formulated a strategy and put together a plan.

And that is what today’s episode is about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A suggestion about an exercise to stop your eyes from becoming tired triggered the first part of today’s post. It is relevant and I eventually steer it back onto the topic of productivity. But then I reflect a little on how I feel today after sharing my (lack of) progress yesterday.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Every so often things seem to build up and get on top of me. I’m never quite sure what’s going on. In this episode I explore a few candidates to see what’s most likely

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A couple of days ago my lack of attention meant I broke my 76 day winning streak on my 10,000 steps a day. A day before that I stumbled upon a new way to get into my cold showers quicker.

I thought I’d update you on both of those today.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I have been on a mission to do 10,000 steps every day for 100 days this year. During the summer I hit 89 consecutive days and then hit a bump in the road and had to reset.

Rest 2 has just occurred because of yesterday

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I get flashes of insights on a regular basis. Unfortunately they don’t always come when they are most needed and don’t line themselves up in an orderly queue. I might have to wait ages for one and then suddenly three come along all at once - just like waiting for a bus. And that happened today. So I go insights on these topics today:

The importance of feeding your mind with good stuff
Why it’s the little things that make a big difference
The power of marginal gains
How asking the right question can open up the mind

But it’s not all hunky dory in the land of my productivity development as you’ll discover if you listen to today’s episode.

Sometimes when I start working on a task it feels like I am wading through mental treacle. In this episode I share my thoughts about that.

The mind is a wonderful thing with many quirks and oddities amongst the vast array of staggering abilities it has. Today I encountered two of those strange things that make us human and fallible and thought it would be interesting to share them today. They remind me that I still have to keep on my toes if I am going to get this productivity thing nailed!

Today’s episode contains a mixed bag. It has been one of those days that’s been busy but bitty. I’ve not been able to really get into my stride today. Perhaps it’s because of how it all started today. Listen to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It’s a weird title for a podcast episode I know. But I’ve been digging around to find out more about how to develop my identity and discovered a strange connection.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It has been a busy but productive day today. Things are moving along nicely and it was one of those ordinary days where I just got on with the work. However I did have a couple of insights come firing my way that I thought I’d share with you.

One is about focus and looking at ti differently, the other is about simplifying my Magnus opus on what a productive identity is all about.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I thought I’d experiment with a new way of working my afternoon. It was a bit of a punt, but in hindsight, one worth taking. I’ll probably do it again because it worked so well.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I share what two of the most successful (and richest) men in the world have got to say about focus.

It’s a short episode today but one packed with value (at least that’s what I think!).

Try it and see.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It is the end of the week and I have been experimenting with my weekly review after making some progress with it last month. I share those developments.

However in this episode I start laying down the foundations for my new identity as a highly productive person. I’ll be interested to know what you think.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

The lessons appear to be coming thick and fast at the moment. I’m not sure whether that’s because I’m now ready for them or whether it is just a coincidence. So today I got two key insights that I think are going to make a huge difference to my productivity.

What do you think?

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After realising I needed to get focused, and given my propensity for creating processes out of anything, I came up with a four step process for getting focused on a project.

It’s still a work in progress, and I’d be interested to know what you think.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

During a conversation with a colleague this morning, we discussed the difference between ritual, routine and practice.

I thought it worthy enough to share in today’s episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today’s episode is a bit of a download on areas where I am struggling right now. Now I might be just a little bit hard on myself here as I am making lots of progress. However I know there are things I could do a lot better and lots of things I should not be doing at all.

Listen to my confessional and let me know what you think!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’m in the middle of preparing a Productivity Masterclass and one of the topics is that of reducing mental friction. So today I thought I’d share some of that content and explain how I’m using it in my own work.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I may have mentioned this, but a cold shower routine is part of my daily existence at the moment. I am currently on a run of over 50 consecutive days of having a one every morning. Yesterday I nearly broke that run. I explain how that happened and what I did to recover from this near miss.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It’s Sunday today so I’ve been experimenting with a Weekly Review

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have focused on one big task and one big task alone. I started it at 8:00am this morning and finished at 6:30pm. It’s all I’ve done today and it feels good.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I delivered a productivity masterclass this week for a client. During the session I talked about all of the factors that affect whether we are productive or not. I thought I’d share them in this episode as a way of auditing why I might be dissatisfied with my progress right now.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last night I got agitated as a consequence of allowing overwhelm to creep up on me. If you want to experience the same, then follow my recipe that I lay out for you step by step.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After pondering on needing to get clearer and more focused yesterday, I revisit a topic I’m sure I’ve mentioned before. It’s about how I structure my day and choose what to do. I think this could be a big breakthrough for me….I think I need one!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I always enjoy working with a group and sharing the things I’ve learned that can help people deal with their productivity challenges. Today I ran a Productivity Masterclass. After I conducted my own internal after action review. This is an important step I recommend for any business, regardless of what they do. I explain why in today’s episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A lot of thought goes in to putting together one of my Productivity Masterclasses. I have one tomorrow and so I go behind the scenes to show you how I plan one of mine. It is a sneak peak behind the curtain at what goes into designing a session for a client.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I can’t believe how quickly the weekends come and go at the moment. This weekend is almost over and as I reflect on my achievements, I have only done one thing I intended to do. And I still left a few of the usual daily tasks bunch up to late on Sunday night.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It’s the weekend….again. They seem to come around every 7 days or so and interrupt my pattern of work! This weekend I’m spending it with my partner. So I’m not working as much as I usually would. I wouldn’t say I’m getting withdrawal symptoms, but I have noticed something about time.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today’s episode is going to be pure content. I’ve been doing some research on a topic for a productivity masterclass. I’ve gathered a ton of data and slapped it on to one very large Mind Map.

So I thought I’d indulge myself in this episode and air my thoughts on what I’ve found before I add any formal structure to them in preparation for the masterclass.

I’ve discovered some quite interesting stuff that makes for quite good listening (even if I do say so myself!)

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Someone accused me of being a perfectionist yesterday - but in a good way. I reflected on this and thought I’d share my thoughts about my thoughts on that thought. I also look at commitment to the task too.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday’s episode, I shared how a shift in my morning routine with the absence of my LinkedIn activities had left me drifting a little. Well today I managed to counter that and return to good habits.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today was going to start well… but I let it start late… and then one thing led to another and the day petered out at the end.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After my experience of focusing on a daily basis over the weekend, I decided to extend that to this week. I think that was a good idea because as a result, today was a productive day.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’ve been pondering on how I describe what I am doing when people ask. It’s also a train of thought I’ve gone down every time I justify to my partner what I’m doing. Using the term “working” doesn’t seem to do it justice.

So I’ve changed it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’ve been putting off the task of doing my accounts for weeks now. But circumstances and deadlines finally forced me to knuckle down and get on with it.

Of course, I resisted and bitched and moaned about it, but eventually I got through it. I’ll share some of the things I did that helped.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have been in 4 zoom calls totalling nearly 4 hours and one long phone call lasting well over an hour. There’s not much left in the day

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I was in the zone. I delivered a Productivity Masterclass for a client on taking back control of email. I delivered it in a conversational style with the customer support manager of a leading productivity software and it went well.

But earlier I had a meeting with my mastermind group. A bunch of people who are on a mission to do even greater things with their businesses. I was helped accountable for something I’d promised I do after the last meeting, but hadn’t… ouch!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday’s post has got me thinking deeply about why I seem to struggle with moving things forward. Today I come up with a couple of thoughts about that.

I really do wish this stuff was easier.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I sometimes find that new beginnings often trigger a degree of self reflection. It is the first of the month today and that prompted me to engage in a little bit of honesty. There is a dissatisfaction with the effort I am putting in. I know I am working hard, but I don’t think it is enough.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is a Bank Holiday Monday in the UK. And just like Saturday and Sunday I have been working. I’ve managed to get away with it because my partner is spending the day with a friend of hers she’s not seen for 2 years.

So I have been full flow into my usual pattern of work. During the day I have been mulling over a range of ideas that have come to me as flashes of inspiration. At first they appeared to be random musings. But as I got towards the end of the day, I could see there was a common thread.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is Sunday. It is supposed to be a day of rest. It is also supposed to be a day when you spend time with loved ones. My partner is pretty strong on the latter of those two.

Well today I blended rest with work - partly out of necessity and partly out of choice.

My jury is out on whether I managed the balance well enough but you’ll probably find the episode focuses more on the work than the rest.

I’ll leave you to decide if I was successful or not.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I love Saturdays. It is still a day of work for me. But, I am free from any external distractions and that means I can focus and concentrate on one task.

And that’s what I did today.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I held my first productivity surgery. I invited people to come and ask me any question they have on productivity. Listen in to find out if anyone turned up.

I was also interviewed for a podcast on Live Streaming.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today came and went. Stuff got done according to plan. I gained no great insights. I didn’t have any blinding flashes of inspiration. And I even managed to get the podcast recorded on schedule instead of leaving it late like I have done at least 3 times this week.

It does seem too quiet - have I missed something?

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I launched my productivity book recommend video series on LinkedIn. It is the start of another venture to help people become even more productive.

I also worked on an email project and waxed lyrical about how progress is really made.

I’m almost too embarrassed to admit it, but I was late publishing the podcast AGAIN. Listen to find out why.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been another busy day. But it was more focused and I got some significant stuff done on projects I’m working on.

There’s nothing really of note to share today other than the basic principles work when you apply them. I do give lists a brief mention.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

As it was the start of the week I was fired up and ready to go. Things started well and I got very busy doing a lot of stuff, but I don’t actually think I got a lot of stuff done.

As I reflect back on the day, I really can’t recall why I seemed to have achieved so little when the start of the day promised so much.

I have plenty of reasons and as Tom Bilyeu says “the sinister thing about reasons, is they’re valid”. I chose to let them get in the way of my intended outcomes.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been a mixed day. Not of fortunes but of work and play. I know it is Sunday but I was up early and working. But…. I spent the afternoon out with friends… and then I worked again.

Listen in to find out what was going on.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been a day of work. And yes it is a Saturday. So I wax lyrical whether I should be working so hard. But I also talk about how some of the approaches I’ve taken to my productivity continue to bear fruit.

It’s a short episode, but one with valuable lessons and insights for me nevertheless.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been a busy day with lots of little things going on. Friday tends to be a bit like that for me. Whilst I might not get any major tasks done, I tend to sweep up loose ends.

In today’s episode I share some of the small things that when built up over time, will make a big difference. Sometimes it’s this attention to detail that can make the biggest difference.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been less frantic than yesterday, mainly because I spent the morning presenting and then networking. I had some really good conversations with people about being productive. And then I had a conversation that perfectly illustrated why the apparent problem is not always the problem.

And then despite my efforts to be focused and disciplined, I missed an appointment (one I’d even been looking forward to!).

I also came across a couple of really good quotes that resonated with me today. Listen to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am now a couple of says into my resurgent approach to developing my productivity and things are starting to kick in. I am reflecting a lot more and I am becoming more aware of how I feel around the things I am doing. This is leading to useful insights into what is working and what needs more attention.

Today’s episode is a collection of ideas and thoughts and insights from the day. It’s also a share of the great things that worked for me today. Overall I am really pleased with how the day has gone.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’ve had a good productive day today. I was able to get started on a difficult and awkward task and stick with it until it was done. I did bitch and moan about it though but learnt from the experience.

Getting more focused has started to make me more aware of the things I am doing to become even more productive. I am finding some great ideas come to mind. I am also see some green shoots of behavioural shifts towards how I am working. This can only be a good thing.

Listen it to hear what happened today. My particular favourite was the section where I talk about not all hours are made equal.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today started off as a day of focus. I worked on a big task, attended a training webinar that supports my current goals and then had a meeting about a potential collaboration. It was a morning full of focus.

But then I started to run out of steam. But combine that with allowing myself to get sucked into phone calls I didn’t need to take, and the day runs away.

Listen to this episode to hear what happened.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

On my second day of the revitalised podcast and things are already starting to feel comfortable. I have the process defined and it appears to be working with few if any stumbling blocks. So in today’s episode I share another example of eating the frog and explore the causes of procrastination.

Limiting beliefs pop up in this episode and I share an approach I have been taking to clear out some old mental skeletons that have not been serving me well at all. I’ve got a few productivity ideas that came to mind during the day and wax lyrical about the convenience and power of having a system you can trust.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today’s episode sees a step change in how the podcast will move forward from here. Up until now I have cherry picked topics to talk about. Sometimes I've shared snippets of productivity advice I‘ve stumbled across. Other times I’ve talked about something out of my day that might be of use.

Well today after much soul searching I am ramping up the accountability and increasing the scope of the topics I cover. You’ll discover more about me and my pledge to forge ahead and make the productivity mistakes so you don’t have to.

Listen in to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's short but concise episode I share how new challenges and problems that need addressing have started to emerge now that it appears I am getting meetings under control.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share another successful meeting experience using my new approach to managing my preparation, contribution and follow up to them. I also share an interesting nugget of knowledge I picked up from a podcast that will help me embed my new behaviours as habits. Though it might take me as long as 2 months to do that.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I have been a long time power user and teacher of Mind Maps after encountering them in Tony Buzan's landmark book "Use Your Head". I was fortunate enough to meet and work with Tony. So Mind Maps are a powerful tool and today I decided to apply them to my march towards more effective meeting behaviours.

In this episode I share why and how I did that and how the small bit of effort I made had an immediate impact on my next meeting.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I am feeling quite smug. Why? Well I applied everything I have put together about meetings over the last few days to a meeting I called with a client. And do you know what? It all worked.

So in this episode I share the background to the meeting, how I prepared for it and what followed after the meeting. I describe what my client said about the meeting and then explain my follow up process.

I reveal a couple of other things I did as well as just how this whole episode has made me feel today.

Spoiler alert - I feel great!!!!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After getting very clear on how I need to move forward to address my meeting behaviours yesterday, today there hasn't been any opportunities to put them into practice.

However there is something on the horizon. Listen to this episode to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After struggling through applying my Productivity Improvement Operating System to developing my meeting behaviours yesterday, I had a think about what was going on. Fresh with those insights, I got up this morning and worked through the stages again with much better results. In this episode I share my realisation and explain the actions I took this morning that have made a big difference on moving this forward for me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After outlining my Productivity Improvement Operating System in yesterday's episode, today I dive a little bit deeper into Stage 1 - Setting a Clear Direction. I walk through the following 7 steps to getting clear on what I want to improve about how I conduct meetings:

Pick an area to improve
Define my behaviour goals
Identify the obstacles
Use mental contrasting
Decide when and where
Affirmations
Visualise done and doing.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After experiencing that I can apply myself productively when setting up and attending a meeting, it is time to look at developing consistent behaviours rather than those that appear in a haphazard fashion.

Over the last 18 months I have created and refined a system for developing new productive behaviours called my Productivity Improvement Operating System.

In this episode I review the steps stages and identify what the first steps are to developing productive meeting behaviours.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A few episodes ago I shared my experiences of having a really bad meeting. Not that the meeting itself was bad, but that my way of handling it in terms of the actions and decisions and the follow up activities was poor. That set me on a journey to get better with my productivity behaviours around meetings.

Today I had an important meeting with my accountant. Now whilst it wasn't the best meeting, it was a vast improvement on the one I had earlier in the week that kicked this all off. So in this episode I shared what went well and what I would do differently next time to make it even better.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After deciding in yesterday's episode that I'd be focusing on developing my productivity behaviour around meetings, in this episode I share my experiences of today and how I let "stuff" get in the way of working on this next phase of my development. I identify the key problems I need to solve and highlight the areas where the solutions may lie.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I effectively rebooted this podcast after a few months of sporadic posting. I lamented how I didn't feel my development was at the required depth. Well in this episode I reflect on that in a bit more depth (irony not intended) and explore the following:

What my current standards are and how they have evolved.
Why I need to raise my standards.
The challenges I have making the choice about what to focus on next.
How I am going to make those decisions going forward.
A reflection on today's business activities to see what I can work on next.
A decision is made and commitment is given.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After a stuttering start to get the podcast up and running again in the wake of COVID, this episodes sets out my stall for moving forward. However things aren't all rose in the productivity flower bed. Whilst I know a lot about productivity and have learnt and applied much of those lessons in the last 225 episodes, I feel there is still something lacking.

So in this episode I explore the following:

The difference between knowledge and knowing.
How I really feel about the progress I have made so far.
Mulling over the possibilities of what might be the cause.
Committing to doing things differently to get a better result.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

As someone who specialises in productivity, you'd perhaps expect me to be the perfect example of great productivity in action. Well for much of the time that is true. However, the reason I embarked on this journey was to improve the quality and consistency of my productive behaviours. That's because at one point they were extremely lacking. Today they are just lacking, hence my continued drive to improve. So occasionally I get things wrong.

In this episode I share his a mistake of my own making created the potential for a bad meeting. I explain how I recovered and what I’d do next time to make the meeting a success.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I work with a lot of professional people to help them develop their productivity skills so they can fulfil their commitments, deal with the pressures of work and achieve their outcomes. It is a rewarding and sometimes challenging role for me. I enjoy helping people and having to think on my feet to apply my knowledge, experience and creativity to help them formulate a plan they'll have confidence in.

In today’s call I share the process and outcome of my coaching call with a new client who works at a senior level in a very hierarchical international organisation.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

There are lots of tools, tips and techniques you can learn to develop your productivity. Some are quite mechanistic, others are intuitive and many require technology. Perhaps two of the biggest skills you can develop are your awareness and your willingness to experiment with new ideas and approaches, even if they come from spur of the moment inspiration.

In today’s episode I share how I have delved into the Go Getter mode and how I managed to stay totally focused well into the evening and past my usual threshold of quality task attention.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I've mentioned in previous episodes how progress sometimes needs effort in the opposite direction to the one you are heading in. It takes time to invest in your business and sometimes you have to stop working in your business so you can work on it.

In this episode I share how I’ve been taking time out to develop new task management Systems to work with my new VA,

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I wish every day could be like it has been today. It has been a great day that has kept me focused and as a result, it has meant I have been very productive. It is important to catch what works well so in this episode I describe how well my day has gone and what has contributed to its success.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

My mornings are very busy once I start work. There is a lot to do since I began doing a daily post on LinkedIn and broadening my network by commenting on others' posts and expanding my growing list of connections. Sometimes I let that effort drift longer into the morning than I'm happy with.

So in today’s episode I share my experiences of getting much more focused this week by using a very simple technique to ensure I tighten up on getting my commitments done.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In an earlier episode, I shared how I failed to learn from the mistakes of a previous episode. Well it does pay to reflect on how you are doing each day because you can learn from them.

In this episode I share how those lessons of the recent past have informed the development of new and more productive behaviours. I am still not 100% there, but I am learning, I am growing and things are getting better for me as you'll hear.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Multitasking is such a tempting thing to do when there is a bit of dead time in a task we are doing. We think we are being efficient and effective by filling any dead time with other stuff that needs to get done. But it is a fallacy for a variety of reasons.

In today’s episode I share another one of my experiences where I kept focused on one task and resisted the temptation to multi-task, even though there was time to do other stuff.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Sometimes you have to take two steps back in order to make large leaps forward. I have spent far too long doing everything myself to the extent that I am now the brake and the limit on my own business growth. So I am taking on a virtual assistant to support me. It is an important step, but requires a significant amount of effort to make sure her introduction and integration to the business goes well.

In this episode I share my feelings around what I’m doing to leverage the effort of running my business.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

In this episode I share the trials and tribulations I encountered with my local supermarket introducing a new checkout system. They are adding a new way of checking out that speeds things up and makes things more convenient.

But as with any new system, especially one that relies heavily on the interface of technology and people, it has its teething problems. I explain some of the difficulties I encountered, but more importantly I share the important lessons I took from the experience.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

Intelligent people aren't those that don't make any mistakes. Intelligent people are those who learn from any mistakes they do make so they can avoid them in the future.

In this episode I describe how I repeated the mistake of yesterday...doh! I'll let you judge for yourself about my level of intelligence.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

The telephone is a very important method of communication. Our ancestors would be both envious of the facility we now have to talk to anyone, anywhere at anytime, and shocked at the "magical" powers of the little rectangular slab we hold to our ears.

But there is a downside to the convenience of this technology. It can take over our lives and interrupt us at will if we don't take charge of it.

In this episode I share the lessons learnt when I allowed an unexpected telephone call to distract me from my morning’s work.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

One of the first things I recommend a new coaching client does when they start working with me to develop their productivity, is to get them to track their time. It is an extremely enlightening exercise to carry out and forms the foundation of the work I then go on to do with the client.

Last year I did it for a solid 18 weeks and it transformed how I looked at my own productivity. It was extremely revealing and a fabulous exercise for me to refresh myself on its benefits.

In this episode I share why I am doing it again and a quick overview of how I have found getting back into the discipline of doing it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

In today’s episode I talk about recognising the need for systems and processes for managing my social media activities. I've been busy on my LinkedIn profile here and as it is the first day, I can see how easy it could be to become overwhelmed and slip into being reactive. I allowed this to happen to see the impact of not taking control of this activity. I share the lessons learnt by doing this. Listen and discover whether that was a good idea or not. You'll also hear the principles I have applied to doing this that can be applied to any routine activities you find yourself engaged in.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

In this episode I have a quick look back on last month and reflect on my latest challenge which is about focusing on the work I need to do AND having the discipline myself to take time out to relax and recover.

I reflect back on my monthly goals and lament about how I've not achieved what I set out to do and what I am going to do about it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I share how I’ve put together my new system for marketing my services on LinkedIn. After being on that business social network for years, I thought it was time to start using it to develop my connections and business relationships. Up until now I have done nothing with it.

The first thing I had to do was find some experts and invest in their course. I then had to work out what I wanted from LinkedIn to narrow down the specific behaviours I wanted to develop. To do that I needed to develop a series of processes to form my LinkedIn system. And as a result of my efforts I have created a personalised system consisting of the following

Process Maps
Resources
Routines
Pre-written response templates
A plan for creating a daily post

Listen to this episode to hear the many benefits that have arisen from this effort to create a system with these processes. I also share the importance of having a growth mindset as I have developed this system. And I wrap it all up with the repeatable step by step approach I took to achieve this.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

After parking the Profit Productivity Podcast at the beginning of the year, the world has definitely changed. COVID forced me into lockdown, but I was still working throughout. In this short episode I explain the following:

How the COVID lockdown affected me.
Why I am starting up the podcast again
Why it is important for me to restart my investment in myself
What you can you expect from this podcast in the coming days, weeks and months.

The show notes/transcript for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

30 days ago I set out 6 goals I wanted to focus on. These weren't the usual outcome based New Year's Resolution type goals. No, these were specific process based goals on the way I operate. They were about putting in place measures to improve my productivity. In this episode I celebrate the achievement of those goals and explain why one of them no longer counts.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on a principle of productivity I heard Tony Robbins talk about recently. It is a simple concept but one that is very powerful, especially as it has sneaked up on me and slapped me around the face with the damp cloth of reality a couple of times recently. This episode will be particularly useful for you if you are a detail person or have a tendency to over complicate things.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After a poor week last week (in terms of productivity behaviours and progress) I came to the conclusion in my last weekly review that bad planning was the root cause of the poor performance. And so this week, my main area of improvement is to work on improving my planning. This I have done and so in today's episode I share the progress I have made today. I explain the small change I have made, give the context of the change in terms of my Productivity Improvement Operating System and give some light to the insights I've gained as a result.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this regular review of the last seven days I take you through the main lessons of the week and the things I will do next week to make things even better. It has been a humbling week, a frustrating week, but one where lessons have been learnt nevertheless.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share my thoughts on the back of feeling uncharacteristically dreadful this morning when I woke up and then having that negatively impact the rest of my day. What did I think? What did I do about it? Well listen in and find out.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last 10 days or so I have dived deep into improving my e mail handling behaviours. I have drawn a line under the old behaviours, I have put together my "email policy" and have fine tuned how I have applied myself to my electronic communication. So In today's episode I give a progress report on how things are going after just a few days. I also reveal what I believe my next development step might be in improving my personal productivity.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode of the Profit Productivity Podcast, I talked about what I felt was the importance of giving at least an acknowledgement of receipt as a response to e mails you receive. After reflecting on this for 24 hours, I've realised I need to expand on what I said yesterday. However in doing so, it might sound like I am contradicting myself. Hear me out and let me know what you think.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last week or so I have been implementing my new approach to emails and although it is early days, it is going very well, almost to the point of it being effortless. In today's episode I share a bad email habit of mine that surfaced during my deep dive into my inbox last week. I explain what was going on and the implications of it to the quality of my communication. However the importance of this issue hit home to me when I was on the receiving end of this bad habit from someone else. It helped me frame my approach and adjust my behaviours. Listen to this episode to discover what happened and to identify whether you have the same bad habit.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It is incredible to realise this is the 200th episode of the Profit Productivity Podcast. I use this episode to reflect back on the lessons I shared after 100 days of podcasting and see whether they are still relevant now 100 days further on. I also share my current thoughts on new things I have learnt that have added greater texture to the insights I've gained over the episodes on how to develop personal productivity.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

At the end of last week I finally got round to addressing how I deal with e mails. I had set the goal, I had talked about it, I had put it off, I had got guilty about putting it off and then bit the bullet and dived head first into my inbox. As you will see from recent previous episodes, the results of that deep dive were interesting and revealing to say the least. I have now started to make headway into taking back control of the e mail monster that lurks in my in box and am feeling good about it. There is still plenty of work to do but I thought it would be useful to have a go and defining the principles about how I'll deal with my e mail. So I knocked up a quick policy (as you do) to outline my approach. In this episode I share what that might be.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Another week has passed (where is the year going) and once again it is time to reflect on what has happened in the podcast and in my thrust towards even greater levels of personal productivity. This week has been another week of progress but also of flexibility. In this episode I cover the following:

A quick overview of the podcast episodes of the week.
How I have progressed the points to improve from last week.
How my weekly and daily planning approach has faired under increased pressure this week.
Why having the ability to adapt in the face of a new reality is a good thing.
Why it is important not to blur outcomes for a specific activity.
How being behind on my plan for the month is not a bad thing at this stage of the month.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterdays (rather long) episode, I explored the challenges I was facing in dealing with my e mails. I dived into my e mail inbox to have a look at some of the reasons why the ones still there were languishing around. I made some interesting discoveries. Putting solutions in place to solve the problems I unearthed will take more than just a few hours. So as a first step, I have drawn a line under my e mail dysfunctionality and set out my plan for moving forward.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Getting on top of how I deal with e mail has been one of my main process tasks. I identified it was an important thing to address over 3 weeks ago. I put it on a list of things to do and over the last week it has come to the top of that list. A couple of recent episodes talked about a) the importance of the task and b) why I might be putting things off. So today I finally bit the bullet and did a thorough examination of my e mail in box to get to the bottom of what is going on with my behaviour around e mail. Unfortunately it identified some things I really did not want to hear! Listen in to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I address the challenge I'm currently facing which is about getting on and sorting out my approach to dealing with e mail. It isn't about dealing with the volume, it is about dealing with the content and consequences of the e mails that is lacking. I explore why I might be putting things off and what it might take for me to actually get on and sort things out.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore the concept and principles of accountability through two real life examples from today - one good and one bad. The good one is a perfect example of someone (a coaching client of mine) being very accountable for her actions and reaping the rewards as a result. The bad example is painfully close to home and to be honest, somewhat embarrassing.

The show notes for the episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on the need to be flexible in your approach and adapt to the changing landscape as you progress forward when executing your plans. I had set out a plan to achieve my goals and was working on that plan when I discovered I'd missed someone. Today I reflect on the lessons learnt from that experience and share my thoughts about the importance of developing the right mindset to these apparent "setbacks".

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Back in episode 175, I outlined a set of process goals. One of those was to "define my approach to e mails". My intention is not to become an "Email Ninja". I think the challenges I am facing with email go deeper than just finding tactics to cope with the volume of messages in my inbox. In this episode I share my thoughts on the challenges of email but make a couple of key distinctions that I think are going to be important for me as I address this issue.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on what has been another productive week for me. I do a quick summary of this week's podcast episodes but then I share my thoughts and the lessons I've learnt from my activities of the week. As usual I look at what has been great about the week and identify a couple of things I could do next week to make things even better. I'm more than a little embarrassed to admit to something that is causing me significant distraction and getting in the way of me being even more productive.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have been cracking on with a big job. I've taken all day to focus on just this one project. It has required a lot of deep thinking and focused concentration. But maintaining that level of concerted mental application throughout the day has been a real challenge. In this episode I explore the challenges I faced and ask what they really mean and whether the struggle is necessary for deep work.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After my euphoria yesterday when I began using my new research and idea generation process, it is time to get real about what is actually needed to make this new process work. In today's episode I reflect on the challenges I will still have to overcome and what my plan is for moving forward with it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last couple of day I have invested a considerable amount of time to put in place a system and a set of processes for capturing the research necessary for me to stay current in my areas of professional interest. It was a labour of love and today I got to taste some of the fruits of the early success I've had with it. In this episode I share my small (but sweet) victory with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I put together the finishing touches on the first iteration of my Research and Idea Generation process. Now I love a good process because that's what appeals to my mind but today I got to experience the potential impact this particular process is going to have on my well being. I explain all in today's episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over a couple of recent episodes of the podcast, I have talked about the need to focus on the process of developing my productivity. I have set my "outcome goals" for 2020 but not identified what my "process goals" need to be. In this episode I talk about how the lack of one particularly important process has been holding me back and what I have been doing it today. It has certainly been an interesting, rewarding, frustrating and occasionally demanding day for me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I share my thoughts on how the Headspace App is a perfect example of using gamification for the development of productive habits. It is a theme that has come to my attention a couple of times in the last week so I thought I'd share it with you again.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I thought I would experiment with a new format for my usual weekly review. Previously I have just done a quick summary of what has been happening in the podcast over the last 7 days. I still do a tiny bit of that but this year I am going to use these weekly review episode to reflect on the progress I am making against my goals and in the development of my personal productivity. Overall this has been a good week not just because good stuff happened and goals were achieved but because I made some distinctions that I can learn from and improve to become even better. Listen to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore this perennial question about how long things take. When I find myself taking much longer than expected I am faced with a conundrum of what to do. In this episode I share my thoughts and reveal a potential answer to this often troubling question.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on a how the small decisions to do things when you don't feel like doing them will, over time, add up to be either the source of success or the cause of failure.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have been for a comprehensive health check. It is something I do every couple of years to make sure everything is in good working order and to potentially spot anything untoward before it takes hold. At the end of the assessment I had a good chat with the Physiologist about my goals for the future. I was talking about some of the areas I wanted to improve when he asked me a great question - how will you know you've made an improvement. His question got me thinking about its relevance to my business, a theme I explore in today's episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

First of all a very Happy New Year to you and yours on this first day of 2020. It's quite possible that at some point during the overnight festivities you committed to a New Year's Resolution. Many do and many will fail to keep to their resolution probably within 1 month. In this, the first episode of the decade, I explore and explain why it is so hard for so many to keep to their resolutions and what you can do to stick to yours if you have made one.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A short episode today to thank you for listening over the first year the Profit Productivity Podcast has been in existence. I have learnt a lot and I look forward to taking my own productivity to even greater heights in 2020 and sharing that journey with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After giving myself a stiff dose of accountability in yesterday's episode, I am much happier to report that I listened, I took action and things have moved forward. In this episode I tell all.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After the recent focus on setting goals and the need for getting clear on what to aim for in 2020, you'd think I would have spent today setting my goals for the next 12 months. Well that isn't what happened, hence the title of todays episode "Are You Serious????". In this episode I explore the circumstances of what has happened today (or not as the case may be).

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Now that I've got Christmas out of the way, I can start looking ahead to 2020 and begin getting clarity on my goals. In yesterday's episode, I outline the next 6 things I need to focus on to improve my productivity and top of the list was clarity on my 2020 goals. However, this is not the first time I have explored this topic. There are 17 other episodes on this podcast that have been tagged with the term "goal setting". In this episode I do a quick review of those episodes and outline some of the key points and lessons learnt. These include:

Where goal setting fits in my Pyramid of Personal Productivity.
How I discovered the lack of clarity on my goals was a primary cause of my procrastination.
Three books that have become my essential "go to" resources for the setting and achievement of goals.
How weird stuff has happened to me just because I started setting goals.
Why I think looking beyond the next 12 months when setting goals is crucial.
The two things I DEFINITELY have to do with my goals once they have been set (not doing these two is the reason why, 8 months on, my goals are still floundering).
What I already knew about goal setting and why I wasn't applying it.
And other insights too...

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

With the New Year rapidly approaching, the thoughts of setting goals for the next 12 months is usually at the forefront of my mind. That is still the case and I do have to go through the process of setting those goals (more of that in this episode). However those goals are generally outcome based objectives. I also have a series of process based objectives I need to achieve. These are for processes I want to set up to support me in the achievement of my outcome based goals. In this episode I share what those are.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is Christmas day and so a VERY Merry Christmas to you and yours. In today's episode I want to give you 12 Christmas Productivity Gifts. These are the gems I've picked up over the previous 173 episodes of this podcast that have really helped me develop my productivity. They include insights, tactics, strategies, quotes and even a couple of book recommends. I share them with you because I KNOW they'll have a massive impact on your own productivity development but only IF you take them and apply them.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

With today being Christmas Eve AND a working day for me, there is a lot to get done before the Christmas break. So after my usual early start, I have been hard at work catching up on a few things I needed to finish before the holidays. It is going to be a busy day for me and I can ill afford taking out time for any unnecessary activities that detract from what I have to do. Which begs the question, why did I take the time out to go for a work with so much on my plate for today? Well in this episode I explain all.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Success is actually quite simple when you think about it. But there are a few things that get in our way. Aside from the human condition and the way evolution has moulded our brain to operate, we also have to deal with our emotions. In this episode I share my thoughts on doing that. [SPOILER ALERT - I don't claim to have THE answer to this challenge, but some of my observations might help]

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore whether you should look at striving towards your goals and the achievement of your success as being a marathon or a sprint. I thought I knew what the answer was but was astonished at the conclusion I drew. Check it out for yourself and see if you agree with me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In a recent episode I shared the method I use to break through procrastination and overwhelm when I want to get on with a meaty project. Well yesterday I watched a keynote speech given by a US Navy SEAL and it was interesting to see hear about how they approach the infamous "Hell Week". In this episode I share my thoughts on how some of their foundational principles apply to personal productivity.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

If you aren't already a subscriber of The Tim Ferriss Podcast then I strongly suggest you sign up - it's AWESOME. In the past couple of weeks Tim interviewed Gary Keller (co-author of The One Thing) for TWO HOURS! It was a wide ranging interview covering Gary's career and mindset around business and success.

However more importantly, the last hour focused on the philosophy of The One Thing (A book I reviewed in a recent episode of this podcast). I took so many things away from this part of the interview that I wanted to share them with you and reflect on what they mean to me.

These insights included:

The power of Gary's Focusing Question and how to apply it to all areas of your life.
The importance of creating systems and processes.
Why you should block out at least two hours every morning to focus on your One Thing before midday.
How "The Clearer Path To A Lesser Goal" is the biggest challenge people face when striving to succeed.
Why a morning routine is important
Examples of rules for making decisions - especially when you want to say "No" to a request for your time.
Gary's simple but extremely powerful four word billboard statement.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I reflect on my recent work activity and the impact that has had on the podcast and the development of my productivity. I ponder the question about whether I should focus on tactics and tools or should I just nail the fundamentals before I start trying to be too sophisticated.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have been delivering a leadership seminar in Paris. One of the topics I covered was behavioural change. A key principle in successful behaviour change is the impact of consequences. Many (wrongly) believe that all that's necessary to initiate behaviour change is to trigger the new behaviour. In this episode, live from Paris Gare de Nord), I share my thoughts on the impact of consequences on changing behaviour.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I share another story about how I overcame procrastination to get another major task done. In hindsight I kicked myself when I realise just how simple and effective this approach is. I left myself asking this question - "Why don't I do this ALL the time?"

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

For some reason yesterday I didn’t record a podcast episode. I don’t know why. In today’s episode I conduct a postmortem on what happened to see if I can find the cause and avoid it happening again.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have been running one of my Power of Focus seminars with a group of influencers working in a large manufacturing organisation in the North West of England. At the start of every one of these interactive sessions, I always gather a list of the productivity problems they face. I then use this list to help shape the content and discussions. I aim to help them identify the answers to their own challenges.

In this episode I share the problems gathered today and the solutions the delegates found for themselves as a result of the information I shared with them. These included:

Flitting from one activity to another (unable to stay focused on one task at a time).
Trouble saying "no" when asked.
Trouble delegating complex tasks to subordinates.
Staying focused on whatever task they are working on.
How to best structure the work they do.
Getting to grips with doing work they just don't like doing

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In Today’s episode I share my thoughts and feelings after tapping into a sense of urgency I’ve not had for some time.

In today's episode I start thinking about how far ahead I want to project when setting my future goals. In doing so I begin to realise that looking five years ahead might be too far into the future for me. Whilst pondering this I came up with a better question to ask myself and as a result got a better answer about how far forward to look.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I have decided to go back to basics and look at what I already know about goal setting. I cover:

Why goal setting is the obvious place to start.
My few past successes and many failures in achieving my goals.
How I initially reached out to my personal library of success literature but then stopped myself.
The fundamentals of goal setting I gleaned from the years of self development I've inflicted on myself.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I review and summarise the key issues that have come out of the podcast episodes this week. These include:

How the Main Thing can help reduce information overwhelm
A gathering together of my recent discoveries and insights into the Main Thing
How I thought it was time to move on to my next important area of development.
How wrong I was, and why I was so wrong.
A big wake up call for me and a reminder that to know and not to know is not to do.
Going a little easier on myself after a good slap on the wrist.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

The episodes of the last couple of days have made me realised I am falling short of the high standards I have set myself. However, I am still doing some good stuff and in this episode I cover the following:

The awesome approach I am using that is keeping me focused and helping me get stuff done.
Specific behaviours where I am falling short.
My overall assessment of my productive behaviours at the moment (SPOILER ALERT - I am not that complimentary about myself!)

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today's episode is an honest heartfelt admission of my need to raise my game even more than I have done. I am doing good work and making progress, but to "stand" before you and help guide you on your path to even greater levels of productivity, I need to do even more. In this episode I explain all and recommit my energy and efforts.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After deciding yesterday I was going to focus on improving my energy levels, I thought I'd take the opportunity in this episode to do the following:

Give my thoughts on what I perceive each energy type to be about.
Do a quick audit on where I think I am with each energy type before I start exploring how to improve them.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I explain what my next area of focus is going to be now that I have got greater clarity on how to define my Main Thing. In particular, I cover:

Why I am not going to choose dealing with e mail even though it is the biggest challenge my coaching clients have.
How Tony Robbins has inspired me to think about what to focus on next.
A reminder of my Pyramid Of Personal Productivity and why the answer was staring me in the face.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been exploring the concept of "The Main Thing'. In this episode I pull together the strands of previous episodes to give a summary of my findings. Today I talk about:

A simple way of defining the characteristics of a "Main thing".
4 reasons why having a Main Thing is your Main Thing.
The hidden "Shadow Selection" criteria we all have for choosing our Main Thing.
The fundamental question we are asking ourselves when we choose the Main Thing.
How the relationship between your goals and your planning horizon affects your choice of the Main Thing.
Three different work environments that result in very different types of Main Thing.
Why choosing your Main Thing based on looming deadlines is a strategy fraught with challenges.
Other factors to take into account in choosing your Main Thing.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share the suggestions I gave to a coaching client about how to deal with the huge amount of information he has to consume and process on a daily basis. In this episode I look at:

The vast amount of information sources available to us.
Why it is important to get clear on why we need to consume information.
The two significant challenges you face in dealing with information.
How I helped a coaching client go from being overwhelmed with information to being in complete control of it.
The six step plan to tame the information beast.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I summarise what has been going on in the podcast over the last 7 days. In summary it includes:

The rough ends of the continuum of the Main Thing - why there are two extremes and how they relate to Covey's Time Management Matrix.
Lessons taken from an amazing book who's title very nearly make it the perfect choice for this week's theme.
The importance of identifying your purpose and where I found the inspiration for mine.
A very powerful goal setting process that follows familiar lines but has a unique and fresh twist I'd not seen before.
My experience of applying this new goal setting process.
The difficulties people in large organisations will have if they follow the path of their Main Thing.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I decide to wax lyrical about the challenges I see people face in choosing to first of all identify and then focus on a Main Thing. Specifically, I cover:

Why I believe it is important to have a "Main Thing".
The secret about Time Management, the gurus forget to tell you.
Multiple benefits of choosing focusing on your Main Thing.
How many challenges you face in choosing your Main Thing if you work in a large organisation.
The paradox you face when choosing to focus on a Main Thing.
The simple either/or priority choice that is the challenge you have.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I continue my deep dive into the excellent book by Gary Keller - The One Thing. Yesterday I got to the bottom of his goal setting approach he calls "Goal Setting To The Now". It is a powerfully simple approach that I thought I'd try out for myself. This episode shares the following experiences:

A reminder of what Keller's "Goal Setting To The Now" process is.
How I ran my own business aspirations ( to fulfil the purpose I identified in a previous episode) through this approach.
The questions that arose as a result of trying this for myself.
How I tried putting my aspirations to play acoustic blues guitar through the same process.
The potential modifications to the process that might be necessary to make it work for me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After reviewing Gary Keller's "The One Thing" in episode 148 and diving deeper into my purpose in episode 149, in this episode I start looking at Keller's recommendation to "Live by Priority". Specifically in this episode I cover:

Why it is impossible to have multiple priorities.
How to do the backwards time-walk (it's like a moonwalk only not as good on the dance floor!).
The relevance of dominoes (and it has nothing to do with Pizza).
Two additional things you MUST do to supercharge ANY goal achieving process.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After reviewing Gary Keller's excellent book "The One Thing" yesterday, I have taken the opportunity today to dive a little bit deeper into his work to see if I can find some gems to help me decide what to do on a day to day, minute by minute process. I share:

Gary Keller's 3 level iceberg model for achieving extraordinary results.
The five factors for personal happiness from a past president of the American Psychological Society.
Why simply making ANY decision on what your purpose might be is better than making no decision at all.
How a Google search led me to the simple (yet most powerful) answer I was looking for.
That I already knew what my purpose was... I'd just parked it in the shadows of my mind for a while.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I review the excellent book by Keller and Papasan called "The One Thing - The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Success". In the review, I explain:

Why I have chosen to review this book.
Who the authors are and why I think they are an extremely credible source of productivity information.
The essence of the core message explained by the book.
How the book is divided into three parts that make complete sense in the way the message is structured.
What I like about the book and why I strongly recommend it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I continue my journey to discover how to define my Main Thing. I build on last week's episodes on this theme and in particular cover the following topics:

Possible answers to the primary question "What do I do right now?"
The two possible categories that your main thing might fall into.
How the Main Thing relates to Stephen Covey's four box Time Management Matrix
The dichotomy between reactive and proactive activities
My next stop to help me answer the question "How do I define my Main Thing?"

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I muse over whether I’m digging a bit too deep in trying to develop my productivity.

In this episode I deepen the exploration on Values and their impact on productivity I began yesterday. I look at a range of possible values that might affect my productivity and explain their influence. I also drift into considerations about my productive identity. I end by sharing my 6 productive values that work for me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I deepen my exploration into Stephen Covey's concept of "The Main Thing" by looking at the role values play in what we decide to do with our time. Specifically I look at:

A reminder of my progress so far in exploring the concept of the main thing.
Understanding why it is important we take back control of our focus from the many distractions competing for our attention.
A definition of values.
How values inform our behaviour.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore the relationship between the wheel of life, goals and the Main Thing. It is part of my drive to get very clear on how to make the decision I need to make about what I need to do next from the vast array of things I could do. In it I explore:

The concept of the wheel of life.
Perhaps there is no single Main Thing, but one for each of the spokes of our wheel of life.
How I fare on each spoke of the wheel of life.
The importance of balance.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share my experiences from today - a day I had intended to begin my research on defining the Main Thing. However things did not go according to plan. There were a number of reasons for that, all within my control. These included:

Getting distracted by an e mail I had not planned to deal with.
Not making the research activity today's Main Thing.
Not being clear enough on what the activity entailed.
Not being committed enough to the outcome.

The show notes for today's episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Having decided I need to make a course correction in a previous episode, I use this episode to remind myself of the value of knowing what is important to you. In this episode includes:

A reminder of the structure of my Pyramid of Personal Productivity.
Re-visiting the importance of knowing what your Main Thing is.
How knowing your Main Thing makes decision making on what to do next much easier.
A quick overview of the different ways to identify your Main Thing.
The importance of your planning time horizon in deciding what to do next.
Why I believe re-focusing on my Main Thing is the course correction I need.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It's been a few weeks since I "got back on the horse" and began the daily podcast and I find myself a little scattered in my approach to my productivity development. In this episode I share my thoughts on my current progress and recognise things need to change.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last week I met a Go-Getter and recounted my experience in a previous episode. This week I have been spending more time with other people I would definitely put in the Go-Getter category. In this episode I share:

A consistent habit I notice all Go-Getters have.
How I am failing to live up to the Go-Getter standards I aspire to.
The paradox that causes me to struggle with just getting on a doing things.
Why I think being a Go-Getter is more about Mindset than a range of behaviours and techniques.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today’s episode I share how I have evolved the administration and management of my productivity coaching practice into an efficient machine. In particular I discuss:

Where efficiency sits on my Pyramid Of Personal Productivity
How the administration around my coaching practice started out hit and miss
The evolution of my approach to managing how I organise and communicate with my coaching clients
Why it is important to have a growth mindset - even when it comes to developing processes.
Why processes and systems are the key to repeatable results.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I was a guest at a mastermind group meeting of successful business owners. These are classic high achievers and Go-Getters who have created very successful businesses in their own niches. The purpose of the mastermind group is for them to share best practices across their similar but non-competing businesses. In today's episode I share these things I learnt about the different ways they manage their to do list and stay productive:

An impressive (and free) app for creating lists and managing projects.
The extraordinarily simple yet profoundly effective paper based system I use.
How one member automatically sends follow up e mails.
The website e mail service that maintains your level of sanity.
And some other useful tools too...

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today’s episode, I shares how I helped a coaching client embed a productive behaviour. In it I cover the following topics:

One of my most highly recommended productive behaviours
The power of psychological consistency in defining your behaviours.
How gamification can help you develop habitual behaviours.
What Jerry Seinfeld has to do with the formation of habits.
The importance and impact of a documented routine.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I shares my recent experiences of helping coaching clients get clarity on their Main Thing. In it I cover:

The importance of getting clear on what your main thing is.
The difference between your main thing and your next thing.
Challenges faced by coaching clients in choosing their main thing.
The conflicting requirements of reactive and proactive main things.
How to choose what your main thing is.
If your main thing is reactive, what to focus on when you are not actually reacting.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I share the realisation I have had whilst being on the road delivering live seminars. Being in the relatively benign environment of my office is very different to the demands of being on my feet in front of an audience all day. I should have foreseen the challenges I would have faced, but I didn't and so I stumbled across a (now obvious) solution. It has to do with how I process my e mails. Listen to this episode to hear about my experiences and the increased flexibility I now need to incorporate into my daily routines.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I recount my thoughts on what a Go-Getting Mindset is after meeting someone with that approach to their work.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Whilst on the road delivering live Seminars, I talk about how society is so addicted to distraction that some of our bigger institutions are starting to cater for and pander to that addiction. I share some alarming experiences of other people’s distraction and recommends steps you can take to reduce your dependency on checking your smartphone.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I explore how Microsoft Japan got more out of their workforce by giving them an extra day off a week. I look at the implications of this in the context of improving your personal productivity.

The Show Notes for this can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After a sabbatical from the podcast I provide an update on what I've been up to regarding developing my productivity, delivering Seminars to improve people’s focus and the future of the podcast.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I have been developing my productivity skills and habits within a framework that’s working really well for me right now. It is a framework that instills specific productive behaviours for the long term. In this episode I give a sneak preview of what that is.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After working through Cal Newport's great book "Deep Work" and then realising how much work I still need to do to develop my mental skills and abilities I realised it was still easy for me to become overwhelmed by the scale of the task I have before me. In dealing with that feeling I was reminded of a story about how I helped someone overcome those feelings . In this episode I share that story.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Exploring the principle of Deep Work with Cal Newport's book has been a revelation to me. As well as opening up a world I sort of knew existed, it has also made me realised just how mentally unprepared I am to dive deep. I share my thoughts on this in this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my weekly summary of the podcast episode of the last 7 days I share my key insights and lessons gleaned from a week of continuing my journey to develop my personal productivity. These include:

Understanding the four different approaches to deep work (according to Cal Newport).
4 Questions that need answering in order to make the most of your deep work sessions.
The Four Disciplines of Execution - four things to help your execution of deep work.
How taking time out form work actually helps you produce more, better quality work.
How concentration is a skill that can be developed (and not a habit you can simply turn on and off).
Learning to fall in love with your work engages the most powerful part of your brain and helps you eradicate procrastination and any resistance you have to doing deep work.
How to use walks to help develop your concentration.
A reminder of how activities I was once world class at (no seriously I was) are recommended to help develop mental abilities.
It's easier to talk about thinking around a professional challenge than actually doing it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I shared some of Cal Newport's recommendations for developing our ability to focus and concentrate on our work. One of his recommendations was something he called "Productive Meditation". In this episode I share how I tried his suggestion out and the painful lesson I learnt!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

My dive into Cal Newport's Deep Work continues as I explore how to train my mind for deep work. In this episode I briefly share a couple of his suggestions. However I go deeply into one of his suggestions which is uniquely linked to something I did a few years ago that has given me my 15 minutes of fame.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am on the mailing list of Sam Ovens. He is an amazing businessman who helps people develop consultancy businesses in a wide range of industries. Not only is he great at business he is also extremely productive. So when I get an e mail from him that has a productivity theme, I always watch it. Today I got an e mail about how to overcome procrastination. In this episode I share my thoughts on the key points from his video and add a couple of suggestions to apply what he shared.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Rule #2 in Cal Newport's Deep Work is curiously called "Embrace Boredom". He makes a great case for developing your concentration muscles and reducing your dependence on distraction to develop your ability to do deep work. In this episode I share my thoughts on his recommendation for controlling your access to the internet.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last few episodes I have been exploring the ideas presented in Cal Newport's excellent book "Deep Work". Having understood what deep work is, I'm now into the second part of the book that lays out the 4 rules of deep work. Rule 1 is called "Work Deeply" and in this episode I share what I've learnt about working deeply and the challenges that presents to me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my weekly summary of the podcast episodes of the last 7 days I share my insights and reflect on the things I have learned. These include:

How three corporate work environment trends fly in the face of the benefits that deep work has to offer.
The compelling case for why deep work is really the only work approach that makes a difference.
How deep work is an opportunity that will set us apart from the mediocre majority.
My own experiences of applying a deep work approach to learning scripts for videos about productivity.
The right and wrong way of writing out my to do list actions when putting together my daily plans.
That I will need to develop routines and rituals to embrace a deep work approach to my activities.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the recent weeks I have been pondering on the need to create a systematic approach to my work in order to keep pace and create good work. I hadn't realised this is the approach recommended in Cal Newport's book Deep Work that I have been studying recently. In today's episode I wax lyrical about the need for routines and rituals.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Having upgraded my approach to planning my effort over 3 monthly, weekly and daily timescales, I have started to notice a worrying trend. My recent focus on understanding deep work and an idea from a recent episode of this podcast helped me identify the problem and come up with a change in my behaviour as a solution.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After a week of deep work writing, learning and rehearsing the script for 5 videos, today was the day I recorded them at my client's premises. It has been a really useful exercise in deep work and so in today's episode I share how effective it was. I also apply a growth mindset approach to learning from the problems I had to overcome. Did I do each video in one take? Listen and find out.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I provide an update on my own experiment on doing Deep Work that I began a few days ago. I update you on the progress I have made and how I am even more excited by the opportunities this will produce. It is almost as though I've discovered my very own super power - Deep Work - I didn't see that coming.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I extend my exploration and dissection of Cal Newport's book - "Deep Work". The third chapter explains how deep work is worthwhile and in this episode I share my thoughts on this.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I think that investing in the purchase of Deep Work by Cal Newport is probably one of the best decisions I have made in recent years in the context of improving my personal productivity. Last week I shared my thoughts on the first chapter and introduction. In this episode I share my thoughts on the second chapter.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my regular weekly summary of what has been happening on the Podcast since my last summary, I share my thoughts and feelings on the key lessons from the last 7 days. Included in these are:

My need to extend my time planning horizon to get me even more focused.
How I planned my next 3 months and the introduction of my new planning sheets.
The Procrastinator's Creed from the Procrastinators society.
A reflective moan on how I seem to be working at a shallow and superficial level - things need to change.
An initial exploration on the concept of Deep Work from Cal Newport's excellent book.
What I learnt from my own experiment in Deep Work.

After working through the first chapter of Cal Newport's excellent book "Deep Work" I got re-inspired by the concept of concentrated effort on a single task for long periods of time.

Today I thought I would conduct my own experiment in Deep Work by applying myself to a task that hasn't been going too well because I have been doing it in small chunks.

In this episode I explain what the experiment was about and how it went [Spoiler Alert - I am delighted with the results!]

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I moaned about feeling my work didn't matter, probably because (by my assessment) the work I have been doing has been somewhat shallow and superficial. I mentioned I'd found Cal Newport's excellent book "Deep Work" and that I would be working my way through it and sharing what I'd learnt with with. In this episode I share my findings from studying the first chapter.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share the mumblings and grumblings that have been swirling around in the back of my mind about the quality of my work in developing my productivity and publishing this podcast. It's not pretty, I'm not proud of it but I think I may have found an inspiration to help me re-focus.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

A colleague of mine told me about The Procrastinators Society when I mentioned to him I was doing a podcast about improving productivity. Ironically it took me 4 weeks before I checked them out. When I did I found they had this remarkably funny Procrastinator's Creed. IN this episode I share that creed with you.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I identified that I needed to extend my planning time horizon even more. However I also realised I needed to get greater clarity on what I want to achieve over a longer time frame. In today's episode I share how I approached that and describe the new planning sheets I created to help me translate my plans into reality.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

A few weeks ago I carried out an experiment to extend my time planning horizon beyond the next 24 hours. I chose a week, conducted the experiment and it worked. Now having run with that for a few weeks, I realise I need to go even further into the future when planning what I do. In this episode I explain why.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my weekly summary of the things that have been happening on the podcast in the last 7 days, I share the main lessons of the week. These include:

The key lessons learned from the first 100 days of publishing this podcast.
Why I have ruled out a paper based system for managing my to do list.
How I have begun using Evernote to manage my reactive commitments to myself.
Why I have started a side by side trial between Evernote and Wunderlist.
Some key insights from the best advice about managing your to do list.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Having decided to trial a couple of to do list solutions I thought I’d do a quick bit of research on the best to do list advice. I share my findings in this episode. There is some interesting stuff to come out of this, some of which surprised me.

Over the last couple of days I have been sharing my experiences of using Evernote for my to do list management. It seems to do everything I want but in the interests of balance I felt I still needed to try out another App to see how they compared. I had Wunderlist on my radar and was going to wait until I had a bit of experience of Evernote under my belt before I tried it out. However I realised a better trial would be a side by side comparison. So in this episode I share my thoughts on the comparison and how I am going to use it.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

The last week or so has seen a renaissance in the way I approach my to do list. After realising last week that I wasn't capturing my to do's effectively or efficiently, I defined what I wanted a to do system to do for me and then explored some options. After ruling out a paper based system, I began experimenting with using Evernote. Today I share my initial experiences of using Evernote to capture my reactive commitments to myself.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore using Evernote to capture my reactive to do's. After last week realising that writing things randomly down on bits of paper and post it notes wasn't working, I defined what I needed a system to do for me. Yesterday I ruled out using a paper based system and today I explore the first of the electronic options open to me.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In This Episode...

Last week I realised I didn't have an effective system for capturing my reactive commitments. All I was doing was randomly writing things down on my daily plans or on post it notes without any discipline or structure.

As a result I spent some time defining what a to do list system needed to be able to do for me. In today's episode, I start looking at potential solutions by reviewing whether a paper based system would work for me.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It is hard for me to believe I have been podcasting daily about my journey to become even more productive for over 3 months now. In this special 100th Edition of the Profit Productivity Podcast I share with you ten things I have learned about trying to become even more productive.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://www.profitproductivity.com/

In my weekly summary of what has been happening on the podcast I share the highs and lows of what has been happening as I aim to develop my productivity. Unfortunately it seems to be mainly lows this week. Here's what I have learned in the last 7 days:

How my ongoing time tracking experiment revealed a slump in the excellent progress I was originally making.
How that lack of progress also showed up in my SCRUM velocity numbers for my productivity seminar project.
That there is "friction" hindering what we do just about everywhere and how important it is to smooth it out.
That it is good to soak up the wisdom of the ages by reading and digesting quotes from those wise souls who have trodden the same path before us.
A need to have a system for capturing random to dos.
What a to do capture system needs to do for me when I put it in place.
How important it is to decide on what I want something to do for me before I go and find a potential solution.

In yesterday's episode I started pondering on the need for having some form of to do list to supplement how I currently capture, decide and plan what to do. Today I consider what that might look like as I define what it needs to do for me before I start looking for an actual solution.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

The journey to increased levels of personal productivity is one of overcoming successive obstacles and new challenges almost on a daily basis.

In today's episode I share my thoughts on the latest challenge I have to overcome. In the grand scale of things, it's not a huge problem, but it is one that needs to be solved for me to move forward.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I’ve been trawling my resources and want to share my thoughts on three excellent productivity quotes. I find referring back to quotes helps remind me of timeless principles and values relating to being more productive. They keep me on my toes and give me a little boost every now and then when I perhaps need it most.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I explain the concept of "Friction" in terms of personal productivity and share a story about how I encountered and then helped smooth out a point of friction.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Back in episode 011 I got really excited about the SCRUM approach to projects. I reviewed the ultimate book on the topic and then began implementing the strategy on my project to develop my productivity seminar. In this episode I share how my application of that approach has fizzled out and explore why that might have happened.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

It has been 13 weeks since I started my time tracking experiment. Every working day I track my activities from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. After 13 weeks I have amassed a good bit of data and have some trends I can work on. In this episode I share the latest insights from the data.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this weekly summary of what's been happing in the last 7 days on this podcast, I share the lessons and insights which include:

The importance of integrity - do what you say you're going to do.
Another way of evolving and developing an identity for ultimate productivity.
Asking how I can combine discipline and spontaneity.
The difference between interested and committed.
Realising I need to reset how I am approaching the podcast.
A reminder of what I am trying to achieve.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I take the stimulus from yesterday's "Time To Reset" thoughts and wax lyrical about my vision for the future for this podcast. It is a bit self indulgent, but I probably need that right now to get me back to being focused again.

After a couple of weeks of "drifting" in developing my productivity skills, I realise I need to reset and get back on track. In this open and honest episode I share what I have noticed, how I am feeling and what I am going to do about it.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Whilst I was flicking through a productivity book written by a well known guru in the filed, I came across a couple of words that jumped out at me from the page. They were "Committed" and "Interested". In this episode I reflect on those two words in the context of my morning routine.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I had one of those paradigm shifting conversations this morning about the difference between discipline and spontaneity. It was between me - disciplined, focused, dogmatic...aka "boring" - and someone who is spontaneous, full of life and joyful i.e. "fun". It wasn't so much a clash of different worlds, more a meeting of minds about who those two extremes can meet in the middle so everyone benefits. I share my thoughts on this topic in this episode.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I continue the theme of looking at how to change my identity. Previously I had looked at Tony Robbins' take on it and got some input from Ben Pakulski in his Impact Theory Video. Today I share what I discovered about what Dr Joe Dispenza recommends for changing behaviour and identity.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last week I shared Ben Pakulski's thoughts on identity and integrity. His ideas on integrity have been bothering me all weekend and so in this episode I reflect on integrity and its relevance to the challenges I have been facing about doing the things I say I am going to do. Unfortunately it makes uncomfortable listening for me!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my regular weekly review of what has been happening in the podcast I share the key lessons and experiences of the week. These include:

How my failure to stick to my morning routine last week was possibly an identity crisis.
Good news - my morning routine has recovered from its struggles last week.
What I learnt from Tony Robbins about changing my identity.
How I used the concept of the Minimum Effective Dose to get back on track.
World Productivity Day - Is that something we should really be worrying about on World Refugee Day?
What I learnt from the Body Building Yogi about multiple identities.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last week I have been exploring the concept of my identity around doing my morning routine after the habit broke down during a more hectic than normal week. A day or so ago, I watched an excellent interview with Ben Pakulski about developing mental toughness. In it he talked about "How Champions Live" and in particular addressed the concept of identity. In this episode I share my thoughts on what Ben said and how they relate to me becoming even more productive.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday was World Productivity Day. I only found out by accident this morning when I received an e mail from a productivity software company using it as a way to remind me of their service. It's ironic that I am late celebrating this day given that yesterday's episode was all about procrastination! So in an attempt to address my ignorance about World Productivity Day, I consulted Professor Google to find out more. In this episode I share what I find and add my own contribution to this little known celebration.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In an ideal world we'd be able to fix procrastination once and for all and then forever be able to get on with our important tasks when they needed to be done or even before their deadline was due (what a concept that is!). However it is an ongoing battle because of our hardwiring and human infallibility. In today's episode, I revisit the Procrastination Equation by Dr Piers Steel and explain how I dealt with today's procrastinated task. At the end of it, I was quite proud of my achievement, even if I do say so myself!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After reading Mike Rayburn's article on making changes and the importance of identity a couple of episodes ago, I thought I would expand my research and look to see what Google can tell me about changing my identity. In this episode I share my findings from an initial search on Google. I then share what Tony Robbins recommends to do if you want to change your identity.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last week I allowed my morning routine to be severely disrupted because of a shift in the level of commitments I had. I acknowledged that my approach to productivity may not be robust enough and yesterday hinted that it might be something to do with my identity. Now whilst I have an internal debate about the pros and cons of what went on and why, I still need to "get back on the horse" and start doing my morning routine again. In today's episode I share with you my first step to achieving that.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I reflect on the challenges my approach to productivity faced last weak when I crumbled and failed to follow through on the habits I have developed in the last few weeks. This was because I put pressure on my routine because of more external meetings than normal, long distance travel and big chunks of time with a client. I explore what might be the cause and identify a possible solution courtesy of a very funny guitarist I once met.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I reflect back on the week's activities and summarise the key lessons and insights from 7 days of working on my productivity skills. These include:

The results of an experiment in extending my planning horizon - how I did it and the impact it had.
5 fabulous questions to ask yourself to help you refocus your energy and activities to get the most from your time.
What I learnt from facilitating a group of senior managers and leaders trying to solve a tough issue in their business.
The hard lessons of a week where my approach to being productivity was severely tested and sadly came off second best!

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

At the beginning of the week I began an experiment to look at the impact of taking a week's view in addition to my daily view when planning. After the first 5 days, the results are in and in this episode I share my experiences of including the weekly plan.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This week has been a hectic and a busy week. It has been a stern test of some of my productivity and performance routines... one that most of them have failed miserably. In this episode I share my week, the impact it has had on what I thought were good routines and what I intend to do about them.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today’s episode I reflect on the lessons learnt after facilitating a senior management team workshop that looked at establishing the way forward on a major issue for their business.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Reflections on my day from a Service Station on the northbound M6 late at night.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I share a technique gleaned from one of the UK’s most productive people.. it will definitely give you more time if you use it and take action on what you discover.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Ever since I started this podcast I have been planning my activities on a daily basis. This has its pros and cons. From this week I am going to experiment with extending my planning horizon to look at the impact it has on my productivity. In this episode I share my reasons for doing this and what I plan to do differently.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In my regular weekly summary of this week's episodes, I reflect back on the major lessons of the week. These include:

The importance of being brutally honest with myself about how my fixed mindset manifests itself.
The two barriers to developing a Growth Mindset identified by Carol Dweck.
The single most important skill I need to develop to help me shift my mindset from Fixed to Growth
How I have implemented the IF-THEN rule to help me shift my mindset.
The powerful impact of shifting my approach to skill development from proving to improving.
The concept of neuroplasticity and my own reference points that my talent is not fixed and that I can develop new skills.
The value of conducting live "experiments" to help me shift my mindset.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today's podcast episode is an experiment on two levels. First of all I continue the exploration of how my Fixed Mindset manifests itself through the medium of learning how to dance. I also experiment with new Growth Mindset behaviours too. Secondly I do a "live" broadcast during the day where I checked in multiple times during the day to report on my mindset progress. From a mindset development perspective, It makes for very interesting listening for me as feedback on how I'm progressing.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

In today's episode I reflect on one of the two main barriers to developing a Growth Mindset which is an assumption that our traits are fixed. I explore the definition of neuroplasticity and its implications for a Growth Mindset. I also identify reference points from my past that prove I am able to change and develop new skills. If that is true, what's the problem then? In this episode I reveal where I think my challenge lies.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After setting out my stall in yesterday's episode to become more aware so I can identify my Fixed Mindset behaviours and the thoughts that trigger them, I have already had my first success. Last night I experimented with a new approach to learning and it worked AMAZINGLY. All it took was a very subtle shift in how I think about learning and practice and the results astounded me. In hindsight I already knew the theory but last night I applied it and got some real life learning about how to learn in real life. This is perhaps my favourite episode I've recorded so far.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on what I believe is the first step to me developing more of a Growth Mindset. It is actually quite simple, but I am under no illusion that it will necessarily be that easy. Time will tell.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I reflect on the steps I need to take to move from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset. I dip back into "Mindset" by Carol Dweck and look at what she recommends I do now. It appears both straightforward and complex all at the same time. It should be an interesting journey. Hear my thoughts in this episode.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This week I have committed to re-focusing my efforts on developing a growth mindset. In today's episode I thought I would share exactly how my Fixed Mindset manifests itself in my attempts to learn a variety of latin dance styles. I am brutally honest about my experiences and had to think twice about whether I share this episode with you... but I decided to risk vulnerability and publish it. It is a great example of how a Fixed Mindset is indeed like having a brake on your ability to learn, grow and develop.

The show notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

As it is the end of the week I do my usual summary of the week's episodes, highlighting the key lessons and takeaways for me from my activities to develop my personal productivity. These include:

What I learned from allowing new tasks into my daily schedule at short notice (it's called the Bunching Effect).
Key insights from Carol Dweck about how to change from a fixed to growth mindset.
Why you should have a priority list and not a list of priorities.
A really simple trick to help me double down on a couple of tasks to increase my efficiency.
The anatomy of a procrastinated task - how I created a mental monster from something quite trivial.
The results of my (now 9 week) time tracking experiment.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

At the very start of this podcast, I began tracking my time. It's an exercise I have been recommending in my seminars for years after trying it out myself when I first got into the Productivity Guru game. However it has been a long time since I have done it so I thought it would be a good idea to revisit that exercise for myself. I've now been doing it for 9 weeks and in this episode I update you on what I've discovered.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This week I have been putting something off ALL week. It is a relatively simple task but I have let it grow into a huge mental monster of a task meaning I have kept delaying doing it every day this week. In this episode I share my experiences of this and draw out some important lessons to help prevent it happening again.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

I am always on the look out of ways to be able to get even more done in much less time. By increasing my levels of efficiency and effectiveness I not only make far more progress quicker, I also get a huge amount of satisfaction from identifying these opportunities. In this episode I break down one of the ways I do this and challenge you to see if you can do something similar.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

This morning I listened to Tom Bilyeu explain his decision making process for what to work on each day. It is brilliant in both its simplicity and effectiveness. You'll kick yourself for not thinking of it once you discover what it is.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In my last episode with a Growth Mindset theme, I shared why I thought I had a Fixed Mindset. In today's episode I have once again dipped into Carol Dweck's book "Mindset" to find out what I need to do to change to a Growth Mindset. In this episode I explore beliefs, the relevance of cognitive therapy techniques, the inner dialogue we have and the unsettling consequence of changing to a Growth Mindset that no one else (apart from Dr Dweck) appear to be talking about.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share how I let my day drift and allowed all of my tasks to bunch up at the end of the day. This was because I added something in at the last minute and didn't take anything out of my plan to compensate. In this episode I describe all and (thanks to Tim Ferris) explain what I am going to do about it in future.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In my regular weekly summary of the activities on this podcast, I share the highlights of the week. These include:

A failed experiment in trying to do two things at once but what I learned anyway.
Context Switching - the reason why multi-tasking is so inefficient and one potential solution.
A reflection on how the podcast is going.
A deeper dive into the principles underpinning a growth mindset.
An embarrassing revelation of my own about having a Fixed Mindset.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I explained the difference between a Fixed and a Growth Mindset. In today's episode I bare all and reveal why I think I have a fixed mindset. It's not pretty; I'm embarrassed to admit it... but there's no denying it!

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

After declaring yesterday that I was going to focus on the development of a Growth Mindset, this episode introduces the concept and explains the difference between it and a Fixed Mindset. It draws on the work of Carol Dweck (author of "Mindset") together with my own experiences of sharing the principles in the leadership development space.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

The last few weeks have been really useful in developing my productivity muscles. I have identified a few challenges and managed to overcome them. I have understood a couple of the core constraints behind what appeared to be a lack of progress. Having sorted out the problem of not being clear enough on my goals, it is now time to turn my attention to dealing with a fixed mindset. In this episode I share my thoughts on this and explain what I will be doing over the coming episodes.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I take some time to reflect on the journey I have taken so far in developing my personal productivity. I re-visit the purpose of publishing this podcast, I look at some of the highlights so far and I give my verdict on the question "How's it going then?".

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I explore the concept of context switching. I share what it is and the impact it's had on a project I am working on. I also reveal a secret "cheat" I use to reduce the impact of context switching on the significant projects I work on.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I was faced with an either/or decision to make. Rather than make a choice between the two options, I explored how I could potentially do both. I explain how I tried (and failed) in this episode.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In this landmark podcast episode (50th consecutive daily episode), I share a brief summary of the week's activities together with the key lessons learned. These include:

IF-THEN Planning works, but you have to evolve it over time.
The importance of procedures and processes to improve efficiency and reduce cognitive load.
A powerful quote from Tim Ferris.
The importance of a morning routine and how mine has evolved.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Over the last couple of weeks, I have developed a consistent journalling routine through the effective use of IF-THEN planning. Yesterday, my approach let me down because I encountered a situation I hadn't planned for. Today I rectify that and discuss how this is a good thing.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

One of the things that has really helped me become ore productive this year is to consciously create a morning routine. In this episode I look at the importance of a morning routine and share how mine has evolved from barely getting out of bed to one that now includes stretching, yoga, strength conditioning, meditation and breathing exercises. I even explain how I managed to incorporate cold showers too (and I absolutely HATE the cold!)

The Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Today I have had an ordinary day. No major progress was made, but stuff still got done and lessons were still learnt.

In this episode I reflect on this quote from TIm Ferris and explore priorities, the concept of time management and the human element we have to overcome.

In this episode I explore how you can increase your efficiency by the use of documented processes and procedures. I share how I used them to manage the operation and maintenance of a submarine weapon system, a leadership academy in the nuclear industry and how I now use them to produce and publish this podcast.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Last week I identified using IF-THEN Planning to help me get back into journalling daily again after letting the habit slip. In today's episode I share my success with this approach and explain the theory behind why it works.

In this summary of the week's episodes I share my insights and the lessons learnt about the following:

How my weekly SCRUM retrospective identified a consistent problem.
How I was not following through on the commitments I had made to myself and the consequences of that.
The importance to journalling to developing my productivity.
Why just starting a new habit is not enough - it needs reinforcing.
A review of the book "9 Things Successful People Do Differently" by Heidi Grant Halvorson.
Applying the lessons of "9 Things..." to developing my journalling habit.

In this episode I run through each of the 9 things from Heidi Grant Halvorson's excellent book and see how they apply to my goal of making a daily journal a habit.

Show Notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode, I hinted I knew where I would go to find information about conditioning my recently declared (for the second time) intention of keeping a daily journal and reflecting on my wins and improvements. Well that source is an excellent book by Social Psychologist Heidi Grant Halvorson. In this episode I review it and summarise the key findings from it that I'll explore to help me instil my new habit.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

Having recommitted to keeping my daily journal, I recognise I still need to make it a habit. I explore this idea in this episode.

Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I re-committed to keeping a Journal as part of getting back on track to making the changes I need to incorporate to become even more productive. In this episode I explain what I am going to journal about and how I am going to do it.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode, I highlighted I'd not been following through on my micro-commitments of improvements to the way I have been working. I realised it was an important thing to address and so in this episode I look at:

The Importance of micro-commitments to success AND failure.
Examples of the micro-commitments I have made but have not followed through with.
The impact that not following through has (and it's not just the obvious).
Potential reasons why I might not be following through.
The most important next step I have identified that will help me address all of the above.

I have just completed my third sprint for my latest project and so take the opportunity in this episode to review the lessons learnt from the latest retrospective. Unfortunately it isn't all positive, however I am learning a lot from the process and am becoming far more aware of my potential downfalls.

The show notes for this episode can be found here https://profitproductivity.com/

In this weeks regular summary of the episodes of the last 7 days I share my insights in the following:

The use of a Current Reality Tree for a cause and effect analysis of human behaviour.
How I identified two major constraints in my progress to becoming even more productive.
A powerful brain friendly goal setting technique.
How my first attempt at applying the brain friendly goal setting technique was a failure.
What I learned from that failure.
How weird stuff happening to me might actually be explained in psychological terms.
How procrastination can be described in the form of a simple equation.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Dr Piers Steel wrote an excellent book called the Procrastination Equation. Given my own challenges in this area recently, I dug out my copy of his book and started dipping into it to help me get to the bottom of my challenges. In this episode I explain what the Procrastination Equation actually is.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I told you the story about an amazing coincidence that occurred whilst I was setting my goals for my business. Well today something else has happened that could be added to the "weird things going on right now" list. In this episode I share what that is and try and explain what might be going on.

The show notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In today's episode I share my first attempt at applying the brain friendly goal setting technique I shared with you yesterday. Unfortunately it didn't go as well as I would have liked but I learnt a tremendous amount from the experience. However I do share a rather spooky story around the setting my goals that either proves there is something to manifestation or it is a ridiculous example of an amazing coincidence.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here https://profitproductivity.com/

In yesterday's episode I used a cause and effect analysis process to identify my current constraints. I unearthed two major constraints, one of which was a lack of clarity on my goals. Or more accurately, the lack of any meaningful goals. So I know I have to set some goals. In this episode I share the details of a goal setting method I've discovered that I think is going to do the trick. It comes with its own neuroscience explanation as well as a step by step approach to putting it into action.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I explained what a Current Reality Tree was and how I intended to use it to analyse why I keep putting things off. Well I did just that and in this episode I talk you through the process and share my findings about why I procrastinate and have let things slip recently. It boils down to just two main constraints - one of which completely shocked me. Listen in to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/

Previously I have thought my lack of discipline was the reason for me putting things off. Well as a consultant, I have decided to become my own client and help me get to the bottom of what is going on. Putting things off is merely the undesirable effect, i.e. it is a symptom. There are probably a few less obvious problems causing this symptom. I need to unearth those. In this episode I explain the principles behind the tool I have chosen to conduct a root cause analysis on myself.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here https://profitproductivity.com/

This has been a difficult weekly summary to record because things are not going well. I am letting things slide, I'm procrastinating and the quality of my work is declining. I can provide lots of excuses but I need to delve deeper and find the reasons. Listen to this episode to hear just how badly the week has gone and what I feel about it.

The Show Notes For This Episode Can Be Found Here https://profitproductivity.com/

Yesterday I had a startling realisation I was letting a lot of things slip. Tasks were being put off. The quality of my blog posts for the podcast was slipping and I keep allowing myself to get side tracked from what I'd intended to do. Yesterday I put it all down to discipline together with a couple of other things I thought might be contributing to the problem. Today I was going to start looking at how to improve my discipline. It seemed the obvious place to start. But then I realised I needed to put my consultant's hat on and become my own client. This episode explains all.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

One of the advantages of doing a podcast, journalling and tracking your time, is you start to see trends. As long as you are honest with yourself when you are presented with the facts, you can do a good analysis of what you see. I've done just that and I realised I am faced with the consequences of a lack of discipline. There are also a couple of other problems I have that are affecting my ability to be productive. I discuss them in this episode.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Today has been a very productive day because I have spent time with a colleague sharing ideas and getting a sanity check on each other's projects. In this episode, I explore the importance to your productivity of involving someone else and getting a second opinion. I cover topics such as the avoidance of confirmation bias, the perils of the curse of knowledge, System 1 vs System 2 thinking and the importance of having a growth mindset.

The show notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Finding myself at the end of a busy day, it is gone 11.00pm and I need to do my daily podcast episode. In this episode I reflect on why I allowed myself to leave recording the episode so late in the day and look at possible options of topics I could (and perhaps should) have talked about.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

Looking forward to indulging in one of my few vices, I reached into the fridge, broke off a piece of Green & Blacks 85% dark organic chocolate and popped it into my mouth. To my surprise I found myself chewing on something very hard amongst the melting chocolate. It was a chunk of one of my molars. Fortunately there was no pain. But I needed to get it fixed. Within 2 hours I had phoned the dentist, arranged an emergency appointment, had the tooth fix and was on my way home. This episode reflects on the lessons I learnt from the experience.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Last week I had my first sprint for my project to create my productivity seminar I'm running in a few months time. In today's episode I take you through the principles of a Sprint Retrospective and conduct my own for last week's effort. It was a busy week with a lot of progress made on my project, plenty of good things that happened and a lot of lessons learnt. I review them all and share what I am going to do to make next week even better.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

In this look back over the last 7 days of the Productivity Podcast I share some of the key insights I have gleaned from another week of developing my own personal effectiveness. These include:

Being aware of my results versus my intentions identified a worrying trend in my behaviour.
Refocusing on being focused worked really well for me.
The Pyramid of Personal Productivity - The difference between efficient and effective and where they sit on the pyramid
The importance of shutting out distractions
How my new system for updating my receipts is working.
The latest results from my third week of tracking my time (good news all round and an impressive improvement)

The show notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

At the end of the third week where I have been tracking my time to see how my focus is spread across my commitments, I share the results. There are some impressive gains that are there JUST because I am tracking my time.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

In the first couple of episodes of this podcast I shared how I was procrastinating on sorting out my receipts. I always had a habit of letting them build up over 3 months and then putting off dealing with them ahead of the VAT reporting deadline each quarter. Well in those early episodes I addressed that problem and came up with a solution. In this episode I update you on how I am getting on with that solution and reflect on some of the lessons I learnt.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com

In today's episode I share my experience of focusing on my prime task and how I managed to shut out interruptions. I was distracted by the phone going off 5 different times - but I ignored it each time. I also address the rather obvious point about why I a) didn't switch it to silent in the first place and b) why I didn't switch it to silent the first time it went off after realising it was still on! Intelligence is not a pre-requisite for publishing a podcast on productivity!

The show notes for this episode can be found at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Those who use the terms "Efficient" and "Effective" probably don't appreciate they mean very different things. Certainly in the context of personal productivity, there is a big difference. In this episode I explore both ideas and put them in the context of the workplace environment. To do that I introduce my concept of the Pyramid of Personal Productivity.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

After yesterday's episode where I talked about a disturbing trend I had spotted in my productivity, today I did a couple of things different to the way I have been doing them. One was an excellent choice that helped me make significant progress on on of my projects. The other... Well I'm too embarrassed to admit it in writing here, but I talk about it in today's episode.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

Today is the first day of my first Sprint of my project to put together my next seminar series. Unfortunately I have hit a glitch that left me 2 hours behind schedule in the middle of the afternoon AND without completing anything I'd planned for the morning. In this episode I share my experiences and explore what I'm going to do about it.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at: https://profitproductivity.com/

In this episode I review what I've covered this week on the podcast. It has been an exciting week with lots of progress made on moving my productivity forward to even higher levels. It's not all been plain sailing though because I wasted and opportunity of Friday and let slip a couple of behaviours I had started. Even so, here's an overview of some of the things I cover in this episode:

Time tracking - the principles of how, what and why and the results of two weeks of keeping a detailed time log.
My Learning From Experience lessons gleaned from the Nuclear and Aviation Industries
My first detailed dive into the principles of SCRUM including the principles of sprints, the scrum master, backlogs and reducing waste
How I created my first backlog for my project.
What happened when I let a "Power Day" run away from me.
And.....I get very excited about the potential of applying SCRUM to my own projects and working with teams.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here at https://profitproductivity.com/

After getting so much value from tracking how I was using my time last week, I have continued the experiment this week. In this short episode I wax lyrical (again) about how useful it is and share the insights I gained from the data.

Unfortunately I let today run away from me and that meant today's episode is a short one commenting on how I ended up recording it past midnight.

Yesterday I gave an overview of the SCRUM process with my partial review of the book by Jeff Sutherland. Today I have started work on using SCRUM for my project to develop my next seminar series on productivity. This episode updates you on what I've done today.

The Show Notes (together with photographs of the Backlog and Kanban Board) can be found here: https://profitproductivity.com/

I have been tentatively aware of SCRUM and agile working for a while now but have never really explored what it entails. Recently I was given a copy of SCRUM - The Art Of Doing Twice The Work In Half The Time by Jeff Sutherland by a good friend who was using it in his organisation to great effect. I devoured it and got VERY excited by it. As a former full time project manager it sang to me like no other book on projects and team working has ever done. Coupled with my experiences of teaching leadership over the last 8 years, I got VERY excited by this book. In this episode of the Profit Productivity Podcast, I outline the key principles of SCRUM as presented in the book and give my thoughts on them. I also share how I am going to be using this approach to put together my next personal productivity seminar series.

You will find a HUGE mind map summary of the book at https://profitproductivity.com/ (look for episode 011)

In this episode I expand on the theme of continuous improvement by looking at the concept of LFE (Learning from Experience). I explain what it is by drawing on examples from the Nuclear and Aviation Industry. Then I use a recent example from my own work where the application of Learning From Experience for a problem I had over nearly 4 years ago saved me over 2 hours of wasted time and frustration today.

The Show Notes for this episode can be found here https://profitproductivity.com/

This is probably the most important episode so far of the Profit Productivity Podcast. Keeping an accurate and comprehensive time log for at least a week and then analysing the results is something I've been recommending in my Getting More Done Seminar for years now. I am revisiting it again for myself and in this episode I explain why. I also share how I did it and what I discovered. Not only that, you'll get to understand why I am gladly going to be doing it again this week!

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com/.

In this episode of the Profit Productivity Podcast I review my progress over the last days. It has been a busy week with a lot going on and here I pull out the key lessons from each day. These include:

How to overcome procrastinating a task you HATE doing
8 procrastination hacks that helped me get through a really HORRIBLE task
The simple three step continuous improvement process you can apply to any project
Three important questions to ask yourself when you are faced with a task you are continually putting off.
How to apply continuous improvement to your daily plans
2 simple questions to ask yourself at the end of each day to ensure you capture the lessons learnt and make the following day even better
Considerations when deciding between transactional work and relational work
An experiment with experiments - things I tried differently just to see how it felt.

After a busy week of striving to achieve and learning the lessons of what it takes to be productive. Today I have decided to experiment with taking things a little easier to see what happens and how I feel. Some useful results. Listen to find out more.

The show notes for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com

For a podcast that aims at sharing best practice about getting more done, I seem to be spending a lot of time sharing my experiences of overrunning tasks, procrastination and failure to achieve my daily goals. In today's (very short) episode I explain how and why I put the quality of an important relationship ahead of the to do list.

In today's episode I talk you through my application of continuous improvement to yesterday's activities. I share my reflections on yesterday and how effective the revisions I planned on making today were. I'd like to announce amazing progress, but unfortunately today had it's highs and lows as far as continuous improvement is concerned.

In yesterday's episode I shared my process of learning from the experience of procrastination. In this episode I explain how I am experimenting with using the same models to review and reflect on my day and then revise what I do and how I do them.

In this episode I talk through the principles of self-reflection in the context of a growth mindset. I share the three power questions I will now use whenever I am faced with a task I detest. I also reveal the simple change I am going to make with yesterday's task and how I identified that.

Show notes and/or the episode transcript can be found at https://profitproductivity.com

Many people have tasks they absolutely hate but have to do as part of their work. Today I share my experience of having one of those tasks and how I overcame my natural inertia to getting it done. I explain why I kept putting it off and share 7 specific things I did to get it done quickly once I made the decision to do it. These steps can be applied to just about any task you might be putting off because you HATE doing it.

The show notes and transcript for this episode can be found at https://profitproductivity.com

This first edition is a simple welcome to the upcoming podcast series dedicated to helping you achieve more from your efforts. It covers the following points:

The benefits of listening to this podcast to you
An introduction to Michael Tipper, the host of the podcast.
Why there needs to be a shift form knowledge based development to behaviour based development
The problems of too much "knowing" and not enough "doing".
The staggering amount of information on "Time Management" available on websites, Amazon and YouTube.
How the challenges of our internet/social media driven world have created the need for a new generation of personal productivity
How the podcast will draw upon the latest developments in neuroscience and performance psychology
The importance of developing habits that get our work done, but also keep individual well being in mind.
Why there is a mental health crisis related to how we manage our work looming on the horizon (if indeed it's not already here!)
What you can expect from the podcast