The Productivity Show: Recent Episodes

Asian Efficiency

Win Back Time, Double Your Energy And Achieve Your Goals. Become more productive at work and in life. Get weekly episodes on productivity, time management, and efficiency to achieve your goals in record time.

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Rigid time-blocking sounds great in theory—until your 10 AM deep work block gets hijacked by an urgent meeting and you feel behind before lunch. In this episode, Thanh and Brooks break down why traditional time-blocking fails and share 5 adaptive planning methods that actually survive real life: flexible focus blocks, rolling daily Top 3, time theming, buffer blocks, and energy-based planning. Your calendar should preserve your intent, not punish you for being human.

Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

See what ElevenAgents can do for your specific workflows Start with a demo at elevenlabs.io/tps.

Learn more about how Notion can support your business at notion.com/tps.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎯 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:39] * 🧱 Why the calendar block you swore by is quietly failing you [6:22] * 🤹 The counterintuitive move: running five tasks at once and calling it focus [8:53] * 🔔 The brand-new kind of distraction nobody warned you about [18:09] * 📉 The hidden “debt” you rack up when your agents work faster than you can learn [21:31] * ✅ Top 3 tasks or total focus hours—which one actually predicts a good day? [26:11] * 🗓️ The one scheduling hack that frees up the rest of your week [34:37] * ⏸️ The 15 minutes between meetings that change everything (and the 2-skip rule) [38:19] * 🔋 Why Friday afternoon is the perfect time to do Monday’s work [44:09]

Links* ElevenLabs / Eleven Agents * Masterclass * Mint Mobile * Notion * 25X Productivity Coaching * Anker USB C Adapter * Logitech MX Master 4 * CyberPower UPS * Claude * Elgato Stream Deck XL * OmniFocus * Calendly * Fantastical * The 12 Week Year

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What are you actually building when you chase a goal that takes years to reach? Most of us measure progress by whether we got the thing — the promotion, the number, the car in the driveway. But that scorecard misses the part that compounds. This encore episode gives you a better way to read your own progress, so the goals you’re grinding on right now pay off even when the outcome is slower or smaller than you hoped.

You’ll learn why setbacks are data rather than verdicts, how to make decisions when every dollar and hour counts, and what actually carries forward from one accomplished goal into the next one. Ten minutes, and you’ll walk away with a clearer sense of what you’re really earning — and why the next impossible thing on your list will feel more possible than this one did.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

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Links* DripDrop — 20% off your first order with promo code TPS * 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Inbox zero is not the win. You can hit inbox zero every single day and still feel like you’re drowning—because the real problem isn’t the inbox. It’s that most people are bolting AI tools onto a broken system. Today we’re going to fix that. We’re going to show you how to think about AI not as a collection of individual tools, but as an operating system—with five distinct layers that take you from incoming chaos to trusted next actions and protected deep-work blocks.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Shopify: Own your customer relationships. Own your revenue. Start with a free trial at shopify.com/tps.

DripDrop: Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Even Realities: Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎛️ Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:28] * 🔌 The Stream Deck button that shuts up a noisy office fridge [4:47] * 🧩 Stop using AI in random bursts — the five layers that change everything [6:44] * 🎙️ Why capturing every meeting means you finally act on what you promised [7:37] * 💬 The workaround for pulling Teams and Slack context into your AI [13:00] * 🗂️ The mountain of captured stuff — and how AI finally clears it [19:33] * ⚖️ When “good enough” AI beats code, and when it absolutely doesn’t [25:24] * 📅 Let AI plan your week around your energy peaks, not just your open slots [30:40] * 🤖 Building the “software factory” that drafts your emails while you sleep [41:19] * 🚪 The gates that keep your AI agents from going off the rails [46:30]

Links* + Shopify + DripDrop + Even Realities + 25X Productivity Coaching + Elgato Stream Deck + How Brooks uses the Stream Deck (AE blog post) + TRMNL + Oura Ring + How Thanh uses the Oura Ring (AE blog post) + Granola + Airtable + OmniFocus + Todoist + Hazel + Robert Smith, Vista Equity Partners

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Does your to-do list go off the rails before lunch? For fast-moving professionals in high-growth environments, the plan you make at 8am can be obsolete by 9. New clients, broken systems, back-to-back meetings — the day hijacks your priorities, and by 5pm you’re taking the laptop home just to catch up on the work you meant to do hours ago.

In this encore episode, we share the simple skill that pulls order out of that chaos, and it’s the difference between feeling perpetually behind and staying on top of your game. If you’ve ever ended a busy day wondering where all your time went, this one’s worth ten minutes.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

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Links* Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Most people think the gap is between those who use AI and those who don’t. It’s not. The real gap is between people who are AI-curious and people who are AI-fluent. In this episode, we break down the three levels of AI fluency—from casual assistance to workflows to autonomous agents—and show you exactly why access to AI isn’t the advantage. Fluency is. Learn the framework that separates people getting massive productivity gains from those stuck at square one.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

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Cheat Sheet* 🤖 The productivity gap nobody’s talking about — and it’s not access [2:00] * 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50] * 🍕 The answer that made people swear off AI for good [6:45] * 🖥️ The accountant who’d never opened a terminal, and the demo that flipped a skeptical senior dev [10:36] * 🪜 Assistant, workflow, agent: the three-level map that shows exactly where you’re stuck [19:29] * ⚙️ The two-word question that beats hours of Googling “how do I…” [26:17] * 🔑 The “wedge” that turns an AI skeptic into someone who calls Claude their best friend [34:47] * 🕳️ Why measuring AI adoption by token spend backfires — plus the Ford layoff cautionary tale [42:49]

Links* Upwork * DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off * Even Realities — promo code TPS * Masterclass — at least 15% off annual membership * 25X Productivity Coaching * Recomendo newsletter * Worse on Purpose * Lenny’s Podcast — Building the most AI-pilled engineering team (Fiona Fung) * Apple Sports * Claude * Claude Design * OpenAI Codex * Productivity Academy

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Decision fatigue is not about mental collapse. It is about subtle quality decay. The more choices your day demands, the more likely you are to procrastinate, default, or choose what is easy instead of what matters. Here are three rules to stop it.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Use promo code TPS at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

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Links* Even Realities (Even G2) * 25X Productivity Coaching * Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Should you really eat that frog first thing every morning? We aren’t so sure, and in this encore episode, we’re throwing out four pieces of productivity advice so widely repeated that most people follow them without ever asking whether they actually work. From the classics to the modern assumptions, we make the case that some of the most popular productivity wisdom might be quietly holding you back.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Masterclass: Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎧 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:31] * 🌅 Why the early risers really win — and the “time arbitrage” idea behind it [5:17] * 📅 The “crazy” one-day meeting fix that gave back the whole week [11:16] * 📈 What actually happened after every meeting moved to Wednesday [17:00] * 💸 The productivity lever nobody in this industry talks about [24:12] * 🙋 No budget? How to buy back time when you’re starting from zero [35:00] * 🐸 The take that might get Brooks fired: skip eating the frog [39:56]

Links* Masterclass * Even Realities * HomeServe * 25X Productivity Coaching * Grailed * Daylio * Snapseed * 8 Strategies for Waking Up Early and Becoming a Morning Person (TPS130) * Scaling Up by Verne Harnish * 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) * TaskRabbit * Instacart * Whole Foods Market * Bodybuilding.com * WebMD * How I Spend $5,000/Month to Win Back Time * Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy * Erin Chase — $5 Dinners * Structuring the Day and Week w/ Erin Chase (TPS226)

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Most AI meeting assistants create transcripts, but few actually save time. We rank the top tools like Otter, Fireflies, and Fathom based on ruthless practicality. Learn how to automate your follow-up, reclaim 10 to 20 hours a week, and close deals faster by eliminating post-meeting admin work.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS.

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Links* DripDrop * 25X Productivity Coaching * Otter * Fireflies * Fathom * Zoom AI Companion * Granola * Read AI * Lindy * Todoist * Attio

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How many good decisions do you actually have in you each day? Ari Meisel says the answer is about two dozen — which means your inbox, with its thousands of tiny choices, is quietly bankrupting you before lunch. In this encore conversation, the founder of Less Doing joins us to reframe email as a decision-making problem rather than a communication one, and to explain why he’s replaced almost all of his messaging with asynchronous voice. He shares how he runs a coaching business, closes sales, and stays close with far-flung friends without a single call on his calendar — and how those constraints made him more effective, not less.

If you’re looking for genuinely unconventional ways to do less and get more done, this one’s worth your time.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎧 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:43] * 🔥 The diagnosis that cut an 18-hour workday down to one [4:05] * ⏳ Forget “eat the frog” — the prioritization rule most people miss [6:32] * 📥 Why your inbox isn’t an email problem at all [11:11] * 🎙️ How he closed a $1,500 sale in 8 minutes of voice notes [19:40] * ⚡ Drowning in a new inbox? The four-times-speed fix [26:10] * 🩺 The hospital night that turned him into a data geek [34:59] * 🍽️ The one non-negotiable he wishes he’d started sooner [40:35] * 👋 Where to find Ari [44:39]

Links* DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off your first order * Mint Mobile * Keeper — 60% off personal and family plans * 25X Productivity Coaching * Voxer * Smart Nora * Emergency by Neil Strauss * Less Doing * Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy * Double Double by Cameron Herold * Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold * Oura Ring * Levels * Dexcom * Viome

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Why did reading twenty books a year suddenly become impossible? Thanh used to fly through books and podcasts without a second thought — until his ability to concentrate quietly started slipping away, and no amount of blocking notifications or silencing his phone fixed it. The distraction wasn’t coming from his devices. It was coming from inside his own head.

In this encore episode, Thanh breaks down what actually happened, the strange mix of experiments he ran to fix it, and the concept of attention management that came out the other side — a shift in thinking that helped him concentrate for 90 minutes or more at a stretch. If you’ve noticed your own focus fading and assumed it was just a willpower problem, this episode makes the case that it isn’t.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

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Links* Keeper Security * 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Most productivity advice tells you to add: more goals, more apps, more habits, more trackers, more systems. But what if the fastest path to better results isn’t adding anything at all—it’s subtraction? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks explore why removing friction beats adding motivation, and how a subtraction audit can transform your productivity faster than any new resolution.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Shopify: Own your customer relationships. Own your revenue. Start with a free trial at shopify.com/tps.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

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Cheat Sheet* 🏆 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:37] * ⏱️ The weekly review question that uncovers hidden hours you didn’t know you had [7:24] * 📥 The one-inbox rule that made it easier to capture — and actually find — ideas later [11:24] * 💻 The new device ritual both hosts use to make every app earn its place back [21:44] * 🗑️ The 15-minutes-a-day method that makes decluttering actually stick [29:40] * ✅ Why “maybe” is just another way of saying no [35:45] * 🤖 The AI side effect that quietly cancelled Thanh’s app subscriptions [38:50]

Links* Shopify * Keeper Security * Even Realities * 25X Productivity Coaching * Obsidian Web Clipper * Bose Ultra Open Earbuds * Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb * Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb * The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb * Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman * OmniFocus * Drafts * Evernote * Things * DEVONthink * Mike Vardy * OpenAI Codex * NAPO * Hell Yeah or No — Derek Sivers (article) * Hell Yeah or No by Derek Sivers * David Sparks / MacSparky

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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When was the last time you actually counted how many wishes you have? In this episode, Thanh unpacks a line that’s stuck with him for years: when we’re sick, we only want one thing back, but when we’re healthy, we have a thousand wishes. That idea comes from one of the most-gifted books in his library, built on interviews with people near the end of their lives about the lessons they wanted to pass on — and it reshaped how Thanh thinks about productivity itself.

Thanh breaks down why relationships, purpose, and health are the real foundation of happiness, and why optimizing for happiness, not just output, is what actually makes us more productive. He also shares the simple gratitude practice he uses every morning to keep this front of mind. It’s a quick, honest reminder that no task on your list is worth sacrificing the people and moments that matter most.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida.

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Links* HomeServe * 25X Productivity Coaching * 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans * Productivity Academy

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever find yourself staring at your to-do list at 3 PM, unable to decide what to do next? Or ordering the same lunch every day because choosing feels impossible? You are not bad at follow-through. You are drowning in micro-decisions.

Decision fatigue isn’t a dramatic mental collapse. It’s a subtle quality decay that creeps in as your day accumulates choices—each one nibbling away at your capacity to judge, prioritize, and choose well. By the time you hit the afternoon, you’re not lazy. You’re depleted.

In this episode, we break down what decision fatigue actually feels like (hint: it’s not what the pop-psych headlines say), where it comes from, and the three rules that stop it cold: decide once, decide earlier, decide smaller.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

Listen to this episode (MP3)

Cheat Sheet* 🏆 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:39] * ⚖️ The decision-fatigue study you’ve heard a hundred times — and why it might be wrong [6:23] * 🤖 Why AI doesn’t reduce your decisions — it concentrates them [10:38] * 👔 Brooks’s podcast confession about what he wears every day [18:19] * 📐 The simple rule that stops your team from asking ‘can I do this?’ [25:32] * 🧠 The one hour a week Thanh blocks off just to think [27:43] * 📁 The 70-document folder that makes Thanh’s AI know him better [38:02] * 🗣️ The 3-step way to make any AI actually know you [42:15] * 🛬 The ‘lower the altitude’ trick for decisions that feel too big to make [47:37] * ✅ This week’s challenge: find the one decision you keep making over and over [53:01]

Links* Masterclass * HomeServe * Keeper * Even Realities * 25X Productivity Coaching * Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote * AirPods Max * Eight Sleep * Oura Ring * TEA Framework * Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish * The Perfect Bar * Claude * Wispr Flow * Getting Things Done (GTD)

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If your brain feels weird in summer, it is not a character flaw. It is a systems mismatch. Learn why your brain works differently in June than January and how to use the Summer Reset framework to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks to the hottest parts of the day.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Listen to this episode (MP3)

Links* DripDrop * 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Most AI meeting assistants save notes, but fewer actually save time. In this episode, we move past the hype to rank tools like Otter, Fireflies, Fathom, and Zoom AI Companion based on ruthless practicality. We evaluate them to help you find the one that reliably removes post-meeting work rather than just creating prettier transcripts.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Listen to this episode (MP3)

Cheat Sheet* 🏆 Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:01] * 🤖 The meeting where AI bots outnumbered the actual humans [5:32] * 🚫 Why some meeting organizers are now blocking AI notetakers outright [8:16] * 📥 The strange email problem you get when your AI drafts everything for you [12:03] * 🛠️ The one popular meeting assistant that never actually joins your call [22:39] * ⚙️ How your action items could update your task list without you lifting a finger [25:16] * 📚 How one offhand story in a meeting becomes content gold automatically [32:10] * ⚖️ The one type of meeting where an AI assistant is a bad idea [40:45] * 👓 The parking-lot trick people use to hide that their smart glasses are recording [47:45] * ✅ The 15-minute fix that could save you months of repeated meetings [50:03]

Links* DripDrop * Claude * Keeper * Even Realities * 25X Productivity Coaching * How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer * TextSniper * Tech Brew Ride Home * Lindy * Otter * Fireflies * Fathom * Granola * MacWhisper * Zapier * Make

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Stop managing time and start managing energy. Learn how to identify the physical, mental, and emotional drains killing your productivity. We explore the Energy Audit framework, sleep hygiene, and recovery rituals to help you rebuild capacity and perform at your peak. Discover why vitality is the real secret to getting things done without burning out.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

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Links* Claude.ai/tps * 25X Productivity Coaching * Pomodoro Technique * TEA Framework * SXSW * Clearing to Neutral

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If your brain feels “off” in July, it’s not a character flaw—it’s a systems mismatch. Summer changes the biological inputs your brain responds to: more daylight, intense heat, and schedule volatility. In this episode, we break down the science of why your January operating system fails in July and share a Summer Reset framework to redesign your workflow around seasonal reality. Learn how to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks strategically to stay productive without the guilt.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎧 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:11] * ☀️ Why your January productivity system quietly breaks every summer [5:45] * 👨‍👩‍👧 The kid factor and the coworker factor: two things that derail even disciplined summers [7:28] * 🌡️ The underappreciated reason you can’t think straight when it’s hot outside [16:21] * 📚 The backlog season: when your someday-maybe list finally becomes your to-do list [21:06] * 🎯 The case for “chill goals” and giving yourself grace when summer disrupts your plans [24:49] * 💰 The counterintuitive time to buy winter clothes (and other summer spending moves) [34:21] * 👥 The friend you only see in summer — and what that says about your seasonal schedule [38:17] * 🍹 Lighter rum, bigger ice cubes, and the one routine tweak to try this summer [43:34]

Links* Shopify * Mint Mobile * Claude * Keeper Security * 25X Productivity Coaching * Dell UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U5226KW) * BetterDisplay * Anker Laptop Power Bank, 25,000mAh * TEA Framework * Eisenhower Matrix

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How is it possible that doing less could make you more productive? It sounds like a contradiction, but the truth is most of us are grinding through the day in a way that’s quietly working against us — skipping breaks, ignoring hunger, running on empty — and calling it discipline. It’s not. It’s just exhaustion with good PR.

In this encore episode, we make the case for building intentional renewal into your day — not as a luxury, but as a performance strategy. From 10-second micro breaks to the surprisingly powerful nap, you’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to recharge without losing your flow. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is strategically stop.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

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Links* Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * 25X Productivity System * Pomodoro Technique

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Is AI actually saving you time, or just creating a productivity mirage? In this episode, we explore the “jagged technological frontier” and identify 7 warning signs that your AI tools are quietly increasing the drag on your work. From “workslop” to the verification trap, we break down how to ensure AI remains a force multiplier rather than a place to hide. Learn the AE rule for subtracting friction and audit your workflow for real results.
Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order.

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Cheat Sheet* 🛠️ Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:59] * 🌀 How AI turned a devoted monotasker into someone juggling 8 simultaneous agent terminals [10:09] * ⚖️ The 80/10/10 rule that reframes whether you still need to single-task in the AI era [19:46] * 🔨 The automation trap: why jumping to AI before you’ve done something yourself is a mistake [24:39] * 👀 The silent credibility killer in your AI-generated content (that no one will tell you about) [28:14] * ✍️ A simple habit that makes AI-drafted emails sound like you actually wrote them [34:51] * 🔄 Flipping the lens: where AI actually earns its keep [41:52] * 🧩 The “one tweak at a time” method that beats building a big AI workflow from scratch [42:24] * 🎤 The prompting move that makes AI interview you instead of the other way around [46:09] * 🎨 Getting polished motion graphics from AI when you have zero visual instincts [48:37]

Links* Masterclass * Upwork * Even Realities G2 * 25X Productivity Coaching * Center Stage (Apple’s camera framing feature) * Lungo * Amphetamine * Setapp * Open: An Autobiography — Andre Agassi * Claude * ChatGPT * Gemini * OpenAI Codex * Claude Code * OmniFocus * Alfred

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How much of your to-do list actually requires you? Most people grind through endless tasks without pausing to ask that question — and it’s costing them their focus, energy, and joy in their work. In this encore episode, we introduce the concept of “life leverage”: a simple but powerful filter for identifying the tasks that only you can do, and letting go of everything else. Once you find your life leverage, delegation stops feeling like a luxury and starts feeling obvious.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

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Links* DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off your first order * 25X Productivity Coaching

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Does your work calendar bleed into your personal life? Do your personal tasks creep into your workday? You’re not disorganized — you’re caught in the “have it all” trap: the belief that keeping everything together means staying on top of everything. It doesn’t. It just means everything competes for your attention, all the time.

In this encore episode, we break down four practical strategies for separating work and personal productivity — so you can actually be present at work when you’re working, and present at home when you’re not. If you’ve ever felt like you’re always half-focused on two things instead of fully focused on one, this episode is your way out.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps

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Get 60% off personal and family plans at keepersecurity.com/TPS

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Cheat Sheet* 🎧 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:28] * 🤔 Why keeping everything “together” is quietly wrecking your focus [3:26] * ✂️ The counterintuitive first move: cut before you organize [6:54] * 📥 How to stop tasks and information from falling through the cracks [22:28] * 🔭 Build a system that makes distraction nearly impossible [32:24] * ⚖️ Why “balance” is a trap — and what to pursue instead [41:10]

Links* Shopify * DripDrop — promo code tps * Keeper Security * 25X Productivity Coaching * LegalShield * Fantastical * TripMode * OmniFocus * BusyCal * Postbox * Mailplane * Spark * Drafts * Field Notes * Instacart * TaskRabbit * Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein * TPS241 — Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year * TPS242 — 4 Tools to Automate Your Technology and Save 100+ Hours a Year * TPS282 — Web Automation: The Easiest Way to Be More Productive Online * Why You Need to Color-Code Your Calendar — Asian Efficiency

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When’s the last time you felt totally locked in? Ideas flowing, focus sharp, getting more done in two hours than you normally do all day? That feeling isn’t random luck. It’s your biology working in your favor, and you can engineer it to happen on purpose. Your brain runs on a predictable 24-hour energy cycle, and most people are unknowingly scheduling their hardest work during their worst hours.

Peak positioning is the simple strategy of mapping your most important tasks to the moments when your mind is naturally at its sharpest. In this encore episode, we break down the science behind your daily energy peaks and valleys, and you’ll discover a dead-simple formula to find yours — no fancy gear required. Once you know your pattern, everything changes.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs.

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Links* HomeServe * 25X Productivity Coaching * RISE Science app * TEA Framework (Time, Energy, Attention) — Asian Efficiency

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Discover the real-world productivity stack the Asian Efficiency team relies on daily. We move beyond the hype to explore how tools should support your systems, not create overhead. Learn our criteria for choosing apps by role, when simple tools beat complex ones, and our specific recommendations for capture, task management, calendars, and automation. Whether you’re looking to audit your setup or simplify your workflow, this episode provides concrete examples of what works, what we abandoned, and how to build a stack that supports your time, energy, and attention.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs.

For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

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Cheat Sheet* 🎙️ Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29] * 🦖 The first category of apps about to be replaced by your AI chat window [7:17] * 🔌 The hidden feature that decides which apps survive the AI era [10:44] * ⚡ The boring task an Atlassian button quietly killed for Brooks [14:26] * 🧠 Brooks’s surprising “central hub” for everything he does — and it isn’t his task manager [20:52] * 📊 Why Thanh ditched his task app for a spreadsheet (and let agents work the board) [25:37] * 🧮 The beautiful little app Thanh thinks AI is about to eat [30:55] * 🔑 The password manager trick that lets AI agents log in for you [35:48] * 🛠️ The “tried and true” apps still earning their place after the AI takeover [37:32] * 🪣 The drag-and-drop trick that ended Brooks’s AppleScript problem for good [45:12] * 🤖 Why Codex might be a quietly great choice for desktop automation [47:43] * 💭 The apps we’d build tomorrow if we had a free weekend [50:39] * 🚀 Inside the “mission control” dashboard Thanh built to fire off agents with one click [51:57]

Links* HomeServe * Claude * Keeper * Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * Mike Vardy * Wispr Flow * Elgato Stream Deck Pedal * Granola * MyFitnessPal * Lose It * OmniFocus * Todoist * Lindy * Atlassian Rovo * Obsidian * Fantastical * Airtable * OpenClaw * Hermes Agent * Evernote * Soulver * OpenAI Realtime * Day One * TextExpander * Spotify * Tailscale * NordVPN * Jump Desktop * HomeControl Menu for HomeKit * Elgato Stream Deck * Keyboard Maestro * Setapp * Bartender * Dropzone * OpenAI Codex

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How is it that some people seem to keep getting more valuable, more connected, and more successful — almost effortlessly — while others work just as hard and stay stuck? The answer isn’t talent or luck. It’s three specific investments that quietly compound in the background, and most people never deliberately make them.

In this encore episode, we break down the exact strategy used to build Asian Efficiency from the ground up — stacking high-leverage skills, building a network that opens doors you didn’t even know existed, and using coaching to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Simple, actionable, and less than 10 minutes. Your future self will thank you.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

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Links* Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * Asian Efficiency * Gary Vaynerchuk * Michael Dell

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Ever feel like your focus just disappears after an hour of work? It’s not laziness—it’s biology. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of ultradian rhythms and why the popular “90-minute focus block” is both powerful and often misunderstood. We’ll separate productivity mythology from real biology, showing you how to identify your own peak windows, use deliberate recovery breaks, and adapt these blocks to fit your real life. Stop fighting your brain and start working with your natural energy cycles.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps

Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

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Cheat Sheet* 🏆 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:31] * 📱 The sneaky way busyness tricks you into thinking you had a productive day [5:54] * ✅ Why counting tasks done is one of the most dangerous productivity habits [9:01] * 📊 The token leaderboard problem — and why short-term metrics always backfire [16:48] * 🔄 The 90-minute mini-cycle your body runs all day (and what it means for your work) [19:29] * 🗓️ How to actually build a 90-minute focus block that fits your real life [24:25] * 🍅 Are you leaving focus on the table with the Pomodoro Technique? [28:21] * ☕ What a real break looks like — and how to stay productive when life keeps interrupting [36:58] * 🎯 The one thing to track this week that could change how you structure your entire day [40:24]

Links* Shopify * Masterclass * Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * Forest – focus timer app * Anker laptop power bank * Baseus USB-C retractable cable * Nick Gray * The Power of Full Engagement – Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz * Oura Ring * WHOOP * Andrew Huberman – Huberman Lab * Pomodoro Technique * What to Make of a Life – Jim Collins

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Stop chasing the perfect app. I am sharing the real world productivity stack we use at Asian Efficiency and why your system matters more than the software. Learn how to choose tools by role, reduce friction with voice capture, and build your stack incrementally to support your time, energy, and attention without creating unnecessary overhead.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

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Links* DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off * 25X Productivity Coaching * Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time w/ Oliver Burkeman (TPS468) * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals * TEA Framework * Asian Efficiency

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How do you stay productive, present, and sane while raising kids who seem to change the rules on you every few years? Julie Morgenstern — New York Times bestselling author of Time to Parent — has spent 30 years helping people answer exactly that question, and she brings a refreshingly framework-driven approach to one of life’s messiest juggling acts.

In this encore episode, Julie walks us through her PART and SELF frameworks — two interlocking systems that clarify what parents actually owe their kids, and what they owe themselves. You’ll learn why kids don’t need big blocks of your time (just consistent, undivided attention in short bursts), how to stop the chore wars with a simple index card exercise, and why it’s never too late to hit reset — whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS.

Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

Get the right life insurance for you and save more than 50% on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS.

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Cheat Sheet* 👨‍👧 Why the productivity advice you know probably doesn’t work for parents [1:06] * 🗺️ The half of parenting productivity nobody talks about [7:47] * 📋 The job description parenting never gave you (the PART framework) [10:56] * 💤 Why neglecting sleep and exercise doesn’t just hurt you — it hurts your kids too [14:03] * 🔄 The mindset shift that makes family time feel productive again [23:35] * ⚓ Five anchor points that could make your whole family week run smoother [36:31] * 🃏 The index card exercise that ends the “I do everything” argument for good [42:08]

Links* DripDrop — 20% off with promo code TPS * Mint Mobile * Claude * SelectQuote * 25X Productivity Coaching * Time to Parent by Julie Morgenstern * Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern * Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern * Julie Morgenstern’s website * Time to Parent book page

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Procrastination isn’t about laziness—it’s about emotion regulation. Discover the Procrastination Equation and the 4-step fix to boost your confidence, increase task value, and design an environment that beats impulsiveness. Learn how to stop delaying and start doing with these practical psychological tweaks and behavioral design tactics.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

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Links* Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * Asian Efficiency * The Procrastination Equation – Piers Steel * Atomic Habits – James Clear

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Ever wonder why some tasks feel impossible to start, even when they only take 10 minutes? In this episode, you’ll learn why procrastination is actually about emotion regulation, not laziness, and how to diagnose your own delay patterns using four key variables: expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and delay. We provide a practical 4-step fix to increase your confidence, reconnect with your purpose, and build an environment that makes focus easier than distraction.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

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Cheat Sheet* 🏆 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:25] * 🧠 The real reason you can’t start that task (hint: it’s not laziness) [4:33] * 💪 How watching someone else succeed can unlock your own confidence [9:42] * 🤏 The “I’ll just” trick that makes any task feel ridiculously easy to start [19:46] * 🔥 Why you’ll never procrastinate on something that truly matters to you [21:20] * ⏱️ The sprint mindset that made Brooks’s personal velocity skyrocket [28:22] * 🧹 What your 30 open browser tabs are really costing you [33:54]

Links* Shopify * SelectQuote * Upwork * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel * The Code Book by Simon Singh * Vitamix Wet Blade Replacement * How to Change by Katy Milkman * Claude * The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran

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Feeling swamped and stuck? In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of “Reset Days”, a powerful strategy to conquer overwhelm and get back on track.

Discover practical techniques, from mental and emotional resets to tactical workload management, that will help you regain control, boost your productivity, and find your flow again. Learn how to implement these strategies to transform your most chaotic days into opportunities for renewed focus and energy.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources. [02:28]
  • 🌪️ A “constant sprint” moment—and the simple move that flipped the switch. [06:20]
  • 🎛️ Why overwhelm spikes when control slips (and how to get it back fast). [10:16]
  • 🧘 A zero-friction daily reset you can do anywhere—no incense required. [12:15]
  • ⏳ The “6-Week Rule”: a tiny question that shrinks big problems. [14:57]
  • 🗂️ The ruthless edit your task list is begging for. [23:24]
  • 🤖 An AI inbox assistant that replies like you—and knows your goals. [27:44]
  • 🗓️ Calendar triage: one weekly prompt that creates breathing room. [31:35]
  • 🛡️ Overwhelm prevention: themes, buffers, and a 30-minute habit that compounds. [36:57]

Links:* Shopify * Gusto * Stillness is the Key * Ikea artificial plants * How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius * Calm * How to Stop Worrying and Start Living * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman * Calendar Cleanup: Win Back Time & Trust Your Calendar Again (TPS381) * 25X Productivity Coaching * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Have you ever hit a point where even your morning coffee–or in this case, matcha latte–can’t spark motivation? When every small task feels heavy, and you start detaching from the work, people, and routines you once loved? That creeping sense of exhaustion isn’t laziness–it’s burnout knocking at your door.

In this encore episode, we discuss hitting burnout and the surprisingly simple steps that can help with recovery. You’ll learn how to recognize the early warning signs, set healthy boundaries, and rebuild your energy with small, practical actions that actually stick. If you’ve been feeling drained or directionless, this short episode might be the wake-up call you’ve been needing.

Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tpsand get 50% off your first 3 months of Claude Pro.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Claude
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Ever wonder why some of your best ideas come when your mind refuses to sit still? Productivity coach and author Alan P. Brown argues that ADHD isn’t just a challenge; it can be a hidden advantage when you learn how to harness it.

From understanding how your brain truly works to mastering evidence-based “brain scaffolding” and simple focus hacks, Alan shares how he turned distraction into one of his greatest assets.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn how to quiet mental noise, use your natural bursts of focus, and build systems that work with your brain, not against it. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD or just feel constantly pulled in every direction, this episode will help you reclaim control, find flow, and unlock your true productivity potential.

Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tpsand get 50% off your first 3 months of Claude Pro.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • ✨ Top 3 Productivity Resources [01:02]
  • 🧭 The simple litmus test to tell “busy” from true ADHD—and why it matters. [04:35]
  • 🎢 A late diagnosis that flipped a career trajectory—how Alan made the turn. [06:13]
  • 👀 Subtle executive-function signals most people miss until it’s costly. [07:33]
  • 🧱 The trio that trips up high achievers more than they admit. [16:56]
  • 🧠 A no-app brain hack that fences off focus (plus when to set the timer). [19:56]
  • 🧩 Why some systems overwhelm—and the leaner alternative that sticks. [36:34]
  • 🎁 The upside of ADHD: the edge that appears once you balance the scales. [38:30]

Links: Masterclass * Indeed * Claude * 25X Productivity Coaching * Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals * Take the Online Adult ADHD Test from ADDA * monaplanner * The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams * Zen and the Art of Productivity: 27 Easy Ways to Have More Time, Earn More Money and Live Happier* * ADDCrusher.com * ADD Crusher youtube * CrusherTV * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Have you ever faced a challenge so overwhelming that it threatened to derail your focus, your goals, and even your sense of direction? Adversity strikes all of us, often when we least expect it. But what separates those who crumble under pressure from those who come out stronger is not luck; it’s resilience.

In this encore episode, you’ll discover practical ways to regain your productivity when life throws curveballs. From shifting your focus to what you can actually control, to building momentum through small daily actions, this episode will leave you with tools and encouragement to move forward no matter the obstacles.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Gusto
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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How much time do you really spend thinking about what to eat, cooking, and cleaning up? For most people, it adds up to more than 10 hours a week — time that could be used for work, family, or simply recharging. The problem is that when your energy is low, the easiest option becomes takeout or delivery, and those choices usually don’t align with your health or productivity goals.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn practical meal planning strategies that eliminate decision fatigue, cut down on wasted hours, and still leave room for flexibility and enjoyment.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📱 Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:02].
  • 🤔 Our definition of “meal planning” (it’s not what you think) [04:26].
  • 🍳 Hate cooking? Here’s how to still eat well without it [05:44].
  • 🗓️ The simple step that sets your meals—and your week—up for success [06:53].
  • ⚡ How to make meal planning so easy it becomes automatic [14:33].
  • 🍲 The secret power of having a few go-to meals [15:19].
  • 🚚 Why pre-cooked meal delivery might change everything [21:18].
  • 🥕 How a little batching upfront saves you hours later [27:22].
  • 🔄 Mix-and-match basics to keep meals fresh (without more work) [29:58].
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Why flexibility and family input make all the difference [33:47].

Links:* Gusto * Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * Paprika * HelloFresh * Shef * How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) * $5 Dinners * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever noticed how chasing that last bit of effort often leaves you more drained than accomplished? The Japanese principle of Hara Hachi Bu — traditionally about eating until you’re 80% full — offers a refreshing perspective not just for the dinner table, but for how we approach our work and daily lives. By learning when to pause, you create margin for energy, creativity, and focus instead of burning out in the endless pursuit of “more.”

In this encore episode, we explore how stopping at “enough” can actually unlock greater consistency, balance, and satisfaction in your day. You’ll learn how to set realistic boundaries, prioritize with intention, and leave space for both recovery and spontaneity.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Select Quote
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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This episode of The Productivity Show dives deep into the art of balancing creativity and productivity. We’ll explore how to integrate these seemingly opposing forces, focusing on self-awareness, energy management, and sustainable systems. Discover how to achieve both your creative aspirations and your productivity goals simultaneously, without sacrificing either. Tune in to learn practical mindset shifts and personalized approaches to enhance your output and fulfillment.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources [01:27].
  • 🤔 Do productivity and creativity always clash—or can they fuel each other? [03:23].
  • 🪞 The hidden role self-awareness plays in boosting your creative flow [14:05].
  • 🤖 Why AI might actually make you more creative (if used right) [15:28].
  • 🛠️ How choosing the right tools can unlock your best ideas [23:09].
  • 📱 The simple app that transformed Thanh’s creative process [25:12].
  • ⏳ Why limits and boundaries can supercharge your creativity [29:32].
  • 🎯 Inside story: how a hackathon turned constraints into breakthroughs [30:23].

Links:* Select Quote * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion * Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day * Analog Wall Clock * What’s Your Plan? Student Procrastination & Productivity w/ Leslie Josel (TPS385) * Practical PKM (Mike Schmitz) * MacSparky * Wispr Flow * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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When life feels like it’s coming at you from all directions – work pressures, personal challenges, even health or financial stress – how do you keep moving forward without losing yourself in the chaos?

In this encore episode, you’ll learn the small but powerful steps that can make all the difference. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning in the storm, this episode will show you how to anchor yourself and get back on track, one simple step at a time.

Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tpsand get 50% off your first 3 months of Claude Pro.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Claude
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Who’s shaping the way you think, act, and grow? We’ve all heard the saying that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with, but few of us stop to consider what that really means for our goals, habits, and future. In this encore episode, we’ll explore how your circle directly influences your time, energy, and attention, and why being intentional about who you let in can change everything.

You’ll learn how to make simple shifts that align your relationships with your ambitions, without ditching the people you care about.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Go to Zocdoc.com/TPS and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor. #sponsored

Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tpsand get 50% off your first 3 months of Claude Pro.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📅 Top Productivity Resources [01:19]
  • 🤔 Do you really need to let go of certain friends? [03:30]
  • 🚀 Why your circle shapes your ambitions more than you think [04:34]
  • 🗓️ A surprising way Thanh’s calendar reveals his priorities [06:02]
  • 🚗 How everyday commutes can secretly build connections [09:55]
  • 💡 Four game-changing ways to upgrade your circle [23:54]
  • 📝 The “people audit” you didn’t know you needed [24:14]
  • 🌟 How to spot people already living the results you want [30:06]
  • 🌍 Why travelling might be the fastest way to find your people [37:10]
  • 🤝 The power of having someone to keep you accountable [43:10]
  • ❤️ How to keep your old friends without holding yourself back [49:34]

Links:* Indeed * Zocdoc * Claude * 25X Productivity Coaching * NeuYear Calendar * Zebra Delguard Mechanical Pencil * The Power of Positive Thinking: How Gratitude Gives You More Energy (TPS175) * Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) * Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) * Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) * How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225) * 6 Ways a Mastermind Can Accelerate Your Success w/ Nate Lowrie (TPS178) * Inside the AE Mastermind: What Really Successful People Do Differently to Fix Their Blind Spots (TPS192) * How To Stick To Your Goals This Year And Every Year (TPS229) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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What’s the simplest change you can make to feel more in control, less stressed, and more productive, without overhauling your entire routine? The answer might surprise you: a quick, 10-minute daily check-in. This small but powerful habit helps you cut through the noise, set priorities that actually matter, and stop the endless game of catch-up that drains your energy.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use a daily check-in to regain clarity, focus on the right tasks, and feel ahead of your work instead of buried under it.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Feeling like you never have time for your hobbies? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks dive into practical strategies for busy professionals to reclaim their personal time. Discover the crucial mindset shift from “finding” to “making” time, learn tactical approaches like weekly planning and calendar triage, and explore how to design your lifestyle for intentional leisure. Get actionable takeaways to integrate your passions into your busy schedule and achieve a better work-life balance.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 🎒 Top 3 Productivity Resources. [02:56].
  • 🏋️‍♀️ Is the gym a hobby or a habit? The surprising line between the two. [08:40].
  • 🗓️ The simple planning tweak that makes hobbies actually happen. [11:31].
  • ⏱️ Time-poor? Practical moves to carve out space for fun again. [20:15].
  • 🧶 Double-dip your downtime: pair a pastime with what you already do. [24:57].
  • 🧠 Level up faster by treating hobbies like skills with “boss levels.” [31:29].
  • 📅 What your calendar quietly says about your priorities. [36:06].
  • 🌲 From trail miles to new obsessions—childhood favorites and what’s next. [38:22].

Links:* Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss * Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career by Scott Young * Aura digital picture frame * Comet browser * Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How many times have you wrapped up a workday feeling busy, yet unsure if you actually achieved anything that mattered? That nagging feeling of motion without progress is more common than you think, but it doesn’t have to be. The key lies in focusing on one simple yet powerful idea: your Daily Target.

In this encore episode, you’ll discover how choosing a single, high-impact task each day can cut through the noise, sharpen your focus, and give you the satisfaction of ending every day with a win.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Are you constantly chasing quick productivity hacks, only to find yourself burned out or back where you started? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks dive into the essential art of balancing immediate productivity wins with sustainable, long-term strategies that actually work.

Discover how investing in quality tools, embracing consistency over constant change, and focusing on fundamental principles can lead to lasting efficiency and a more fulfilling productive life. Learn practical tips to bridge the gap between quick fixes and enduring habits.

Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 🎒 Top 3 Resources [02:30].
  • 🔧 When quick hacks help—and when habits are the real win. [07:19].
  • 🕹️ Tiny tricks to beat procrastination vs. skills that make it vanish. [13:17].
  • 🧭 The simple rule that tells you when to fix it for good. [15:26].
  • 🚒 Always putting out fires? Here’s how to switch to fireproofing. [16:19].
  • ⚡ Why the biggest gains hide in your Energy and Attention, not your calendar. [19:42].
  • 🌀 Plans break—here’s how to stay productive when they do. [22:15].
  • 🧰 Tools, systems, and skills that compound—what’s worth investing in. [23:29].
  • 🎯 A practical way to split your day between now vs. next. [28:33].
  • 🚩 The traps that keep you “busy” but not better—and how to dodge them. [34:20].

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Logitech Brio 4K webcam * Plaud Note AI voice recorder * Hollyland Lark M2 Wireless Microphone * Getting Things Done * Proactive vs. Reactive: Stop Living on Autopilot (TPS478) * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What’s the quickest way to cut through the noise of thousands of productivity apps and actually get results? Instead of juggling endless tools, there are just three essentials you need to build a rock-solid foundation for getting things done. Master these, and you’ll instantly be ahead of the curve.

In this encore episode, you’ll discover which three types of apps matter most, why they’re the backbone of every effective workflow, and how to choose the right ones for your style.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • SelectQuote
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Does this sound familiar? You set big goals with the best of intentions, only to find yourself months later wondering why so little has actually moved forward. The truth is, the problem usually isn’t your planning–it’s your execution. That’s where the 12 Week Year framework comes in. By shrinking your focus from twelve months to just twelve weeks, you create urgency, clarity, and momentum that help you actually achieve the things that matter most.

In this encore episode, we share five practical tips to help you master the 12 Week Year and finally close the gap between goals and results. Whether you’ve tried the framework before and struggled, or you’re hearing about it for the first time, these strategies will help you simplify your focus, strengthen your “why,” and put systems in place that make success inevitable.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • ⚡ Top Productivity Resources [02:28].
  • 📅 The surprising idea behind the 12 Week Year [03:34].
  • 🛠️ The core steps that make it work [06:41].
  • 🎯 Why fewer goals actually gets you more results [09:01].
  • 💡 The key to building unstoppable motivation [16:04].
  • 📊 How tracking changes everything [20:22].
  • 🔑 The measure that predicts your success [28:02].
  • 🤝 Why accountability multiplies your results [33:45].

Links:* SelectQuote * 25X Productivity Coaching * Productivity Academy * How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) * CableCreation 2-in-1 Cable * Gratitude * How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) * The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months * Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Why does the “weekly review” trip up even the most dedicated productivity enthusiasts? You capture tasks, you plan projects, you get things done, yet somehow this one step always slips through the cracks.

The truth is, without a consistent review, your system quietly breaks down, leaving you reactive instead of intentional.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn why the weekly review feels so hard, the real cost of skipping it, and how one simple shift can make it stick for good. Discover how choosing the right day and time transforms the review from a dreaded chore into your most powerful productivity ritual, and why mastering it might be the biggest game-changer for your focus, follow-through, and peace of mind.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Discover how small, consistent changes can lead to significant improvements in your productivity, efficiency, and free time. In this episode, Thanh and Brooks share 20 practical examples of “one tweak a week” strategies, covering everything from adopting new tools and optimizing habits to leveraging AI prompts. Learn how simple shifts can eliminate friction and compound into massive gains, helping you get more done without sacrificing what matters most.

Go to Zocdoc.com/TPS and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor. #sponsored

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:25]
  • 💡 Why “One Tweak a Week” actually works [06:07]
  • 💻 The tiny laptop shift that saved years of frustration [09:49]
  • 🎧 How better audio gear can transform your day [12:41]
  • 🏃‍♂️ Why moving daily matters more than you think [14:32]
  • 🤖 A research tool that beats Google [16:59]
  • 📅 The hidden calendar setting you’ll wish you knew earlier [18:59]
  • 💆‍♀️ A recovery gadget that feels like cheating [20:56]
  • ⏱️ What tracking your time really reveals [24:51]
  • 🏋️ When to work out for maximum energy [28:45]
  • ✅ The secret power of defining “done” [30:17]
  • 🚶‍♀️ The underrated magic of a 10-minute walk [32:01]
  • 🌬️ A 3-minute breathing tweak that resets everything [33:42]
  • 🗂️ The mindset shift that makes organization effortless [35:40]
  • 🔄 Why repeatability beats perfection every time [37:51]
  • 🌱 The smarter way to build new habits [41:03]
  • 🎙️ Why the future of productivity is voice-first [43:13]
  • 📧 How dictating emails changes the game [45:13]
  • 🗣️ Getting better AI results without typing [46:46]
  • 🔍 A fresh way to do weekly reviews with AI [47:45]
  • 📓 The AI notebook that can binge-watch YouTube for you [49:53]
  • 📩 The meeting follow-up hack that impresses everyone [51:34]

Links:* ZocDoc * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914 by David McCullough * River Runner * Atomic Habits * Perplexity * Comet browser * Fantastical * MacSparky * Therabody SmartGoggles * Therabody Theragun Pro * Toggl Track * Calm * MKBHD * MKBHD’s first video * Wispr Flow * NotebookLM * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever set a goal, feel unstoppable at first, and then watch your progress fizzle out? You start strong, you’re doing all the right things, and then one small setback snowballs into weeks (or months) off track. It’s frustrating, and it’s the silent killer of so many great intentions.

The truth is, most people don’t lose momentum because they’re lazy or undisciplined. They lose it because they skipped one critical step when setting their goal.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn the simple, proven method to reignite your drive and keep it burning, even when challenges hit. If you’ve been struggling to regain focus, this is the practical, no-fluff fix you need to finish what you start.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Discover how AI is revolutionizing Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Join Thanh and Brooks as they discuss their evolving PKM systems, exploring new AI-first tools, the future of Evernote, and the impressive AI capabilities within Obsidian. Learn when to embrace new AI tools and when to stick with proven systems for maximum productivity.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📦 Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:34].
  • 🧠 The deceptively simple idea that could transform how you handle information [04:46].
  • 📚 The surprising reason Thanh keeps a “story bank” (and how it actually works) [07:12].
  • 🔍 The search upgrade that finds what you mean, not just what you type [09:34].
  • 🏷️ Why our old tagging habits might be holding us back [12:16].
  • ⚙️ The tricky choice between “AI-first” apps and tried-and-true tools [14:22].
  • 🗂️ The modular note-taking system you can bend to your will [21:03].
  • 🔌 The behind-the-scenes tech that lets AI talk to your tools like magic [26:50].
  • 🚀 How your current PKM apps are quietly becoming AI-powered [31:12].
  • 🏆 Which tools we think will thrive in the new AI era—and which might fade away [33:32].
  • 🛠️ A simple starting point if PKM feels overwhelming [37:45].
  • ⚠️ The biggest pitfalls to avoid when letting AI into your workflow [40:16].

Links:* Shopify * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Obsidian * Stouchi Continuity Camera Mount * Practical PKM * Personal Knowledge Management w/ Nick Milo (TPS387) * Notion * Evernote * 💎 How Claude + Obsidian + MCP Solved My Organizational Problems * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Start your day with momentum using the “10 Before 10” tactic. In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, you’ll learn how doing 10 minutes of small wins before 10 AM can create mental clarity, build confidence, and give you a head start on the rest of the day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Feeling overwhelmed by multiple roles and responsibilities? This episode dives into practical weekly planning strategies designed for busy professionals and entrepreneurs. Discover how to simplify your approach, prioritize ruthlessly, and optimize your energy to get important things done without sacrificing your well-being. Learn to leverage constraints and focus on fundamentals for massive productivity gains.

Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:21].
  • 🎩 What it really feels like to juggle too many hats at once [05:47].
  • 🗓️ Weekly planning essentials when life pulls you in every direction [11:20].
  • 🎯 Thanh’s method for locking in your “Big 3” priorities [12:51].
  • 🕒 Should you theme your week by role to stay sane? [15:53].
  • 🔍 Do fancy task manager “focus” tools actually help—or just complicate things? [21:30].
  • 🤖 When AI meets task management: the MCP experiment [26:05].
  • ⚡ Why being “too busy” might secretly make you more productive [28:09].
  • 💪 The overlooked key to productivity: managing energy, not just time [34:16].
  • ✅ Step‑by‑step moves to finally get a handle on your week [39:44].

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Book: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick * Patagonia Black HoleÂŽ Duffel * Omnifocus * Todoist * Jon Morrow * Weekly Review Blueprint * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Got a great idea or reminder in your head? Don’t lose it. In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, you’ll learn a simple voice-first workflow that captures your thoughts instantly and turns them into tasks without needing to sit down at your desk.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • SelectQuote
  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Otter

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever wonder what a productivity pro and a tech workflow wizard actually carry every day? Thanh Pham and Brooks Duncan unzip their bags, empty their pockets, and compare the tools that keep them moving. Listen for lightning-round reveals, real-world stories and a friendly roast of each other’s gear choices.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

AI Workshop Live –  save hours a week, make better decisions, and finally get AI working for you.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 🚀 Top 3 Productivity Resource [02:15]
  • 🎧 Brooks’ can’t-leave-home-without-it picks [05:05]
  • ⌚ Thanh’s ultra-optimized everyday carry setup [07:33]
  • 🎒 Brooks empties his backpack [12:53]
  • 🧳 Thanh’s unexpected backpack choice (and why it works) [17:50]
  • 🕶️ Smart glasses that actually are smart [20:14]
  • 🛠️ Tactical tools, AirTags, and the tiny item that saved Brooks’ phone [23:12]
  • ✈️ How to turn airline toiletry bags into travel productivity gold [30:46]
  • ✍️ Pens, notebooks, and analog favorites that still make the cut [31:27]

Links:* SelectQuote * AI Workshop Live * 25X Productivity Coaching * Warp – command line with AI + code editor * Claude Code * Nitecore EDC29 Tactical Flashlight * Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows * Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) * Apple AirTag (4-pack) * Vaultskin NOTTING HILL Wallet * GORUCK GR1 * ROAV Lennox Folding Sunglasses * LUENX Polarized Sunglasses * Field Notes Memo Book (Kraft) * Pilot G2 Gel Pen 0.5mm (12-pack) * Apple EarPods (3.5mm) * Apple USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter * Gerber Dime Mini Multitool * Anker 622 MagGo 5,000mAh Battery * MacBook Pro * Anker Prime 100W GaN Charger * Tom Bihn Small Snake Charmer * Anker PowerCore 26,800mAh Battery * Kindle Paperwhite (Signature Edition) * iPhone 16 Pro * NORQAIN Wild ONE Skeleton Watch (Turquoise) * Grand Seiko “Shunbun” SBGA413 * Hermès H08 Watch Collection * Louis Vuitton Men’s Wallets * Goyard Saint-Sulpice Wallet * Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) * Oura Ring * Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses * Gentle Monster JADE 01 Sunglasses * Bao Bao Issey Miyake Liner Backpack * Hatton Labs Jewelry * Anker MagGo Power Bank (10,000mAh) * MacBook Air * Montblanc Meisterstück Fountain Pen * Parker Sonnet Rollerball Pen * Zebra F-301 Stainless Ballpoint Pens * Moleskine Classic Notebook (Large, Ruled) * LMNT Variety Pack (12-pack) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Sleep doesn’t start when you hit the pillow…it starts hours before. In this Wisdom Wednesday episode, Thanh shares a simple sleep formula (10-3-2-1-0) that helps you wind down, fall asleep faster, and wake up with more energy.

This episode is brought to you by AI Workshop Live –  save hours a week, make better decisions, and finally get AI working for you.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • AI Workshop Live
  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Do you ever feel mentally drained by the end of the day, struggling to make even simple choices? That’s decision fatigue. In this episode, we’ll break down what decision fatigue is and how it impacts your productivity, and we will share easy strategies to protect your mental energy. Tune in to learn how making fewer decisions can help you accomplish more.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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What if you could turn focus into your superpower? In this episode, we share powerful, easy-to-implement strategies to help you cut through the noise and bring laser focus to every task.

Whether you’re battling constant distractions, struggling with procrastination, or just looking to improve your work-life balance, these 15 tips will set you on a path to stronger concentration and better outcomes.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Thanks SelectQuote. SelectQuote.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:08]
  • Why is attention so hard to master? [6:58]
  • Tip 1: Single task [8:44]
  • Tip 2: Take focused breaks [12:44]
  • Tip 3: Batch similar tasks [15:11]
  • Tip 4: Use the two-minute rule [16:43]
  • Tip 5: Clean your slate [19:58]
  • Tip 6: Have a focus ritual [21:14]
  • Tip 7: Use the Pomodoro Technique [23:38]
  • Tip 8: Know your definition of done [25:25]
  • Tip 9: Prioritize your tasks [28:43]
  • Tip 10: Create a 3-hour focus block [31:08]
  • Tip 11: Change locations [33:47]
  • Tip 12: Use your device’s focus modes [36:06]
  • Tip 13: Set your Slack/Teams status [38:17]
  • Tip 14: Use the “I’ll Just..” strategy [42:15]
  • Tip 15: Think ahead about what you’ll need for your focus block [44:55]

Links:* Shopify * Masterclass * SelectQuote * 25X Productivity Coaching * Logitech MX Master 3S * SaphiRose Unisex Rain Poncho Raincoat Hooded * OXO Good Grips Chef’s Squeeze Bottle * How to Live: 27 conflicting answers and one weird conclusion * Focus Filter * Getting Things Done * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Today’s episode is a little different. It’s Thanh’s Birthday and here’s a quick message for you.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Long-term productivity thrives on consistency, not intensity.

In this episode, we explore how preventative maintenance using small, consistent habits can protect your energy, focus, and productivity from burning out over time.

With practical tips for fortifying your tech, health, and relationships, this episode is packed with actionable steps to help you avoid burnout and stay at your peak. Discover the subtle but powerful shifts that can keep you going strong without sacrificing your well-being.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

LEGALZOOM.COM and use promo code TPSTIME to get 10% off. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, except where authorized through its subsidiary law firm LZ Legal Services, LLC.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:00]
  • How does preventative maintenance relate to productivity? [6:49]
  • How to get started with preventative maintenance [15:17]
  • Preventative maintenance with technology [18:46]
  • Preventative maintenance with health and wellness [24:27]
  • Preventative financial maintenance [31:26]
  • Preventative maintenance for your relationships [34:29]
  • How do you make preventative maintenance a habit? [38:04]

Links:* Calm * Masterclass * LegalZoom * 25X Productivity Coaching * Steve Jobs, the Journey Is the Reward by Jeffrey S. Young * Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson * Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman * Osprey Ultralight 20L Dry Stuff Pack * Proactive vs. Reactive: Stop Living on Autopilot (TPS478) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Imagine harnessing your peak moments of energy and focus to tackle your most important work—without burning out.

In this episode, we reveal the concept of “Peak Positioning,” a powerful approach that helps you align your day’s tasks with your natural productivity highs and lows. This isn’t about squeezing in more hours; it’s about using your energy strategically to make the most of your time and keep momentum throughout the day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Rise Science

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What’s the difference between simply planning and planning strategically? Knowing how to set a vision and follow through with a clear path can be the turning point between reaching your goals or getting sidetracked.

In this encore episode, we unpack the essential five steps to effective strategic planning — a process that goes beyond day-to-day task lists and instead focuses on aligning what you do now with where you want to be in the future.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:10]
  • What is strategic planning? [5:51]
  • Creating a vision for your plan [8:39]
  • The importance of focused research [15:48]
  • The “strategy” part of a strategic plan [30:02]
  • Turning strategy into execution [44:34]
  • Ensuring your strategic plan is successful [53:45]

Links: Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Road Less Stupid * Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen * Rocketbook * Clarity.fm * Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career* * 3 Simple Steps To Win The Last Quarter Of The Year (TPS269) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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What separates the most productive people from everyone else? It’s not just about having the best apps or the perfect routine—it’s about mindset. In this encore episode, we reveal six powerful mindsets that can transform how you approach your day and help you get more done without burning out.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Are you cutting corners just to save a buck, or are you making smart financial decisions that actually improve your productivity?

In this episode, we explore the difference between being frugal and being cheap, and why it matters for your time, money, and well-being. We’ll discuss practical ways to maximize value without compromising on quality and share strategies to help you invest in yourself while avoiding common financial traps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:38]
  • What’s the difference between frugal and cheap? [4:28]
  • When being frugal vs cheap can unlock productivity [14:37]
  • What are some things we are willing to spend on? [19:21]
  • How do you change from a frugal to a cheap mindset? [26:45]
  • How to prioritize what spending is important to you [28:54]
  • How to focus on value, not price [32:26]

Links:* Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence * YNAB * The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness * I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Learn how to multiply your time by setting up simple automations for repetitive tasks, like email management and scheduling. We share real-life examples and give you an actionable step to start automating today. Tune in to discover how you can work smarter, not harder, and reclaim your time for what matters most.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Calendly
  • Todoist
  • Trello

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How much time do you spend sifting through cluttered inboxes, lost files, or endless browser tabs? If you’re looking to take control of your digital life and get more done with less hassle, we’ve got you covered. In this episode, we’re sharing 15 simple yet powerful tips to help you streamline your digital space, boost your productivity, and free up time for the things that really matter.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:00]
  • Tip 1: Delete unused apps [7:15]
  • Tip 2: Control browser tabs [9:48]
  • Tip 3: Touch it once [12:52]
  • Tip 4: Mass unsubscribe [18:48]
  • Tip 5: Email constraints [21:19]
  • Tip 6: File naming trick [23:26]
  • Tip 7: Automate file management [26:45]
  • Tip 8: Archive [28:09]
  • Tip 9: Email filters [32:09]
  • Tip 10: Meeting action items [36:11]
  • Tip 11: Email file systems [39:11]
  • Tip 12: Organize passwords [40:40]
  • Tip 13: Frequent projects or locations [43:25]
  • Top 14: Phone home screens [45:08]
  • Tip 15: Capture receipts [46:31]

Links:* Shopify * Calm * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Hazel * File Juggler * Oofos Recovery Shoes * Organize Your Files * Atomic Habits * Productivity Academy * Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) * Otter.ai * Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) * 1Password * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Are you struggling to finish tasks or finding that they take longer than expected? Learn why having a clear definition of what “done” looks like can save you time, boost your focus, and help you get things off your to-do list faster.

We share practical tips on how to set specific goals, time constraints, and focus on the minimum effective effort to get things done without overcomplicating them. Tune in for this quick, actionable episode and discover how a simple shift in your approach can lead to big productivity wins!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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What would you do with an extra hour every day? Imagine cutting out tedious, repetitive tasks without sacrificing any of your productivity.

In this encore episode, we’re sharing five incredibly simple automations that will help you reclaim precious time and streamline your daily routine. These aren’t complicated systems or expensive tools—just straightforward methods anyone can implement to reduce busywork.

From automating your email responses to organizing your files, these tips will save you time and mental energy. Whether you’re new to automation or already a fan of efficiency hacks, you’ll walk away with actionable steps to make your day run smoother and faster.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:19]
  • How can you save time by entering text faster? [8:07]
  • Keyboard shortcuts that will save you a ton of time [23:21]
  • Turn your clipboard into a productivity powerhouse [40:17]
  • Eliminate time messing around with files [49:51]
  • Keep your data safe without doing anything [1:03:01]

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Zapier * File Juggler * Default Folder X * Confessions of an 8-Figure Entrepreneur w/ Noah Kagan (TPS253) * CheatSheet * Omnifocus * Alfred * Launchbar * Keyboard Maestro * Hazel * BackBlaze * SuperDuper! * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling overwhelmed by the blurred lines between work and personal life in a hybrid model? In this episode, we share the one productivity tip that will protect your time and mental health so you can enjoy the flexibility of hybrid work without burning out.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Is your lack of energy making it hard to stay productive, even when you have the time and focus?

You might think procrastination or distractions are the problem, but the real culprit could be your energy levels.

In this encore episode, we uncover the five key signs that your energy might be holding you back from getting things done, even when your intentions are solid. From relying on caffeine to feeling unmotivated after work, these signs could be the hidden roadblocks in your productivity routine.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:44]
  • 5 signs to look for to find out if energy is holding you back [12:31]
  • Things that might be draining your energy, and you don’t realize it [17:20]
  • Does being a night owl cause energy problems? [26:55]

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting 2 Dimmer Switch * Alfred * Clocker * Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Forget the traditional approach to goal setting. Learn how a GPS strategy can help you work backwards and create a direct route to achieving your biggest dreams.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Imagine doubling your revenue simply by restructuring your week. That’s exactly what business strategist Lauren Goldstein achieved, and in this episode, she’s revealing her step-by-step formula.

From dedicating focused “admin days” to theming your week for maximum efficiency, Lauren’s strategies help you take control of your schedule and prioritize tasks that drive real results.

If you want to cut through the chaos and create more impact in your business and personal life, this conversation is for you. Learn how to transform your calendar into a productivity powerhouse, stay laser-focused, and thrive with Lauren’s proven techniques.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04]
  • What are “admin days,” and how do they help? [4:17]
  • How do you make sure people are working on what matters? [13:33]
  • Ways to get started with weekly planning [18:23]
  • What happens when things come up and your schedule gets derailed? [27:52]
  • How to handle long-term tasks that aren’t immediately due [34:32]
  • Handling multiple calendars effectively [44:33]

Links:* Calm * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Be Focused * Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change * Teamwork * Scaling Up * Eat That Frog * Eat That Frog – Do Your Most Important Tasks In The Morning * Calendly * Zapier * The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing * Twitter * LinkedIn * Instagram * Youtube * Golden Key Partnership * Golden Key Labs * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Don’t let your surroundings sabotage your success! Explore how optimizing your physical space can lead to clearer thinking, better focus, and more effective work.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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What if your work isn’t actually moving you closer to your goals? In this episode, we’ll discuss how to spot and avoid “fake work.”

In this episode, we uncover why so many people fall into the fake work trap and how you can break free. It’s time to recognize the difference between staying busy and being truly productive.

Identify fake work, eliminate it from your routine, and refocus on what really matters–your goals and priorities. By the end, you’ll know how to avoid the time-draining tasks that don’t contribute to your success and focus on high-impact actions.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:06]
  • How do you figure out what is fake work? [8:44]
  • The difference between culture and incentives [21:19]
  • How do you spot and eliminate fake work? [22:36]
  • An exercise that can help you flag fake work [29:32]
  • The secret sauce to avoiding fake work [33:11]

Links:* Masterclass * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Revised and Updated: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals * Notchnook * Proactive vs. Reactive: Stop Living on Autopilot (TPS478) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What if doing less could help you achieve more? Learn how strategic boredom can boost your creativity, sharpen your focus, and help you reach your goals faster.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you have a huge project looming, but you just don’t know where to start?

Whether launching a big presentation, tackling a software implementation, or planning an event, the key to making progress often lies in breaking it down into bite-sized, manageable steps. But let’s be honest — while the advice to “just break it down” is popular, many of us struggle with exactly how to do that effectively.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through the strategies that turn overwhelming projects into actionable plans.

We’ll explore the mechanics of breaking things down — from clarifying your vision to reverse-engineering your steps. Plus, we’ll share real-world examples of common projects that might feel daunting and how to make progress one small, doable action at a time.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:19]
  • What are the steps to break a project down? [8:56]
  • How do you break down a big presentation to management? [14:41]
  • How do you break down a software implementation project? [28:46]
  • How do you break down organizing a big customer event? [38:58]
  • How do you learn from a project and improve next time? #kaizen [43:27]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey * Parallels * ChatGPT mobile apps * Clarity.fm * Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson * Otter.ai * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling overwhelmed by a cluttered mind? In this episode, we discuss the Mind Sweep technique—a simple 5-minute exercise that clears mental clutter, reduces overwhelm, and helps you focus on what truly matters. Tune in to learn how to quickly and effectively get all your thoughts, ideas, and tasks out of your head and onto paper. Start your day with clarity and confidence!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How much more could you accomplish with just a few strategic adjustments to your daily routine? If you’re looking to boost your efficiency without overwhelming yourself, the secret lies in making small but impactful tweaks to your productivity system. These changes don’t require an overhaul—just a willingness to fine-tune your approach.

In this episode, we share 15 essential tweaks that can elevate any productivity system, regardless of your preferred method. Whether learning to manage your time better or simplifying your to-do list, these practical tips will help you streamline your day and achieve more with less effort.

One tweak a week is all it takes!

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04]
  • Tip 1: Time arbitrage [8:25]
  • Tip 2: Front-load your week [10:04]
  • Tip 3: Declutter your to-do list [12:09]
  • Tip 4: Have a weekly review [15:16]
  • Tip 5: Daily review if your to-do list is always changing by the hour [17:29]
  • Tip 6: Touch it once [21:02]
  • Tip 7: Buffer time [23:57]
  • Tip 8: Rule of 3 [26:09]
  • Tip 9: Apply the 80/20 rule to everything you do [28:39]
  • Tip 10: Create recurring tasks and calendar events [30:10]
  • Tip 11: Have a someday/maybe list [32:44]
  • Tip 12: Have clear start and end times for when you work [34:29]
  • Tip 13: Batch similar tasks together [37:06]
  • Tip 14: Limit the number of productivity apps and tools you use [38:48]
  • Tip 15: Know your “win” for tomorrow [40:56]

Links:* Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Perplexity * Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson * TheraGun RecoveryPulse Arm Sleeve * Weekly Review Blueprint * Batching: The Productivity Tactic That Works (TPS496) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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What if the secret to achieving more isn’t about pushing harder, but knowing when to pull back?

In this episode, we explore a counterintuitive approach to productivity that high achievers often overlook—strategic rest and renewal. Learn how to break free from the burnout cycle and discover why the most successful people treat their lives not as a marathon, but as a series of sprints, with intentional recovery built into their routines.

Whether you’re juggling a demanding career, family responsibilities, or just trying to get ahead, this episode will show you how to sprint smarter, not harder, by embracing the power of rest.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Pomodoro Technique: The Ultimate Guide
  • The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Imagine adding hours back to your day without giving up the things you love.

In this encore episode, we reveal how to reclaim your time by delegating tasks, leveraging automation, and investing in smarter ways to work. Whether managing a team, running a household, or striving for a better work-life balance, you’ll find actionable tips to help you focus on what truly matters.

Join us as we explore three game-changing strategies that will free you from the mundane and allow you to focus on your goals, passions, and well-being.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:27]
  • How to use technology to remove time squanders [3:43]
  • How to delegate or outsource your personal tasks [10:29]
  • This will supercharge everything else we’ve recommended [27:04]

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Upwork * Fiverr * TaskRabbit * TPS75: Simple Systems * TPS 333: Personal Outsourcing: How To Win Back 5+ Hours/Week * TPS 190: How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis * TPS 143: The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant * Fancyhands * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you stuck in the pursuit of perfection, delaying your progress and increasing your stress? In this episode of Wisdom Wednesday, we explore how your drive for perfection can actually hold you back. You’ll discover a powerful strategy to overcome perfectionism in a matter of seconds.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If you could start your productivity journey all over again, what would you do differently? In this encore episode, we share just that: the strategies, tools, and mindsets we wish we had embraced from the very beginning.

Whether you’re a seasoned productivity pro or just starting out, these insights will help you skip the mistakes and fast-track your way to maximum efficiency.

Don’t miss this chance to learn from our experiences and take your own productivity to the next level—without all the trial and error.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:39]
  • Time: How we’d start over [7:58]
  • Energy: How we’d start over [24:52]
  • Attention: How we’d start over [34:16]
  • Lightning Round [48:52]

Links: Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Thnks * Jason Markk Quick Wipes * The Republic of Tea, Tea Of Inquiry Full-Leaf Green Tea * Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) * Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity * What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful* * 3 Simple Steps To Win The Last Quarter Of The Year (TPS269) * Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) * 5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262) * Thinking Time: The Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) * Use These 5 Tips To Travel Stress-Free and Organized This Summer (TPS252) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Thanh shares a simple yet powerful tweak that can help you master new skills with just 15 minutes of practice a day. Tune in to discover practical tips and start becoming smarter and more productive with little effort.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Did you know your humble calendar can become a secret weapon for staying on top of life?

In this episode, we’re revealing 23 game-changing tips and tricks to help you master your schedule and boost your productivity like never before.

Whether you’re juggling work, school, or personal projects, these strategies will help you maximize every hour, making your calendar work for you, not the other way around.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:41]
  • Tip 1: Use Emojis as prefixes [4:01]
  • Tip 2: Integrate your work and personal calendar [5:43]
  • Tip 3: Have a family calendar for the household – digital and/or analog! [7:26]
  • Tip 4: Use default reminder settings [8:41]
  • Tip 5: If you’ve been using a calendar tool for a long time, you might have missed some new features [9:35]
  • Tip 6: Schedule buffer time [10:47]
  • Tip 7: Schedule travel time (for those who are late often) [11:45]
  • Tip 8: Have meeting-free days on the calendar [17:02]
  • Tip 9: Rule of 3: 3 blocks on the calendar for deep work [17:57]
  • Tip 10: Add links to notes for agendas [19:38]
  • Tip 11: Always add an address for easy copy & paste [20:29]
  • Tip 12: Add Zoom link to the location field too [21:41]
  • Tip 13: Have a weekly or daily review scheduled [22:58]
  • Tip 14: Use scheduler tool [23:40]
  • Tip 15: Know at least three shortcuts for calendars [25:10]
  • Tip 16: Add a calendar widget to your home screen for a quick glance [26:10]
  • Tip 17: Enable multiple time zones and week numbers to your calendar [27:03]
  • Tip 18: Integrate your calendar with your todo list [28:34]
  • Tip 19: Add recurring bills (that cannot be automated) as recurring events [29:07]
  • Tip 20: Use Doodle for event polling to see when everyone is available for a meeting [30:23]
  • Tip 21: Have contacts synced with the calendar (tagging, inviting, birthdays) [31:06]
  • Tip 22: Fantastical: put the next appointment in your menu bar [32:15]
  • Tip 23: If your calendar app supports it, copy & paste events [33:23]

Links:* Calm * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Fantastical * Calendly * Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Do you ever feel like you’re climbing a ladder only to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall?

In this episode, we’re diving into the transformative power of reflection and how taking a step back can actually propel you forward.

We’ll explore the concept of the “Reflection Ritual,” a powerful tool that helps you zoom out and see the bigger picture. Discover how setting aside just 30 minutes a week can provide clarity, reduce stress, and help align your daily actions with your long-term goals.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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AI is filled with buzzwords and hype, but can it actually improve your day-to-day life and productivity?

In this episode, you’ll discover the practical applications of AI tools you can start using right now.

We explore how these technologies can streamline your work and enhance your personal life without overwhelming you and how you can start using AI tools to enhance productivity and simplify everyday tasks.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:47]
  • The 2 types of AI [6:52]
  • How should people get started with AI tools? [22:30]
  • How does Thanh use AI every day? [26:19]
  • Some uses for the camera in the ChatGPT app [29:56]
  • Can you make writing sound less “AI-like”? [34:44]
  • What can a Custom GPT do for you? [37:04]
  • The AI image tools we are using [41:51]

Links:* Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * Krisp.ai * Otter.ai * Descript * Notion * Evernote * Pixelmator Pro * Talking Tech and AI with Tim Cook! – MKBHD * ChatGPT * DALL·E * Midjourney * Humanize AI * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of productivity tools out there? With endless apps and systems promising to transform your workflow, it’s easy to get lost in the noise.

In this episode, we cut through the clutter and focus on building a simple, effective personal system using just three essentials.

Join us as we delve into the core components of a successful productivity setup. Whether you’re a pen-and-paper enthusiast or a digital devotee, we’ll guide you in choosing the right tools and techniques to streamline your tasks, schedule, and ideas.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Google Keep
  • Todoist
  • Fantastical
  • Trello
  • Asana
  • JIRA
  • Obsidian

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What if mastering productivity was as simple as focusing on the right tasks, executed the right way?

In this encore episode, you’ll learn the three essential steps to balance efficiency and effectiveness (or is that even possible?) Discover how to align your daily actions with your long-term goals, making every effort count and driving you toward success with purpose and precision.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:03]
  • How to make sure you’re doing the right things [9:37]
  • The next step once you’re doing the right things [19:14]
  • The final boss stage [28:25]

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Effective Executive * The Economist Espresso * Drafts * Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why * The Overwhelm Survival Kit: Tips & Strategies to Help You Get the Space & Control You Need (TPS206) * 9 Ways to Break Up Your Work to Stay Focused and Productive * The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change * Hazel * Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Is the future of wearables a… ring? What can people do to recover from burnout? Do you have to “produce” to be productive?

In this episode, we cover these topics and more. Learn to achieve true productivity without sacrificing your well-being.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:42]
  • Our thoughts on smart rings [5:41]
  • What can people do to recover from burnout? [14:51]
  • What does “being productive” mean? [30:31]

Links:* Calm * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * SonoPhone * Actual Budget * YNAB * ViewSonic VA1655 Portable Monitor * Samsung’s Galaxy Ring could be the one ring to rule an ecosystem – The Verge * Oura Ring * People who burned out, what did you do to recover? : r/productivity * Chris Bailey Teaches You To Calm Your Mind (TPS443) * @stephsmithio on X * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you struggle to dive into your tasks and maintain focus?

In this encore episode, you’ll discover the concept of the “Focus Engine,” a powerful technique designed to help you start working immediately and maintain concentration effortlessly.

Discover practical tips and strategies for settling down, sharpening your focus, and crushing your to-do list.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching. Double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever wondered how to stay productive when an injury sidelines you? In this episode, we tackle the realities of maintaining efficiency and focus while dealing with physical setbacks.

Join us as we explore strategies for adapting your daily routine, prioritizing tasks, and even using AI to create personalized productivity plans.

Whether you’re currently injured or simply preparing for the unexpected, this episode provides valuable insights to keep you moving forward.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04]
  • The mental aspect of dealing with an injury [10:57]
  • How to prioritize when you’re injured [19:34]
  • Ways to adjust your daily routine [26:29]
  • How to use AI to create a personalized workout plan [28:27]
  • How to speed up your recovery [31:48]

Links:* Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells * PowerBlock Travel Bench * Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Clogs * Productive Workouts and Recover Like an Athlete w/ Garrett Salpeter * Therabody PowerDot 2.0 Duo * Kineon Move+ Pro Portable Red LED Light Therapy Device * Joovv * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you tired of setting monthly goals only to watch them fall apart within the first week?

In this episode, we tackle the common pitfalls of monthly planning and reveal how to turn this crucial process into a powerful tool for achieving your long-term goals.

Discover how to link your monthly plans to your quarterly goals, account for life’s inevitable disruptions, and set yourself up for success by focusing on what truly matters.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How can a focused summer project unlock hidden potential and set you up for success in the coming months?

In this episode, we explore real-life examples of transformative summer projects and how to choose the perfect project to elevate your productivity.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:37]
  • Something Thanh does EVERY summer [5:09]
  • How to set yourself up for success with a project [9:53]

Links:* Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast! * LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes – Variety Pack * SwingVision * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels but getting nowhere? In this episode, we’ll uncover the secret to diagnosing what’s holding you back using the T.E.A. framework. Discover whether it’s Time, Energy, or Attention keeping you stuck and learn how to break free and boost your productivity.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • TEA: The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential

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For all aspiring and current leaders – this episode is for you. We dive deeper into leadership skills and what it takes to have high-performing teams at work. Our guest Sabrina Wang shares the foundation you need to have a successful team dynamic where everyone can do their best work and what it takes for you to be a great leader.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:44]
  • Sabrina’s background and how she became a coach [2:58]
  • What’s the most impactful thing a coach can do? [8:46]
  • A story of how a client dealt with impostor syndrome [15:36]
  • What are the characteristics of a high-performing team? [23:21]
  • 3 things to help team members be accountable to each other [29:26]
  • How to handle internal conflict in a team [31:44]

Links:* Calm * Evergrowth Coaching for tech CEOs and executives * Motion Calendar * Evergrowing Podcast * Sabrina Wang – Evergrowing | LinkedIn * Twitter/X * 25X Productivity Coaching * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you ever wish you could maintain your morning energy all the way to the evening?

In this episode, you’ll discover the transformative concept of renewal rituals that can revolutionize your day.

Imagine integrating small, powerful breaks into your busy schedule that not only refresh your mind but also boost your overall productivity. Whether you’re working from home or in the office, learn how to turn downtime into a productivity powerhouse, and start building a day that leaves you energized, not exhausted.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever felt like you’re constantly playing catch-up and can’t find a moment to breathe?

In this episode, we dive into the three essential keys to organizing your time and mastering your schedule.

We share our personal strategies and favorite tools for staying organized, as well as how to maintain flexibility while making sure that your most important tasks get the attention they deserve.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:47]
  • The fundamentals of organizing your time and schedule [4:15]
  • How to plan and organize your time [11:59]
  • How do you prioritize when everything is a priority? [14:11]
  • Apps, tools, and workflows to help get organized [24:39]
  • The difference between tasks and outcomes [30:46]
  • How do we schedule our days? [32:34]
  • How to maintain flexibility [38:02]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Indeed * Notion * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman * Elevation Lab The Anchor Pro * Tapp Collections Silver Purse Hanger * Toggl Track * one sec * The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential * Proactive vs. Reactive: Stop Living on Autopilot (TPS478) * Fantastical * BusyCal * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover the secret to skyrocketing your productivity with the 80/20 rule. Learn how focusing on the most impactful 20% of your efforts can yield 80% of your results.

This episode dives deep into practical strategies for identifying high-impact tasks, prioritizing effectively, and eliminating low-value activities. With real-life examples and actionable tips, you’ll find out how to work smarter, not harder, and achieve more with less effort.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Apple has announced lots of cool iOS and Mac features at WWDC 2024, but which ones will impact your productivity? Are there any that could make it worth buying new hardware?

In this episode, we break down the key announcements and share the new features that have us excited and ready to upgrade.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:50]
  • Which feature has Brooks’ family the most excited? [6:23]
  • Are these announcements worth upgrading your devices? [17:21]
  • Are 1Password and Lastpass doomed? [20:20]
  • The most helpful Messaging enhancements [26:25]
  • What do we think of the homescreen and control center changes? [30:54]
  • Is Apple Intelligence a game-changer? [35:55]
  • Would we be ok with people recording us on phone calls? [43:35]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography * The Art of Thinking Clearly * Codenames Boardgame * 18 things from WWDC24 | Apple * WWDC 2024 Full Recording * MKBHD WWDC 2024 Recap: Is Apple Intelligence Legit? * Otter.ai – AI Meeting Note Taker & Real-time AI Transcription * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever found yourself so deeply immersed in a task that time flies by without you even noticing?

In this episode, we dive into this elusive state of mind known as flow. You’ll discover how to harness the power of the flow state to boost your productivity, creativity, and overall happiness.

Whether you’re struggling with distractions, feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, or simply looking to enhance your focus, this episode offers practical strategies to transform your work habits.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:46]
  • So, what is a flow state? [5:59]
  • How to create a flow state ritual [17:55]
  • Which task(s) should you work on? [27:53]
  • The level of your task is so key [34:52]
  • How to create a flow state environment [41:36]
  • Flow state tactical tips [45:15]

Links:* Shopify * Notion * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * TripMode * Headspace * Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience * Ulysses * Screenflow * Breville Tea Maker * The Virgin Way: If It’s Not Fun, It’s Not Worth Doing * Thinking, Fast and Slow * Check out our Morning Ritual Starter Kit at theproductivityshow.com/morning * Eat Your Frog * Ticktime * Time Timer * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you’re drowning in a sea of mundane tasks, with your creativity and passion collecting dust in a forgotten corner?

In this episode, you’ll discover the game-changing concept of life leverages. Learn how to identify the intersection of your unique skills and passions and transform your daily routine into a fulfilling and joyful experience.

Get ready to redefine productivity and embrace a balanced, satisfying life!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are your kids driving you to distraction while you try to work from home?

In this encore episode, we tackle the ultimate challenge parents face everywhere: balancing work responsibilities while managing kids at home. You’ll discover how to create a productive environment amidst the chaos, ensuring you can finish your work without sacrificing quality time with your family.

Whether you’re a seasoned work-from-home parent, navigating this new territory for the first time, or working with someone going through this, it is possible to transform your home into a harmonious and efficient workspace, even with the little ones around.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:54]
  • How to create a fun learning environment [4:50]
  • Create a calm routine for the family [13:58]
  • Use visual cues [27:03]
  • How to communicate your schedule with others [36:50]

Links:* Masterclass * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Wired In * ClickUp * Loom * Brooks’ Family Kanban Board * Children interrupts BBC News interview * Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) * TPS47: 13 Productive Parenting Hacks * Meghan McInerny’s Red/Yellow/Green paper for signaling her deep work time * Meghan McInerny’s Kanban for Kids * Check out this automated “Dad’s on a call” sign with LEDs and controlled by a Telegram bot * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover the five key benefits of incorporating creative activities into your routine and learn practical tips on how to balance these hobbies with your professional life. Tune in to find out how recharging through creative pursuits can lead to greater efficiency and fulfillment in your daily tasks.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever wonder how some people can effortlessly concentrate for hours while you struggle to stay focused for just a few minutes?

In this episode, you’ll discover tried-and-true strategies for eliminating distractions, building powerful habits, and upgrading your brain for long-lasting concentration.

Whether you’re battling constant notifications or simply want to boost your productivity, our step-by-step guide will transform your ability to focus in just 60 days.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:49]
  • What are the hallmarks of a “focused person?” [10:45]
  • Phase 1: Week 1 – 2 [14:09]
  • Phase 2: Week 3 – 4 [22:22]
  • Phase 3: Week 5 – 6 [26:35]
  • Phase 4: Week 7 – 8 [34:28]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 * Moom * Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind * The TEA Framework: 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential * Pomodoro Technique: The Best Timers, App and Tips to Be Productive * Headspace * Calm * Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Thanh shares five practical strategies that deliver immediate results. These tips are designed to help you take action, build momentum, and achieve your goals more efficiently. Whether you’re struggling with a big project or just everyday tasks, this episode offers valuable insights to help you break free from procrastination and boost your productivity. Tune in and start your journey towards a more productive, procrastination-free life today!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you ever find yourself running out of steam just when you need it the most?

In this episode, you’ll discover the secret sauce of maintaining peak energy and setting smart priorities to supercharge your success. We share energy strategies to help you stay energized and focused throughout your day, ensuring you get the most important things done without sacrificing your well-being.

Whether you’re struggling to keep up with a busy schedule or just looking for ways to boost your efficiency, you’ll get actionable insights to help you thrive.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:04]
  • What do we mean by “energy management,” and how do we use it to our advantage? [5:44]
  • Understanding personal energy cycles [9:03]
  • Does it make sense to use GTD contexts for energy levels? [17:40]
  • Examples of our high/medium/low energy tasks [23:14]
  • But what about if you use work a 9-5 job? [25:38]
  • Practical energy management tips [34:05]
  • How to work in breaks and recovery [37:54]

Links:* Calm * Indeed * Notion * 25X Productivity Coaching * Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 * TextExpander * Rise Science * Red Light Therapy Devices | Joovv * Eight Sleep Pod * The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential * OmniFocus * Oura Ring * Calendly * Daylio * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you feeling overwhelmed by your ever-growing list of commitments?

In this episode, you’ll discover the transformative power of one simple word: no.

Learn the art of decluttering your commitments without guilt and how it leads to enhanced productivity and reduced stress. Whether you’re dealing with a demanding boss or juggling too many projects, this episode will empower you to take control of your time and focus on what’s most important.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What do you think is the secret to achieving your goals and getting your important work done? It’s not time management. It’s not apps. It’s not tools. It’s accountability.

In this episode, Debbie Rosemont, a veteran productivity consultant and professional organizer, joins us. Discover why tools and apps take a backseat to the powerful force of accountability and learn how to harness it to transform your personal and professional life.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by daily tasks or striving for long-term achievements, this episode will equip you with the insights and tools you need to elevate your efficiency and maintain balance in all areas of life.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Get a free 2-week trial at 1password.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:19]
  • What does a coach do? [10:24]
  • How do you find a coach or accountability partner? [16:15]
  • What are some common things clients struggle with? [17:13]
  • What is a mastermind, and how does it help? [25:21]

Links:* Shopify * 1Password * 25X Productivity Coaching * Book: The Four Tendencies, by Gretchen Rubin * The Time Timer (Analog, Visual of Time Passing) * Book: The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod * Rock Your Work From Home Guide * Schedule a Free Discovery Call * 6-month Productivity Transformation Package * Organize to Optimize (Special Course for TPS Listeners) * It’s About Time (Virtual Productivity Program) * Organize to Optimize- Facebook Group * Book: One Habit For a Thriving Home Office * Book: Six-Word Lessons to Be More Productive * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you tired of getting bogged down by endless decisions?

In this episode, we uncover the secrets to making quick, effective choices that don’t just save time—they enhance your life. Whether you’re running a company, leading a team, or simply looking to streamline your everyday decisions, mastering this skill is your ticket to a more productive and stress-free existence.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling overwhelmed by a cluttered calendar?

In this encore episode, we share insights on how to declutter your schedule, ensuring that every appointment and task truly counts. Discover practical tips for transforming your chaotic calendar into a streamlined tool that aligns with your goals and daily life.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by reminders or juggling too many commitments, you’ll get actionable advice to help you clean up your calendar clutter. Learn how to prioritize, eliminate the unnecessary, and optimize your time for the things that matter most.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:17]
  • How to declutter your calendar [6:33]
  • A calendar triage plan [19:01]
  • How to maintain your newly decluttered calendar [30:21]

Links:* Indeed * Masterclass * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * NeuYear Calendar * Calendly * The Five-Minute Journal * Fantastical * Article: Is It Time For Calendar Triage? * Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) * Calendar Captain * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Imagine pressing pause on your digital life—no emails, no social media, just pure, unadulterated real life.

In this episode, we share how disconnecting dramatically boosts focus and productivity. It’s a journey into the peaceful quiet beyond the constant pings of our devices.

Discover practical strategies to implement your own digital detox, whether it’s setting strict tech boundaries or designating tech-free zones in your home. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your screens, this episode is your first step towards a more balanced, efficient, and serene lifestyle.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • One Sec
  • Freedom

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Thanh Pham, founder and CEO of Asian Efficiency, shares insights from his experiences as a digital nomad and the profound benefits of combining work with travel.

Whether you’re a seasoned remote worker or just exploring this flexible lifestyle, this episode is packed with actionable advice to enhance your creativity, maintain balance, and achieve significant productivity gains.

Learn about the best resources for planning your workcation, understand the different types of workcations, and get practical tips for making the most out of your work and travel. Dive into the episode to discover how to seamlessly blend productivity with exploration and make your next workcation a transformative experience.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:52]
  • What are the benefits of a workcation? [8:00]
  • The different types of workcations [9:12]
  • The pros and cons of a “Full Shift Explorer” [13:05]
  • “Week Split Wanderer” pros and cons [18:34]
  • The pros and cons of a “Leisure Pacer” [21:39]
  • Workcation tips and best practices [24:45]

Links:* Notion * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Nomad List * Workfrom Community * World Time Buddy * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you’re just pushing through your workday without really getting anywhere?

In this episode, we explore why stepping away from your desk, even for just a few minutes, can lead to major gains in focus, creativity, and overall well-being.

Discover how you can reset and refocus to boost your productivity, and why stepping away might just be the most productive thing you do all day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Everyone looks forward to the weekend, but how often do you end up feeling more tired on Sunday night than when you started on Friday?

In this episode, we dive into how to make your weekends more enjoyable, relaxing, and ultimately rejuvenating.

Whether you’re dealing with a hectic schedule or just trying to find time for yourself, we’ve got the tips you need to turn your weekends into something to look forward to.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:54]
  • The first question you should ask yourself [4:50]
  • How to not be lonely on weekends [12:31]
  • How to keep spontaneity and flexibility in your weekend [16:28]

Links:* Indeed * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Book: Digital Minimalism – Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport * Book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, by Dale Carnegie * Rev Call Recorder (iOS) * Study: Putting a Price Tag on Friends, Relatives, and Neighbours * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you’re scrambling from the moment you wake up, barely catching up? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re diving into how a purposeful start can transform the entire trajectory of your day. Whether you’re an early riser or your day begins in the afternoon, it’s what you do after you open your eyes that counts.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you having one of those days (or weeks, or months…) where getting things done feels like an uphill battle?

There could be many causes: lack of sleep, lack of motivation, stress, being overwhelmed, or maybe just being bored with what you’re doing.

Whatever the reason, you have things to do but are just not “feeling it.”

In this episode, you’ll get practical, actionable tips that can transform your approach to daily tasks, even when your energy is low, and motivation seems to have taken a day off.

Get a free 2-week trial at 1password.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:21]
  • So what does “not feeling it” mean? [7:31]
  • What to do if you’re feeling sick or low energy [14:03]
  • How about if you are stressed or demotivated? [26:29]
  • Get focused even when you are bored [39:51]

Links:* 1Password * 25X Productivity Coaching * Eight Sleep * Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box * Malbon * Chris Bailey Teaches You To Calm Your Mind (TPS443) * How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery (TPS256) * Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time (TPS468) * Oura Ring * Commit to competence in this coming year * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you tired of the endless cycle of procrastination?

In this episode, you’ll discover the transformative concept of micro-progress, a powerful strategy for conquering procrastination. Whether it’s tackling a massive project or just getting started on your fitness goals, learn how this simple technique can make all the difference.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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You might not realize it, but clutter and disorganization do impact your productivity.

In this episode, you’ll discover essential habits for getting organized. Whether it’s your crowded desk, the pile of clothes in the corner, or those daunting digital files, we’ve got practical and easy-to-implement solutions for you.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:43]
  • How to stop clutter from getting out of control [8:20]
  • Brooks’ 2 rules of organization [14:01]
  • The best way to do a mental declutter [23:06]
  • Why mindful purchasing is a key organization habit [33:45]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Shopify * Calm * Notion * Buy Nothing Project * Sonos Era 100 * New Order: A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (and Everyone Else) by Fay Wolf * Barbara Hemphill * Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity * Hazel * File Juggler * Organize Your Files * Before You Go Minimalist, Listen To This w/ Courtney Carver (TPS428) * Padel * /r/BuyIfForLife * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever set aside a whole day for an important task, only to find yourself spiraling down a rabbit hole of distractions?

In this episode, we dive into the essence of self-management, a skill often overshadowed but incredibly vital. Find out how you can make the essential adjustments in your daily life to achieve more with less stress.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever noticed that some people thrive in their careers and personal lives, and others just kind of… survive?

In this episode, we dive into the power and necessity of investing in yourself. We explore three pivotal areas: advancing your career through skill development, the importance of building a robust network, and the transformative impact of personalized coaching.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:36]
  • How to build skills and learn [7:34]
  • How to build your personal and professional network [21:17]
  • A huge learning and development shortcut [32:36]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Indeed * The Personal MBA * Who we spend our time with over the course of our lives. * Never Eat Alone, And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time * On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Does time feel like it is slipping away? Do you get to the end of the day and feel like you were busy but didn’t accomplish anything? It might be time for a time audit.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to identify those sneaky time-wasters and gain back precious hours for the things that truly matter.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Toggl
  • Timery
  • Timing
  • RescueTime

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Are you ready to start your day with a routine that actually sticks?

In this episode, we dive deep into the secrets of crafting a morning routine — or “Rise Ritual” as we call it — that’s effective, enjoyable, and tailored just for you.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:52]
  • How to make time for your Rise Ritual [4:51]
  • How to personalize your routine [14:51]
  • How do you handle it when things start to fall apart? [21:17]

Links:* Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Camo * Shoelex * The Magic Of Thinking Big * RISE Science * Creating The Ultimate Morning Routine * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Does success rely on joining the 5 am club? We say no!

In this episode, you’ll discover how breaking free from the one-size-fits-all approach to starting your day can revolutionize your productivity and well-being. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, this episode offers practical tips to tailor your rise ritual to fit your unique lifestyle and goals.

This episode isn’t just about productivity; it’s about setting a positive tone for your entire day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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It is Episode 500 of The Productivity Show!

In this episode, Thanh and Brooks will take you on a tour of the five eras of The Productivity Show. You’ll discover productivity lessons and action items from the past ten years of the show.

We don’t just play the hits, though: we share some under-the-radar deep-cut episodes that we think will help even today (no costume changes or moss-covered pianos required).

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

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You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:09]
  • Some of Thanh’s most impactful guests [12:50]
  • The Episode 1-99 Era Picks and Lessons [17:40]
  • The Episode 100-199 Era Picks and Lessons [28:00]
  • The Episode 200-299 Era Picks and Lessons [38:23]
  • The Episode 300-399 Era Picks and Lessons [45:42]
  • The Episode 400-499 Era Picks and Lessons [53:00]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * HiccAway Hiccup Straw * CR2032 Lithium Battery(10-Pack) * Unjumbly Baseball Hat Rack * How You Can Live Longer and Be In Shape In Only 30 Minutes A Day (TPS438) * How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190) * TPS2: How to Get Started with Journaling * Reinvent Your Life Through Productivity w/ Brad Simon * Discover How The DISC Personality Test Will Transform Your Productivity w/ Gloria-Jean Brown (TPS490) * Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth * The 4-Day MBA * Lean Thinking w/ Paul Akers * Batching: The Productivity Tactic That Works (TPS496) * How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery (TPS256) * In-Person Productivity: The Secret Sauce to Making a Remote Team Work * GTD Weekly Review: Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) * Productivity Music: The Power of Focus Playlists with Will Henshall * Chris Bailey Teaches You To Calm Your Mind (TPS443) * Professional Athlete Bud Norris Shares His High Performance Habits (TPS494) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Ever feel like you’re just putting out fires at work, getting nowhere fast? That was Thanh until he discovered the magic of daily planning.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to start your day knowing exactly what needs to get done and focus on what really moves the needle.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Is the Pomodoro Technique overrated? How about the Eisenhower matrix? Which productivity technique does Brooks and Thanh disagree about?

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss overrated productivity techniques, Type-A relaxation, and the results of a country-wide 4-Day Workweek experiment that we shared in a previous episode.

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You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50]
  • Is Type-A relaxation a problem? [5:06]
  • Which productivity techniques are completely overrated? [16:19]
  • Whatever happened with that 4-Day Workweek study? [44:21]

Links:* Shopify * 1Password * 25X Productivity Coaching * The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Revised and Updated: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals * Simple Scan | Agile Tortoise * Tweet by @jonnym1ller * The Science of Creativity & How to Enhance Creative Innovation – Huberman Lab * Productivity hacks that don’t work or are overrated : r/productivity * Four-day workweek: Firms in UK make the move permanent after world’s biggest trial * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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For something so simple, a checklist can be surprisingly transformative.

In this episode, you’ll discover how checklists can streamline your routine, declutter your workspace, and enhance your project management, all while freeing up mental space for creativity and deep thinking.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Feeling stuck can happen to anyone. You might know what you need to do, but getting started never seems to happen.

In this episode, you’ll discover easy-to-use tips to help you break through the procrastination wall. Whether it’s a big project or just daily tasks, you’ll get moving and stay on track.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50]
  • How to schedule your habits to make sure they happen [5:56]
  • How to give yourself an onramp to make things happen [12:29]
  • Not enough of us do this, but we should. [20:03]
  • This almost always works when nothing else does [25:59]
  • How to design your environment for success [31:43]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * TickTime * TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp * The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion * Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why * Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones * Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) * 5 Ways To Get Laser-Like Focus Every Day * Focus Filter * How To Design Your Environment To Make It Work For You, Not Against You * How To Work Productively From Home * How To Design A More Focused and Productive Work Environment (TPS291) * TEA Framework * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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As our lives evolve, so do our priorities. The strategies that work in one situation may not serve you when your priorities shift, and so do your methods for managing your time, energy, and attention.

In this episode, we share strategies for staying adaptable and learning to thrive with the passage of time.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Can you save 2 hours a day with a… fridge magnet? Can an AI tool help you achieve your big audacious goal?

In this episode, we’ll answer these questions, and you’ll discover 5 ways to break out of time poverty.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:15]
  • Five ways to escape time poverty [4:21]
  • A new AI tool to help you achieve your goals [21:28]
  • A fridge magnet that can save you 2 hours a day [33:42]

Links:* Calm * Notion * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * one sec * Brick * SwingVision * Apple News: 5 easy, science-backed ways to get more time in your day * New issue: Get more time – BBC Science Focus Magazine * (@levelsio on X: “Made this into a GPT called 💪 Achieve AI * ChatGPT – Achieve AI * GREG ISENBERG on X: “I’m saving 2+ hours per day with a fridge magnet * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Have you ever found yourself staring at your to-do list, wondering, “Where on earth do I start?”

Some days, it’s super clear what needs to be done, but then there are those times when everything looks important or due soon, and we just end up ticking off the easy stuff to avoid feeling buried.

In this episode, we’re going to talk about the Focus Filter. It’s all about figuring out what really matters today and what’s going to make the biggest difference.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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When you start researching productivity tactics, there is one big one that always comes up: batching like tasks together.

It’s popular for a reason: it works!

In this episode, we share the power of batching, and how we use it to be productive. We also share the results of a batching experiment. Is it really more productive?

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:18]
  • The 3 levels of batching [10:09]
  • How to find batching opportunities [13:37]
  • An email batching tip for busy corporates [20:33]
  • Our reading schedules [22:46]
  • Brooks’ batching experiment [23:42]

Links:* Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life * Libby * Anker Prime 67W USB C Charger * OmniFocus 4 * Organize Your Files * Productivity Academy * Proactive vs. Reactive: Stop Living on Autopilot (TPS478) * Hazel * File Juggler * The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Normally, on The Productivity Show, we recommend productive actions you should take to achieve your goals. Not this time. In this episode, we want you to stop doing something.

Discover how to create your own Anti-todo-list to make time and space for what really matters.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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A major productivity trend we’ve identified for 2024 is health and wellness. If you don’t have the energy to do what you need to do, you can’t be productive no matter which task manager or framework you use.

One of our most popular episodes on this topic is Thanh’s chat with his strength and conditioning coach Bert Massey, so we are happy to provide it again as an encore presentation.

In this episode, we talk about exercise, working out for longevity, functional strength, and what to do when you are sitting all day.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • How rigidity and chaos impacts your fitness [8:29]
  • Bodyweight benchmarks to measure fitness [18:35]
  • Fitness routines that have stood the test of time [26:45]
  • How to get results from just 30 minutes of exercise [41:26]
  • How to train for longevity, not just fitness [46:55]
  • Why it is so important to focus on your feet [47:28]
  • Bert’s fitness routine [1:13:56]

Links:* Shopify * Notion * 25X Productivity Coaching * Convict Conditioning: How to Bust Free of All Weakness Using the Lost Secrets of Supreme Survival Strength by Paul Wade * The Way To Live: In Health and Physical Fitness by George Hackenschmidt * NeuFit Device * NeuFit® Austin TX Clinic * The Penalties For Neglecting Your Posture w/ Rick Mathes (TPS246) * Dr. Pat Davidson * Complete Human Performance * Ido Portal * Ido Portal: The Science & Practice of Movement – Huberman Lab * Cal Dietz: TriPhasic Training * Deep End Fitness * Bert Massey Instagram * Adapt Fitness * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you in a slump? Lack motivation? Feeling overwhelmed? If you said yes to any of these, then you must listen to this episode. Thanh shares two quick tips to get you back fully motivated and in momentum. Download this episode now and tune in!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Former MLB pitcher Bud Norris shares his insights on resilience, performing under extreme pressure, and the secrets to sustaining peak performance – both on the baseball diamond and in the boardroom. From nail-biting moments in games to hilarious locker room tales, Bud’s got stories that’ll keep you hooked and entertained. But there’s more – he’s also breaking down how the lessons from his MLB days can supercharge your own work life.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Who was Bud Norris before professional baseball? [1:57]
  • How does an athlete stay motivated, especially in the early days? [7:00]
  • How did Bud train and prepare himself for top performance? [15:54]
  • What are some ways to rebound from setbacks when the pressure is on? [48:09]
  • Some tips and tools for physical recovery [56:17]

Links:* Calm * Masterclass * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Hyperice Normatec 3 * AG1 Athletic Greens * Bud Norris (@thebud_norris) – Instagram * Heads-Up Baseball : Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time * Heads-Up Baseball 2.0: 5 Skills for Competing One Pitch at a Time * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

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Artificial Intelligence. Is it hype or here to stay? I’ve experimented with dozens of AI tools, spent over 100+ hours learning about it, and here’s what I’ve concluded.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • ChatGPT
  • ‎Bard – Chat Based AI Tool from Google
  • Jasper.ai
  • ChatPDF
  • Midjourney

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We held an exclusive webinar for Asian Efficiency clients on the 2024 Productivity Trends coming up. In this episode, we’ll share some highlights and insights from this webinar. You’ll also discover new productivity apps that we’re currently liking and other tools you have never heard of (and we like a lot). Tune in now to find out more.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:52]
  • Some apps Thanh is loving these days [15:59]
  • AI tools you need to know about [19:04]
  • Some health and wellness tips [25:57]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Productivity Trends of 2024 Webinar * TickTick * ChatPDF * Oura Ring * one sec * ChatGPT * ‎Bard – Chat Based AI Tool from Google * Adobe Firefly * Midjourney * Image Creator from Microsoft Designer * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Unlock the secret of Shoshin, the Japanese concept of a ‘beginner’s mind,’ and how it can revolutionize your approach to productivity.

Join us in this episode as we explore how embracing curiosity and openness can lead to innovative solutions and a more fulfilling work experience.

Discover actionable steps to integrate Shoshin into your daily routine and see your tasks in a whole new light!

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What trends will shape our careers in 2024? Would you be willing to switch to a flip phone for a month? And how performative productivity creates “BS” jobs.

In this episode, we talk about these topics and more (example: will AI be telling US what to do instead of vice-versa?)

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Get an additional 15% off an annual membership at MASTERCLASS.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:17]
  • Six Trends That Will Shape Our Careers in 2024 [4:30]
  • Lessons learned from a month-long flip-phone experiment [22:30]
  • It’s all “BS”: performing productivity at tech companies [40:41]

Links:* Notion * Indeed * Masterclass * 25X Productivity Coaching * Dumbphone Finder * The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs: How to Be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience * 6 Trends That Will Shape Our Careers in 2024 * Switching to a Flip Phone Helped Me Cut Down on My Smartphone Addiction – The New York Times * Orbic Journey V * Oura Ring * It’s All BS | JS Tan * Reddit – It’s All BS: Performing productivity at Google * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Wearables are a new wave of productivity tools that are underrated. Thanh shares which wearable technology he uses to improve his sleep, have more energy, and focus in his life.

This episode is packed with valuable insights on harnessing technology for a healthier, more efficient life. Tune in to learn how small changes in your routine, guided by health metrics, can lead to big improvements in both your personal and professional worlds.

Get the OURA Ring here.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • Oura Ring

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Books are a productivity “cheat code.” In a few hours or days, you can learn something the author took a lifetime to figure out.

The books you read don’t have to be life-changing — a good book can just be a good book, and sometimes, you never know when the dots will connect, even years later.

In this episode, we share six books that resonated with us and we think you should read this year.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:14]
  • Our recommended books: Round 1 [8:00]
  • Our recommended books: Round 2 [21:48]
  • Our recommended books: Round 3 [31:24]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity * Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World * Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals * Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time (TPS468) * The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results * Foundation and Empire * Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life * Watch Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones * Productivity Workflows and Strategies Alice Ferris (TPS399) * Living with More Ikigai – Presented by Alice Ferris * A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony * 5: Where will you be five years from today? * Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life * Mindfulness in Plain English * Mindfulness in Plain English (online) * Back to Work Episode 3: The Second Arrow * Calm * The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable * Kafka on the Shore * A Wild Sheep Chase * The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle * Norwegian Wood * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A daily check-in can be a game changer in how you manage your work, your day and ultimately your life.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through this simple but profound ritual. Be proactive and in control of your day, and set yourself up for success by focusing on the right things every single day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Discover the power of the DISC personality test and how this renowned tool goes beyond mere personality assessment to become a key to unlocking your productivity potential. Gloria-Jean Brown, an expert in DISC, guides us through tailoring productivity strategies to your personal style, boosting team dynamics, and mastering communication.

Dive into an engaging discussion filled with practical tips and real-life applications. Whether you’re new to DISC or looking for deeper insights, this episode promises to transform your approach to productivity and work.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:15]
  • How did Gloria go from the Air Force to being a productivity coach? [4:50]
  • How has the field of time management changed since the 90’s? [11:00]
  • What is a DISC assessment? [24:05]
  • The results of Thanh’s DISC assessment [25:41]
  • How does Gloria-Jean use DISC with clients? [39:19]
  • Where can you learn more about Gloria-Jean and DISC? [44:46]

Links:* Notion * Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * Coaching By GJ * 365+ Tips To A More Efficient You: How To Increase Your Efficiency by 55% * Live A Joy-Filled Life Daily: GJ’s Simple Guide On How To Be Efficient * Post-it Notes, 3×3 * Calm – The #1 App for Meditation and Sleep * Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less * DISC assessment – Wikipedia * Kolbe.com | Home of the Kolbe A™ Index (Instinct Test) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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When we set goals, especially at the start of a new year, we often focus on individual effort. But there’s a secret ingredient to sustained success that often goes overlooked: the people around us.

The reality is that no matter how self-reliant we are, we all need support. In this episode, we share how to build your own support system.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Do you find it hard to stay motivated? Then this episode is a must-listen! Here are three quick tips you can use to keep yourself motivated and on top of your goals.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Learn more at https://www.asianefficiency.com.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:12]
  • How to keep your goals front and center throughout the year [3:53]
  • Why it is so important to celebrate your wins (and how to do it) [11:25]
  • How to make sure progress doesn’t stall [18:05]
  • How to make YouTube work for you [23:58]

Links:* Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Canva * Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity * Oura Ring * NeuYear * Alex Hormozi – YouTube * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Thanh Pham, founder of Asian Efficiency, has something important to share with you. Please tune in and listen to what will be happening next.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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What are some of the biggest productivity myths that we wish more people knew were false? Is it OK to suck at things sometimes? Why is Evernote upsetting both paid AND free users?

In this episode, we cover these topics and more (awesome Apple TV updates!)

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:50]
  • Awesome new Apple TV features [5:08]
  • What are some productivity myths we with everyone knew were false? [9:57]
  • Does your productivity change when you have kids? (Spoiler: yes) [19:37]
  • Is it OK to suck at some things? [22:29]
  • Evernote is just upsetting everyone these days [34:35]

Links:* Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Microsoft Surface Pro 9 * Dropzone 4 * Patagonia Men’s Better Sweater® Fleece Jacket * ExpressVPN is now available for the Apple TV – The Verge * ExpressVPN * Zoom’s new Apple TV meeting app uses your iPhone as the camera – The Verge * What’s one productivity myth you wish more people knew was false? : r/productivity * Opinion | (It’s Great to) Suck at Something – The New York Times * Update: Evernote Free accounts will have fifty notes and one notebook * Evernote is about to seriously limit its plan for free users – The Verge * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Making goals is easy, so why is it so hard to make them stick?

There’s a simple exercise you can do to connect with your goals, and it doesn’t involve any extra work, apps, or tools. In this episode, we take you through it in less than 10 minutes.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Do you struggle with setting goals and accomplishing them? Then this episode is for you. We’ll share with you the Personal Strategic Planning method to set goals and achieve them without losing motivation along the way.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

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You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:16]
  • How Thanh developed his personal strategic planning method [4:53]
  • The 3 key parts of personal strategic planning [14:59]
  • How to get clarity on your goals [15:53]
  • The missing middle part of goal planning [18:54]
  • How to actually create your plan [26:35]

Links:* Notion * Masterclass * NetSuite * 25X Productivity Coaching * 90 Day Goal Getter – Asian Efficiency * Therabody PowerDot 2.0 Uno * NeuFit * Zag: The Number One Strategy of High-Performance Brands * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever felt like you’re lost in your to-do list app, especially in a high-speed work environment? Discover how a simple yet powerful routine can transform your chaotic days into focused productivity and reduce stress. Dive into this episode to learn how just ten minutes a day can bring order to your hectic schedule and keep you ahead of the game. If you’re ready to turn the tide on overwhelming to-do lists, this episode is your first step to mastering your daily tasks.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Looking for a gift that will make your special someone – or yourself – more productive?

In this episode, we’re excited to present our listener-favorite Holiday Productivity Gift Guide.

Whether you’re shopping for a busy professional, a creative thinker, or someone just starting their productivity journey, we’ve got you covered.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:40]
  • Why do we do these gift guide episodes? [4:39]
  • Thanh’s gift philosophy [7:02]
  • Thanh’s first gift suggestion [7:28]
  • Brooks’ first gift suggestion [9:25]
  • How to buy a subscription for someone [32:14]

Links:* Indeed * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Velvet Rope Economy: How Inequality Became Big Business * Nespresso VertuoPlus * Oscar * SmartGoggles by Therabody * Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals * Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time (TPS468) * Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention-and How to Think Deeply Again * Hydro Flask 24 oz Standard Mouth Water Bottle * LMNT Zero-Sugar Electrolytes * Rise Science * Oura Ring * The Five Minute Journal * Introducing ChatGPT Plus * Instant Pot Vortex Pro Air Fryer, 10 Quart * The MT – WESN * LEATHERMAN Micra Keychain Multitool * Anker Powerline II 3-in-1 Cable * Kindle Paperwhite * Kindle * How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life * The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness * TREKOLOGY Portable Camping Chairs * Anker Power Bank, 25,600mAh Portable Charger 87W Bundle * Dreametech L10 Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop * Setapp | Powerful apps for Mac & iOS * ViewSonic VA1655 15.6 Inch 1080p Portable Monitor * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling paralyzed by the chaos of your growing to-do list? You’re not alone. Discover a compassionate approach to breaking through the paralysis and actionable steps to transform your daunting list into a manageable plan.

If you’ve been avoiding your tasks, this episode is your first step towards not just confronting but mastering your to-do list. Tune in and turn your overwhelm into action.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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New Year’s Resolutions never work… UNLESS you do them the right way. In this episode, we will take you through a 3 step process to look back at the last year, set focused resolutions for the upcoming year, and actually achieve them this time.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Learn more at https://www.asianefficiency.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:59]
  • How we review the last year [4:53]
  • Questions to ask yourself at the end of each year [9:31]
  • How to set your New Years Resolutions [11:58]
  • How do you keep momentum as you go through the year? [17:29]

Links:* NetSuite * 25X Productivity Coaching * Day One – Your Journal for Life * Raycast * The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower–and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion: Stutz, Phil, Michels, Barry * The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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We dive deeper into how the simple act of gratitude can be a game-changer for your daily life and productivity.

Discover how this often-overlooked practice can transform not just your December but your entire approach to life and work.

Are you ready to unlock the secret to happiness and productivity that lasts all year long? Tune in and change the way you view productivity forever.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Are you constantly pushing through work without taking a break, only to find yourself burnt out and less productive?

Discover how strategically timed pauses can dramatically transform your focus, creativity, and overall productivity.

Thanh shares his personal insights and practical tips on integrating breaks into your daily routine, challenging the myth that non-stop work equals higher productivity.

Tune in to learn how the right kind of break can actually be your secret weapon for sustainable success.

Thanks Notion! Try Notion AI for free when you go to Notion.com/tps.

Right now you can get Two Memberships for the Price of One at MASTERCLASS.com/TPS.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Learn more at https://www.asianefficiency.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:03]
  • How to use this month to recharge [17:52]
  • How to build up to taking breaks [23:16]
  • Ways to expand breaks to more areas of your life [27:44]

Links:* Notion * Masterclass * Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * Catan (Base Game) * TheraCup * The 40 Hour Work YEAR by Scott Fritz * Oura Ring * Calm – The #1 App for Meditation and Sleep * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover the often-missed signs and learn practical strategies to not just prevent burnout, but turn it around. If you’ve been feeling perpetually drained and stuck in a rut, this episode is your first step toward reigniting your passion and productivity.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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Happy people are productive people, and a good night of sleep on a regular basis is a key part of that happiness.

Get cozy, and in this encore episode, let’s explore how you can use sleep tracking to tune into your body’s needs and transform your sleep into the ultimate productivity tool.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:24]
  • What does Thanh use sleep tracking for, and how does it benefit him? [10:39]
  • What is tip number 1 for successful sleep tracking? [13:38]
  • What is tip number 2 for successful sleep tracking? [20:42]
  • What is tip number 3 for successful sleep tracking? [28:48]

Links:* NetSuite * Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * ChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System * Target Sleep Mask * Serene Sleep * Oura Ring * Sleep Cycle (App) * Rise Science * Withings Sleep Tracking Pad * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Mastering the art of attention is more crucial than ever. But what if there’s a hidden dimension to focus, an untapped potential that could elevate your productivity to heights you’ve never imagined? We dive into the science and practical tips to master your focus. Tune in to discover the secrets of turning focus into your most powerful ally and learn how to master the moment in a way that propels you toward your goals.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

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How many hours a day of focus time is considered good? How do you overcome the addiction to social media? How do you turn a bad day around into productive day?

In this episode, we cover these popular productivity topics and more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:07]
  • How many “real” working hours do you work on average at your office/knowledge-based job? [6:53]
  • How can I break free of phone and social media addiction? [16:31]
  • How to avoid a “my day is ruined” kind of day? [27:56]
  • How Brooks compartmentalizes his day [30:20]
  • Why “zooming out” is such a powerful technique [34:20]

Links:* Indeed * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Productivity Apps & Tools of Thanh Pham (TPS480) * The Productivity Apps & Tools of Brooks Duncan (TPS481) * Tide Stain Remover for Clothes * Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones * Blinq: Your Digital Business Card * SmartGoggles by Therabody * Reddit /r/Productivity * How many “real” working hours do you work on average at your office/knowledge-based job? : r/productivity * How can I break free of phone and social media addiction? : r/productivity * Freedom * Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity w/ James Clear * one sec * one sec Shortcuts Setup on iOS * How to avoid a “my day is ruined” kind of day : r/productivity * How To Be Productive When You’re Sick And You Have An Important Deadline * How to Stop Worrying and Start Living * Rise Science * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How can you stay productive when life throws you curveballs? Discover practical tips to build resilience and regain your productivity, no matter what obstacles life presents. Tune in for inspiration, actionable advice, and a roadmap to turn adversity into a catalyst for success. Don’t miss this episode – your path to productivity begins here.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover all the apps, tools, services and workflows of The Productivity Show Co-host Brooks Duncan.

In this episode, he dives deep into everything he uses to be productive. There may be some surprises!

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Learn more at https://www.asianefficiency.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:50]
  • Brooks’ apps [5:26]
  • Key Chrome plugins [12:23]
  • Hardware and tools [28:30]
  • The service that Brooks wakes up at 5am for [36:46]

Links:* Netsuite * Shopify * 25X Productivity Coaching * A Year in the Woods: Twelve Small Journeys into Nature: Torbjørn Ekelund * AirLoft Hooded Jacket | Western Rise * GORUCK GR1 26L * The Productivity Apps & Tools of Thanh Pham (TPS480) – Asian Efficiency * Draftss * 1Password * Microsoft Teams * Pocket Casts * Audible * Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed or Fail * Save to OmniFocus – Chrome Web Store * Extensions – Copy as Markdown * Copy as Markdown – Chrome Web Store * Discord * Happy Scale * Stock Events * YNAB * Setapp | Powerful apps for Mac & iOS * Ulysses * Day One Journal App * MindNode * Dropbox * Just Timers * Backblaze * The Economist Espresso * Libby * Tide Charts Near Me on the App Store * AllTrails * Strong – Workout Tracker & Gym Log * Pixelmator Pro * Airalo * Currency on the App Store * BetterTouchTool * Keyboard Maestro * Moom * Alfred * Raycast * Snagit * CleanShot X for Mac * Default Folder X * Dropzone * ScreenFlow * Camtasia * Articulate 360 * Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 * Elgato Key Light Air * Elgato Key Light Mini * Elgato Wave XLR * Surface Pro 7+ * Samsung SSD T7 Portable External Solid State Drive * Logitech Brio 4K Webcam * ScanSnap iX1600 * Pill Organizer 7 Day * Orangetheory Fitness * TextExpander * Fantastical * Slack * Artifact * TripIt * MyFitnessPal * Logitech MX Master 3S * Logitech Professional Presenter R800 * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover all the apps, tools, services and workflows of the founder of Asian Efficiency. Thanh dives deep into everything he uses to be productive. You don’t want to miss this!

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:12]
  • Thanh’s apps [5:36]
  • Key Chrome plugins [13:21]
  • Hardware and tools [26:39]
  • Health, wellness, and longevity tools [31:52]
  • Services that Thanh replies on [45:35]

Links:* Indeed * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results * Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard * Fabletics Men’s The Fundamental Short * Vidyard * Daylio * Rise Science * Tana * TextExpander * Fantastical * Evernote * Pocket * Slack * Artifact * Overcast * TripIt * MyFitnessPal * SkyView * NordVPN * Google Translate * InShot * ChatGPT * The Five Minute Journal * Oura Ring * 7 Things I Did To Become Superhuman Productive With the Oura Ring * Logitech MX Master 3S * Logitech Professional Presenter R800 * Apple AirPods Pro * Apple AirTag 4 Pack * TheraGun Pro Plus * TheraCup * Therabody PowerDot 2.0 Duo * Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube * Hyperice Normatec 3 * ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set * Kettlebell Weights Set * Mace Club * Logest Steel Mace Exercise Club * Slack Block * How You Can Live Longer and Be In Shape In Only 30s A Day (TPS438) * Ray-Ban Meta – Wayfarer (Standard) Smart Glasses * Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Smart Light Starter Kit * Anker Magnetic Battery (MagGo) * Sonos Sub * Great Assistant * Soho House * Thumbtack * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever heard of the phrase “less is more”? Dive into this episode as we uncover the ancient Japanese principle of Hara Hachi Bu and its surprising connection to peak productivity. Discover why stopping at 80% might be the game-changer you never knew you needed.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Here’s the problem with time – we have that clock sitting there as a constant companion but also a silent competitor. We always feel like we are racing against the clock and always feel like we just never have time.

But what if we could change the rules of the game? What if we could turn money into time – and it doesn’t HAVE to be a lot of money.

Sounds great, of course, but how do you do it?

In this encore episode of The Productivity Show, we answer that exact question: How do you buy back time?

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:28]
  • What’s Brooks’ first tip for buying back time? [4:42]
  • What technology does Thanh use to remove time squanders from his life? [8:15]
  • What’s tip #2 for buying back time? [12:20]
  • What are some of the ways that Thanh outsources and delegates tasks? [16:31]
  • What is Tip #3 for buying back time? [29:21]
  • What sorts of things does Thanh have his Executive Assistant do for him? [31:54]
  • How does Thanh feel about using a service versus a person to help with tasks? [40:38]

Links:* Netsuite * 25X Productivity Coaching * Upwork * Fiverr * TaskRabbit * TPS75: Simple Systems * TPS 333: Personal Outsourcing: How To Win Back 5+ Hours/Week * TPS 190: How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis * TPS 143: The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant * Fancyhands * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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When life is stressful, we let go of ourselves. We lose motivation and our routines, and it can feel impossible to get anything done. If you’re in that situation, then this episode is for you. We’ll show you how to get back on track in less than 10 minutes.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you often find yourself reacting to circumstances rather than being in control of your life and productivity?

In this episode, we dive deep into the crucial difference between being reactive and proactive and how mastering this distinction can supercharge your productivity and build permanent momentum.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Learn more at https://www.asianefficiency.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:08]
  • How an ultrasound appointment changed Brooks’ life [4:45]
  • The surprise benefit of tracking anything [9:45]
  • How Thanh turned around his reactive habuts [12:13]
  • Can being reactive be a good thing? [21:34]
  • What are some tactical things you can do to be proactive? [24:19]
  • The relationship between proactivity and a growth mindset [27:50]
  • How to build a proactive routine for personal growth [32:35]

Links:* Bambee * 25X Productivity Coaching * Master Lock Vault * Care.com * Home | Quest Diagnostics * Flight Plan: The Real Secret of Success * The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness * Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence * New for 2022: The Ultimate Couch Potato Portfolio Guide – MoneySense * Processing vs. Fixing Depression, Best iPhone Features, Spying Wearables, & More (TPS477) * Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You * Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Dweck, Carol S. S.: 9780345472328: Amazon.com: Books * The 3X Rule- Solve Your Recurring Problems Once And For All * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Today’s episode has a simple suggestion: whatever you do, optimize for happiness. Thanh Pham, founder of AE, shares a simple practice and habit you do to optimize for happiness.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching
  • 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What do you do if you have lost all motivation and are feeling depressed? Would you buy a wearable that records everything? Is this the first significant iPhone feature in years?

In this episode, we cover these topics and much more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:48]
  • Would we switch to a third-party mobile web browser? [5:39]
  • Would we pay for an ad-free search engine? [8:27]
  • Spotify releases audiobooks! [15:52]
  • What to do if you are unmotivated, depressed, and can’t get started [24:25]
  • A wearable that records everything? 😬 [38:02]
  • Is this the most useful iPhone feature in years? (Has there been a new feature in years?) [44:35]

Links:* Indeed * Calm * 25X Productivity Coaching * Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You * The Practice of Groundedness: A Transformative Path to Success That Feeds-Not Crushes-Your Soul * Anker Powerline II 3-in-1 Cable * Logitech MX Master 3S * Stream Deck For Productivity: My Favorite Tool I Didn’t Know I Needed * Introducing Vivaldi on iOS | Vivaldi Browser * 9 Browser Tips to Save Time (Plus an Epic Lightning Round!) * Why Kagi is the best Google alternative I’ve tried yet – The Verge * Kagi vs. The Competition | Kagi’s Docs * Decisions, In-Person Joy, Mt. Fuji, Also — Skin Cancer — Roden Newsletter Archive * ChatGPT * ‎Bard – Chat Based AI Tool from Google, Powered by PaLM 2 * Daniel Ek on Twitter * Libby * I lost the desire to be productive because of depression : r/productivity * Rewind Pendant * Jason Calacanis on Twitter * Rewind * Otter.ai – Voice Meeting Notes & Real-time Transcription * All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg on Apple Podcasts * The Action Button is the most significant new iPhone feature in years – The Verge * 10+ iPhone Productivity Strategies from David Sparks (TPS199) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Celebrate the end of the year with a productivity boost! Thanh Pham shares his Q4 Sprint strategy – a game-changer for finishing the year strong. Discover how to turn Q4 into turbocharged months.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want to be consistent and have a great day almost every day? Create an easy-to-follow routine that you follow after you wake up.

Some people call it a “morning routine,” but we like “Rise Ritual” because you can do it anytime, not just in the morning.

In this encore episode, we’ll share how you can build your own Rise Ritual and how to be consistent with it.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:03]
  • What is the first step to creating a rise ritual? [5:53]
  • What is tip no. 2 for creating a rise ritual? [17:51]
  • What are some of the categories for improving the beginning of your day? [19:34]
  • How long does Thanh’s rise ritual usually take? [21:43]
  • What is tip number 3 for creating a rise ritual? [24:17]

Links:* Indeed * Netsuite * 25X Productivity Coaching * Camo * Shoelex * The Magic Of Thinking Big * RISE Science * Creating The Ultimate Morning Routine * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If you’re currently not automating anything, you’re wasting your time. Find out how you can get started with automation and win back multiple hours a week!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want to have more energy in your daily life? Thanh, the founder of AE, shares his secret for doubling your energy and having more capacity to be productive.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

FACTORMEALS.com/tps50 and use code tps50 to get 50% off.

Apply for the Rocket Visa Card today at rocketcard.com/TPS and get up to 5% cash back on every purchase toward a new loan with Rocket Mortgage.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:48]
  • Why some people say Energy is the most important part of the TEA Framework [6:53]
  • Thanh takes us through his energy protocol [13:12]
  • Why Thanh has changed to physical books instead of his Kindle [18:34]
  • Why saunas and cold plunges are such a productive combo [21:31]

Links:* Shopify * Factor * Rocket Visa Card * 25X Productivity Coaching * TheraGun Pro Handheld Deep Tissue Massage Gun * LMNT Keto Electrolyte Powder Packets * Barebells Protein Bars * How You Can Live Longer and Be In Shape In Only 30 Minutes A Day (TPS438) * Normatec 3 * Oura Ring * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling overcommitted and scattered? This short episode is for you. We delve deep into one of the most potent skills in the 25X productivity system – the ‘Focus Filter’ so you become focused, intentional and more productive.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching
  • Focus Filter
  • Asian Efficiency Products

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever wondered why some people effortlessly churn out tasks with a smile while others struggle despite all the hacks they know?

Discover what’s possibly been holding you back and the surprisingly simple tweaks to unlock not just efficiency but joy in your daily routine.

If there’s one episode you shouldn’t miss, it’s this one. Uncover the secret mantra: “Happy people are productive people.”

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:18]
  • An exercise to see if you are out of alignment [6:49]
  • What is taking away from your happiness? [12:37]
  • What are some practical things you can do to increase your happiness? [27:23]
  • Thanh’s digital detox routine [35:56]

Links:* 25X Productivity Coaching * 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans * Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life * The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life * Tana * The Five Minute Journal * How You Can Live Longer and Be In Shape In Only 30 Minutes A Day (TPS438) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feel like you're always in "go mode" but never really getting ahead?

In today's episode, we introduce a game-changing skill that's often overlooked: "Thinking Time."

We'll share the transformative journey of Francesca, a mom and business owner, who went from feeling overwhelmed to feeling in control and organized. Tune in to discover how dedicating just 30 minutes to structured thinking can propel your productivity and life to new heights.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want to know our biggest successes — and biggest mistakes? Want to know what the deal is with the Asian Efficiency name? Curious about how Thanh structures his day and favorite apps and tools?

And is it really possible to be productive with kids?

In this episode, we turn the tables and do a Q&A episode with The Productivity Show host and Asian Efficiency founder Thanh Pham about these and many other topics.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

FACTORMEALS.com/tps50 and use code tps50 to get 50% off.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29]

What's the deal with the Asian Efficiency name? [7:42]

Why did Asian Efficiency start hiring so early? [12:52]

The story behind the Asian Efficiency founders breaking up [17:24]

What's a typical day in the life of Thanh? [23:39]

What are some of the pros and cons of living in different areas of the world? [28:38]

Does productivity advice work if you have kids? [33:40]

How long did it take to start the podcast, and what has the impact been on AE? [40:50]

What have been the most rewarding moments at AE? And what have some of the biggest mistakes been? [44:39]

What apps and tools has Thanh been swearing by lately? [52:43]

What should someone do if they are feeling overwhelmed? [57:18]

Links:

Bambee

Factor Meals

25X Productivity Coaching

THERABAND FlexBar

Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

How to Begin: Start Doing Something That Matters

Travel Hacking and Remote Working Tips w/ Nomadic Matt (TPS445)

Wealth Dynamics by Roger Hamilton

Fantastical

ChatGPT

Oura Ring. Smart Ring for Fitness, Stress, Sleep & Health.

Rest

The Five Minute Journal

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you find the fall season overwhelming? So did I! Tune in to learn why Prioritization is your golden ticket to navigating a busy life, especially as you scale your career or business. Learn actionable steps to align your focus with your goals and how to go from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Don't miss this episode; your future self will thank you.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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We all have those days when we don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning, but what do you do if that happens ALL THE TIME?

Also, are most note taking apps useless at the end of the day? What are some cheap things that don’t suck?

In this episode, we cover these topics and more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:49]

Alert: new Google Docs feature! [6:30]

Google + AI + notes [9:21]

DoorDash launches AI phone answering for restaurants [15:34]

Are most note-taking apps useless, even with AI? [23:26]

Help this person get out of bed every morning [33:07]

Cheap stuff that doesn't suck! [43:15]

Links:

Indeed

Shopify

25X Productivity Coaching

The Wealthy Gardener: Lessons on Prosperity Between Father and Son

Mark Wildman - YouTube

LiquorTX – Bar Sales Data

Google Docs and Drive are getting support for eSignatures

NotebookLM: hands-on with Google’s AI-powered note-taking app

Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot – your copilot for work

DoorDash launches AI-powered voice ordering technology for restaurants

Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real-World Tasks Over the Phone – Google Research Blog

Why note-taking apps don’t make us smarter

Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought.

Obsidian - Sharpen your thinking

Mem: Your AI knowledge assistant

NickMilo on X

Linking Your Thinking: Personal Knowledge Management with Nick Milo (TPS387)

Obsidian CEO on X

Otter.ai - Voice Meeting Notes & Real-time Transcription

Chorus

Help me find one activity to do consistently every morning so I don't go back to sleep : r/productivity

Favorite gadgets, tools, and wearables under $50 - The Verge

Amazon Basics 3.5mm Aux Jack Audio Extension Cable, Male to Female

HOMELUX THEORY Multi-Angle Portable Laptop Stand

SHYMERY Flameless Votive Candles,Flameless Flickering Electric Fake Candle

GQ Box

The MT – WESN

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Juggling a demanding job, family, and pets? This episode of The Productivity Show demonstrates that Peak Positioning isn’t just for athletes or CEOs – it’s for everyone.

Discover how aligning tasks with your energy can change the game, and how you can start applying it today.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever wondered how a top-tier venture capitalist transitions to advising world-changing ventures, all while fostering a love for pickleball and kite surfing?

Dive into this episode of The Productivity Show, where Nancy Fechnay reveals her productivity secrets that fuel both her professional excellence and personal passions.

Discover how longevity practices can skyrocket your daily output and the underrated tools that keep her at the peak of her game. An episode not to miss for anyone looking to expand their horizons in business and life!

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:21]
  • Nancy’s story: entrepreneur to VC to advisory [3:18]
  • How the National Outdoor Leadership School had such a big impact [6:01]
  • How Nancy manages her calendar and day-to-day [12:20]
  • How and when to say no to other’s requests gracefully [17:16]
  • Longevity and biohacking tips that Nancy does [22:23]
  • Why you shouldn’t buy food or supplements from Amazon [30:25]
  • Pickleball Corner [32:04]

Links:* Netsuite * 25X Productivity Coaching * Unique Ventures * What is the Hoffman Process? * Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life * Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain * Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life * The Leader in Wilderness Education * Miki Agrawal * Kachava Superfood * iVitamin * Culture Index * Dr Joe Dispenza * Frank Lipman MD * Function Health * Huberman Lab * The Peter Attia Drive Podcast * Texas Ranchers * Major League Pickleball * Nancy Fechnay (@nancyfechnayluv) * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Stuck in a never-ending cycle of chores and errands?

This episode tells the tale of AE client Jasmine, a physician who worked 60-hour weeks and had no time for herself.

Thanh shares how she transformed her life using the concept of Personal Outsourcing from our 25X Productivity System. Discover how you can also invest in outsourcing to free up time, reduce stress, and live a more balanced, enjoyable life. Dive in and start creating more time today.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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You’ve heard that phrase before: “Work smarter, not harder.” Sounds great, but how do you do that?

In this rare solo episode, Asian Efficiency CEO Thanh Pham shares five strategies that he uses with coaching clients so that you can be efficient AND effective.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:36]

How to set up "Weekly Wins" [5:06]

Why outcomes are better than tasks [8:21]

Think "who," not "how"! [12:22]

How to do less work (yes, you read that right) [18:22]

Why delegation and outsourcing aren't just about making more money [21:52]

A simple formula to figure out when it is worth it to delegate [22:39]

The power of the "domino decision" [23:47]

How Thanh created a capsule wardrobe [27:41]

When it is time to stop putting up with things and take action [30:50]

Links:

Netsuite

25X Productivity Coaching

Hydro Flask 40 oz Wide Mouth with Flex Cap Stainless Steel Reusable Water Bottle

Pure & Essential Ultra Pure EPA, Non-GMO Omega-3 Concentrate 500 mg, Wild Fish Oil

Swimply

Soho House Austin

Clarity — On Demand Business Advice

How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190)

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

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Have you ever felt like you're spinning the wheels of your day, stuck in tasks that drain the life out of you?

Today, we're going to be talking about a game-changer concept called Life Leverages, which is a corner piece of the 25X productivity system.

It's all about pinpointing the intersection between your unique skills and activities you love. And then pouring your time and energy there.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

Flight Plan: The Real Secret of Success by Brian Tracy

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Ready to become 'unmessablewith'? We sit down with Josselyne Herman-Saccio, a woman who's mastered everything from the Billboard charts to Hollywood, and now, she's here to help you conquer your world.

Dive in as we explore her journey and how she uses her unique approach to productivity to create dreams NOW. Discover what being 'unmessablewith' truly means and how you can apply it to your life. Get ready to be inspired and, most importantly, to become 'unmessablewith'!"

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

FACTORMEALS.com/tps50 and use code tps50 to get 50% off.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:07]

How did Josselyne become a pop star and turn that into being a master coach? [3:38]

How Thanh realized a decision he made at 6 years old was holding him back to this day [6:28]

What does "unmessablewith" mean (and not mean)? [9:20]

Is "being busy" even a real thing? [24:17]

How to reframe "impostor syndrome" [32:39]

Links:

Indeed

Factor

25X Productivity Coaching

The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist

Your Calendar As Your Creation Workshop

The Power of Nonverbal Communication: Boosting Productivity and Success w/ Blake Eastman (TPS457)

Peace Promises: Causing peace on the planet, one person, one promise at a time

The Promise Effect: How to Create a Life That Wasn't Going to Happen Anyway

Asana

Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire by Dan Martell

5 Day Promise Game

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

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Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list or you're simply looking for ways to live a more fulfilling life, this podcast is for you. NYT bestselling author Oliver Burkeman shares his tips and insights on time management, productivity, and mindfulness. 

We'll help you understand the nature of time, how to set priorities, and how to let go of the things that are not important to you. We'll also explore the importance of living in the present moment and of finding meaning in your life.

So if you're ready to learn how to make the most of your time and live a more meaningful life, join us for The Productivity Show.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:53]

What inspired Oliver to write Four Thousand Weeks? [3:49]

What got him started on his productivity journey? [5:49]

What does it mean to be "attached to time"? [15:02]

The problem with the common "rocks and sand in a jar" example [25:57]

Is work-life balance even a thing? [34:20]

The thing European countries figured out a long time ago [39:41]

Links:

Calm

Bambee (type productivity show under podcasts)

25X Productivity Coaching

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Craft – The Future of Documents

Time Surfing: The Zen Approach to Keeping Time on Your Side by Paul Loomans

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Harari

Home | Oliver Burkeman

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

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Take the Productivity Quiz

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Tune in to learn how a Rise Ritual is an empowering routine that can set the tone for your entire day, irrespective of when you wake up. Embrace a new approach to starting your day, and experience the productivity surge for yourself.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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There is SO much to read — how can you keep on top of it all? What apps are good, and what doesn’t stick?

In this episode, we’ll talk about reading workflows, whether we will be lining up for the Vision Pro, what we consider massive wastes of money, and a lot more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:52]

Why our favorite apps have stopped working all of a sudden [5:41]

Would you use Windows if it ran in the cloud? [12:26]

Will Thanh & Brooks be lining up for the Vision Pro? [15:56]

Our reading apps & workflows [23:03]

Natural ways to repel bugs [33:05]

What do we think is a massive waste of money? [37:21]

Links:

Indeed

25X Productivity Coaching

The MT – WESN

Artifact

Vital Proteins Vanilla Matcha Collagen Latte Powder

Reddit Won’t Be the Same. Neither Will the Internet | WIRED

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

Microsoft wants to move Windows fully to the cloud - The Verge

iPod Hi-Fi — Basic Apple Guy

Apple Vision Pro

How Google Reader died — and why the web misses it more than ever - The Verge

Reeder

7 ways to repel bugs while dining outdoors | Tom's Guide

What one thing do you consider to be a massive waste of money? : r/PersonalFinanceCanada

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

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Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A daily check-in can be a game changer in how you manage your work, your day and ultimately your life.

In this episode, we'll walk you through this simple but profound ritual. Be proactive and in control of your day, and set yourself up for success by focusing on the right things every single day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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Do you keep trying for “work-life balance,” and it never quite works out? A better strategy is to focus on achieving work-life harmony instead.

In this episode, we’re joined by Amy Vetter, a CPA who is the CEO of the B3 Method Institute. You’ll discover powerful leadership and mindfulness practices and how to re-center yourself when it all gets to be too much.

We also discuss career pivots and get tactical about creating team alignment.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

How Amy became a CPA and a Yogi [2:13]

How to do a career pivot [8:55]

What is the B3 Method and how does it help? [15:37]

What to do when "work-life balance" doesn't happen [23:52]

How to solve the problem of meetings [27:50]

What does "mindfulness" even mean, and how can we work it into our lives? [32:06]

How to keep a team aligned and working together [41:08]

Links:

Indeed

Shopify

Amy Vetter

MacSparky

Disconnect to Connect: Tap into the Power within You to Create the Life You Desire

Calendly

The BÂł Method Institute

25X Productivity Coaching

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Learn how taking a weekly pause to reflect can align your actions with your goals, spark creativity, and lead to better decision-making. The Reflection Ritual is the compass that ensures you’re not just hustling but moving purposefully in the right direction. Discover how to turn this ritual into your secret weapon for success.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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Discover proven strategies that can help you gain an extra full day per week in productivity and achieve your goals.

Productivity expert Nick Sonnenberg, author of "Come Up for Air" shares his CPR Business Efficiency Framework for optimizing productivity and reducing overwhelm. Tune in now to discover how to work smarter, not harder, and create a more stable work environment for maximum efficiency.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:35]

Nick's background and what his company does [5:46]

What is the CPR framework, and how does it work [11:42]

What do you do if you feel like you're drowning in work? [20:55]

How to choose the right communication tool for the right situation [22:38]

The difference between project management, process management, and work management tools [25:39]

If a business is starting with zero documentation, where should they start? [28:54]

How doing a role rotation helps the company and helps you [31:00]

Links:

Indeed

Calm

Come Up for Air: How Teams Can Leverage Systems and Tools to Stop Drowning in Work

Leverage

Asana

Fellow.app

Process Street

Loom

Nick Sonnenberg - Obsessed with Operational Efficiency

The Optimize Podcast

25X Productivity Coaching

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever been in the middle of an important task and suddenly your mind just drifts away?

This isn't a discipline problem, it's a focus problem — and we all have it.

Fortunately, there's a way you can tune your brain and turbocharge it using a technique we call the Focus Engine. In this episode, we'll break down what it is and how you can get started.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

Serene Sleep

Asian Efficiency Products

Pomodoro Technique: The Ultimate Guide

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Being a better leader means making better decisions. In this episode, we are joined by Constance Dierickx, a high-level consultant who helps leaders make decisions when the stakes are high.

We discuss her new book Meta-Leadership: How To See What Others Don’t and Make Great Decisions, and she demonstrates — on Brooks! — how easy it is to fall into the cognitive trap of dichotomous thinking.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

FACTORMEALS.com/tps50 and use code tps50 to get 50% off your first box.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Constance's background and how she became The Decision Doctor [2:12]

How do you overcome high performers who don't think they need help? [5:23]

How do you solve the HIPPO problem? [19:58]

Brooks falls into the "dichotomous thinking" trap [21:42]

How can you say "I don't know" without portraying yourself as weak or non-decisive? [24:14]

A great strategy for those of us whose emotional dial is turned up a little too high sometimes [34:41]

How can a junior person be confident and speak up in meetings or similar situations? [42:54]

Is it possible to be both analytical AND creative? [46:28]

How to "be an explorer in your own territory" [55:50]

Links:

Bambee (tell them "productivity show" sent you)

NetSuite

Factor (code tps50)

Meta-Leadership: How to See What Others Don’t and Make Great Decisions by Constance Dierickx

Psychological Safety – Amy C. Edmondson

Strategy — Roger Martin

Daniel Kahneman - Wikipedia

The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier

Design the Life You Love: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Meaningful Future by Ayse Birsel

(26) Constance Dierickx | LinkedIn

Constance Dierickx - The Decision DoctorÂŽ

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

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Take the Productivity Quiz

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Unlock the power of your day with Daily Planning! Discover how planning your day can skyrocket your productivity, reduce stress, and free up your mental energy. Don't let your day run you. Claim your day, and maximize your productivity with Daily Planning. Listen now, and take the first step towards mastering your day!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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Are you drowning in endless emails, constantly interrupted by Slack notifications, and suffering from Zoom fatigue? In this episode, Jennifer Smith, CEO of Scribe, will help you break free from collaboration overload and reclaim your work-life balance.

Discover the hidden dangers of remote collaboration, the surprising reasons why productivity tools may be working against you, and actionable strategies to streamline communication and boost efficiency. Don't let collaboration overload sabotage your success – listen in and unlock your full potential today!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Tips [2:16]

What is "collaboration overload" and how do we solve it? [11:26]

How does Scribe work and how do people use it? [16:16]

How can teams improve their communication workflows? [23:38]

How Jennifer thinks of time management (and how it's not really about time management) [32:24]

What's a way to both get and stay focused? [36:51]

What's the future of knowledge work and collaboration in an AI world? [39:42]

Links:

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

Scribe | Visual step-by-step guides

Jennifer Smith | LinkedIn

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Looking for motivation, fulfillment, and a clear direction in life? Dive into the power of discovering your 'why' in this riveting episode.

Learn how knowing your 'why' can fuel your motivation, guide your decisions, and bring deeper fulfillment. Don't just do, know why you're doing. Start your journey of self-discovery today. Tune in now!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

SetApp

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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Have you been diagnosed with ADHD, or suspect you may be in the future? Or do you have a colleague or family member who has been diagnosed? You MAY have found that the “usual productivity advice” doesn’t always work.

In this episode, ADHD coach and founder of Unconventional Organisation Skye Rapson shares how ADHD can impact productivity, strategies to thrive in the workplace, and tips that can help anyone.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:32]

Skye's diagnosis and path to becoming an ADHD coach [4:04]

Is it common for people to be diagnosed while being checked for something else? [6:13]

What is the "right way" to talk about ADHD? [10:44]

How do you make your communications ADHD-friendly? [22:08]

What are some ways ADHD impacts productivity? [24:09]

ADHD strategies to help with motivation [25:38]

How do you talk to your boss about ADHD? [30:50]

The best task apps and tools for ADHD [39:36]

What are some ways ADHD HELPS productivity? [43:35]

Links:

Indeed

Calm

Unconventional Organisation

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch

Unconventional Organisation ADHD Articles | Practical Tips & Advice for Adults with ADHD

Freedom - Block Websites, Apps, and the Internet

Pomodoro Technique

Email Management Tips for ADHD Brains

Designing a Get-in-Focus Routine for ADHD

CoPilot - Fitness coaching that makes you 9x more consistent

monday.com | A new way of working

Slack

Notion – Your wiki, docs & projects. Together.

Planner Pads

The Visual Collaboration Platform for Every Team | Miro

The ADHD Skills Lab Podcast | Unconventional Organisation

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have goals that feel like they're forever out of reach? You're not alone. In this episode, we’ll share the secret to turning dreams into reality: the Goal Getting concept of the 25X Productivity System. Stop wishing, start planning, and turn those distant dreams into your everyday reality. Tune in now because your goals are waiting!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

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Discover the productivity secrets behind one of the most successful Amazon FBA entrepreneurs, Neil Twa from Voltage, as he shares his insider tips, tricks, and strategies for e-commerce domination. In this eye-opening episode, Neil takes you on a journey through his meteoric rise to success, revealing the productivity hacks that have fueled his multi-million-dollar achievements. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn from the best – download now and start turbocharging your productivity today!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Neil's background and story [1:22]

How to figure out what you are and aren't good at [8:30]

The different ways to structure your day [10:55]

The 3-by-3 method to taking action [16:02]

Neil's 3-tier principle to structuring his life [22:03]

Insights from visiting a sleep scientist [23:14]

The importance of energy matching with other people [26:46]

Links:

VOLTAGE

DISC assessment - Wikipedia

High Voltage Business Builders Podcast

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Feeling lethargic, unfocused, or just generally 'blah'? The solution might be as simple as getting up and moving. Boost your mood and enhance your brain power by adding this one simple concept into your daily routine. We’ll show you how in this episode. Tune in, and get ready to move your way to a more productive day!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

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You’ve heard of morning routines and evening routines, but did you know that there are even more powerful routines you can implement to have a more productive day?

Today’s guest Caroline Guntur (aka The Swedish Organizer) calls it "bookending your day", and in this episode, we will share how to create your own routines and how Caroline uses Notion to — in her words — get her (and her clients) digital ducks in a row.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:49]

Why "The Swedish Organizer"? [5:03]

Tips to make being a digital nomad work for you [6:52]

Routines you can use to "bookend your day" [9:37]

How to transition between "work" and "home" when working from home [13:05]

Should exercise be in a bookend routine? [16:51]

Does bookending work with an irregular schedule? [18:05]

What are the benefits of bookending? [23:01]

How much time does this take? [28:40]

A great mental reframe when starting a habit over [33:40]

How Caroline uses Notion [37:41]

Links:

Indeed

Bambee (mention productivity show)

The Swedish Organizer

Toggl: Time Tracking Software, Project Planning & Hiring Tools

Whimsical

Notion

Miro

Canva

THE GAP by Ira Glass

Creative Systems Architect - The Swedish Organizer

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever feel like you're working incredibly hard but not seeing the results you want? The problem might not be with your strategies or tactics but with your mindsets.

You'll discover how to identify and challenge the mindsets that might be holding you back, empowering you to take control of your productivity like never before. This is an episode you can't afford to miss. Tune in and get ready to shift your thinking!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you an engineer feeling overworked, undervalued, and unsure of how to advance in your career? We speak to former engineer Zach White, who overcame burnout and personal struggles to achieve career success and personal fulfillment. Tune in to learn from his journey and discover actionable strategies for achieving career success and work-life balance.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:02]

Zach's personal story [4:22]

What is productivity, and why is it so important? [12:30]

The Power Laws of Productivty [20:56]

The formula you NEED to know [24:19]

The workflows that Zach personally uses [25:43]

A week-to-10-year planning ritual [29:35]

Links:

Calm

Coaching for Engineers - OACO

Way of Life

Dr. Joe Dispenza

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High

Happy Engineer Podcast

Productivity Academy

The Productivity Show on Youtube

The Productivity Show Youtube Clips

Become a member of TPS+

Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Ever wondered how high achievers seem to accomplish so much effortlessly? The answer is your ability to get into a flow state. Discover how you can tap into this powerful state to supercharge your productivity, enhance your creativity, and find more enjoyment in your work. Don't miss out on this opportunity to unlock your highest potential. Listen now, and get ready to flow!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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When was the last time you felt stressed out? Stress is such a productivity killer, and while there are lots of common ways to manage your stress — we promise we aren’t going to tell you to exercise — we’re going to give you some surprising ways you might not have tried before.

In this episode, we’ll explore three unconventional ways to manage stress that can help you to feel more relaxed, centered, and balanced.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Get started with Issuu today for FREE or if you sign up for a premium account you will get 50% off when you go to ISSUU.com/​podcast​ and use promo code ​TPS.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [5:14]
  • Thanh’s go-to stress management techniques [9:04]
  • How engaging in creative activities helps with stress [13:07]
  • The types of books that can be helpful [22:20]
  • Do other people make stress better or worse? [24:22]
  • A key question to ask when someone shares their problems with you [29:58]
  • How to find the sensory experience that will help you [32:01]
  • Thanh’s float tank experience [35:03]

Links:* Indeed * Issuu (promo code TPS) * Make Something Wonderful | Steve Jobs Archive * Short Reckonings * Turo * LEGO Icons Bonsai Tree * 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans * Golden Hour – Album by Kacey Musgraves | Spotify * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you feeling like you’re constantly playing catch up with your tasks and your goals?

Ever wish you just had a crystal ball to show you exactly what your week should look like?

In this episode, we share something even better than a crystal ball: Our weekly planning process. Approach each week with a clear plan and a calm mind, knowing that you have a blueprint for success.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Unleash the power of nonverbal communication to boost your productivity and success with Blake Eastman, a distinguished behavioral scientist and founder of The Nonverbal Group. Discover how to decode body language, manage stress and anxiety, and enhance your communication and collaboration skills in any environment. Get ready to master the art of nonverbal communication and take your personal and professional life to the next level.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • How Blake became interested in behavioral science [2:39]
  • Learnings from thousands of hours of study [4:45]
  • What has Blake learned from studying poker players? [6:03]
  • How can you improve your confidence? [10:16]
  • How can a leader use behavioral observation? [18:57]
  • How can you identify your own blind spots? [27:47]
  • Why using ChatGPT puts you ahead of everyone else [43:39]
  • The importance of psychological safety, and how to create it [51:36]
  • Blake’s book recommendations [59:50]
  • Rockefeller’s “tar” story that you can implement in your business [1:13:11]

Links:* Rocket Money * Netsuite * Nonverbal Group – Behavioral Research and Education * Newsletter | Nonverbal Group * The Nonverbal Group – YouTube * Josselyne Herman-Saccio | LinkedIn * John Michael Morgan | LinkedIn * Wonder * The Three-Body Problem * The History of Emotions: An Introduction * Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity * The Entangled Brain: How Perception, Cognition, and Emotion Are Woven Together * Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A daily check-in can be a game changer in how you manage your work, your day and ultimately your life.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through this simple but profound ritual. Be proactive and in control of your day, and set yourself up for success by focusing on the right things every single day.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Unlock your hidden potential in just minutes! We dive into ten secret phone settings that will revolutionize your daily routine. Don’t let your phone control you; take charge and make every moment count.

Miss out on this episode, and you’ll miss out on invaluable time-saving tricks that could change your life forever. Say goodbye to distractions and procrastination and hello to a streamlined, efficient workflow. Tune in now and level up your productivity game!

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:46]
  • Set up your emergency information [8:57]
  • Make your phone greyscale [11:38]
  • Use the App Library [14:46]
  • Merge & find duplicate photos [20:42]
  • Interactive weather map [23:15]
  • Turn off unnecessary badges [25:52]
  • Copy wifi passwords [27:46]
  • Use keyboard shortcuts [29:49]
  • Pin & group browser tabs [32:58]
  • Close all browser tabs [35:46]

Links:* The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography * Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less * Contagious: Why Things Catch On * CARROT Weather for iOS and Android * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If you’re looking to achieve financial freedom while still prioritizing your family and health, this episode is a must-listen!

We sat down with Steve Chou, founder of MyWifeQuitHerJob.com and author of “The Family First Entrepreneur.” Steve shares his personal story and practical advice for building a successful business without sacrificing your personal life or family time so you can do the same.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Get started with Issuu today for FREE, or if you sign up for a premium account, you will get 50% off when you go to ISSUU.com/​podcast​ and use promo code ​TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:13]
  • Steve’s story [4:18]
  • The challenges of starting up an e-commerce store [6:28]
  • The Four Burners Theory [9:05]
  • Steve’s rules for balancing work and family [11:14]
  • Advice for starting a side-hustle with a full-time job [23:34]
  • Should you have a written “Book of Values”? [29:05]
  • How do you impart your wisdom on your kids? [30:58]

Links:* Bambee (Type productivity show under podcast) * Issuu * MyWifeQuitHerJob.com * The Family-First Entrepreneur: How to Achieve Financial Freedom Without Sacrificing What Matters Most * ChatGPT * Personalized Napkins, Wedding Handkerchiefs & Linens – Bumblebee Linens * The My Wife Quit Her Job Podcast With Steve Chou * The Family First Entrepreneur * MyWifeQuitHerJob YouTube * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you ready to transform your productivity game and make every day count?

We reveal the power of the Daily Target concept from our 25X Productivity System. Learn how to determine what makes a day truly productive, and never again end your workday feeling unaccomplished.

Don’t miss this game-changing episode that will help you zero in on your priorities and maximize your success. Hit “download” now and experience the magic of mastering the Daily Target!

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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We discuss the app that will crush Notion, six non-obvious habits that make you miserable, how to choose the best productivity apps, and how to conduct a weekly review.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:46]
  • Will this app really be a “Notion killer”? [5:56]
  • Why Microsoft Co-Pilot will be a gamechanger [8:12]
  • An Evernote rumor from a conference Thanh spoke at [12:55]
  • Would you use a keyboard with the reMarkable2? [13:18]
  • Fake AI images are going viral [17:07]
  • A ChatGPT job application strategy [21:08]
  • 6 habits that are making you miserable [26:33]
  • The difference between not being able to say no and liking to say yes [30:13]
  • Why you need an app-selection process [32:58]
  • Why Thanh is a big fan of subscription apps [38:36]
  • Why is it so hard to be consistent with a weekly review (and what to do about it) [40:22]

Links:* Indeed * Rocket Money * Weekly Review Blueprint * Fireflies.ai | AI notetaker to transcribe, summarize, analyze meetings * Anker 20W USB C Power Strip * Local and regional eSIMs for travellers – Airalo * Microsoft Loop * Microsoft Teams Revenue and Usage Statistics (2023) – Business of Apps * Type Folio | reMarkable * AI image generator Midjourney stops free trials but says influx of new users to blame – The Verge * 5 AI Tools To Save Time And Be 100X More Efficient (TPS441) – Asian Efficiency * Midjourney * 6 Habits That Are Secretly Making You Miserable | Psychology Today * Day One, Obsidian, and my months-long search for a private, personal place on the internet – The Verge * Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever looked at your to-do list for the day and thought to yourself, “I have NO idea where to start”?

Sometimes it is very clear, but other days everything has flags or due dates, or we just start checking off easy tasks because anything else is overwhelming.

In this episode, we unpack the concept of the Focus Filter to help you figure out what you should be doing today that will truly make a difference.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover your unique abilities, skills and passions with entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author Ali Nasser.

By the end of this episode, you will be able to identify your Ikigai and know the intersection of your passion, what you can get paid to do, and your contribution to the world.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Ali’s entrepreneurial journey and story [2:11]
  • What exactly does “life experience” mean? [6:03]
  • Ali gives Thanh an impromptu coaching session [7:42]
  • What is “unique ability”, and how do we use it to maximize our life experience? [12:47]
  • What is Ali’s unique ability and how does he put it into practice day-to-day? [21:16]
  • How does Ali’s unique ability impact his time management? [22:15]
  • A life-changing hack for those with families [37:54]

Links:* Calm * Netsuite * Ali Nasser * The Business Owner’s Dilemma: Take Control of the Mental Chatter, Clarify Your Ideal Future, and Enjoy the Success You’ve Earned * Strategic Coach * The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change * Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones * Primed Mind * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover the transformative power of the Shutdown Ritual, a game-changing evening routine designed to optimize your productivity and sleep quality. In this episode, we reveal the secret to waking up refreshed, focused, and ready to tackle your day like never before. Don’t miss out on unlocking your true potential with these three simple yet effective steps that will revolutionize your life.

This episode is brought to you by 25X Productivity Productivity Coaching – double your personal productivity, be happier at work, and have an extra 5 hours a week of free time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity Coaching

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Every business owner knows they should spend more time working ON their business than IN their business, but how do you do that?

In this episode, Certified Business Manager Kaci Ackerman shares how to create white space in your life to focus on what really moves the needle, and how ClickUp is a productivity tool that can help you do that.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Thanks Cozy Earth. Go to CozyEarth.com and get up to 35% off when you use the code TPS.

Get started with Issuu today for FREE, or if you sign up for a premium account, you will
get 50% off when you go to ISSUU.com/​podcast​ and use promo code ​TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:27]
  • How Kaci’s business came out of COVID [3:30]
  • What a Certified Business Manager and Online Business Manager do [5:21]
  • Can physical businesses benefit from a OBM or virtual assistant? [9:40]
  • What’s the difference between an OBM and a virtual assistant? [10:50]
  • How long does it take to get up to speed with a business manager? [15:54]
  • What are Kaci’s go-to tech tools? [18:08]
  • What is ClickUp and what is it used for? [19:25]
  • Kaci’s week-planning process [27:19]
  • Can ClickUp be used for personal productivity, or just businesses? [30:12]
  • What can a business owner do when time is freed up? [35:01]
  • What should we think about for emergency preparedness? [39:53]

Links:* Indeed * Cozy Earth – code TPS * Issuu – Code TPS * Kaci Ackerman * ClickUp * Zapier * Dubsado * Loom * ChatGPT * @kaciackerman Instagram * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you have these 3 productivity apps? If not, you’re not as productive as you could be. Tune in and discover what they are.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Evernote
  • OmniFocus
  • Todoist
  • Trello
  • Fantastical
  • ChatGPT
  • Daylio
  • TextExpander

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever felt like your career or your life is stuck or not progressing as quickly as you think it should? Forward momentum doesn’t just happen on its own – YOU have to make it happen and to do that, you need to invest in yourself.

And that is EXACTLY what we are going to be talking about in this episode. We’ll share 3 ways that you can invest in yourself, and some of them don’t cost you anything but time.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:28]
  • Why skill development & learning is so key [7:26]
  • How to avoid a stagnating career [9:36]
  • The deep vs. wide skill framework [10:59]
  • How to build a strong network [22:49]
  • How to build a strong internal network [28:52]
  • A quote Brooks tries to live by [32:02]
  • The best strategy to accelerate your career [34:08]
  • How to get around your own blind spots [38:09]

Links:* Rocket Money * Bambee (put “productivity show” under podcast) * 25X Productivity Coaching * The Personal MBA * Who we spend our time with over the course of our lives. * Never Eat Alone, And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time * On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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We all know people who are great at making decisions. How do they know the right thing to do?

Sometimes it is instinct, but more often than not, it is because they know the right questions to ask.

In this episode, we unpack the concept of Thinking Time, and more specifically, we share a framework for finding the right questions to get you to the best possible outcome.

We also share a powerful tool that will help you come up with questions you would never have come up with on your own.

Learn more at theproductivityshow.com

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
  • ChatGPT

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are your favorite apps wasting your time with “sophisticated procrastination”? What would you buy if your company gave you a WFH budget? How can you have a “Quiet Weekend”?

In this episode, we talk about these topics, Thanh’s new favorite app, and more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:55]
  • Important things happening in the productivity space [6:13]
  • Are PKM apps wasting your time? [12:52]
  • The case FOR sophisticated procrastination [17:06]
  • What would you buy with a WFH budget? [25:57]
  • The Quiet Weekend trend [31:53]
  • A sample front-loaded week schedule [36:04]

Links:* Indeed * Calm * The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain * Talking Points for Life * Artifact * Tana – The Everything OS * Tim Sweeney Notepad Tweet * Path Finder * Stop Procrastinating With Note-Taking Apps Like Obsidian, Roam, Logseq – YouTube * The Collector’s Fallacy • Zettelkasten Method * I Get a WFH Stipend, and These Are the 11 Items I Bought | Apartment Therapy * Home Office Hero * Sony ZX Series Wired On-Ear Headphones with Mic, Black MDR-ZX110AP * Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 * “Quiet Weekends” may be the solution for better work-life balance * Work Style Profile: Steph Smith * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How productive would you be if you could time things, so you got the right things done at the PERFECT time to do them?

In this episode, we’ll cover a 3-part framework for finding your peak productivity times: the best times of the day when you are the most productive (and no, you don’t need to keep a Journal if you don’t want to.)

Learn more at theproductivityshow.com/

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Rise Science

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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If you’re a medical professional looking to boost your productivity and reduce burnout, you won’t want to miss this insightful conversation. Tune in as Dr. Don Pelto discusses actionable ways to streamline your workflow and maximize your time, all while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Thanks Cozy Earth. Go to CozyEarth.com and get up to 35% off when you use the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • How Dr. Pelto creates margin [4:45]
  • How we can learn about time blocking from surgeons [8:17]
  • The surprising way he records his podcasts [8:52]
  • The concept of the “self-milking cow” [12:22]
  • Dr. Pelto’s intermittent fasting process [12:53]
  • How a virtual assistant scribe has changed his business [19:34]
  • Dr. Pelto’s productivity strategies [31:49]
  • The importance of feet and ankles for longevity health [36:28]
  • What the future looks like for doctors [44:08]

Links:* Cozy Earth (Code TPS) * Dr. Donald Pelto * Trello * Kajabi * AQuity Solutions * Bulletproof Coffee Recipe * greatassistant.com – Do You Have a Great Assistant? * Be Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation * The Power of Positive Thinking * FollowUpThen * Braintoss * Donald E. Pelto, DPM – YouTube * Podiatry Practice Mastery * Patient Presentation * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover how checking your email only twice a day can significantly increase your productivity and save you hours of valuable time.

With practical tips and insights, you’ll learn how to avoid distractions, prioritize tasks, and achieve more in less time.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or entrepreneur, this podcast will help you take control of your inbox and reclaim your day. Don’t miss out on this game-changing productivity hack!

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Are you tired of messy, disorganized notes scattered across different platforms? Are you overwhelmed by the number of note-taking apps out there?

It seems like there is a new “hot” app every week, but in this episode, you’ll discover the best note-taking apps right now and learn how to use them without getting overwhelmed.

Every app is cross-platform, and we’ll also share what to look for in a note app, and how you can avoid the dreaded Shiny Object Syndrome.

One-of-a-kind financing program at NetSuite.com/TPS.

Thanks Cozy Earth. Go to CozyEarth.com and get up to 35% off when you use the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:05]
  • What features are critical in a note app? [7:33]
  • How Thanh uses Apple Notes [10:11]
  • What app should you use if you miss the “old” Evernote? [12:24]
  • The one pretty big downside of Notion [20:57]
  • Why Brooks recommends Obsidian, even though it hasn’t stuck for him [25:10]

Links:* NetSuite * Cozy Earth Code TPS * Automation Academy * How to Remember Names and Faces the Easy Way * TextExpander * How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking * Nimbus Note * Tool Finder * Find The Right Productivity Tool For You w/ Francesco D’Alessio (TPS447) * Obsidian * Linking Your Thinking: Personal Knowledge Management with Nick Milo * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Imagine how productive you’d be if you had as much energy at the end of your day as you do at the start.

We’ve all heard “you need to take breaks!” and “downtime makes you more productive!”, but how do you actually do that when you’re so busy?

In this episode, we’ll talk about ways to build renewal into your day, even if you can barely keep up with your email or get the kids out the door on time.

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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There are so many productivity tools out there; how do you know which tool is the right one for you? How do you avoid “Shiny Object Syndrome”? What are the latest trends in productivity?

In this episode, we are joined by Francesco D’Alessio from Keep Productive and Toolfinder.xyz to talk about productivity tools, cutting-edge trends, and building your own backyard office.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:06]
  • Why ToolFinder is the “Wikipedia for productivity” [9:11]
  • The 3-part process to implement a new productivity tool [12:23]
  • At what point does it make sense to switch to a new tool? [15:51]
  • How many days should you test out a new tool to know if it will stick? [17:31]
  • How long should you use a productivity tool before looking for others? [18:56]
  • How AI will change productivity tools forever [31:25]
  • How does Francesco feel about the Evernote buyout? [41:25]
  • His experience building a backyard office [44:57]
  • Why he still likes working from coffee shops [47:46]

Links:* Calm * Bambee (Type “productivity show”) * Keep Productive – YouTube * Tool Finder * Routine * reMarkable 2 * Qatalog * Bento * Notion * Obsidian * My Garden Office Tour 2022 – YouTube * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Being consistent with your weekly review is, for most people, the hardest part of productivity systems like David Allen’s Getting Things Done.

Doing it once or twice is easy. Doing it every single week? Not so much.

In this episode, you’ll discover ways to be consistent with your weekly review and learn how to implement the “One Tweak A Week” rule in your own life.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX
  • Getting Things Done by David Allen

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How can your career thrive in “The Year of Efficiency”? Would you use an app that records EVERYTHING on your computer? Are productivity apps even worth it?

In this episode we talk about these topics, the coming AI wars, and more.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:59]
  • The AI wars are here [6:28]
  • Some recent Evernote updates [12:30]
  • Do you want to record EVERYTHING on your computer? [16:11]
  • Is micromanaging your life with an app a good idea? [26:06]
  • The skills you need to master productivity [32:11]
  • What should you do about the “Year of Efficiency” [34:36]

Links:* Indeed * YouTube Video Summaries with Eightify * eReaderIQ * Glide Gear TMP100 Teleprompter * Google is reportedly testing an alternate home page with ChatGPT-style Q&A prompts – The Verge * 5 AI Tools To Save Time And Be 100X More Efficient (TPS441) – Asian Efficiency * OpenAI announces ChatGPT Plus at $20 a month – The Verge * Getty Images sues AI art generator Stable Diffusion in the US for copyright infringement – The Verge * Faced with criticism it’s a haven for cheaters, ChatGPT adds tool to catch them | CBC News * Q4 Roundup: Making Evernote Work For You | Evernote Blog * Rewind * Rewind on ProductHunt * Is It Really a Good Idea to Micromanage Your Life With an App? * Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is making this the ‘year of efficiency’ – The Verge * Advice To Real Estate Professionals – How To Standout In A Bad Market – YouTube * Productivity Academy * The Productivity Show on Youtube * The Productivity Show Youtube Clips * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want to avoid productivity problems before they even happen? The unexpected will come up of course, but let’s face it — if we had thought about it, a lot of our issues could have been avoided or at least minimized.

That’s where productivity insurance comes in; preventing productivity problems before they happen.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to spot issues ahead of time and have a plan to deal with them.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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You can travel the world and work productively at the same time. Our guest is a NYT bestselling author, traveled to over 100 countries and built a successful business at the same time. Matt Kepnes, also known as Nomadic Matt, shares his best tips for travel hacking and how to be productive while traveling.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:30]
  • How Matt’s travel journey started [7:45]
  • How much money did he have saved up the first time? [8:58]
  • Tips to be productive while traveling (or should you?) [10:49]
  • How Matt structures his week [18:01]
  • A super-helpful travel resource most people don’t use [20:57]
  • The benefits of solo travel [26:36]
  • How to travel as an introvert [29:22]

Links:* Rocket Money * How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter * Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site * Nomad List – Best Places to Live for Digital Nomads * The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich * The Dynamite Circle * Ten Years a Nomad: A Traveler’s Journey Home * @nomadicmatt Instagram * @nomadicmatt Twitter * The Productivity Show Youtube * The Productivity Show Clips Youtube * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Goals aren’t enough! You need to know where you are now, where you want to get to, and what you need to do to get there. We call that Minding The Gap.

In this episode, we’ll show you how to figure out how to do your own gap analysis, and create an action plan to get where you want to go.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX
  • Start Finishing: How To Go From Idea To Done by Charlie Gilkey

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Tired of constantly double-checking your schedule and missing important appointments?

In this episode, we’ll dive into the world of calendar apps for iOS and Android. From the best apps for managing multiple calendars to the top features for increasing productivity, we’ve got you covered. Say goodbye to calendar chaos and hello to a stress-free schedule.

Get $15 off at Nutrafol.com when you got to Nutrafol.com/men and use promocode TPS.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:20]
  • What do you look for in a calendar app? [7:30]
  • Why Brooks loves Sunsama [10:54]
  • Is Brooks going to switch to Sunsama? [13:10]
  • Thanh’s favorite calendar app [22:12]
  • Why Thanh thinks subscriptions are the way to go for apps [25:51]
  • A Google Calendar alternative for Android [28:46]

Links:* Nutrafol (Promo code TPS) * Calm * Indeed * NeuYear – large wall calendars * The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future * Namibia: Live stream in the Namib Desert – YouTube * The Productivity Show Clips – YouTube * Asian Efficiency – YouTube * Sunsama – The daily planner for busy professionals * Sunsama Pricing Manifesto * Fantastical * Business Calendar 2 * Automation Academy * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want a next-level productivity hack? Focus as much of your time, energy, and attention as possible on things that bring you joy and move you closer to your goals.

For everything else, eliminate what you can, and for much of the rest of it, you can outsource it to someone more suited.

In this episode, we will give examples of personal outsourcing and how to adopt the delegation mindset.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX
  • The Productivity Show YouTube Channel

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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The world is filled with stress and anxiety, but that doesn’t mean you need to be. It might sound surprising, but the way to true productivity is through.. calm.

Hustling, grinding, and imbalance will happen from time to time, but eventually, we all realize there is more to life and that we are being productive for a reason beyond prioritizing our to-do list.

In this episode, author, speaker, and productivity experimenter Chris Bailey shares how we can calm our minds, and use that ability to lead the life we want.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:08]
  • Is writing about “Calm” a departure from Chris’ earlier books? [6:34]
  • How do you know if you have burnout vs. just tired? [11:49]
  • The 6 dimensions of burnout [15:12]
  • What does Chris think about going to therapy? [18:04]
  • How can you implement these strategies when you have limited control over your work? [21:32]
  • The inciting incident that got Chris interested in Calm [29:12]
  • The 10 fundamental human values [36:33]
  • The results of Chris’ stimulation fast (and how to do one) [41:29]
  • When is it best to use analog vs. digital tools? [51:04]

Links:* Indeed * Bambee (enter productivity show under Podcast) * How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times * ChrisBailey.com * TPS35: A Year of Productivity w/ Chris Bailey * Freedom – Block Websites, Apps, and the Internet * Focusmate – Virtual coworking for getting anything done * Maslach Burnout Inventory * Theory of Basic Human Values – Wikipedia * Time & Attention Podcast – Chris Bailey * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have more time and feel less overwhelmed by creating leverage. We’ll show you how to do this in less than 10 minutes.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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There is starting to be a pushback against decluttering in articles and social media trends. Can clutter actually be a good thing? Also, quiet quitters are getting quiet fired, and a popular password manager has been hacked yet again.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:36]
  • The latest productivity news you should know [6:11]
  • Thanh’s criteria for switching to a new app [10:11]
  • Can clutter actually be good for you? [12:25]
  • The difference between clutter and hoarding [16:59]
  • What to do if you are a LastPass user [24:49]
  • Why quiet quitters are getting quiet fired [32:53]

Links:* Indeed.com/tps * Calm.com/tps * RocketMoney.com/tps * Almond Cow * Recomendo * Obsidian Canvas – Obsidian * Worker productivity is falling at the fastest rate in four decades * Readwise Reader * I Love My Clutter, Thank You Very Much – The Atlantic * Opinion | Clutter Is Good for You – The New York Times * Is “Cluttercore” the Chaotic Good We Need Right Now? | Architectural Digest * The LastPass disclosure of leaked password vaults is being torn apart by security experts – The Verge * 1Password * 1Password Reddit thread * Bitwarden Open Source Password Manager * Strongbox * KeePassXC Password Manager * Quiet quitters are getting quiet fired in silent workplace war | Financial Post * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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The first 90 minutes of your day will set the tone for everything that happens after. The best way to have a positive start consistently is with a Rise Ritual, a set of repeatable steps that you do every day.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to create a Rise Ritual that works for you, and some tips to be consistent, even when things fall apart at the start of your day.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Discover 5 AI tools that will save you multiple hours a week and have you do less mundane tasks. This episode might change your life and the way you work moving forward. Don’t miss out on these new productivity apps and tools.

Like it or not, AI tools are here, and AI features are making their way into the tools we all use, so learn about things you can do right now to be more productive with AI.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:54]
  • How to use ChatGPT to become insanely productive [5:16]
  • How to use AI to create legal agreements [9:47]
  • Why use ChatGPT when you can just Google? [11:54]
  • How to use AI-powered image tools [13:27]
  • A crazy Etsy business run using AI [19:03]
  • Why Thanh likes DoNotPay [22:05]
  • AI tools are coming to the apps we use every day [24:50]
  • An up-and-coming mindblowing AI tool [28:13]
  • Where we see the future of AI going [30:20]

Links:* 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX * Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach * Copy.ai: Write better marketing copy and content with AI * Automation Academy * ChatGPT * Another use for ChatGPT: correcting OCR errors in historical texts. * Paraphrasing Tool – QuillBot AI * AI content detector * Midjourney * a person demonstrating how ai tools can make you more productive * stressed out person with time management problems * happy peaceful asian man near the beach with an ipad * Lensa – Prisma Labs * DALL·E 2 * Tome – The AI-powered storytelling format * Enhance Speech from Adobe | Free AI filter for cleaning up spoken audio * Mem: The self-organizing workspace * Using AI to make a video explaining generative AI. * DoNotPay – The World’s First Robot Lawyer * Pixelmator Pro * DEVONthink * ACT-1: Transformer for Actions * EmailTriager · Email on autopilot. * Google Duplex: A.I. Assistant Calls Local Businesses To Make Appointments * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Get the secrets to managing your money and growing your wealth like billionaires do.

We asked wealth manager Jim Dew, author of Beyond a Million: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Expanding Wealth, Freedom and Time, how he manages his time and money.

How does he stay on top of everything in an industry where laws are always changing? Find out here and much more.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Get $15 off at Nutrafol.com when you got to Nutrafol.com/men and use promocode TPS.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • How Jim went from being a math teacher to a wealth manager [2:05]
  • What does a wealth manager do? [6:39]
  • What does an ideal financial dream team look like? [16:06]
  • How to check out the qualifications of your professionals [19:33]
  • How does Jim stay on top of things and stay productive? [26:30]
  • How do you calculate the value of your time? [31:43]
  • Legacy planning and wills vs. trusts [37:26]
  • How to avoid your kids being ruined by money [43:43]
  • How to teach your kids investing and giving [49:15]

Links:* Calm * Nutrafol (Promo code TPS) * Beyond a Million: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Expanding Wealth, Freedom and Time by Jim Dew * FINRA.org * Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln * Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life * Dew Wealth * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A tool that helps you learn, grow, de-stress, and get clarity: what’s not to like?

A Reflection Ritual is a quick process that helps you learn from the day, get stuff out of your head, and clarify what you are going to focus on.

In this episode, you’ll discover the best tool for a Reflection Ritual, and how to create a process that you will stick with.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX
  • Self Journal – Goal Setting Planner
  • The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future
  • Day One Journal App
  • Benefits of Writing Journals for Personal Productivity

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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The amount of information we have to make sense of is staggering and overwhelming. However, it’s possible to not only survive this information overload but thrive!

In this episode, we’re joined by futurist Ross Dawson, author of Thriving On Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a World of Exponential Information. We talk about thriving on overload, his five powers to succeed in a world of exponential information, and how the key to productivity could be taking an improv class.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Go to Bambee.com and type in productivity show under PODCAST when you sign up.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Why individual skills of dealing with information are the most important [5:37]
  • Why Ross doesn’t like the 2×2 matrix for idea generation [7:52]
  • How does one become a futurist? [8:30]
  • The 5 powers for success [10:09]
  • The different types of attention [13:09]
  • What Ross uses to frame information [15:00]
  • Why we need to exercise our attention, and how to do that [18:09]
  • Why Ross is not a big fan of guided meditation apps [21:41]
  • What living in a Zen Dojo in Japan taught him [26:43]
  • Ways that we can synthesize information [36:51]
  • Why improv theatre can help you thrive from information overload [39:06]
  • How knowledge workers can deal with the coming AI revolution [43:06]

Links:* Rocket Money * Bambee * Ross Dawson * Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a World of Exponential Information * Notion * Books by Keynote Speaker and Futurist Ross Dawson * Obsidian * A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink * Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone * The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insight, and the Brain * Podcast – Thriving on Overload * Home – Thriving on Overload * Twitter * LinkedIn * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Do you have problems getting started when you sit down to get something done?

The secret is not more willpower, it is to have a Focus Engine — a reliable set of tools and techniques to help you get started, no matter what is going on around you.

Your Focus Engine is like a car’s engine. There are many parts that can make up an engine, and the better they work together, the higher the performance.

In less than 10 minutes, I’ll show you how to use the 3 parts of a Focus Engine, and how to construct one that will work for you.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX
  • Freedom

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Live longer, lose weight and exercise for longevity.

In this episode, we have a world-class strength & conditioning coach Bert Massey, who reveals how to exercise to live longer, and use technology to help you exercise more efficiently.

Believe it or not, it is possible to work out in less than 30 minutes and only a few times a week to accomplish your fitness goals. Discover more by listening to today’s episode.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/438.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Bert’s philosophy about exercise and fitness [1:09]
  • What kind of client has the most success [3:19]
  • How rigidity and chaos impact your fitness [6:42]
  • The difference between a healthy person and a fit person [15:20]
  • Bodyweight benchmarks to measure fitness [16:42]
  • Can you get results from just 30 minutes of exercise? [22:53]
  • How fitness culture from the 1900s can be used today [24:53]
  • How to train for longevity, not just fitness [42:31]
  • Why it is so important to focus on your feet [43:14]
  • People Bert follow in the fitness world [1:06:30]
  • Bert’s fitness routine [1:09:30]

Links:* Calm * Convict Conditioning: How to Bust Free of All Weakness Using the Lost Secrets of Supreme Survival Strength by Paul Wade * The Way To Live: In Health and Physical Fitness by George Hackenschmidt * NeuFit Device * NeuFit® Austin TX Clinic * The Penalties For Neglecting Your Posture w/ Rick Mathes (TPS246) * Dr. Pat Davidson * Complete Human Performance * Ido Portal * Ido Portal: The Science & Practice of Movement – Huberman Lab * Cal Dietz: TriPhasic Training * Deep End Fitness * Bert Massey Instagram * Adapt Fitness * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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The ability to roll with the punches is a productivity superpower. It separates the people who throw up their hands at any setback from those who are able to get SOMETHING done in any circumstance. After this episode, you’ll be in the latter group.

In this episode, we take you through the mindsets and tactics to roll with the punches and get stuff done, no matter what.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A company tried to cancel all meetings during the summer. How did it work out? A country is recommending companies move to a 4-Day Work Week Permanently. Also, our thoughts on Evernote being bought out. RIP?

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/437.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:01]
  • A roundup of the latest productivity news [6:01]
  • How ChatGPT is saving someone an hour a day [13:04]
  • Our thoughts about Evernote being sold [14:07]
  • What happened when a company canceled all meetings for a week [19:48]
  • Could a 4-Day Work Week be made permanent? [26:01]

Links:* Rocket Money * Dreametech L10 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Dual-Line LiDAR Navigation * ScreenTime+ | Focus App Blocker | Digital Detox | Pomodoro Timer * Stop Asking Questions: How to Lead High-Impact Interviews and Learn Anything from Anyone (For Podcasters, Entrepreneurs, Sales, HR, and Journalists) by Andrew Warner * Stream Deck + | Elgato * Stream Deck For Productivity: My Favorite Tool I Didn’t Know I Needed – Asian Efficiency * Notion AI * Passkeys: the future of authentication in 1Password * Password Manager for Families, Businesses, Teams | 1Password * ChatGPT Demo * Eli Kamerow ChatGPT Tweet * Evernote’s Next Move: Joining the Bending Spoons Suite of Apps * Bending Spoons * Experimenting with no meetings * A hundred UK companies sign up for four-day week with no loss of pay | Work-life balance | The Guardian * 4-Day Week UK * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Accomplish your goals, in less time, and with more consistency by introducing this one tweak to your goal setting.

Most of us are good at writing down goals where we logically connect with a goal, but if you only logically connect with your goal, you’ll eventually lose steam and momentum that won’t motivate you to keep going when times get tough.

The way to fix that is by emotionally connecting with your goal as well. You want to have a logical and emotional connection to your goal.

In less than 10 minutes, I’ll show you how to do this, and how it can change your life trajectory for you to live your best life possible.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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New Year’s Resolutions never work… UNLESS you do them the right way.

This is the LAST episode of 2022! So we are going to be looking back at 2022 and share tips with you to set yourself up for a productive 2023.

In this episode, we will take you through a 3 step process to look back at the last year, set focused resolutions for the upcoming year, and actually achieve them this time.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/436.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:26]
  • How we review the last year [4:31]
  • What Thanh learned from playing Go [5:23]
  • Ways you can look back at the past year [7:47]
  • What to do if you don’t keep a journal [7:58]
  • Questions to ask yourself at the end of each year [9:09]
  • How to set your New Years Resolutions [9:59]
  • Why New Years Resolutions usually fail [10:23]
  • How Brooks’ Resolution went totally wrong [10:59]
  • Thanh’s focus for 2023 [15:09]
  • How do you keep momentum as you go through the year? [17:12]
  • A prioritization strategy we love [20:47]

Links:* Calm Premium * Day One – Your Journal for Life * Raycast * The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower–and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion: Stutz, Phil, Michels, Barry * The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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What is the point of setting goals if you don’t do the right things to achieve them? That’s why we don’t like goal SETTING, we like goal GETTING.

In this episode, we take you through a 5-step process for goal getting: making sure you actually achieve the things you set out to do.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Is discomfort actually a good thing? Many of us do whatever we can to avoid it, but in reality, discomfort can be a feedback system, and can help point us forward.

In this episode, we’re joined by entrepreneur and keynote speaker Sterling Hawkins about the topic of discomfort and how you not only want to embrace discomfort, but seek it out.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE trial.

Thanks RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/435

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:20]
  • What led Sterling towards the concept of discomfort professionally? [4:09]
  • How would Sterling define “discomfort?” [9:17]
  • What is Sterling’s framework of “5 Discomforts?” [16:51]
  • What is Pike Syndrome? [25:17]
  • How would Sterling recommend identifying your discomforts? [34:33]
  • How would Sterling suggest seeking out new challenges? [37:07]
  • What is the final step to hunting discomfort? [41:20]
  • Action step you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life [43:45]

Links: Book: The Presence Process*, by Michael Brown * Sam Abraham Yoga * Discomfort Emotion Wheel * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Sterling Hawkins Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * LinkedIn * Book: Hunting Discomfort*, by Sterling Hawkins

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have more energy, concentrate longer, and get more stuff done in the same amount of time. That’s what’s possible when you have daily movement practices in your life.

If you think about it, Energy is one of the most important factors in productivity. It’s like if you have a fast car — it doesn’t matter how powerful the engine is if it is sitting in your garage with no gas in the tank.

In less than 10 minutes, we’ll show you how to have more energy and increase your capacity to focus, do work, and get stuff done.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Want to be more productive, but just can’t figure out how?

There’s so much productivity advice out there that is great… for the person giving it. But is it the right strategy for you?

In this episode, Certified Productivity Leadership Coach Ellen Faye joins us to talk about finding your productivity style, and actionable tips for finding work/life harmony, choosing your priorities, and undoing your negative productivity scripts.

30% OFF EVERYTHING at TommyJohn.com/TPS.

Go to Bambee.com/tps to schedule your FREE conversation

See for yourself why Chime is so loved at chime.com/tps That’s chime.com/tps.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit cards provided by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the payer. SpotMe eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. See chime.com/spotme. Chime was the 2021 #1 most downloaded banking app in the US according to ApptopiaÂŽ.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/434

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • What is Ellen’s background, and how did she begin writing her book? [2:49]
  • How did Ellen find the process of writing a book to be after she actually started? [5:46]
  • How does Ellen approach coaching? [8:11]
  • What does Ellen do when dealing with clients trying to integrate specific systems into their workflow? [11:04]
  • How does Ellen suggest clients with ADHD address their workflow? [15:21]
  • What does Ellen think can help with determining your productivity style? [19:25]
  • What are the work styles Ellen talks about in her book? [23:25]
  • What is Ellen’s advice for meshing with people with different structure preferences than yours? [26:57]
  • How does Ellen recommend approaching Work-Life Balance? [29:21]
  • How does Ellen help clients prioritize what they’re working on? [37:21]
  • How does Ellen advise people on dealing with conflicting requests from the workplace? [41:22]
  • How does Ellen deal with email? [44:55]
  • What does Ellen do to help clients with any fears of stepping up or advancing in their careers? [49:57]
  • What tips does Ellen have on setting up a successful workspace? [53:41]
  • Action Step [56:32]

Links: How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery (TPS256) * Book: Productivity For How You’re Wired*, by Ellen Faye * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Ellen Faye* Website * Facebook * Instagram * LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Productivity is not just about tactics and apps – it is about mindsets. The most productive people you know have a productive mindset, and you can have one too.

Think about the most productive people you know. The ones that always seem to get stuff done and deliver results. Is it because they have an awesome calendar app? Is it because they have killer Obsidian plugins installed? Is it because they say the right affirmations as part of their morning routine?

Probably not! At the end of the day, they are probably so productive because they approach things with a productive mindset, and then figure out how to get things done. It almost becomes unlikely that they WON’T do what they set out to do.

In this episode, we’ll take you through the 6 productive mindsets you need to adopt, and show you how to do it.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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You’ve heard of “Timeboxing” to be more productive, but “Spaceboxing” is just as important. We talk about being more productive with your space, iPhone gimmicks, and discuss: why is America so much LESS productive this year?

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE trial.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/433.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:19]
  • What are the three pieces of productivity news for the week? [6:44]
  • What are Thanh’s thoughts on the three productivity pieces? [10:14]
  • According to Thanh, why have US workers become less productive? [12:17]
  • How does Brooks feel his generation of workers compares to others? [15:04]
  • What is “spaceboxing?” [20:57]
  • How does spaceboxing work for Thanh? [23:54]
  • What is a continuity camera? [27:46]
  • Action steps you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life [32:22]

Links: Mayawell * Poppi * Book- Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less * Book- The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life* * Twitter: Todoist (and probably every other task management company) are experimenting in AI task creation * Omnifocus 4 In Public Beta – Almost Ready To Release? * AirBNB is going to let you search by total price which INCLUDES cleaning fees * Why Have US Workers Become So Much Less Productive? * Is “Space-boxing” as important as “Time-boxing” when you work from home? * Continuity Camera: Super Useful Or Super Niche? * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Get focused, get more stuff done in less time, and finish your projects faster than before. That’s what’s possible when you get into a flow state consistently.

I’m sure you’ve had the experience where you’re working on a task, you’re really into it, time flew by, and before you know it, it’s dark outside.

That’s what it’s like when you’re in flow. You’re so present and in the moment that you forget that time is ticking by.

The opposite is also true. When you’re dreading a task, every minute that goes by feels like hours and like it’s taking you forever to get it done.

In this episode, we’ll show you how to get into flow with 3 flow switches.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live – our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • 25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Be productive with Notion, advance in your career faster, and how to start a side hustle. We cover this with Khe Hy, a former Wall Street banker turned solo entrepreneur, who shares his best notion tips and career advice.

Thanks to RocketMoney. It could save you hundreds a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/432.

Cheat Sheet:Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

  • What led Khe to quit Wall Street? [1:53]
  • How did Khe work his way up to management at BlackRock? [5:51]
  • What is the greatest form of leverage possible? [9:50]
  • What resources and books did Khe find most valuable in his career? [11:01]
  • What advice does Khe have for executives that are younger than the people working under them? [14:36]
  • What is Khe’s philosophy on productivity? [18:53]
  • What is “10k work?” [21:30]
  • How can you apply the 10k framework to your own work practices? [27:59]
  • What is Khe’s 10k mini assignment? [35:58]
  • What is Khe’s 10k work secret? [38:33]
  • What does Khe’s “productivity stack” look like? [39:32]
  • Why does Khe like Notion so much for his business? [45:15]

Links:* Supercharge Your Productivity * Work The System Book Summary * Productivity Academy * Become a member of TPS+ * Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Khe Hy* RadReads * Instagram * Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player.It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How do you find time to get everything done during the week? Trick question - you don’t. You MAKE time! And you do that with a Weekly Plan.

Even if you’ve tried planning in the past and it didn’t work for you, you’re going to get a lot of value out of this episode because the goal of planning isn’t to have some perfect schedule that is going to go 100% of the way that you hope.

The value in planning is the planning process ITSELF - it’s about being intentional with your time instead of just going from crisis to crisis or checking off random tasks on your to-do list.

In this episode, we’ll give you tips to make an effective Weekly Plan that is easy to do, and that you’ll actually stick with.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TXThe Complete Guide to Getting Things Done (GTD) By David AllenGTD Weekly Review: Achieve "Mind Like Water" Each Week (TPS311)

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Free up time and save yourself from headaches by having the right systems in place. We have systems-expert share examples of systems you can use in your life, for your family, and organization to win back time and save on costs.

See for yourself why Chime is so loved at chime.com/tps.

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit cards provided by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.

Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the payer. SpotMe eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. See chime.com/spotme.

Chime was the 2021 #1 most downloaded banking app in the US according to ApptopiaÂŽ.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/431.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Tips [1:58] What started Josh's minimalist journey? [2:47] What is system thinking/mindset, and how can you apply it? [6:34] How does Josh feel about incorporating minimalist systems into life outside of the workplace? [10:51] What are some ways you can implement systems in a fast-paced workplace? [14:31] How would Josh advise people to build their own systems? [20:01] Can a business owner or entrepreneur help with teaching the implementation of systems? [23:17] What has Josh learned from coaching over 1000 people? [26:56] What are some systems Josh has created with his family over the years that he'd recommend others try? [32:20]

Links:

Abide Meditation Work The System Book Summary Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Josh Fonger

WTS Enterprises Instagram (WTS) LinkedIn Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In only 5 minutes, you can make every single day an opportunity for learning and improvement. Improve your day, improve your week, and improve your life. 

You can do this with the Daily Check-In, which is exactly what it sounds like: a very short check-in with yourself every day to see how things are going, any lessons learned, and any improvements that come to mind.

We’ll discuss this today as you discover how the Daily Check-In will help you have better and more productive days.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TXMornings on Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore RooseveltDaylio

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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A neuroscientist explains how you can optimize your brain for health and focus. He also covers:

The warning signs to look for that your brain health is in decline The supplements to consider for optimal brain health How to alleviate stress in your life

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE trial.

Thanks, Tommy John Get 20% off your 1st order TommyJohn.com/tps. See site for details.

And we cover so much more! You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/430.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Tips [1:49] What got Andrew into biohacking? [4:06] What are some current trends in brain activity? [16:25] What is the process of a biohacking brain scan like? [22:17] How do you "re-program" your brain after a biohacking scan? [35:37] What are some things Andrew recommends doing to improve brain health? [42:56]

Links:

Chronometer Biosense Oura Ring Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Andrew

Head First Podcast LinkedIn Twitter Peak Brain Institute Facebook (Peak Brain Institute)

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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“Did I Have A Productive Day?” is an important question you’re probably not asking yourself. Or if you are, you’re answering with “vibes” like "I crushed it!" or "Meh, it was OK," or "I couldn't get anything done."

But with productivity, “vibes” can be deceiving. If you spend all day checking off small tasks from your to-do list, it feels great. It feels like you’re getting stuff done, but did you get anything done that moves the needle and helps you achieve whatever your goals or projects are?

Or the flip side: you might only get one or two things “really” done, but those one or 2 things can unlock a lot of progress.

So that loops us back to the question: How Do You Know If You’ve Had A Productive Day?

If you’ve created a Daily Target for yourself, that question is easy to answer! And that’s what we unpack in this episode.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

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Win back time with a new email app, hit your goals with accountability tips, and the way you’re working might be holding you back. We cover a wide range of topics to boost your productivity in this episode.

We also cover what’s new like the new Amazon Kindle Scribe (a competitor to Remarkable 2), smart water bottles, and more. Stay up to date with what’s going on and hear our best advice on how to navigate these changes.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

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You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/429.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:41] What's been going on lately with Amazon? [7:18] What makes smart water bottles most useful? [10:13] What is the first industry topic of the day? [14:11] How does Thanh feel about apps that try to "reinvent the wheel" regarding e-mail systems? [17:37] What does the Remote Work Prep infographic show? [27:06] What does Thanh think about asynchronous work schedules? [30:14] What is the third industry topic for the day? [36:58] How does Brooks feel about coaching? [40:51] How does Thanh find coaches? [42:14] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life. [45:42]

Links:

Airalo Regional SIMs Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone The Productivity Show Clips YouTube Channel Kindle Scribe Article: Kindle Scribe (The Verge) Video: Kindle Scribe (YouTube) Kindle Scribe vs. reMarkable 2 Matter Home Smart GX Water Bottle System Article: Gatorade's "Smart" Water Bottle Hidrate Spark (Old Version) Spark Mail Update Marisa Goldberg Tweet Remote Work Prep Amir Salihefendić Tweet Podcast: My First Million ("The Body Stack") Book: The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast!, by Josh Kaufman Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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How to prioritize your todo list and find one task that makes the biggest impact on your day.

Let me ask you this. Have you ever looked at your todo list and everything on your list looked equally important?

Do you have a hard time figuring out where to start and how to begin your day?

When everything on your todo list looks equally important, nothing truly is.

We’ll discuss this today as you discover how the skill of Focus Filter will allow you to be more focused and productive.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

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We go over the pros and cons of minimalism with Courtney Carver. She’s a thought leader on minimalism and shares her big mistakes and lessons learned from living a minimalist life. We go over:

The mistakes and pitfalls of minimalism you need to be aware of How to build a minimalist wardrobe with her Project 3/33 The keys to living a simple life without fear of missing out

Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole episode before you decide to go the minimalist path.

Thanks to RocketMoney. It could save you hundreds a year.

Go to Bambee.com/tps to schedule your FREE conversation.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/428.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:15] How did being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis affects Courtney's career? [3:35] What are some forms of stress that Courtney eliminated from her life following her MS diagnosis? [6:53] When did Courtney start Be More With Less? [11:00] What is "Project 3/33," and how did it come about? [12:06] What results/benefits did Courtney see after implementing Project 3/33? [15:34] How do men and women differ in the ways they implement 3/33? [22:09] How does Courtney eliminate things from her life? [25:12] How does Courtney handle sentimental items? [27:18] What did Courtney worry about most with the minimalist lifestyle? [30:17] How does Courtney approach buying things? [32:31] What led Courtney to start a podcast with her daughter? [35:57]

Links:

Book: Soulful Simplicity, by Courtney Carver Book- Project 3/33, by Courtney Carver Apple Reminders Book: The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron New York Times Mini Crossword Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Courtney Carver

Be More With Less Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

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Invest 90 minutes to get 8 hours of productivity. That’s what the Shutdown Ritual can do for you.

One of the biggest multipliers for productivity is sleep. When you have a great night of sleep, you feel more energized, focused and productive compared to a poor night of sleep. I think we can all relate to that.

Most of us want to sleep an extra hour a day. Imagine what you could do with an extra hour of sleep, you’d be invincible, right? You’d be so much more productive.

It’s one of the skills we teach as part of the 25X Productivity System. Find out what this is and how you can apply it tonight.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX

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How do you stand out in a world of noise? With silence!

It may sound counterintuitive, but in this episode, leadership coaches Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn from Astrea Strategies share how you can use the power of silence, and how to find moments of peace and clarity in our increasingly busy lives.

They also discuss lessons and actionable strategies from their new book Golden: The Power of Silence in A World of Noise

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Learn more at https://theproductivityshow.com/427

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What exactly does Leigh do? [3:06] How did Justin’s career play a role in the book he co-wrote with Leigh? [4:30] What type of person are Justin's practices most applicable to? [7:13] How does Leigh suggest conceptualizing silence? [9:21] How do people respond when asked what the deepest silence they've ever known is? [12:45] How has loudness progressed over time? [18:02] How do you reduce internal noise specifically? [20:01] What are some ways to "temporarily reset" your day? [26:21] Why is silence scary? [31:01] What are some strategies Justin and Leigh look at for finding your silence? [37:49] How can you reduce your intentional and unintentional noise? [40:46] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [45:18] Closing Remarks [50:45]

Links:

Golden: The Power of Silence in A World of Noise, by Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz

Astrea Strategies Justin Zorn LinkedIn (Justin) Twitter (Justin) Leigh Marz LinkedIn (Leigh) Twitter (Leigh)

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There are SO many different productivity apps and tools out there. How do you know what is important and REALLY helpful?

Three stand above the rest, and we call them the “3 Essentials”. If you have your 3 Essentials set, you’ll know what to work on, when to work on it, and have created the time and space to do it.

If you can become solid at using these 3 and have them working together, you have a very strong productivity foundation that can withstand disruptions, lack of motivation, and other things that inevitably come up.

In less than 10 minutes, we’ll show you how to create your own Personal System using the 3 Essentials, and how to make your system work together/

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TXGoogle KeepTodoistFantasticalTrelloAsanaJIRAObsidianLinking Your Thinking: Personal Knowledge Management with Nick Milo

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Discover a simple party-hosting formula with step-by-step instructions that help you meet new people, strengthen your relationships, and make you the person everyone wants to know.

We also cover:

How to host your first party and meet new people The 3 common mistakes you must avoid when you host social gatherings The word-for-word script of what to text people so they show up to your event

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE trial.

Thanks, RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/426.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04] How does Nick's upbringing factor into his hospitality? [4:24] What did Nick spend his time doing in college? [7:42] How did Nick start Museum Hacks? [10:14] How did Nick figure out the types of events he puts on in the current day? [14:20] What makes adult friendship so difficult, according to Nick? [19:12] What is the “NICK" Framework?" [22:50] Why does Nick suggest not having a beer at networking events? [25:21] What is the value of hosting gatherings at home to Nick? [27:38] What makes for a good hosting space? [30:07] Why are nametags important to Nick? [32:13] What is an icebreaker to Nick? [36:43] What does the final letter in the NICK process stand for? [47:00] What is the "party runway?" [49:57] How many guests does Nick suggest aiming for when hosting cocktail parties? [51:49] What is Nick's "secret weapon” for building a social life? [54:51] How does Nick recommend inviting people to events? [56:42] Does Nick have fun at his own parties? [1:00:06] What is a big life philosophy Thanh has that relates most to hosting events? [1:04:53] How much does it cost to host a party? [1:06:43] Why a cocktail party over a dinner party? [1:08:09] How does Thanh have no cancellations for events he hosts? [1:12:04] What is different about how Thanh does parties? [1:15:50] Why does Nick hesitate to allow people to bring a +1 to his parties? [1:19:29] How can people with kids successfully host cocktail parties? [1:22:05] What are some "horror stories" Nick has had hosting parties? [1:24:30] What did Nick do for his 40th birthday party? [1:27:58]

Links:

Bloomberg Businessweek Recomendo Newsletter Roborock Vacuum Rtings Reviews Party.pro Book: 2-hour Cocktail Party, By Nick Gray Nick Gray TEDx Talk Nick Gray Friends Newsletter Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Nick Gray

Nick Gray Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube

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If you don’t ask the right questions, you won’t have the right information. And without the right information, you can’t make the best decisions.

Thinking Time is essentially making time to think with a clarifying question so you get the right solutions to your problem.

Spending a little bit of time upfront thinking is 20% of the work that will give you 80% of the result. The better you can identify and define the problem, the easier it will be to achieve your goals.

In less than 10 minutes, we’ll show you how to get started with Thinking Time, how to figure out which questions to ask, and a step-by-step guide.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2-day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Become financially independent, save money and be extremely productive all at once. It’s possible and our guest Alan Donegan shares how you can do it.

We cover:

The 4% Rule for Becoming Financially Independent How Much Money You Need to Have Saved Up To Be Financially Free The Daily Routine of Someone Who’s Financially Independent

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:41] How did Alan get into financial independence? [2:40] What is the "4% Guideline?" [6:52] What was Alan’s journey to financial independence like? [8:50] What is "lifestyle inflation?" [11:13] What does a day typically look like for Alan, as someone who is financially independent? [14:38] How often does Alan feel a sense of urgency to do things now? [17:52] How does Alan help others that don't immediately grasp the process of achieving financial independence? [20:40] What is Alan's system for determining where you are on the path to financial independence? [25:11] What sorts of tools does Alan use to manage his finances? [29:32] What does Alan's tool set look like on a daily basis for getting things done? [33:57] How does Alan use Microsoft OneNote? [36:26] How do Alan and his wife stay in-sync with each other's schedules? [39:25] How does Alan prioritize free tools versus paid? [41:01] What is something Alan will not hesitate to buy, regardless of price? [46:01]

Links:

Book: The Simple Path To Wealth, by JL Collins Book: Quit Like a Millionaire, by Kristy Shen & Bryce Leung Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Alan Donegan

Alan Donegan Rebel Entrepreneur Podcast Rebel Finance School Rebel Business School

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When you have little to no energy, it’s hard to get started on tasks and be productive. It doesn’t matter how skilled you are in Getting Things Done or some other productivity method — when you have no gas in the tank, things likely won't go the way you want them to.

The solution? Peak Positioning: a way to align our most important tasks around the times when we feel most energized. When we can map our tasks that require the most energy and focus with the times when we naturally feel most alert, we can get our best and most creative work done.

In less than 10 minutes, we’ll show you how to get started with Peak Positioning and give yourself the best chance to succeed, every single day.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2 day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX.Rise Science

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News you can use from Notion, Apple, Wunderlist’s founders, and more productivity topics…

Can a “Reduced Distractions” phone improve your Attention? Are iOS16’s Focus Filters feature as awesome as we think? Why Personality Tests are underrated for teams

Go to EthosLife.com/tps to get your FREE life insurance quote today.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/424.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:01] What does Team Spaces allow you to do? [8:26] What is Superlist? [9:23] What happens at Apple’s Far Out event? [10:28] What is the first industry topic of the day? [15:48] How does Thanh feel about distraction-free phones? [18:31] What are Focus Filters? [24:26] What does Thanh think about third-party apps using Focus Filters? [26:37] What is the third topic of the day? [30:02] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [36:13]

Links:

Flowtag Book: Key Person of Influence, by Kevin Harrington Superlist Apple "Far Out" Event Nothing Phone 1 Nothing Phone 1 Review Light Phone iOS 16 Focus Filters Focus Filters How-To Kolbe A Index Conative Connection, by Kathy Kolbe TPS 197: Achieving Next-Level Productivity Through Conative Understanding w/ David Kolbe Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Have you ever said I just don't have time to do everything!” or “I’m SO busy all the time”?

To fix your Time problem, you need to know what you’re doing during the week now. Use a Time Audit to discover how you’re spending time now and how to improve it in the future.

It's why the “T” is the first part of our TEA Framework - the 3 levers that impact your productivity: Time, Energy, and Attention.

So then the question is: how can you improve your “Time” in the future if you don’t know how you’re spending it now? 

It’s one of the 25 skills we teach as part of our 25X Productivity System and it’s so important!

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll discover the 2 Time Audit tools, and we’ll give you a framework to take what you’ve learned and improve your productivity going forward.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2 day workshop in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX.TogglTimeryTimingRescueTime

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Become organized and never forget things when you have these 3 checklists in place.

You’d think the better and more experienced you get at something, the more consistent and error-free you are, but that’s often not the case: When we “know” what to do, we are often less careful Things get missed, balls get dropped, and sometimes that can be a big problem!

The answer to this is almost ridiculously simple: the humble checklist.

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

Checklists that will help you execute your work and personal tasks How to pack and travel like a pro Ways to finally be consistent with your habits, routines, and planning

In this episode, we are going to share some checklists we rely on, and you’ll discover some checklists we think YOU should implement to be consistent and productive every time.

Thanks to RocketMoney.com/tps. It could save you hundreds a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/423.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:50] What is the first checklist everyone needs? [3:20] What does AE do for their checklists? [8:57] What is checklist no. 2 for? [17:19] What are some things Brooks puts on his travel checklist? [20:41] What is the third checklist everyone needs? [22:35] What sort of ritual/planning templates does Thanh use? [25:20] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [28:08]

Links:

Checklist Manifesto Online Bullet Journal Notebook The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Use These 5 Tips To Travel Stress-Free and Organized This Summer (TPS252) From Morning Routine to Rise Ritual: Be Consistent & Have A Great Day (TPS407) 3 Steps To Create An Evening Routine To Sleep Better And Feel More Energetic (TPS350) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Athletes rely on a structured recovery ritual to get results in their training, and you can do the same thing for your productivity. Create a structured Renewal Ritual and use rest, recovery, and rejuvenation to become even more productive.

It’s one of the 25 skills we teach as part of our 25X Productivity System, it's counterintuitive: high-achievers always want to "get more done", but in this episode, we make the case that a Renewal Ritual will help you do just that.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll discover the 3 levels of a Renewal Ritual and we’ll show you how to get started to improve your energy, focus, and attention.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our upcoming live 2-day workshop in Austin TX.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX.Pomodoro Technique: The Ultimate GuideThe Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

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Art Carden is a Professor of Economics who wears many hats and juggles commitments, responsibilities, and organizes and interprets a huge amount of information.

He’s a professor of Economics at Samford University’s Brock School of Business, and his research has appeared in Business Ethics Quarterly, the Journal of Urban Economics, Applied Economics, and Public Choice, among many others. He’s the author of “Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich: How the Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World”.

In this episode, he shares his workflows, how he gets stuff done, and his best productivity strategies. So whether you’re new to productivity or already advanced, there’s something in it for you.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now. Thanks Avast.com! Go to Bambee.com/tps to schedule your FREE conversation

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/422

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:37] What is Art's "Productivity Story?" [4:46] Which productivity strategies have been working best for Art now? [7:54] How does Art get so much writing done, and how does he organize so much info? [11:44] Where does Art get his writing done? [14:03] What rule does Art follow that shrinks his workload significantly? [17:32] How does Art determine which tasks he can delegate to others, and which tasks he needs to handle himself? [27:25] What would present-day Art tell his younger self? [29:36] How does Art structure his day? [32:50] How do Art and his wife's productivity styles compare? [36:24]

Links:

Samford University  Freedom.to Harvard Classics Labrador Retriever Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Art Carden

Art Carden- Economics Everywhere, For Everyone Twitter

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Overcome procrastination, meet your deadlines way before they are due, and become the person who is known to get stuff done. This is possible when you master self-management, an advanced productivity skill. 

It’s one of the 25 skills we teach as part of our 25X Productivity System, and one of the least talked about. What is self-management? How can it benefit you? And what’s something you can do today about it?

In less than 10 minutes, we’ll show you how to get started with self-management and become more self-aware so you can unlock your full potential.

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2 day workshop on September 29, 2022 in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

25X Productivity System Live in Austin TX.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Your Browser is your most important productivity tool. We share some of our favorite shortcuts, plugins, extensions, and ways you can be a productivity ninja with your browser on Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android.

We usually think of the tools we use IN our browser - the web apps and websites - but not so much about how to best use the web browser itself.

But since we can spend HOURS a day in our browser, there are big productivity gains you can make by using some browser hacks to make things faster and easier. Like we always say: “small changes lead to big results!”

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Go to EthosLife.com/tps to get your FREE life insurance quote today.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/421.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:02] What is Brooks's first tip for browser optimization? [5:19] What is Thanh’s “browser hack” for Google Chrome? [8:35] Which browser feature is Thanh surprised people don't know about? [13:05] What is "reader mode" within your browser? [16:39] What does Thanh think of Reader Mode? [18:29] Which browser does Brooks think is an important alternative to Google Chrome? [24:05] Which other browsers has Thanh used? [26:43] What is Thanh's final web browser tip? [28:31] What browser hacks do TPS+ members recommend? [32:17] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [34:29]

Links:

StayFocusd SponsorBlock Minimal Theme for Twitter 5 Simple Browser Hacks You Can Implement Right Away (TPS334) How to Use Google Chrome's Hidden Reader Mode Brave Vivaldi Downie YipYip Bardeen  SuperAgent uBlock LinkLump Tabius AutoCollapse Tab Outliner Sloth Bookmarks Bar Switcher Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrdwlW1glkc

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Why is it so hard to be consistent with a Weekly Review?

Many people associate the Weekly Review with David Allen’s Getting Things Done productivity system, but anyone can benefit from it.

Many people also have trouble being consistent with their Weekly Review, so in this episode we're going to share ways you can solve that once and for all.

A Weekly Review is one of the most effective parts of any productivity system, but there are usually two problems:

It takes too longIt is hard to find a time that works

In this Wisdom Wednesday, we'll help you create a Weekly Review you can actually stick to in 10-ish minutes!

This episode is brought to you by the 25X Productivity System Live - our live 2 day workshop on September 15 and 29, 2022 in Austin TX

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Getting Things Done by David Allen25X Productivity System Live, Sept 15 & 29, 2022 in Austin TX.

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There are so many tech tools to help kids with schoolwork. Even if you don’t remember anything from school, these apps and services can help your kids with math, languages, reading - almost anything.

In this episode we’ll cover:

  1. A math app that helps solve formulas and word problems - with the phone’s camera!2. Online tutoring and communication platforms so your kids get more help than you can give them3. Language apps that their teachers use too

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Go to PlayBackbone.com/tps to order your Backbone, and for a limited time get FREE access to over 350 console games and perks!

Go to Bambee.com/tps to schedule your FREE conversation

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/420

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:16]What is the first tech tool for kids Brooks recommends? [5:41]Which tech tool for kids would Marmel recommend first? [9:45]What tip no. 3? [20:31]What has Marmel's experience with tutoring in the Phillipines been like? [22:41]What is tech tip no. 4 for kids? [24:32]How does Marmel utilize Google Spaces with her child? [30:15]How does Marmel handle offering help to her child? [34:01]Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [34:56]

Links:

Getting Things Done for Teens: Take Control of Your Life in a Distracting WorldTextExpanderiBis PaintKhan AcademyPhotomathSchool is EasyClarity.fmDuolingoTPS235: How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family CalendarTPS385: What’s Your Plan? Student Procrastination & Productivity w/ Leslie JoselProductivity AcademyBecome a member of TPS+Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Introducing live workshops to supercharge your productivity!

We have two workshops coming up for the 25X Productivity System, which is our new productivity method that will help you become more productive at work and in life.

The dates for these workshops are:

September 15-16, 2022September 29-30, 2022

It’s a two-day workshop where you’ll learn the fundamentals of productivity, and we cover strategies haven’t been publicly shared before. Think of it as a boot camp where you’ll learn, implement, and take action.

Click or tap one of the following links to learn more:

Click here for the September 15-16 workshop

Click here for the September 29-30 workshop

Both take place in Austin, TX, and spots are limited. Each workshop is capped at 15 participants so we can keep it intimate, and Thanh will be personally guiding you throughout the workshop.

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Stress-free productivity: Alexis Haselberger is a time management coach who has worked with Google, Lyft, Workday, Capital One, Upwork, and many more.

Thriving in those stressful environments is the through-line in this episode, but even if you DON’T work in corporate, there’ll be lots of practical and actionable advice for you too.

Thanks Avast.com!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/419.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:30] Who is Alexis, and what does she do? [4:15] How do corporate environments differ from other work environments? [6:56] What sorts of concerns does Alexis hear from clients in corporate environments, and how does she suggest dealing with them? [8:54] How does Alexis help her clients feel more on top of things in corporate environments? [10:45] How does Alexis help her clients get out of corporate time-sucks? [12:27] How corporate HR departments react to bringing Alexis in to their environments? [14:01] How does Alexis determine whether clients are getting what they want out of what they do? [17:06] What does Alexis do to help clients with time-tracking? [21:51] How does Alexis determine the actual problem when listening to clients' concerns with corporate life? [24:15] What are Alexis's tips for prioritization in the corporate world? [29:13] Which common themes stand out to Alexis when working with corporate clients? [33:00] Which task management tool does Alexis recommend most often when working with corporate clients? [35:34] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [36:58]

Links:

Loom TextExpander How to Change, by Katy Milkman TickTick Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Alexis Haselberger

Website YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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You probably don’t get enough sleep, and you’re not alone. The CDC says that 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep, and sleep is a huge part of the “Energy” part of the TEA Framework.

In this episode, we are going to talk about a specific area of helping you with your sleep: Sleep Tracking. It’s an incredibly useful way to uncover your sleep issues and then take action.

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

The easiest way to start without having to download, install, or buy anything The best sleep tracking devices, and how to use them How to actually USE all this sleep data your devices are collecting

Businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/TPS to start hiring now.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Thanks to Gusto. Go to gusto.com/tps for your first three months free.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/418.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:08] Why does Thanh think AE's "Better Sleep" guide was the best way to start for the company? [6:17] What does Thanh use sleep tracking for, and how does it benefit him? [10:18] What tip number 1 for successful sleep tracking? [13:20] What is tip number 2 for a successful sleep tracking? [23:14] What is tip number 3 for successful sleep tracking? [31:18] How does Brooks feel about people sleeping separately versus in the same bed? [38:57] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [40:47]

Links:

ChiliSleep OOLER Sleep System Target Sleep Mask Serene Sleep Oura Ring Sleep Cycle (App) Rise Science Withings Sleep Tracking Pad Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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These Windows apps will make you more productive. Even if you can’t install them on your computer, we share our favorite built-in settings and MS 365 tools.

Certified Online Business Manager Kimberly Charron joins us to share her tips, so if you use Windows at work, at home, or have Windows users in your life, this episode will give you some great suggestions.

Go to PlayBackbone.com/tps to order your Backbone, for a limited time, and get FREE access to over 350 console games and perks.

Go to Bambee.com/tps to schedule your FREE conversation.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/417.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:38] What does a Certified Business Manager do? [5:40] What are some of Brooks's favorite built-in features of Windows 11? [7:27] How does Kimberly use Focus Assist? [8:52] What does Kimberly think about Clipboard History? [11:15] What are some of Kimberly’s top tips for getting the most out of Office 365? [17:04] What is a collection of apps Brooks recommends most? [20:32] What is Snagit and what does it do? [22:50] What is the third app Brooks recommends purchasing for Windows? [25:35] What is Notepad++, and how do you use it? [29:10] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [32:39]

Links:

Toby (Chrome Extension) ContentStudio Gist Microsoft PowerToys Snagit Snipping Tool File Juggler Notepad ++ Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Kimberly Charron

Website Instagram Facebook Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Improve your team’s time, energy, and attention with this simple tweak. We’ll share how you can build your team’s internal communication strategy, and the things to think about, and we’ll provide a link to ours that has worked well for us for years. We cover: 1. How to choose the right tool to communicate in the right situation2. Expected response times, so everyone is aligned3. A simple way to gently steer people to the right communication method For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps Businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/TPS to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply. You can find links to everything we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/416.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What is the first way to strengthen team communication? [7:16] What are some questions Marmel suggests asking yourself when sorting out systems of team communication? [10:09] What is Yammer? [11:16] What is tip no. 2 for successful team communication? [14:18] What are some questions you can ask yourself to determine which team communication tools are most effective? [20:45] What is a large change AE made organizationally to improve team communication? [24:58] What is tip number 3 to improve team communication? [26:11] What is Marmel's advice for improving team communication in a remote world, or across an international team? [30:03] How does Brooks suggest dealing with team communication done the wrong way? [32:39] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [34:52]

Links:

Keyboard Tray Automatic Alcohol/Sanitizer Dispenser Mini UPS Battery Backup Asian Efficiency's Communication Guidelines Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Stay on top of the newest productivity trends like the Metaverse, how SpaceX is changing the way we work, and important Apple software updates.

Other topics we’re going over:

What is the point of a 3rd party password manager in 2022? The true “Work from Anywhere” might be coming Why we think “real life” is going to be the next big productivity trend

Thanks to Gusto. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/415.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What new tech is grabbing Thanh's attention? [10:40] What does Brooks think about password managers in 2022? [13:54] Who does Thanh know that is constantly working on the go? [27:25] What is the third topic of the day? [30:18] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [37:51]

Links:

Mark’s Big-Ass Keto Salad Refurbished Apple Products Book: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant  WWDC/iOS16/macOS Ventura ClickUp 3.0 ClickUp 3.0 (YouTube) Alfred 5 Early Access RayCast 1Password LastPass KeePass Google Password Manager Upgrade Announcement Article: The True "Work From Anywhere" Might Be Coming Starlink What’s Your Plan? Student Procrastination & Productivity w/ Leslie Josel (TPS385) Time Timer Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Google, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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The CEO of Boomerang talks about productivity, team-building, successful meetings, and creating a "Guiding Principles" book for your team.

Aye Moah, CEO and Co-Founder of Boomerang joins us in this episode. If you’ve ever read any list of “ productivity tools and apps online, someone always mentions Boomerang, for good reason. Aye Moah shares her favorite productivity apps, how she prioritizes, and her morning routine.

Visit Indeed.com/TPS to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply.

Try Zapier for free today at zapier.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/414.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Who is Aye, what is Boomerang and how did it start? [5:05] What were some other problems Aye was seeing besides snoozing? [8:42] How does Boomerang vary from standard booking systems? [13:47] How does Aye figure out how she should be spending her time throughout the day? [17:13] How does Aye suggest dealing with conflicting orders from leadership? [23:17] What is Aye's planning routine like? [33:39] What is Aye's morning routine, and how does it help her get through the day? [37:38] What are Aye's tips for raising a toddler? [41:49] How does Aye think about making meetings more productive? [43:29] What are Aye's general tips for getting on top of your e-mails? [48:49] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [55:24]

Links:

Remarkable 2 Fantastical Flow.club Blog - Priority Matrix: A Beginner's Guide Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Aye Moah

Boomerang Twitter LinkedIn

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Whenever we do a Q&A or a webinar, we always get asked about our workstation, our favorite apps, tools, and workflows we personally use to get stuff done efficiently.

In this episode, we’re going to cover all that and more.

So if you’re looking to redo your setup at home, at the office, and want to try new apps, tools, and workflows to help you get an edge…you’re going to like this episode.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/413

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:35] What calendar does Brooks use? [5:09] How does Thanh use his calendar? [9:42] What is Thanh's to-do list workflow like? [13:23] How does Thanh deal with tasks and notes when away from his desk? [17:13] What does Thanh’s planning workflow look like? [24:39] How does Thanh layer in long-term planning with his weekly routine? [28:48] What is Thanh's "someday" list like? [33:18] What e-mail apps does Thanh use? [35:38]  What is Thanh's home office setup like? [40:39] What is Thanh's biggest piece of advice for the day? [48:36]  Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [52:05]

Links:

Vital Proteins Matcha Lattes Universal Control  Fantastical Calendly Omnifocus Revealed: The Quarterly Planning Formula We Use to Achieve Our Business Goals (TPS200) Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) Mailplane (App) Spark (App) MultiTable Standing Desk Logitech K750 Keyboard HEiL PR-40 Mic  Logitech Brio 4K Camera Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk Herman Miller Mirra Chair Viozon Monitor + Laptop Mount Surface Pro 7 StreamDeck Kindle Paperwhite Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Social Media CAN be like productivity kryptonite - distraction and disruption are literally one tap away.

One solution is the Cal Newport route - just get rid of social media altogether.

He’s written books like Deep Work and Digital Minimalism - and was on TPS88 - where he makes the case that whatever benefit we think we get from social media is almost certainly not worth it.

If you want to do that - great! But you also don’t want to be THAT person when someone asks you for your LinkedIn or Instagram, and say that you don’t have one and miss out on opportunities.

How do you do that in a way that won’t destroy your productivity and attention span?

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How to set up “Guardrails” to stop social media from taking over your life The #1 Rule to protect your Time, Energy, and Attention from social media How to do a digital detox to disrupt your social media habit and regain focus

Visit Indeed.com/TPS to start hiring now. Terms and conditions apply.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Thanks Gusto. Go to gusto.com/tps for your first three months free.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/412.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:19] What is Tip no. 1 for controlling social media usage? [5:13] How does Brooks add “friction” to his social media? [9:13] How does Thanh add "friction" to his social media routine? [19:54] What rule does Brooks want you to follow 100% of the time with social media? [22:28] What are Thanh's views on internet discourse? [26:52] What is tip number 3 for controlling social media usage? [30:26] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [36:45]

Links:

Book - Deep Work, by Cal Newport Book - Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport TPS88: Deep Work with Cal Newport Freedom.to Book - Stolen Focus, by Johann Hari Tweetbot (iOS) Twidere (Android) News Feed Eradicator Comic - "Duty Calls" (xkcd) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Google, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In this episode, I’m excited to welcome Edward Sullivan, who has been coaching and advising start-up founders, Fortune 10 executives, and heads of state for over 15 years.

His clients include executives from Google, Salesforce, Slack, and dozens of other fast-growth companies. Edward is CEO & President of Velocity, which is an executive coaching consultancy.

Edward is ALSO the co-author with John Baird of a new book called LEADING WITH HEART: 5 Conversations That Unlock Creativity, Purpose, and Results.

We’re going to get into a lot in this episode, but the main theme I want to explore is: How do we help OTHERS get their best results?

So much productivity advice involves “personal productivity”, but let’s face it — so much of what we do relies on other people.

Even if you are not an executive or a "capital-L" Leader, there will be something in this episode for you.

Go to Novo.co/TPS and get your FREE business checking account.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Thanks to Truebill. It could save you thousands a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/411.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What led Edward to becoming an executive coach? [3:02] What differentiates middle-level executives from top-level executives in Edward’s opinion? [4:47] What is Edward's advice to rising leaders to reach for that next level? [7:15] How do heart-led companies and fear-led companies compare? [10:37] What's the best way to switch from an answering leadership style to a coaching leadership style? [13:58] How does Edward coach people who are not naturally inclined to help others? [24:45] How does Edward help people overcome the fear of change? [27:10] What are "blind sets" and how can they be de-railing? [29:16] How does Edward uncover the true gifts and strengths of his clients when coaching? [31:51] What are Edward's tips for finding purpose in what you do? [34:46] Action step you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [37:57]

Links:

Book - Leading with Heart: 5 Conversations That Unlock Creativity, Purpose, and Results by Edward Sullivan & John Baird Book - The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Edward Sullivan

Velocity Coaching LinkedIn Twitter

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Let’s catch up on what’s been happening in our industry and new trends that you need to be aware of so you stay ahead of the curve.

Aside from the industry news, we also have 3 important topics to go over:

The weird middle ground between DMs and meetings The problem with the “996 Work Culture” How has the pandemic impacted productivity?

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Thanks to Truebill.com/TPS. It could save you thousands a year.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/410.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:12] What is Microsoft Loop? [6:37] What does Brooks mean by something being "between a direct message and a full meeting?" [12:18] How does Thanh bridge the gap between messages and full-blown meetings? [16:15] What is AE's "unlimited vacation" policy like? [28:00] What does Thanh think of the 40-hour work week? [33:49] Which year was better for productivity? 2019 or 2020? [35:03] What is a downside to the current work-from-home landscape? [44:32]

Links:

Fantastical VLC Paperlike Matter Microsoft Loop Loop in Outlook Mail Preview Google I/O (2022) Marco Polo Voxer Business Insider: 996 culture Article: Pandemic Productivity Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Imagine you lost everything. How do you overcome that?

I was recently traveling in Europe and had… an incident. Long story short, I lost pretty much EVERYTHING except my phone.

As I recovered from this, I found that there are some things I had done well that helped me out, and there were some lessons learned that will make my life easier in the future if something like this ever happens again.

You may never be in a situation where you get robbed on a train in The Netherlands - at least we hope not! But a lot can happen to your important information.

Your laptop can get stolen out of your trunk You could have a fire or flood There could be a ransomware attack Your cloud service could shut down, crash, or get hacked

In this episode, we are going to talk about some ways you can protect your important digital and physical information, so it is there when you need it.

Thanh’s lessons learned from this stressful and productivity-killing event How to access your important information from anywhere, even if you don’t feel comfortable using cloud services The 3-2-1 Rule that will make sure your data is safe, no matter what happens.

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS, plus earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews. Terms and conditions apply.

Thanks to Avast.com!

Try Zapier for free today at zapier.com/TPS

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/409.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:21] How exactly did Thanh lose everything but his phone on a trip to Europe? [5:25] What was Thanh able to get to and do without any documents in Europe? [11:28] What sort of things did Thanh do to secure his belongings/data before this trip, and what did he change afterward? [13:31] How would Thanh handle his tech differently if he could re-do his Europe trip? [15:28] What is the first tech tip to protect from losing important belongings? [17:07] How did Thanh create and store digital copies of his documents to counteract his backpack theft? [19:46] What is the 3-2-1 rule? [27:58] How does Thanh make sure he has copies of important documents in several places? [30:54] What is tip number 3 for being prepared when traveling abroad? [34:50] Who does Thanh rely on to help get to important information in a pinch? [37:14] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [40:45]

Links:

Backblaze File History (Windows) Time Machine (Mac) ScannerPro (iOS) Adobe Scan (Android) Apple AirTags 1Password Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Optimize your health following the latest health & wellness supplements.

Today I’m joined by Shawn Wells. He is the world’s leading nutritional biochemist and bestselling author of the book The ENERGY Formula: Six Life-Changing Ingredients to Unleash Your Limitless Potential.

He’s an expert on Health Optimization and has formulated over 700 supplements, food, beverages, and cosmeceuticals and patented over 20 novel ingredients.

He’s also a chief clinical dietitian with over a decade of clinical experience.

Today we’re going to talk about optimizing your health, how to double your energy, and reinventing yourself.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Go to PlayBackbone.com/tps to order your Backbone until June 30th, and get FREE access to over 350 console games and perks.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/408.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04] What are some things to be aware of when considering mouth-taping? [9:44] What does Shawn recommend to improve your energy levels? [13:32] What made Shawn so passionate about biohacking, and how does he keep his workflow healthy? [27:42] How did everything shift for Shawn after incorporating plant medicine into his life? [30:18] What was Shawn’s experience like finding Ikigai? [41:20] According to Shawn, what are some things we can do to live a longer and healthier life? [45:23] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [54:44]

Links:

The ENERGY Formula: Six Life-Changing Ingredients to Unleash Your Limitless Potential The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom The 5 Second Journal Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Shawn Wells

Website Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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One of the most important things you can do to help your productivity is to create an easy-to-follow routine that you follow after you wake up.

We don’t even like the term “morning routine” - we prefer “Rise Ritual” - because you can do it anytime, not just in the morning. Doesn’t matter what time you wake up.

The key is to have a routine of repeatable steps that you can follow to support your productivity when you start the day.

In this episode, we’ll share how you can build your own Rise Ritual, and how to be consistent with it.

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How to find time for your Rise Ritual, even when you’re busy How to build your routine, and which steps to include - and not include How to be consistent and roll with the punches when things fall about

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Plus earn up to $500 extra in sponsored job credits with Indeed’s Virtual Interviews. Terms and conditions apply.

Thanks to Avast.com!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/407.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:03] What is the first step to creating a rise ritual? [4:56] How did Thanh adapt to setting an earlier sleep schedule for himself? [10:22] What is tip no. 2 for creating a rise ritual? [18:04] What are some of the categories for improving the beginning of your day? [20:12] How long does Thanh's rise ritual usually take? [21:59] What is tip number 3 for creating a rise ritual? [24:33] How does Thanh handle travel "bumps?" [27:37] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [29:52]

Links:

Camo Shoelex The Magic Of Thinking Big RISE Science Creating The Ultimate Morning Routine Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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Let’s catch up on what’s been happening in our industry and new trends that you need to be aware of so you stay ahead of the curve.

Aside from the industry news, we also have 3 important topics to go over:

Can you get away with the task manager built into your platform? Do you NEED a separate task manager? Is AI-Generated Writing and speech the future? Is it more productive to focus on one screen/device, or have multiple screens/devices?

Thanks Truebill.com/TPS. it could save you thousands a year.

Thanks Coda. To get started for free, go to coda.io/TPS.

Go to PlayBackbone.com/tps to order your Backbone, until June 30th, and get FREE access to over 350 console games and perks

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/406.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:19] What is the first trending news topic within the industry currently? [5:15] What is the second trending topic of the day? [7:23] What does Thanh think about Microsoft Edge's built-in VPN? [9:24] What is Brooks' take on built-in task managers versus third-party apps? [12:33] How does Thanh feel about third-party task manager apps? [16:30] What is the second AE topic for the day? [25:23] What are Thanh's thoughts on AI-generated writing? [27:37] How can AI writing be used to maximize efficiency? [30:44] What is the final AE topic for the day? [32:22] How has Thanh configured his monitor setup? [35:08] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [40:00]

Links:

NordVPN Apple AirTags Anker Mago Article- New Windows 11 Features Article- Free VPN w/ Microsoft Edge Article- Google Tasks Review Mufi Jasper.ai TPS 387 Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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Something we've been wondering for quite some time is this question:

“How do you know when you’ve reached mastery of productivity?”

Many people have told us what they like about AE is that we are not system, app, or tool-specific, and we are focused on PRACTICAL productivity, not just theory.

With this in mind, we've broken down productivity mastery into 25 steps that we call the 25X Productivity System. It pairs perfectly with the TEA Framework of Time, Energy, and Attention.

In this episode, we go through the 25X Productivity System, how it impacts the rest of AE's resources, and we announce a special Live Q&A Call taking place on June 2, 2022.

To register or watch the recording, head on over to:

theproductivityshow.com/25X.

Links: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Globle JustWatch Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Control Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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Getting Things Done, or GTD, is a productivity system developed by David Allen, and it was introduced to the world in the book "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity."

Here’s the thing about GTD though; a lot of its promoters are very… opinionated about how you follow it. If you don’t follow it to the letter, you aren’t “doing it right.”

We don’t really care about all that – we just want to get our important stuff done! We’ve both used GTD for at least 15 years, but we’ve both adapted it to what works for us.

In this episode, we’ll share how you can adapt GTD to your own needs, while still “Getting Things Done”. Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How you can rethink GTD Contexts, and use them for your own purposes – or we’ll share an even better thing to try How you can make your GTD Weekly review way shorter, so you’ll actually stick with it How to handle GTD when you work in a team, or with other systems

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. The offer is good for a limited time.

Thanks to Avast.com!

Try Zapier for free today at zapier.com/TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/405.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:36] What's the first way to adapt GTD to your needs? [5:43] What is tip no. 2 to adapt GTD to your needs? [13:35] How does Brooks recommend restructuring planning to adapt GTD? [17:16] What does Thanh’s weekly review look like? [23:45] What is tip number 3 to adapt GTD to your needs? [26:53] What is a question that AE gets a lot? [28:25] How does Thanh handle working with multiple systems and multiple people simultaneously? [30:14] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [33:11]

Links:

Book: Getting Things Done- The Art of Stress-Free Productivity GTD Workflow Map App: Nebo 5 GTD Tips To Become A Power User And Get Things Done Consistently (TPS322) Which Productivity System Is Best For You? We Compare and Recommend (TPS355) Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) AE GTD Page: How To 10x Your Productivity Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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The Productivity Show podcast has been around since 2015 or so - this is episode 404 - and at the beginning, whenever we had a guest on, the host would end it by asking the guest three questions:

“What’s your Book, Tool, and Frog”?

Book: What’s a book you’re either loving right now or you would recommend to the audience?

Tool: What’s a “tool” that helps you get your best work done? It could be an app, a physical tool or device, or anything really.

Frog: What is a project or something you are focusing on right now? (Comes from the concept of “Eat Your Frog” - we have a big article about that we will list in the shownotes)

In this episode, we’re going to share OUR current Books, Tools, and Frogs, as well as share some from your fellow TPS listeners and our Productivity Academy members.

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Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/404.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What does "Frog" mean in the context of this episode? [2:41] Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:22] What were Brooks' Book, Tool, and Frog from his first appearance on episode 7 of TPS? [7:22] What is Marmel's book recommendation for the day? [11:07] What is Brooks' book recommendation for the day? [15:04] What shifts has Marmel made in her views on productivity and "getting things done?" [19:09] What is Marmel's tool recommendation for the day? [25:15] What is Brooks' tool recommendation for the day? [29:00] What is Marmel's frog recommendation for the day? [34:27] What is Brooks' frog recommendation for the day? [37:44] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [42:27]

Links:

Blog: Eat That Frog- Do Your Most Important Task In The Morning Book: Eat That Frog!- 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time YouTube Premium Book: Winning on Purpose- The Unbeatable Strategy of Loving Customers AirPods Case w/ AirTag Holder TPS7: Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan Book: The ONE Thing- The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan App: Alfred Webinar: The Best Productivity Systems Used By Highly Successful People To Get Things Done In Less Time Book: Ikigai- The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, By Hector Garcia Video: Living With More Ikigai, by Alice Ferris Productivity Workflows and Strategies of A Consultant in the Non-Profit Sector w/ Alice Ferris (TPS399) Book: Four Thousand Weeks- Time Management for Mortals  Elgato Stream Deck Book: Find Your Why, by Simon Sinek Book: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield Trello Book: Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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Today I’m joined by Chris Sparks. He’s the founder of Forcing Function where he helps executives achieve peak performance.

As a former top 20 poker player in the world, he takes lessons and frameworks that helped him become one of the best at poker to help others perform at the highest level and make better decisions.

We’ll be diving into Chris’s productivity methodology and strategies so you can use to perform at the highest level.

Welcome to the show Chris!

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer good for a limited time.

Go to Novo.co/TPS and get your FREE business checking account

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/403.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:10] What made Chris realize that poker was truly for him? [8:07] What's the difference between the average competitive poker player and the top-ranked players? [11:17 How did Chris approach losing in poker? [14:14] What was it like living in a "Poker House" for Chris? [19:15] How does Chris think he would do if he had started poker now instead of in the late '00s? [22:49] What sorts of "waves" does Chris anticipate in his world in the coming years? [26:22] How did Chris transition from the world of professional poker to business education? [29:13] What are some concepts from professional poker that Chris applies to coaching and his own personal life? [32:04] How does Chris apply the concept of "expected value" to everyday life? [37:10] How would Chris assess and launch a new product? [45:10] How does Chris coordinate with his wife when planning significant trips or outings? [49:00] What is a life philosophy that resonates with Chris? [56:29] How did Chris come up with the company name "Forcing Function?”[59:05] What is Chris' goalsetting approach like? [1:03:28] Where is Chris on his productivity journey currently? [1:08:06] Where can Chris be reached for services online? [1:11:34]

Links:

Forcing Function Performance Library Freedom Everlywell Food Sensitivity Test clean.email Experiment Without Limits Workbook Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Chris Sparks

Forcing Function Twitter

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Let’s catch up on what’s been happening in our industry and new trends that you need to be aware of so you stay ahead of the curve.

Aside from the industry news, we also have 3 important topics to go over:

Is the 40-hour workweek an outdated concept? Are Google’s suggestions helpful or annoying? What do you do when people you admire give conflicting productivity advice?

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Thanks to Avast.com!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/402.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:56] What is Brooks' first topic for the day? [4:54] What is something to be aware of if you use Notion for personal use? [10:20] What is Thanh's first piece of industry news for the day? [12:48] How Does Thanh feel about a Four Day Work Week? [18:01] What does Brooks have to say about Google Suggestions? [24:19] What makes Google Suggestions and Grammarly different from each other, according to Thanh? [27:39] How does Brooks handle conflicting advice from productivity content creators? [31:41] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [37:56]

Links:

App: WeCroak Book: The Cartoon Introduction to Economics, Volume II- Macroeconomics Read articles behind a paywall (works sometimes) by sending the URLs to Pocket Notion (Block-By-Block Announcement) Google Workspace Updates Article: Wyze Camera Security Flaw? Article: Four Day Work Week (BusinessInsider) The Four Day Work Week Experiment: Tips and Lessons Learned (TPS 382) Article: Are Google Voice Suggestions Useful? YouTube Video: Ali Abdaal YouTube Video: Matt D'Avella Our Thinking Has Evolved On These Productivity “Rules” (TPS 365) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In this episode, we’re going to talk about 3 ways you can use your money to buy back time.

We’ll be covering some very inexpensive ways, and some more advanced ways, you can get back more of that precious time.

Because Time is the first part of our TEA Framework - the 3 levers of productivity - Time, Energy, and Attention. Improve any of those 3 areas, and you’ll improve your productivity.

Even better, by using some of the tips in this episode, you’ll improve your Energy and Attention. A TEA Framework trifecta!

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How you can use technology to save a ton of time each year, even if you’re not a tech      The 3 Level Framework for deciding what you should stop doing yourself      How to get started with an executive assistant, and why almost anyone can benefit from one!

Thanks to Truebill.com/TPS - it could save you thousands a year.

Thank you Avast.com!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com/401.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:31] What's Brooks' first tip for buying back time? [4:46] What technology does Thanh use to remove time squanders from his life? [8:23] What's tip #2 for buying back time? [12:25] What are some of the ways that Thanh outsources and delegates tasks? [16:32] What is Tip #3 for buying back time? [31:44] What sorts of things does Thanh have his Executive Assistant do for him? [35:54] How does Thanh feel about using a service versus a person to help with tasks? [43:05] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [45:38]

Links:

Upwork Fiverr TaskRabbit TPS75: Simple Systems TPS 333: Personal Outsourcing: How To Win Back 5+ Hours/Week TPS 190: How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis TPS 143: The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant Fancyhands Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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We’ve been helping people become more productive at work and in life since 2011. The podcast has been around since 2016 and we surpassed 11mm downloads which makes us the #1 productivity podcast in the world.

We don’t take this for granted. We’re taking this episode to celebrate this major milestone.

It’s fun to mix it up so we’re going to give each co-host an opportunity to share things with the audience that you might know about them. These could be passion projects they’re working on outside of AE, hobbies, favorite foods, and more.

We’re also going to recommend one podcast episode from the last 399 episodes that we recommend. Not necessarily which one we think is “the best”, but just one we think you should listen to.

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through April 30, 2022. 

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/400.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:27] What are some of Brooks' favorite foods, and why? [7:06] What are some of Brooks' favorite books? [9:32] What does Brooks like to do when not working for AE? [13:03] How did Brooks end up joining AE? [14:44] What is a fun story that would define Brooks in a nutshell? [20:32] How does Marmel see Brooks? [23:18] Which TPS Episode is Brooks' favorite so far? [23:53] How did Marmel feel about Scrum when she applied to AE? [26:33] What suggestion did Marmel make at the Scrum conference to end their meetings? [28:06] How does Brooks feel about AE implementing Scrum? [29:36] What sort of food do Marmel cook and eat regularly? [31:25] Which book genre does Marmel gravitate towards most? [13:51] How is Marmel as a person when not working for AE? [39:23] Which TPS episode would Marmel recommend the most so far? [42:30] How did Thanh mold AE into what it is today? [44:08] What are some of Thanh's favorite foods? [47:41] What are some books Thanh enjoys reading most? [49:50] What does Thanh like to do when not working for AE? [52:25] Which episode of TPS does Thanh think is most underrated? [55:22] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [59:13]

Links:

Book: The 99% Invisible City- A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design, by Roman Mars App: Rise Science Logitech Litra Glow How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery (TPS256) Want To Do A Productivity Reset? Here’s What We Would Do (TPS343) Book: The Untethered Soul, by Michael A. Singer Book: 30 Lessons for Living, by Karl A. Pillemer Book: Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0), by Verne Harnish The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

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Today I’m joined by Alice Ferris, the founding partner of Goal Busters Consulting where she helps small to medium size organizations in the non-profit sector with fundraising.

She has more than 30 years of professional fundraising experience.

Fun Fact: Alice is the 90th fundraising professional in the world to earn the Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive (ACFRE) credential.

Alice is recognized for her on-air presence on many public television and radio pledge drives, and fundraising national PBS pledge programs, among them Ken Burns: America's Storyteller, Downton Abbey, The Civil War, and Financial Solutions for You with Suze Orman, among many others.

She’s also an Asian Efficiency client, who is part of the Productivity Academy and has joined many of our other programs.

Welcome, Alice!

Go to Novo.co/TPS and get your FREE business checking account.

Thanks to Coda. To get a $1,000 credit on your first statement, sign up at coda.io/tps.

For a limited time, book a FREE demo at Marpipe.com/TPS and get a FREE $2,000 credit.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/399.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:31] What got Alice started with AE? How about productivity in general? [5:26] How much time does Alice spend on e-mail every single day? [9:28] What tips or strategies can Alice offer to AE listeners about e-mail optimization? [12:52] What does a typical day look like for Alice? [18:08] How does Alice use her calendars? [22:37] How has Alice's experience been having an executive assistant? [26:44] What aspects of AE does Alice mention in her Zoom meetings? [41:46] How did Alice come up with her comprehensive "Food & Travel" list? Any other travel tips from Alice? [48:23]

Links:

LumeCube Edge Desk Light Active Inbox Organize Your Files - our short course to get your files organized and sorted Goal Busters Consulting Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Alice Ferris

GoalBusters Consulting Facebook LinkedIn Twitter

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In this episode, we’re going to talk about 3 ways you can revamp your productivity by doing a spring cleaning for your schedule, your workflows, and your environment.

Even if it is not Spring where you live, do a little “fall cleaning” along with us.

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How to make sure you schedule things that support your goals as much as possible How to make sure your productivity workflow is optimized A way to make sure your work environment is helping you, not getting in your way

For a limited time, get 40% off on a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid for a limited time.

Thanks to Avast.com for supporting The Productivity Show!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/398.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:15] What is the first tip for productive spring cleaning? [5:18] What does Thanh do with his schedule for spring cleaning? [8:38] What’s something you can do to maximize your spring cleaning process? [20:32] What is tip #3 for a successful spring cleaning? [24:35] What is Brooks' spring cleaning process like? [26:52] How dos Thanh works with his environment during spring cleaning? [27:55] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [30:48]

Links:

DYMO Label Maker LabelManager 160 Portable Label Maker Book: New Order- A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (and Everyone Else) Organize Your Files - our short course to get your files organized and sorted Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Steve Jobs Home Office Photo Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Today’s episode is a new format we’re experimenting with.

We know many of you like listening to podcasts to learn new things and also to stay on top of what’s happening in the world.

So we thought it would be helpful to also share some industry news on the podcast so you’re always up to date with the latest news around productivity apps, tools, books and everything else in between.

Aside from the industry news, we also have 3 important topics to go over:

-Does it make sense to color-code your calendar a week later after everything happened?

-How capitalism and productivity are hurting young peoples’ well-being.

-With more people WFH, do GTD Contexts still make sense?

Thanks Truebill.com/TPS. It could save you thousands a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/397.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:33] What are the three new pieces of industry news? [5:47] What are Brooks' thoughts on the industry news for the day? [8:51] What are the biggest benefits of cloud storage? [11:39] What are the “industry happenings” for the day? [13:15] How does Thanh optimize his calendar? [16:53] What is the big hurdle with time tracking? [18:52] What is the basic premise behind Brooks' viral TikTok video of the day? [21:28] What is Thanh’s perspective on modern “anti-productivity” culture? [23:30] What are "contexts" within the GTD Method? [30:41] What is Brooks' take on GTD contexts nowadays? [32:14] What is a big downside to contexts nowadays, according to Thanh? [35:33] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life.[37:37]

Links:

El Gato Key Light Air Book: Working, By Robert Caro Tweet: Sahil Bloom TikTok Article: Business Insider Forum Post: GTD Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In this episode, we’re going to talk about ways to have a good weekend that leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for whatever comes during the week.

Even if you’re self-employed or an entrepreneur and don’t follow the M-F work week, you can apply these concepts to whatever leisure time you do take.

Here are 3 things you’ll get out of this episode:

How to make sure you have a “good” weekend and know what that means to you. Something you can do this weekend which studies have shown is worth an extra $115,000 a year in terms of life satisfaction How to make sure your weekend doesn’t turn into an over-scheduled disaster

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. The offer is valid through March 31, 2022. 

For a limited time, book a FREE demo at Marpipe.com/TPS and get a FREE $2,000 credit.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/396.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:00] What's the first tip for having a good weekend? [4:52] What is tip #2 for having a good weekend? [7:26] What is Thanh’s first weekend tip? [14:47] What is the final tip of the day? [18:44] What does Thanh’s typical week look like? [22:44] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [24:58]

Links:

Book: Digital Minimalism - Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, by Cal Newport Book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, by Dale Carnegie Rev Call Recorder (iOS) Study: Putting a Price Tag on Friends, Relatives, and Neighbours Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Let’s talk about team productivity and how you can double the output of your team without making drastic changes.

We’ve been running AE since 2011 and learned a lot of things about individual productivity and team productivity.

A few years ago we were always behind on schedule for product releases and nowadays we tend to be ahead of schedule, have happy, stress-free team members, and get stuff done more efficiently than ever before.

We want to share 3 strategies to help your team level up.

If you’re a team leader or manage a team, we’ll show you how to double the productivity of the team.

If you’re a team member and want to help your team become more productive, you’ll discover a few strategies you can use today.

If you want to make your existing more productive than it already is, we’ll have some advanced efficiency strategies for you as well.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Go to Novo.co/TPS and get your FREE business banking account.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/395.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:39] What is Thanh's first strategy to double team productivity? [6:27] What are Marmel’s thoughts on having daily reminders for teams to focus on? [9:30] What is "Confluence," and how does the AE team use it? [11:59] What are the 3 W’s? [14:57] What is Thanh’s final tip for doubling productivity? [24:15] What is the importance of a “scrum master” within AE? [26:42] How do you cover the duties of a scrum master without a dedicated role? [28:40] What was something AE team had to deal with at the beginning of their journey? [31:44] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [33:19]

Links:

Book: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team- A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni Bonus.ly Personality Test: Kolbe A Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Today’s episode is a new format we’re experimenting with. We know many of you like listening to podcasts to learn new things and also to stay on top of what’s happening in the world. So we thought it would be helpful to also share some industry news on the podcast so you’re always up to date with the latest news around productivity apps, tools, books, and everything else in between.

Aside from the industry news, we also have 3 important topics to go over:

Are you a jerk if you send someone your Calendly link?

Do you still have to pay for a text expander type of app anymore?

Is TikTok worthwhile for learning new skills?

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through March 31, 2022. 

Thanks also to Coda. To get a $1,000 credit on your first statement, sign up at coda.io/tps

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/394.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

What are the topics of the day? [2:06] Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:56] What’s trending in the industry right now? [5:13] What is Brooks' input on what’s trending? [7:15] What did Brooks mean by the title “Are you a Jerk for using Calendly?” [11:14] What are Thanh’s thoughts on the etiquette of Calendly links? [13:26] What is the biggest Calendly faux pas? [16:37] What is Brooks’ take on the viability of TextExpander in a world of free alternatives? [19:43] Who is Miss Excel, and what does she do? [31:12] What does Thanh think of TikTok? [32:20] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [36:31]

Links:

Book: The Practice of Groundedness, by Brad Stulberg SongShift (App) TuneMyMusic (SongShift Alternative) Roku Streaming Stick Fantastical (App) Microsoft Stream Sam Lessin Calendly Tweet Article: Calendly Etiquette TextExpander Blog: A Look At Your Stats TextExpander, 20% Discount Miss Excel (TikTok Tips) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Show Notes Take the Productivity Quiz

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Today is going to be another App episode, but this time we are going to get specific and talk about Wellness Apps.

We’ll each share 3 apps that we love, broken into the following categories:

FOCUS: How to zero in on what is important to you ENERGY: How to have the energy to do what you want to do BALANCE: How to be happier, more grounded, and more mindful

There are a million “wellness apps” out there - how do you know which ones are worth using?

Or maybe you’re feeling unfocused, lack of energy, or out of balance, you want to start taking action.

Or maybe you just like learning about apps!

Thanks to Truebill.com/TPS. It could save you thousands a year.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50] What is the first category of our wellness apps? [4:56] What is Brooks’ first pick for wellness apps? [7:53] What is Thanh’s recommended app for energy? [10:45] What is Brooks’ recommended app for energy? [15:30] How does Thanh work with his trainer? [17:04] What is the final wellness category, and what is Thanh’s top pick? [19:40] What is Brooks’ last app recommendation? [22:33] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life. [25:29]

Links:

Book: The Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz  Book: Slide:ology, by Nancy Duarte Beet Elite Productivity Music: The Power of Focus Playlists with Will Henshall of Focus@Will (TPS353) Be Focused (App) SetApp Pomodor (SetApp Alternative) Oura Ring Article: 7 Things I Discovered About Myself Using The Oura Ring That Helped Me Become Uber Productive Strong (App) Trainerize TEA Framework Daylio (App) Alltrails (App) Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Show Notes Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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It’s been a while since we talked about Evernote on the podcast, and this episode was triggered by the end of year letter that the CEO makes every year.

In his 2021 recap, he said this "Your subscriptions propelled Evernote to its highest annual revenues in history.

When we read that, we both said “What!!? Really?”

So we thought it would be good to do a little dive into where Evernote is now, what they’re doing feature-wise, and what some new features are that you may not be aware of or using.

You’re an Evernote user, but haven’t looked into any of the new features or changes.

You USED to be an Evernote user, but are curious what is happening with them these days - maybe even thinking of coming back.

You like staying up with the latest productivity tech developments.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/392.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through 3/31/22.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/392.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:40] What are Thanh's thoughts on the current state of Evernote? [5:27] What are super apps? [9:47] What is the first feature in Evernote that could make it a super app? [13:23] What does Thanh think of the home area within Evernote? [14:23] What is a filtered widget, and what does it do? [16:25] How does Evernote integrate with a calendar? [18:23] Does Thanh foresee himself moving to Evernote for task management in the near future? [27:23] What are the last few important features in Evernote? [29:55]

Links:

ScanSnap iX600 Rocketbook RISE Science (app) Evernote Home Evernote Widget Tutorial Evernote Calendar Evernote Tasks Evernote Customization Tutorial Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Show Notes Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Today’s episode was inspired by feedback from a listener:

"My only feedback would be that the barrier to entry might be a little high, particularly for people who are already efficient and motivated but not bought in."

It made us realize we all know people like that: people who maybe could benefit at least SOME productivity advice, but are generally skeptical of the whole “productivity thing”

So we decided to do an episode on the advice we would give to the “productivity skeptic”

Maybe the person in your life needs a lot of productivity help, but you’ve never been able to breakthrough.

Or maybe they are generally pretty efficient or organized, but you see some opportunities to get even better.

Or maybe that person is YOU - you’re skeptical of most productivity advice, or you’ve tried things over the years but nothing has ever stuck.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/391.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:01] What is Brooks’ tip for the productivity skeptic? [11:00] What should you do if you simply cannot do everything you need to do at any given moment? [14:11] What is the final tip for the productivity skeptic? [20:06] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [23:24]

Links:

Book: Four Thousand Weeks, by Oliver Burkeman Book: The 40-Hour Work Year, by Scott Fritz RISE Sleep App Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) TEA Framework Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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Today’s episode is going to be a bit different: we’re going to talk about… Date Nights!

You might be asking yourself … why on earth would a productivity podcast be talking about date nights? Am I listening to the wrong podcast?

We know Valentine’s Day is coming up and that many of you are in a relationship.

You might need last-minute ideas but more importantly, this wouldn’t be a productivity podcast, if we gave you some tips and strategies to keep date night going and ways for you to get ideas on what to do on a regular basis (especially if you’re not that creative or romantic).

Just like any habit, we’ll help you keep them going.

Whether you’re single, dating, or married for decades…we got tips and strategies to help you here today.

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through March 31, 2022.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/390.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:04] What is a "Progressive Dinner?” [5:22] What is a great date night idea Brooks had recently? [8:15] What are some things to consider if you don't want your date nights to get too routine? [16:27] What is the Triple R Method? [17:57] How do you apply these dating tips to the rest of your productivity life? [24:08] How do you keep date night ideas fresh over time? [25:20] How can some of the negative aspects of social media work in your favorite for date night ideas? [28:22] What is Thanh's final date night tip? [31:13] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [32:07]

Links:

The Nudge Book: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Love Language Quiz Book: Daily Stoic Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In today’s episode, we’re going to be talking about the 3 P's of productivity to use every day to make an impact.

We’ll talk about what the 3 P’s are, and how to make the system work for you.

We’ll talk about some specific tools and techniques you can use to stay on top of everything you need to do in the day and reduce the overwhelm in your life.

You’re not a “goal setting” person, but you want to make sure you follow through with what you start.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/389.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:32] Who exactly is Brittany, and what is she up to? [2:56] What are the 3 P’s in Productivity? [4:21] What is Brittany's process/system to successfully start her day? [10:01] How does Brittany deal with unexpected complications to her plans? [11:35] What was Brittany’s experience with organizing homes? [15:03] How does Brittany feel the environment impacts productivity? [17:05] What are Brittany's work-from-home tips? [18:12] How does Brittany focus at home with kids? [19:09] What is the role of a calendar within Brittany's workflow? [20:35] How does Brittany "change hats" when allocating time for activities? [22:05] How does Brittany estimate the amount of time needed to complete tasks? [23:37] What are some additional tools that contribute towards Brittany's workflow? [25:51] What is the productivity coaching world like from a female perspective? [29:05] What are some productivity tips Brittany wishes more women knew? [31:30] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [32:33]

Links:

Book: Ordinary Superpowers, by Mark Henson GoodNotes Mighty Networks Productivity Academy Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Brittany Dixon

Instagram Hustle to Flow Community

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This episode is all about how to Keep Momentum Going, no matter what time of year it is.

Maybe you have goals or resolutions, or maybe you haven’t made them yet and are just taking what comes. Either way now is the time when many of us start to lose momentum, no matter how good our intentions were at the end of the year.

Do any of the following apply to you?

You’ve always struggled with accomplishing your goals. You set goals, and then lose momentum by the end of January. Maybe you get past January and February OK, but by halfway through the year...your goals are still not accomplished. You’re not a “goal setting” person, but you want to make sure you follow through with what you start.

If so, this is the episode for you.

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through March 31, 2022.

Thanks to Truebill.com/TPS. it could save you thousands a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/388.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+. Get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else, and the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:01] How does Brooks like to think of momentum? [5:46] What is Thanh’s first tip for maintaining momentum? [6:29] What is tip #2 for maintaining momentum? [13:54] What is a good question to ask yourself if you’re struggling with your goals right now? [21:09] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [30:54]

Links:

Just Timers Multi Timer Stop Watch Clarity.fm Book: Work Clean, by Dan Charnas TEA Framework Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

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In today’s episode, we’re going to be diving into the world of Personal Knowledge Management

This is a topic that is super-hot right now, and linked editing tools like Obsidian, Roam, and others are having an impact in a way that I haven’t seen since the early Evernote days.

There’s definitely something big going on here, and we’ve wanted to do an episode on it for quite some time - and there’s no one better to talk about it than Nick.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/387.

Cheat Sheet: Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:52] What exactly is PKM? [7:32] What are the differences between standard and linked note-taking? [10:34] Why are emojis becoming more important in PKM? [16:10] What sorts of notes would Nick recommend capturing through PKM? [18:17] What is the most important factor in efficient PKM? [25:40] What are the common “best practices” for starting a PKM? [29:07] Which PKM app should people start with? [38:10] Why is Obsidian so important to the world of PKM? [43:12] What does Brooks think is important to factor into choosing a PKM app? [46:36] How does Nick utilize Obsidian on mobile devices? [48:33] How can a PKM change the way that you think? [50:09] Why are reps so important in PKM? [1:00:24] What does Nick think of visual representations of PKM? [1:02:26] What's the best approach to PKM if you have pre-existing data to work with? [1:07:52] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [1:10:17]

Links:

Obsidian Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi The LYT Kit Zettelkasten Zettelkasten Article (The Archive) Antifragile Obsidian for Beginners Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Take the Productivity Quiz

Connect with Nick Milo

Linking Your Thinking Twitter

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Today we are going to talk about something that has been in the news a LOT this year and will likely impact most of us in the year ahead: issues with the global and local supply chain.

You might have experienced that prices are going up, packages are delayed, and stuff you want to buy is backlogged by months or even out of stock.

Whether you’re a business owner, employee, academic, or retired - we’ll go over how these supply chain issues impact you and what you can do about it moving forward to have a happy and productive life.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

Free $75 credit to boost your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through March 31, 2022.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/386.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+. Get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else, and the famous "One Tweak A Week" shirt.

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:46] What is happening to the supply chain, and why is AE talking about it? [5:06] How has The Great Resignation (TPS 380) affected the supply chain? [10:50] What is the Theory of Constraints? [14:54] What are some of the other ways the supply chain has affected current events? [19:16] What is something Thanh would like to normalize that isn’t very common in the world today? [27:19] What has had the most major impact on Thanh in preparing for a supply chain crisis? [34:45] What will be the general theme of 2022, according to Brooks? [38:25] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [39:44]

Links:

Deliveries (iOS) Deliveries (Android) Karma Book: The Toyota Way, by Jeffrey Liker Productivity Academy Become a member of TPS+ Quiz

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In today’s episode, we’re going to be talking about productivity and procrastination, but with a special focus on STUDENTS.

90% of students procrastinate, but the reasons are very different than with adults.

We’re going to dive into that, and we’re going to share some special strategies to help the students in your life manage their time, develop smart study skills, and become FUNCTIONAL procrastinators.

Even if you don’t have kids (student-age or otherwise), there’ll be lots of productivity tips that can help anyone.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/385.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:51] Why is an analog clock better than a digital clock for time management? [4:17] What is Leslie’s background and how did she get into time management? [7:14] What age range is Leslie’s main focus for Order Out Of Chaos? [9:45] How do students and adults procrastinate differently from one another? [13:03] How does Leslie define procrastination? [19:03] What are some ways parents can help their children break down priorities and structure responsibilities? [26:00] How does the Order Out Of Chaos system vary across age ranges? [34:23] What time management-specific advice does Leslie have for parents? [37:35] How should parents deal with plans from their children that seem unreasonable/unattainable? [42:13] What does Leslie think about parents creating effective learning environments for their children to thrive within? [46:12] What is the secret superpower of using music during study? [52:01] What are some planner “best practices”, according to Leslie? [56:34] What does Leslie suggest to help with motivating students to improve their time management skills? [1:04:03] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [1:08:27]

Links:

Book: How to Do It Now Because It's Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done Analog Wall Clock Academic Planner - A Tool for Time Management Productivity Academy TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Leslie Josel

Order Out of Chaos  Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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In today’s episode, we’re going to share how to set boundaries and SAY NO.

This is the last episode of 2021. If you could set one intention for this upcoming year, a great one is to say NO to more things to prevent yourself from being overcommitted.

It’s hard for a lot of us - me (Brooks) included. Saying no is my productivity kryptonite.

You find yourself overwhelmed with everything you need to do, and you find it hard to find time the work on the things you WANT or NEED to.

You end up missing commitments or dropping the ball because you can’t bring yourself to say no to things that realistically, you aren’t going to be able to do (or do well).

Thanks to Truebill.com/TPS. It could save you thousands a year.

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/384.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:25] What is the first tip to properly setting boundaries? [7:06] How has Thanh’s experience been learning how to say no? [9:36] How do you plan your future commitments based on today’s circumstances? [17:22] What is tip #3 3 for learning how to set boundaries? [20:17] How does Thanh use clarifying questions to get out of commitments? [25:17] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [33:05]

Links:

Book: The ONE Thing, by Gary Keller & Jay Papasan Book: Nonviolent Communication, by Marshall Rosenburg Book: Your Erroneous Zones, by Wayne Dyer Article: Saying No, by Seth Godin Book: Do Great Worth, by Michael Stanier TEA Framework Productivity Academy TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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In today’s episode, we’re going to share how to get ready for next year.

In our last episode, TPS382, we talked about how to review the past year, see how you did, and maybe come up with some changes you want to make for the next year.

In THIS episode, we are going to connect that to the upcoming year.

1: What are the things you need to do to wrap up this year? 2: How do you figure out what you’re going to do this upcoming year? 3: How do you set yourself up for success and be ready to start taking action when your winter holidays (if you have any) are over?

Maybe you find every year you make big yearly goals and at the end of the year they didn’t happen, or you make the same goals every year.

You feel uncertain about… everything. Things keep opening, then closing, then seem to get better.. Then not… you find it hard to plan when everything seems so uncertain.

You’re someone who’s been very consistent in your annual process, but need more tips, or wants a tweak that can help achieve your goals faster.

Thanks, Amazon Music. To try Amazon Music Unlimited FREE for 30 days, go to amazon.com/TPS30

Thanks to Hawthorne. Take your quiz and get 10% off your first purchase at hawthorne.co with code TPS

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/383.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:54] What is Brooks’ advice for preparing for the upcoming year? [4:34] What’s the #1 way to prepare for the upcoming year, according to Thanh? [6:10] What is “recency bias”? [9:23] How has Brooks used the TEA framework in 2021? [15:07] What is Tip #2 to prepare for a successful new year? [17:58] How does Brooks use the TEA Framework to plan for a new year? [20:37] What is Thanh’s final tip to prepare for a successful new year? [24:30] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [30:55]

Links:

The 5 Book - Where Will You Be 5 Years From Now? by Dan Zadra  Ray-Ban Stories Book: The Algebra of Happiness How We Improved Our Lives and Work With Journaling – And You Can Too (TPS301) TEA Framework Productivity Academy TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today’s episode is going to be a bit different.

From time to time we do episodes about how we do things at AE, for two reasons:

Going back to the early days of the blog in 2011 and the podcast in 2015, we get a LOT of questions about behind the scenes aspects of running AE We are always doing experiments to try to improve the company, be more productive, and have happier team members

You know what they say – “Happy people are productive people”; so we'd like to share what we learn from these experiments with you

A few summers ago we did an experiment: what if we ran the company just 4 days a week throughout the whole summer?

We had a vote and… SURPRISE… The team voted yes. 😂

We’ve done it a few times since, and are midway through another run at it, doing it during December for the first time.

If you’ve ever thought about trying a 4-day work week, we’ll share our lessons and insights with you that can help you decide if it’s right for you.

Perhaps you already do a 4-day work week and want more tips to make it more effective, we got you covered too.

Free $75 credit to upgrade your post at Indeed.com/tps. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through December 31, 2021.

Thanks to Mack Weldon. For 20% off your first order, visit mackweldon.com/TPS with promo code TPS.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/382.

Cheat Sheet:

Why did Thanh decide to do an episode on the Four Day Work Week? [4:15] Top 3 Productivity Resources [5:10] When did the AE Team implement the Four Day Work Week? [7:34] How does Thanh feel about employees essentially getting a free day off through Four Day Work Weeks? [12:11] What is Labor-Efficiency Ratio? [15:21] How does Thanh feel about AE’s first Four Day Work Week experiment in 2020? [19:19] Why was AE’s first Four Day Work Week successful? [26:02] How do you work a Four Day Work Week around employees that have to work certain hours of the day? [35:19] Which is better— using Four Day Work Weeks as a reward/incentive, or implementing them consistently? [38:00] What are some things to be aware of when trying out a Four Day Work Week, according to Thanh? [41:08] How does Brooks feel the quality of work changed when AE implemented a Four Day Work Week? [45:39] Why does AE only do Four Day Work Weeks in the summer and December? Why not all the time? [48:38] What are Thanh’s tips for advocating for the Four Day Work Week? [51:46] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [54:08]

Links:

Book: Remote: Office Not Required Book: Scaling Up GROK Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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Today’s episode is going to be slightly different than what you might be used to from us.

This is Thanh Pham, the founder of Asian Efficiency. I was recently interviewed by Sachit Gupta, the host of the Conscious Creators Show: https://link.chtbl.com/thanh

If that name sounds familiar, I actually interviewed Sachit on episode #348: https://www.asianefficiency.com/podcasts/348-sachit-gupta/

This time, we flipped roles and I started talking about how I built Asian Efficiency, grew the company, work 4 days a week, and built a highly efficient team.

It's stuff I've never publicly shared before (not even on my own podcast) and I've included a short segment here as a preview.

For the full episode, head on over to subscribe to the Conscious Creators Show https://link.chtbl.com/thanh. Some of the things we talked about:

The mindset switch creators have to make to intertwine personal stories with their brand How to onboard and match multiple personalities on the team when their talents’ variety The core principles of establishing happiness in your workflow How a 4 day work week led to an improvement in employee NPS How to build a team of cross-functional generalists How to implement a systematic approach to hire people and upgrade their skill set to be more productive Why you should never be discouraged to ask for help to grow your business

For any questions or support, please email us at support@asianefficiency.com. I hope you enjoy it!

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In this episode, we are going to talk about Calendars, or more specifically doing a Calendar Cleanup.

Any way you can get your Calendar in top shape will have an immediate impact today and going forward. There aren’t many productivity changes you can make that will do that!

If your calendar has become cluttered with “not real”, out of date, or irrelevant events, we’ll take you through some ways to fix that up.

Maybe some big project or issue has come up and you need to free up time and clear space, quickly - we’ll help you do that.

Get an extra 3 months. Expressvpn.com/TPS.

Thanks Masterworks. To skip to the front of the line and get your VIP pass for immediate access, go to masterworks.io/TPS

Thanks Truebill.com/TPS. it could save you thousands a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/381.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:42] What is the main benefit of calendar cleanup? [4:32] How was Thanh most recently reminded to de-clutter his calendar? [07:36] What is the first tip for cleaning your calendar? [11:08] What can you do if you’re constantly ignoring time blocks on your calendar? [13:28] What is Tip #2 for de-cluttering your calendar? [15:58] What are the 3 steps to calendar triage? [20:38] What does Thanh do every Sunday for his weekly planning? [28:49] What is Tip #3 for keeping your calendar uncluttered? [30:38] Why is a weekly review so valuable for organization? [36:47] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [39:34]

Links:

NeuYear Calendar Calendly The Five-Minute Journal  Fantastical Article: Is It Time For Calendar Triage? TPS 311 Calendar Captain Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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Today’s episode is going to be slightly different than what you might be used to from us.

We’re always looking for ways to make the podcast better, more fun, and insightful.

Every podcast episode is still actionable but the format might be different every now and then like today’s episode.

We are going to talk about something that has been in the news a LOT this year: what has been called The Great Resignation.

Records keep being broken for people INTENTIONALLY leaving their jobs, often without another job lined up yet.

This is happening in all sectors of the economy; especially in the US, but in many other countries as well.

Stat from The Atlantic: 1 in 14 employees in the “accommodations and food services” sector left a job in a single month.

It's not just limited to that though!

Companies are offering signing & referral bonuses more than ever before (just ask Brooks' wife!)

A PwC survey found that 65% of US employees are looking for a new job.

One of the things we like to say at AE is: happy people are productive people!

Whether you’re an employee, manager, or boss - we’ll go over how the Great Resignation impacts you and what you can do about it moving forward to have a happy and productive life.

Thanks to Mack Weldon for supporting The Productivity Show. For 20% off your first order, visit mackweldon.com/TPS with promo code TPS.

Thank you Hawthorne. Take your quiz and get 10% off your first purchase at hawthorne.co with code TPS.

Thanks to Masterworks. To skip to the front of the line and get your VIP pass for Priority Access, go to masterworks.io/TPS

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/380.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:06] How does Brooks feel The Great Resignation has been affecting the average TPS listener? [6:48] What are some things Thanh thinks are contributing to The Great Resignation? [11:14] What happens to the people left behind at their jobs in The Great Resignation? [14:15] How does Brooks think perspectives on The Great Resignation vary across generations? [15:19] How does Thanh feel that The Great Resignation is affecting managers? [17:22] What is “the perfect job” like, according to Thanh? [18:57] What does Brooks think a modern-day boss/manager needs to know to keep their people? [22:05] How does Thanh think a modern-day boss/manager can keep their people? [25:07] What is Thanh’s biggest piece of advice to participants of The Great Resignation? [36:05] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [40:00]

Links:

Book: Radical Candor- Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity Logitech Brio Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In Waterproofing Quote: Adam Grant (Wall Street Journal) Antiwork: Unemployment for all, not just the rich! AE Communication Guidelines How I Made 200 Friends in One Year Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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In this episode, we are going to do our Annual Productivity Gift Guide.

What do you give to someone who is into productivity? Or maybe you’d like to give them something that would help them out.

This year, we are going to do something different.

We are going to share some of our favorite productivity gifts from past shows, since those have stood the test of time. We are ALSO going to share 1 new gift and 1 gift experience we each recommend.

If you know someone in your life that is trying to improve their productivity, these are some of our favorite gifts. OR - if the people in your life find you impossible to buy for, here are some suggestions that we’d love to get. OR - Maybe you want to buy some of these for yourself. No judgement! We always do every year! :)

Thanks to Manly Bands. To get 25% off your Manly Band now through Cyber Monday, go to manlybands.com/TPS or use promo code TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/379.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29] Why does Brooks like the Pro model of Theragun specifically? [5:31] What makes the Kindle Paperwhite Brooks’ favorite type of Kindle? [8:35] Apple AirTags or Tiles? Which does Brooks prefer? [10:52] How do you use the Eero, and what does it do? [12:55] What is Brooks’ final gift idea? [14:10] What is Review Meta? [16:20] Why are blue-light glasses important? [17:11] What book does Thanh gift most frequently? [18:50] What device did Thanh use before the Theragun? [20:19] What makes the Oura ring a unique fitness tracking device? [21:26] What is Thanh’s brand new gift suggestion for 2021? [25:27] How does the Apollo Neuro affect your nervous system? [28:54] What is Brooks’ brand new gift suggestion for 2021? [30:21] How can Shoot My Travel enhance your vacations? [34:33] What is Masterclass? [37:26] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [40:52]

Links:

Krisp.ai Book: The Toyota Way Theragun Pro Amazon Kindle Amazon Kindle - Paperwhite Amazon Kindle- Oasis Tile Essentials (2020)- 4-Pack Eero Mesh Wi-Fi System Eero Pro 6 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System: Netgear Orbi USB-C Hub, 9-In-1 Type C Hub Review Meta THL Sleep Blue Light Blocking Glasses Verilux Happy Light 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans MobilityWOD Supernova Oura Ring Apollo Neuro Apple Pencil Shoot My Travel Masterclass Remarkable 2 Moft Invisible Laptop Stand Moft Carry Sleeve Visual Analog Pomodoro Timer CalDigit High End Thunderbird Port Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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In this episode, we are going to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: Meetings.

Believe it or not, there’s a way to make meetings less painful, and to even make them events that people WANT to attend (or at least don’t actively hate)

If you run meetings, we’re going to give you tips to make them effective and a great use of everyone’s time. If you don’t run meetings but just attend them, you’ll get tips to make your participation more impactful. Maybe you just want to hear some tips for how AE does meetings - we’ll dive into that too.

Thanks to Amazon Music. To try Amazon Music Unlimited FREE for 30 days, go to amazon.com/TPS30.

Thanks also to Marpipe for supporting The Productivity Show. Through December 31, 2021, book a FREE demo at marpipe.com/TPS RIGHT NOW and get a FREE $2,000 credit.

Listen and subscribe to “Hello Monday” with Jessi Hempel on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favorite pods.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/378.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:50] What is Brooks’ first tip for designing a meeting that people will ACTUALLY want to attend? [7:25] What are the three types of meetings at a high level? [8:56] How do you make all three types of meetings actionable? [9:42] Why is it important to consolidate your meetings as much as possible? [15:02] How does Thanh think his idea of a Wednesday “Meeting Day” has gone since implementing it years ago? [18:28] What is Brooks’ final tip for successful meetings? [27:35] What is the “HI.P.P.O Effect?” [28:36] What is Brooks’ biggest recommendation for handling the natural flow of a meeting? [30:49] How does Thanh try to make meetings more useful for everyone? [33:06] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [37:21]

Links:

Fun Retrospectives How To Run A Retrospective For Continuous Improvement (TPS370) Magic Spoon Cereal Book: Die With Zero TEA Framework Back To Back Meetings: Win Back Your Time, Energy, and Attention (TPS354) Book: Scaling Up Book: Five Dysfunctions of a Team Dojo TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Apple released a new feature for iOS and macOS called Focus Mode to help you focus and customize your notifications for fewer distractions.

In this episode, we’ll unpack this feature, how we use it and how you can use it to focus and get less distracted. Even if you don’t use an iPhone or Mac, we’ll also cover Windows and Android alternatives.

If you have never heard of Focus mode, we’ll help you get started. Some of you might already use Focus Mode and we’ll give you more advanced tips to get the most out of it

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at indeed.com/tps. Terms and conditions apply. Offer valid through December 31, 2021.

Thanks to JustWorks! justworks.com

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/377.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:15] What is “Focus Mode”? [4:55] What are some alternatives to Focus Mode for non-MacOS/iOS users? [8:11] How should you start using Focus Mode? [10:24] Which Focus Mode features does Thanh focus on most? [14:07] Why does Thanh recommend Focus Mode for iPad specifically? [19:37] What else can you do with Focus Mode besides moderating notifications? [25:26] How does Thanh recommend using the custom interface features of Focus Mode? [28:35] What is Brooks’ final tip for using Focus Mode effectively? [31:48] How does Thanh manage his “Do Not Disturb” mode? [36:16] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [41:31]

Links:

Google Maps (iOS, Android) 3M Post-It TEA Framework TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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A comment in a recent podcast recording Livestream made us realize that there’s this misconception that we are these notification-less monks, who have all of our devices on Do Not Disturb and never get notified about anything.

This is not quite true - we actually embrace notifications and reminders! The only difference is that they need to do something for us - they need to remind us to do something important, at the right time and in the right place and context.

So we are going to share how we use reminders, what we get reminded about, what we use to be reminded, and some best practices.

If you find yourself missing tasks, appointments, or not taking action on things you should - we’ll help you get reminded the right way

Maybe you have the opposite problem - you have too many reminders, notifications, and other beeps and popups going on that you get distracted and the important ones get lost in the noise

You just want to hear about how we do things to maybe get some ideas - fair enough.

Get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package. expressvpn.com/TPS

Go to shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/376.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:07] How does Thanh handle the “ringer” setting on his phone? [6:05] What kinds of reminders does Brooks set for himself? [9:57] How does Thanh handle reminders for non-appointment events, like birthdays? [16:32] How is Brooks reminded of his most important tasks? [24:50] What is a “daily support ritual”? [32:25] What are Thanh’s daily support rituals? [34:27] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [37:34]

Links:

Any.do Cold Turkey RescueTime TEA Framework Momentum Dash Example of Momentum Due Memorigi Productivity Academy TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Even if many of us are back in the office, at least part-time (or never left), it is inevitable that so much of our day is spent in online meetings. We fire up our computer, connect to Zoom or Teams, sometimes for back-to-back calls! There are some things you can do to make your Zoom or Teams experience better, and some best practices to make the most effective use of your time. Anything we can do to make OUR experience better, and the experience of the people we are in meetings with better, will pay off. In this episode, we are going to share 3 Zoom and Teams best practices to have the most of your Time, Energy, and Attention. Listen to American Scandal on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or you can listen one week early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app. You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/375.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:42] What is “Zoom Fatigue”? [5:44] What is a “Pre-Flight Checklist” [8:22] What are some things Brooks has on his pre-flight checklist? [13:22] What’s on Marmel’s general Zoom checklist? [15:39] What is the 2nd tip for making online meetings less painful? [18:10] How do camera-on and camera meetings vary to Marmel? [22:41] What is Brooks’ favorite tip for reducing Zoom fatigue? [24:32] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [32:29]

Links:

Krisp Lumecube Muzzle How To Beat Zoom Fatigue, Even If You Don’t Use Zoom (TPS307) Back To Back Meetings: Win Back Your Time, Energy, and Attention (TPS354)TPS 354 Youtube: How To Make You Webcam Footage Look Better YouTube: Lighting With 1-4 Webcam Lights Article: Four Causes for ‘Zoom fatigue’ Blog: Stream Deck For Productivity: My Favorite Tool I Didn’t Know I Needed Dojo TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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We’ve all been there.

You had a day that just went all wrong. Maybe you or someone else made a mistake, or some crisis came up and your day went totally downhill, or maybe you have some sort of habit you’re trying to keep (or break) and you backslid a bit.

Maybe it was a healthy eating goal, or a fitness goal, a reading goal, or maybe you talked over someone in a meeting and you’re trying to stop that.

Whatever it is, you had a setback and you’re not happy about it. It happens!

In this episode, we are going to share 3 tips so that you can recover from a bad day, and come back stronger than ever.

Thanks to Gabi for supporting The Productivity Show. To start saving on your auto insurance today at no charge, go to gabi.com/TPS

Thanks also to JustWorks! Justworks.com

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/374.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:46] How do you get to the source of a bad day? [6:07] What is “affect labeling?” [9:14] What is tip #2 for recovering from a bad day? [14:56] How do you ask yourself for advice? [15:34] How has Thanh practiced giving self-advice? [17:18] What is the third tip to recover from a bad day? [21:48] How does Thanh mentally re-frame a bad day? [30:07] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [35:17]

Links:

Daylio (Mood Tracker) Book: Low-Hanging Fruit: 77 Eye-Opening Ways to Improve Productivity and Profits Book: The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living Revisiting The TEA Framework: Should We Add This 4th Pillar? (TPS275) Study: "Affect Labeling" Dojo Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) The 3X Rule: Solve Your Recurring Problems Once And For All (TPS345) TPS+ Quiz

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Every year at The Productivity Show we have an episode where we share our favorite productivity apps.

This time we’re making it different by only highlighting the apps we don’t frequently talk about, but we absolutely love. We have six apps for you that are about to make you more productive and efficient.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/373.

Free $75 credit to upgrade your post at Indeed.com/tps. Terms and conditions apply.  Offer valid through October 31, 2021.

Go to Shopify.com/tps for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:44] What is Thanh’s first favorite productivity app for 2021? [9:02] What is Libby and how does it help improve your driving experience? [13:32] What is Airalo, and where is it most useful? [18:12] Why is Snagit a more valuable app than most of its competitors? [26:49] What kind of usage is InShot most geared towards? [33:55] Why is Zapier Brooks’ final productivity app recommendation? [36:49] Action step to integrate today’s topic into your life [40:25]

Links:

Book: The River of Doubt- Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, by Candice Millard  Apple AirTags Book: Non-Violent Communication Framework TPS275: Revisiting The TEA Framework: Should We Add This 4th Pillar? Grammarly Libby Airalo Snagit InShot Zapier TPS+

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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The average person spends about 2.5 hours a day on prepping food, cooking, eating and drinking. That’s a lot of time and an opportunity to save time. Not only that, many of you struggle with eating healthy because it might be time consuming. You come home, you’re tired and not sure what to eat, so you order takeout or have food delivered to you. Usually it’s not healthy and you gain weight.

Luckily for you, there’s a more Asian Efficient way to go about this. You can eat healthy, delicious foods and save time all at once. We’ll show you how in this episode.

Get an extra 3 months Free on a one year package. Expressvpn.com/TPS

Go to BankNovo.com/TPS to sign up for FREE and get a FREE copy of Novo’s Small Business Starter Guide

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/372.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:52] Who is this episode for? [4:22] What is “meal planning”, exactly? [5:43] What’s the first tip for successful meal planning? [8:06] What’s the most important question to ask yourself when meal planning? [11:17] What does Thanh’s meal planning schedule look like? [14:18] What’s tip #2 for successful meal planning? [16:00] How does Thanh eat healthy at home if he hasn’t cooked in 7 years? [24:10] What is the most common meal prep tip in the TPS+ chat? [30:37] How can you make meal prep more exciting? [34:12] What is the final tip for successful meal planning? [37:06] Actionable step you can take to integrate this week's topic into your life [42:30]

Links:

Paprika HelloFresh Shef TPS235 $5 Dinners TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Over the years, we’ve done many podcast episodes about organization and decluttering, but we always get questions about one specific area: photos!

We decided to call in an expert, so in this episode, I am joined by Isabelle Dervaux, a professional photo organizer and family photo curator. She has a background as an artist, is a regular speaker, and has been featured in Real Simple, the Wall Street Journal, and The New Yorker. We’re going to talk about decluttering your photos and making them something that brings you joy.

Thanks also to Masterworks. Sign up and get one of the 35 passes to skip the long waitlist, go to masterworks.io/TPS.

Keep your data private and secure when you go online by using ExpressVPN. Get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package at expressvpn.com/TPS.

Listen to Business Wars - Death Row vs. Bad Boy on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or you can listen one week early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/371.

Cheat Sheet:

Who is Isabelle, and what does she do? [2:54] Top 3 Productivity Resources [4:30] How did Isabelle end up becoming a photo organizer? [7:03] Why is photo organization so different from other forms of organization? [9:33] What has changed in photo organization as the digital world expands? [14:08] Why go through the de-cluttering process if you can just buy/access more storage? [16:48] What does Isabelle prefer for organization? Photo apps, or file apps? [19:46] What are some successful approaches Isabelle has seen people use for photo organization over the years? [21:13] What are some quick tips for large-scale photo management? [25:40] What can you do when you aren’t sure how to organize a photo? [37:07] What is Isabelle’s framework for overhauling your photo collection? [40:06] How do you approach photo organization when you’re incredibly busy or overwhelmed? [44:12] What are some common mistakes Isabelle has seen people make with photo organization? [45:27] How can you approach organizing physical photographs too? [46:49] What are Isabelle’s productivity tips? [48:34]

Links:

Gemini (iOS App) Photosweeper (Mac) Duplicate Cleaner Pro (PC) The Photo Managers Book: Essentialism, by Greg Mckeown Book: The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Book: Seeing Things- A Kids Guide To Looking At Photographs, by Joey Meyerowitz TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Isabelle

Website Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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At Asian Efficiency we follow a project management philosophy called “Scrum”. You might have heard of it. It’s popular in the software industry but not so much outside of it which is a shame because it’s a powerful way of getting things done for teams. One of the elements of practicing Scrum is called a “Retrospective” and that’s what today’s topic is about.

Whether you’re new to the topic or are already familiar with it, we’ll show you how you can use a retrospective to make you more effective and productive. We’ll share three tips you must know to run an effective Retrospective and some mistakes you want to avoid (that we had to learn the hard way).

For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Thanks also to Truebill for supporting The Productivity Show. Get your subscriptions undercontrol, go to Truebill.com/tps - it could save you hundreds a year.

Go to BankNovo.com/tps to sign up for FREE and get a FREE copy of Novo’s Small Business Starter Guide.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/370. 

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:12] What is a Retrospective? [6:31] What can you do to better visualize and understand Retrospectives? [7:52] How can you use Retrospectives if you aren’t a decision-maker for your team? [11:31] What is the first tip to run a Retrospective? [13:33] What does Thanh like to do for AE’s quarterly “learning day?” [23:01] What is Brooks’ tip on running a Retrospective? [25:33] What are some questions AE brings to their Retrospective “round table?” [27:18] What does Brooks feel is most powerful about running a Retrospective? [30:22] What is Thanh’s final tip on running a retrospective? [31:18]

Links:

Book- The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni Book- Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time Scrum Alliance Our 3 Biggest Challenges of Implementing Scrum & How We Overcame Them (TPS191) TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today I’m joined by Jeffrey Madoff, the founder of Madoff Productions, based in New York City.

His company has produced commercials for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Victoria's Secret, Tiffany, and other big name brands you’ve heard of.

He also teaches a course on creativity at the Parsons School for Design, and that is also today’s topic for the podcast.

I asked Jeffrey, as a creative, how he turns ideas into work of art, how to fuel your creativity, how to make a living off of your ideas, and of course, how he gets stuff done. 

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 job credit at Indeed.com/tps. Offer is valid thru September 30th, terms and conditions apply.

Thanks also to Amazon Music for supporting The Productivity Show. Try Amazon Music unlimited free for 30 days, just go to amazon.com/tps30.

Thanks also to Masterworks. Sign up and get started with it immediately go to masterworks.io and use the promo code TPS.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/369.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:02] How did Jeffrey get his start and become who he is today? [8:43] What made Jeffrey want to step out of the fashion world and into other pursuits? [12:13] How would Jeffrey define “creativity”, as someone who teaches it? [15:20] Why don’t people consider themselves creative? [18:56] What does Jeffrey think about the idea of forcing creativity? [22:07] How does Jeffrey break down creative tasks and accomplishments? [24:35] What is something many creatives overlook? [31:45] How does Jeffrey organize his thoughts when doing something creative like writing a play? [34:48] How does Jeffrey utilize his resources and teams to achieve his goals? [38:37] What was Thanh’s process for determining how much to charge clients for his services? [41:57] What is “Proof of Concept”? [44:28] What does Jeffrey want people to know about his book on making a living through creativity? [46:38]

Links:

Google Tasks (in Gmail) Trello YouTube Parsons School of Design Book- Creative Careers: Making a Living With Your Ideas TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Jeffrey:

Madoff Productions A Creative Career Instagram LinkedIn

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Have you ever wanted to work on a project after work, you knew what you needed to do, you had the time to do it….you come home and then….you crash. You were too tired to work on it and then moved it to another day, for it only to repeat this cycle again. This is a common problem people have. So today we want to give you three tips to help you have more energy at the end of the day so you can get things done you want done.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/368.

Keep your data private and secure when you go online by using ExpressVPN. Get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package at Expressvpn.com/TPS

Thanks to Sanebox for supporting The Productivity Show. Sign up today for a free 14-day trial plus save $25 off on any subscription. Go to sanebox.com/tps25.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:20] What does Brooks mean when he says “end of the day energy?” [6:16] How does energy interact with the TEA Framework? [7:57] What is Brooks’ first tip on how to have energy at the end of the day? [10:58] Why does Thanh choose to exercise later in the day? [14:29] What is Brooks’ tip to maximize energy towards the end of the day? [22:28] How does Thanh use breathing exercises to improve his energy levels? [24:29] How does Brooks express gratitude more clearly? [26:49] What is Brooks’ final tip for an energetic end-of-day? [28:44] What foods/beverages does Thanh have to maintain his energy level throughout the day? [30:56]

Links:

Book: How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life by Caroline Webb Oura Ring Calm TPS256: How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery Apollo Neuro Beetelite Perry's Steakhouse Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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Nowadays, many of us have the option to work remotely and from home. This opens a whole new world of possibilities.

What used to be reserved for digital nomads, people like you and me can now work from anywhere in the world and still get stuff done.

That’s what we call a workation, you get work done while enjoying some vacation time too. In this episode we’ll give you 3 tips to make your first workation a great success and a few pitfalls you must avoid.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/367.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:23] Who is this episode useful for? [4:13] What is a “workation”? [5:26] How do Brooks’ and Thanh’s workations vary? [7:36] Does Thanh believe workations should replace vacations? [10:25] How does Brooks prefer to approach his workation? [13:49] What is Thanh’s perspective as a boss on receiving workation requests? [16:23] What does Brooks suggest when planning out your first workation? [20:46] What was it like for Thanh being on a workation with a partner? [21:28] What is something that is rather important to prioritize when planning a workation? [22:24] What are some tips for checking for connectivity before taking a workation? [23:26] How does Thanh recommend preparing for workations? [26:53] What is the final tip for a productive workation? [29:15] How does Thanh structure time in a workation? [31:08] Actionable steps you can take to integrate today’s episode into your life. [34:07]

Links:

Speedtest Google Flights Instacart Dojo TPS+ Quiz

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In this episode I’m thrilled to welcome Valerie Recore - she’s a productivity specialist who works with overwhelmed and overcommitted moms. With a background in mental health and corporate training, she helps people who feel like they’re pulled into different directions.

Even if you’re NOT an overcommitted mom, you’ll get a lot out of this episode as Valerie shares some great mental reframing tips.

Thanks to Faherty for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 20% off ALL your summer clothes now by going to fahertybrand.com with promo code TPS at checkout.

Sleep more, stress less, live better with Calm. For a limited time, get 40% off a Calm Premium subscription at Calm.com/tps.

Thanks as well to Amazon Music. To try Amazon Music Unlimited FREE for 30 days, go to amazon.com/TPS30

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/366.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [4:29] Why did Valerie choose to specialized in overcommitted moms? [7:02] How will Valerie’s information work for non-mothers? [9:37] What are Valerie’s thoughts on maternity leave in the modern world? [10:39] How does Valerie tackle the issue of finding balance when working with overcommitted moms? [13:17] What is Valerie’s perspective on the work/life balancing act? [23:13] How can partners of overcommitted moms work towards making things more equal? [26:19] What are some tips to help you end your day on a positive note? [31:09] What are some common suggestions Valerie often makes when working with clients? [33:33] Actionable steps to implement from today’s episode [37:07] What is the best frequency for family meetings as an overcommitted mom? [39:34]

Links:

Rescuetime Book - Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Valerie Recore:

Website Instagram LinkedIn

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Some of our favorite episodes are ones that come directly from listener feedback, and this episode is no exception - how has our productivity thinking evolved over the years?

Are there any “productivity rules” we used to have, but we now do the opposite?

What causes these changes, anyway? We’ll dive into all of it in today’s episode.

Thanks to Sanebox for supporting The Productivity Show. Sign up today for a free 14-day trial plus save $25 off on any subscription. Go to sanebox.com/tps25.

Thanks also to Truebill for supporting The Productivity Show. Stop paying for subscriptions you don't need or simply forgot about. Got to truebill.com/tps; It could save you hundreds a year.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/365.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:19] Who is this episode targeting mainly? [4:37] How has Thanh’s thinking evolved while running Asian Efficiency? [7:26] How has Thanh’s productivity thinking changed over time? [10:15] Why is Brooks a morning person? [14:09] How Brooks changed his thinking over the years? [18:56] Why does Thanh prioritize processes over tools? [21:43] What is something Thanh used to obsess over that he no longer swears by? [26:59] What is something Brooks tends to have a hard time with? [31:15] Why isn’t “Eat Your Frog” for everyone? [32:06] Actionable steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life. [37:38]

Links:

Garmin Instinct Helinox ChairOne Sawyer Squeeze Serene Sleep 8 Strategies for Waking Up Early and Becoming a Morning Person (TPS130) 30 Lessons For Living Book: Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Blog: Eat That Frog – Do Your Most Important Task In The Morning 5 Dollar Dinners Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) TPS+ Quiz

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On The Productivity Show we’ve talked a lot about the power of habits but we know it can be difficult to add new habits to your life. One strategy that helps you introduce new habits is called “habit stacking” and that’s what we’ll be going over today.

It’s an easy way to add habits and I’ve used this myself in the last decade before it even had a name. So if you’re struggling with habits, listen up and pay attention!

You’ll discover how you can easily add 3 new habits right away.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Sleep more, stress less, live better with Calm. Go to calm.com/tps and get 40% on your Calm premium subscription.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/364.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:05] Why do we have so much trouble creating habits? [6:03] What is the habit stacking formula? [9:23] How does Thanh use the habit stacking formula? [11:14] What is the Achilles Heel of habit stacking? [14:49] How does Thanh use habit stacking in his personal life? [19:40] What is the final tip for habit stacking? [24:22] How does Thanh approach the final tip for habit stacking? [26:51]

Links:

Streaks Book: 5 Minute Journal Book: Atomic Habits Tiny Habits Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) TPS+ Quiz

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We’ve done travel podcast episodes before, but never one right during and after a global pandemic! You might be wondering what has changed and how you can do it in the most stress-free and productive way. You might also be wondering how to keep your routines going while traveling in this “new normal”.

I’ve been doing a lot of traveling over the past 12 months, so in this episode we will be sharing our experience with 3 tips for traveling during and after the pandemic.

Get an extra 3 months Free on a one year package. Expressvpn.com/TPS.

Thanks, SaneBox.  Free 14-day trial plus $25 off any subscription sanebox.com/tps25.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:03] What are some things to adjust to when coming out of a pandemic? [8:14] What is Thanh’s first tip for productivity travel post-pandemic? [10:39] How has post-pandemic protocol economically impacted travel culture? [16:51] What nature of travel does Thanh suspect is more dominant in a post-pandemic world? [21:02] What is Thanh’s second post-pandemic travel tip? [21:35] How does Thanh feel about airport lounges in a post-pandemic world? [29:49] What are some things Thanh recommends doing to prepare for travel in a post-pandemic world? [33:33]

Links:

Clear TSA Pre-check Global Entry NEXUS Apollo Neuro ChromeCast FireStick Roku Ferrite (iPad) TPS+ Quiz

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This podcast episode is going to be slightly different. We recently surpassed 10 million downloads for The Productivity Show so we thought it would be fun to give you a look behind the scenes of what it takes to run a successful podcast. We’ll share what technology, gear, and workflows we use to produce our podcast. Plus tips and numbers to help you start your own podcast. Even if you have no intention of starting a podcast, as a TPS listeners and Asian Efficiency follower, you’ll still get lots of behind-the-scenes stories that we’d otherwise never bring up. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Thanks as well to Faherty. Get 20% off ALL your summer clothes now by going to fahertybrand.com with promo code TPS at checkout.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/362.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:01] How did Thanh get the idea to put the podcast together? [8:13] What sort of gear does TPS use when producing the show? [12:35] What is the trickiest thing about professional microphones? [16:51] What are some great tools to get podcasts recorded? [18:45] Why does Thanh have an editor work on his episodes? [20:11] What is the first thing that goes into the workflow of a TPS episode? [27:00] What is TPS’s up-front rule for creating podcasts? [28:58] What productivity tip does Brooks give all the time? [31:53] How important is consistency when producing TPS? [33:19] How does TPS approach programming guests? [36:18] Where can TPS stand to improve the most? [37:19] What are Thanh’s thoughts on navigating the world of sponsors? [41:31] How does Brooks feel the importance of labor costs differs between a professional and a leisure podcast? [45:26]

Links:

ZenCastr Descript Krisp Heil PR-40 Scarlett FocusRite 2i2 AudioTechnica ATR2100 Audacity AudioHijack (Mac) Ferrite (iPad) TPS+ Quiz

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Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? It’s a popular time management and focus strategy and something we’ve been teaching for a long time at Asian Efficiency. One question we get often is how many pomodoros should you do in a day? Or in other words, how many hours of work should you do in a day? We’ll answer that question in today’s episode and we’ll give you our best focus tips as well.

Thanks Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Thanks, SaneBox.  Free 14-day trial plus $25 off any subscription sanebox.com/tps25

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/361.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:35] What is the Pomodoro Technique, and how does it work? [6:41] How does Thanh feel about the rigidity of the exact timing of the Pomodoro Technique? [9:34] How does Brooks use the Pomodoro technique personally? [14:09] How does Brooks break down the Pomodoro Technique and get the most out of it? [20:45] What are Thanh’s tips for being successful with the Pomodoro Technique? [23:09] What are some apps/tools Brooks uses to help with the Pomodoro Technique? [24:58] Which apps/tools does Thanh prefer when addressing Pomodoro Technique? [26:12] How many Pomodoro sessions does Thanh recommend in one day? [28:28] Actionable steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [31:28]

Links:

FocusBooster (Timer App) Esington Glass Timer Pomodoro Technique Guide Focus Keeper (iOS) Focus Keeper (Android) Pomodor Be Focused (Mac) Focus Booster (Windows, Mac, Mobile) Vitamin R (Mac) Marinara (Chrome Plugin) Learning Timer Countdown Timer Plugin (for Stream Deck) TPS+ Quiz

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Today I’m joined by Dan Clark. He’s the CEO of Brain.fm which is an app that offers focus music. I had the opportunity to discuss the science behind focus music, how the brain works, what we can do to focus better, and other ways we can be more productive in our daily lives using scientific principles.  Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Get a $75 credit to upgrade your post at Indeed.com/tps. Offer is valid through Sept. 30, 2021, terms and conditions apply. Read more and learn more with Literati. Redeem your FREE trial at Literati.com/TPS50.  You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/360.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:03] Who is Dan and how did he become the CEO of Brain.fm? [4:10] How would Dan describe Brain.fm? [5:26] How does music work for different states of mind? [7:37] How quickly does Brain.fm work? [9:27] Does Brain.fm have any lasting effects on flow state and focus? [11:10] What does Dan recommend for people getting started with Brain.fm? [13:23] Who makes the music for Brain.fm? [20:45] How effective is Brain.fm in eliminating other productivity strategies? [24:27] How do Dan and his team measure the effectiveness of Brain.fm? [29:31] How is Brain.fm different from other sonic solutions? [32:24] What happened to Brain.fm’s lifetime membership deal? [35:08] What are some things that Dan does on a daily or weekly basis to stay productive? [36:11 How does Dan get through an incredibly unproductive week? [40:21]

Links:

Brain.fm Book: Atomic Habits Fireflies.ai Roam Research TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Dan Clark

Brain.fm Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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We’re continuing our series on the TEA framework and this time we’re talking about Attention. How do you become more focused? How do you have more attention for what matters? How can you eliminate distractions? We cover all these topics today and more. If you feel like you want to become more focused, this episode is for you.

Get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package. Expressvpn.com/TPS

Thanks Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps

Thanks Faherty. Get 20% off ALL your summer clothes now by going to fahertybrand.com with promo code TPS at checkout.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/359.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:55] What are some signs to look for that show you are lacking in attention? [7:10] How can you most easily improve your attention? [8:17] What are some tactical ways to eliminate “low-hanging fruit”, attention-wise? [10:36] What are Thanh’s “low-hanging” fruit distractions? [12:39] Which type of distraction is the toughest to work around? [15:54] How would Brooks recommend going about eliminating distractions proactively? [18:44] How does Thanh know what to prioritize when working on attention? [21:29] What does Brooks do prioritize effectively? [29:46] What is the “I’ll Just” Strategy? [31:25] What is the “Thinking Time” Strategy? [35:09] Why is optimizing human interactions often so difficult? [40:38] Where should someone start to improve their focus and attention if they aren’t quite sure? [43:25]

Links:

Freedom.to Pomodor Book: Willpower- Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Do you find that even when you know what you want to do, it just doesn’t happen? Or maybe by the end of the workday you’re feeling so ground down, you don’t feel like doing things with friends or family or working on a side project or hobby. Chances are, it’s not a time problem, it’s an energy problem! In this episode, we’re going to share 3 ways to improve your energy so you can do all the things you want to do.

Thanks to Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps. Free $75 credit to upgrade your post at Indeed.com/TPS. Terms and conditions apply.  Offer valid through June 30, 2021.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/358.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:15] Why should we focus on energy to win back time? [6:48] How do you track your energy? [10:08] What steps does Marmel take to recognize patterns in her energy? [12:35] Where can you learn more about optimizing your mental and emotional state? [18:49] What can be done to minimize setbacks? [21:14] What are Marmel’s thoughts on the mental/emotional side of energy? [22:32] What is the final way you can improve your energy through productivity? [25:33] How does Marmel use routines to influence her energy levels? [26:56]

Links:

Calm Apollo Neuro Waterminder  Oura Ring Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz Energy Pyramid The Dynamics of Energy TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Do you wish there were more hours in a day? Are you starving for more free time? Then this episode is for you! We’ll show you 3 ways you can create more free time and we’ll share tons of examples of how we’ve done it ourselves to win back over 5 hours a week.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Thanks so much to Clear for supporting The Productivity Show. For a limited time, get your first two months of Clear for free by going to Clearme.com/TPS2021 and use the promo code TPS2021.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/357. And now, on with the show.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:32] What does TEA Framework stand for? [5:05] How does Brooks track time? [6:55] What is Thanh’s first recommendation for taking back your time? [9:53] How do you optimize your workflow? [15:01] What has Brooks done to optimize his workflow? [17:08] How does Thanh optimize his time? [23:00] What is an alternative to saving time through optimizing your workflow? [26:34] What does the Eisenhower Matrix do? [28:42] How does Thanh implement the Eisenhower Matrix? [31:07] What is one important thing to remember about the Eisenhower Matrix in a team setting? [34:24]

Links:

Rescuetime Toggl Timeular Pomodoro Technique Inbox Detox Organize Your Files ScreenFlow Book: Do More Great Work by Michael Stungay Stanier Eisenhower Matrix Calendar Captain TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today I’m joined by Ari Meisel of Less Doing. He helps founders replace themselves in their business and have more time for the things that matter to them. I heard of Ari many years ago when he shared his outsourcing philosophies but we never got to connect. We were finally able to do so and I got to ask him everything about how he doesn’t use email anymore and what he uses instead, how to stop snoring, how to identify your priorities when everything is important, and we share some of our favorite biohacking tips. There’s a lot of great tips here that I’m sure will help you live a more productive life. Please enjoy!

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/356.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps. The offer is valid through June 30, 2021.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:14] How did Ari make the best of a tough situation? [4:50] How would Ari prioritize something if you only had an hour a day? [7:04] What is Voxer? And how does Ari get people to use it? [12:01] What was does Voxer filter out certain types of interactions? [20:28] How does Ari manage his workload within Voxer? [23:17] What are the benefits of a short time limit in Voxer? [29:56] Where did Ari’s interest in biohacking come from? [32:25] What lifestyle changes would Ari recommend after exploring biohacking? [37:23] How did Ari find a solution to his sleep apnea? [39:05]

Links:

Voxer Smart Nora Book: Emergency- This Book Will Save Your Life, by Neil Strauss Less Doing TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Ari Meisel

Less Doing Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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If you’ve been studying productivity for a bit you probably have come across different systems like the TEA Framework, Getting Things Done, 12 Week Year, and many others. They all promise to help you become more productive and in this episode, we’ll be comparing all of them and by the end you’ll know which one is most suitable for you.

Keep your data private and secure when you go online by using ExpressVPN. Get an extra 3 months free on a one-year package at Expressvpn.com/TPS.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Learn more and read more with Literati. Redeem your FREE trial at Literati.com/TPS50

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/355.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:00] What is a productivity system in general? [6:05] What is the TEA Framework in general? [9:32] How has Thanh found the TEA Framework helpful and who is it good for? [10:49] What is GTD? [14:02] Who is GTD best for? [18:12] What is The 12-Week Year? [25:32] Who is the 12-Week Year good for? [27:36] What makes The 12-Week Year so involved? [29:59] What is a Bullet Journal? [30:52]

Links:

ExpressVPN Gusto Literati Zero (app for tracking fasting) TEA Framework Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen GTD Setup Guides GTD Workflow Map GTD Primer Book: The 12-Week Year, by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington Book: The Bullet Journal, by Ryder Carroll The Bullet Journal Notebook Dojo Bullet Journal Course TPS+ Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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One of the biggest struggles many of The Productivity Show listeners and Asian Efficiency clients have is that they are in meetings all day. Oftentimes they’re on back-to-back-to-back meetings and they have no time for themselves so they end up working long days, on the weekends, and missing out on life. What can you do about this?

Good news! We have 3 tips to help you deal with this so stay tuned.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/354

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:23] What are the obvious problems of back-to-back meetings? [6:12] How can you take more control of your day when navigating meetings? [9:43] How does Thanh get proactive about his meeting schedule? [10:31] What is a way that we can have more control than we’d think? [13:22] What is a “Meeting Day”? [15:49] How can you reduce the negative impact of back-to-back meetings? [21:12] How can you improve the efficiency of a meeting through notetaking? [22:09] What are the “3 W’s”? [23:34] Why is having a buffer between meetings important? [26:01] What is the benefit of maximizing time before and after meetings? [27:34] How can you maximize the productivity of your meetings at the end of a workday? [29:47] Action steps you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life. [32:14]

Links:

Fireflies AI Book- The Power of Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schultz Calendly There's No Action Without ACT w/ Mridu Parikh (TPS260) How to Run Effective Meetings w/ John Poelstra The Asian Efficiency Guide to Productive Meetings 3 Steps To Create An Evening Routine To Sleep Better And Feel More Energetic (TPS350) Calendar Captain TPS+ Productivity Quiz

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Will Henshall is the CEO of Focus@Will which is a productivity music company. They have different genres of music and playlists that help you get focused and into a flow state. We talked about how different music works for different people, the 5 types of brains, how to take care of your brain for optimal performance, and how to find the best music that works according to your brain type.

Thanks to Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps

Thanks to Clear. For a limited time, get your first two months of Clear for free by going to Clearme.com/TPS2021, and use the promo code: TPS2021.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to https://theproductivityshow.com/353.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:12] What difference does eliminating points of drag/friction make in the grand scheme? [7:23] Where did things start for Will? [8:39] Where did Will shift his focus after Londonbeat? [11:02] What was the catalyst in developing the idea for Focus @ Will? [17:20] How do you know when a track resonates with you? [20:34] What is the OCEAN score? [21:26] Do sleep and tiredness affect listening preferences? [22:36] Why does focus music work so well? [27:16] What are the main uses for focus music? [30:21] How does Will measure the effectiveness of focus music? [34:44] What is the easiest way to win back 1-2 hours of the day? [35:45] How is Focus @ Will different from other music services? [37:13] How long does it take for focus music to take effect? [44:01] What are some ways to make the best use of Focus @ Will? [46:49] How does Will recommend keeping our brains healthy? [48:45] What’s next for Focus @ Will? [50:23]

Links:

Gusto Clear Focus @ Will Londonbeat - I've Been Thinking About You (Music Video) TPS+ Show Notes Quiz

Connect with Will Henshall

Focus @ Will LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter

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Do you want to make a change in your life? Most people think you need to make drastic changes that usually don’t last. At Asian Efficiency we believe that when you make small, consistent changes you’ll have much better results getting what you want. In today’s episode, we’ll show you different ways you can make small changes in your life that lead to big results.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/tps

Get started with Betterhelp today and enjoy 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:36] Why is Brooks talking about the power of small changes? [6:13] Why is Thanh talking about the power of small changes? [8:14] How does the power of small significant changes affect efficiency? [10:19] How much time did Brooks waste before thinking about the power of small changes? [15:26] What does Brooks do to eliminate time squanders? [17:42] What is upstream optimization? [18:29] Why is upstream optimization so powerful? [21:43] What is the concept behind accessing apps? [28:34] What does Thanh recommend accessing in every app? [31:08] What is the easiest way to win back 1-2 hours of the day? [35:45]

Links:

Gusto Betterhelp Microsoft PowerToys Cora Standing Desk Converter TextExpander Launchbar Alfred PowerToys Run Active Words Join our Free Masterclass on Digital Organization TPS+ Quiz

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We all have these things in our work and personal life we call Time Squanders — those 5-10 minute activities that somehow work their way into our days. These really add up and have a surprising impact on your Time, Energy, and Attention. A perfect example of this is dealing with your files, notes, and photos — figuring out where to put them, and even worse: trying to dig through a digital mess trying to find that piece of information you KNOW is there somewhere.

In this episode, we are going to share 3 ways to get organized with your files, notes, and photos so that things are stored right the first time, and you can find what you need whenever you need it.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/351.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:56] Why even bother organizing your files? [4:39] What is a “time squander”? [10:29] What would Brooks do with an extra hour a day? [12:12] Where should you add your key folders to on your computer? [13:59] How can Mac users save themselves lots of time in file management”? [16:31] What is Brooks’ philosophy on naming files? [23:37] How does Thanh recommend naming files? [27:16] Why is it important to create an easy organization system? [33:08] What is the “EOS” System, and how did Brooks discover it? [35:12] What is the AAA method, and how does it enhance the EOS system? [36:42] How does Thanh apply the AAA method practically? [39:39]

Links:

Indeed Duplicate Cleaner Pro (Windows) Gemini 2 (Mac) Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Cleaning Up, by Marie Kondo Register now! How to Organize Your Files, Notes and Photos with EOS webinar TPS+ Productivity Quiz

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Back in 2013, at Asian Efficiency we first introduced the evening ritual which is the idea of having a routine at the end of the day to help you wind down, get ready for the next day and have a great night of sleep. Since then, we’ve helped people all over the world implement an evening ritual to help them be more productive at work and in life. 

In this episode we’ll share with you a simple evening ritual you can use today to sleep better and feel more energetic.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. Express VPN is offering 3 months free on a one-year package just visit expressvpn.com/tps.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/350.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:28] Why talk about an evening ritual at all? [5:09] How does the TEA Framework work hand-in-hand with an evening ritual? [7:07] What is a “Reverse Alarm Clock”? [9:59] How does Brooks wind down? [11:07] How do you define your evening ritual? [20:06] What are some “best practices” for Brooks in his evening ritual? [22:22] What are some things in Thanh’s evening checklist? [25:18] How will creating a sleeping environment benefit you most? [29:44] What does Brooks recommend to improve your sleeping environment? [31:25]

Links:

Sleep Cycle THL Blue-Blocking Glasses Spotify Sleep Playlist 2021 TPS Rituals Course  TPS Time Tracker Chart Oura Ring Ooler Sleep System TheraGun Prime Foot Rubz  TPS+ Quiz

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At Asian Efficiency we’re known for the TEA Framework which is our productivity method. It stands for Time, Energy, and Attention which are the three pillars of productivity. Today’s episode will help you maximize Time, the first pillar in our framework.

On The Productivity Show, we’ve talked a lot about weekly and quarterly planning but not so much about monthly planning. When you incorporate monthly planning into your life, you’re setting yourself up for a productive month where you’ll get the important things done and you’ll be able to meet all your deadlines.

We’ve developed our own process for how we plan our upcoming month for both on a company level on a personal level. You’re about to learn how you can plan the upcoming month for maximum productivity and some mistakes you want to avoid that prevent you from overworking.

Thanks to BetterHelp.  Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/tps

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Thanks to Clear. For a limited time, get your first two months of Clear for free by going to Clearme.com/TPS2021 and use the promo code TPS2021

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:04]How does reviewing your quarterly goal affect productivity? [10:08]How does Thanh work the link between monthly and quarterly goals? [12:46]What are your “rocks” for the month? [20:57]What sorts of tactics does Thanh employ when planning out his month? [23:15]How does Brooks deal with his big “rocks”? [29:23]What is Brooks’ final tip on monthly planning? [31:40]

Links:

BetterhelpGustoClearFocus @ WillFit Crunch Protein BarsBerkey Water FilterCalendar CaptainBook: Bullet Journal, by Ryder CarrollTPS+Quiz

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Today I’m joined by Sachit Gupta, host of the Conscious Creators podcast and an expert helping people launch their platforms. We discuss how you can build self-awareness and why it’s the ultimate productivity hack, powerful questions to ask yourself for self-discovery, and his rules of productivity that allow him to be creative and get stuff done.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/348.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 months free when you run your first Payroll at gusto.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:05] How did Sachit figure out what he wanted to do with his life? [5:19] When did Thanh get serious about Asian Efficiency? [7:01] How long did it take before Thanh began to see success with Asian Efficiency? [8:03] How does Sachit manage perfectionism as a creative? [11:33] How does Thanh decide whether to hire someone to do a task or attack it himself? [14:43] What is the ultimate productivity hack? [17:51] How does Sachit typically structure his day? [20:01] What motivates Sachit to change the way he operates organizationally? [25:24] Sachit’s personal rules around productivity [28:05] What is Sachit’s biggest advice for podcasters? [32:42] What are some questions you can ask yourself to promote self-awareness? [37:34] What is something Thanh tends to underestimate in his business life? [42:05] What is a trend that Thanh sees with hiring employees? [44:52] How has procrastination affected Sachit’s business life? [46:57]

Links:

Gusto The Five Minute Journal Emotional Intelligence by Charles M. Jones

Connect with Sachit Gupta

Conscious Creators Podcast Twitter Instagram

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Have you ever been working away on something and you felt like time just melted away? You came out of it feeling like you made a ton of progress, and that everything just came together.

That feeling was a state of Flow, and in this episode, we are going to share some tactical ways that YOU can get into the flow state, with systems and tools that work for us and many of your fellow TPS listeners.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Get started with Betterhelp today and enjoy 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:31] What is “Flow State”? [5:24] How does Brooks implement Flow State? [7:17] How does Thanh implement Flow State? [9:52] What is the importance of having a clear outcome and goal? [20:01] How the clarity of an outcome affects productivity [23:44] The benefit of the “Flow State” [25:55] What flow rituals does Brooks practice? [27:00] What flow rituals does Thanh practice? [28:47] Action Steps You Can take to integrate today’s topic into your life. [31:45]

Links:

Indeed Betterhelp Book- Flow The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Me-high Cheek-sent-me-high) Calm Focus@Will Twitter: Marie Poulin Twitter: Garden Analogy Grammarly TPS+ Quiz

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On the Asian Efficiency website, we have over 600 blog posts. That’s close to a million words that have been written and we didn’t even include all the newsletters, course materials, workbooks, and everything else we produce. We write a lot and in this episode, we’ll share how we get so much writing done. We share our 4-step writing process, which apps and tools we use, and tips to make you a better and more efficient writer.

Thanks ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. Express VPN is offering 3 months free on a one-year package just visit expressvpn.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [2:19] What is the “Brainstorming Phase”? [6:51] How does Thanh approach the Brainstorming Phase? [10:06] How Thanh does his research? [14:44] Where does Thanh often find unexpected research? [16:00] Does Brooks impose any limitations on his research? [19:31] Does Thanh impose any limitations on his research? [20:35] How does Brooks work on research introductions? [27:54] Thanh’s Writing Tips [28:26] What simple writing tool is often overlooked in the corporate world? [34:56] Thanh’s Editing Tips [36:29] Brooks’ Editing Tips [39:24] What is the ONLY way to improve your writing? [40:42] Action Steps You Can take to integrate today’s topic into your life. [41:20]

Links:

ExpressVPN Grammarly Book- Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing - Mignon Fogerty  On Writing by Stephen King - “Kill Your Darlings” Why Mindmapping is Better than Outlining, Except When it Isn’t (TPS131) MindNode  MindMeister Brainstorm MindMap Example Brainstorm MindMap Example, Result  OneTab Ulysses Scrivener TextExpander TPS+ Quiz

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How many things in your work or personal life do you just “put up with”? It could be mistakes that happen, a tool that annoys you, or someone that you work with that slows things down.

At Asian Efficiency we have a principle called the “3 Times Rule” to get to the root of all these things once and for all, which lets us move forward quickly and effectively. In this episode, we’ll explain how we use the 3X Rule and give some examples that you can use in your work and personal life.

You can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/345.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [7:26] What is the 3x rule? [5:56] How do you know if you’re in a 3x Rule situation? [11:07] What is the 2-minute rule? [12:40] How Brooks uses the 3x rule for TPS [14:57] How Brooks and Thanh differ in their perspectives of the 3x rule. [16:29] How Thanh uses the 3x rule for TPS [18:08] How Thanh uses the 3x as a CEO [21:15] What are some ways that the 3x rule can build on itself? [25:30] How Brooks uses the 3x rule in his personal life. [27:54] How Thanh uses the 3x rule in his personal life. [29:46] Action Steps You Can take to integrate today’s topic into your life. [34:42]

Links:

Book: The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday and Steven Hanselman Book: Leadership- In Turbulent Times, by Doris Kearns Goodwin Book: The Coaching Habit- Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way Your Lead Forever, by Michael Bungay Stanier How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) Keyboard Maestro (Mac)  Keyboard Maestro Guide CableCreation 2-in-1 Cable  CTA- The 3X Rule DTDT- Tuesday, April 6  TPS+ Quiz 

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast, or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Want to know the secret to achieving your goals and getting your important work done? It’s not time management, apps, or tools - it’s ACCOUNTABILITY. But what does that mean? And how do you find accountability for yourself? 

In this episode, I’m joined by Debbie Rosemont - a Certified Professional Organizer and Productivity Consultant who is the founder of Simply Placed. She helps clients increase productivity, maximize efficiency and bring balance and control into their work and lives, and she’s going to share how you can use accountability to achieve that too.

Thanks to Feals for supporting The Productivity Show. Feals is offering 50% off with free shipping if you become a new member today at feals.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week. [3:31] What is the importance of accountability in the workplace? [8:13] How does a coaching relationship work? [10:32] What are the benefits of having a coach? [14:29] What are the best ways to find a coach? [16:21] What are some common obstacles Debbie helps clients overcome as a coach? [17:21] What is the difference between a coach and a consultant? [19:44] What is a Mastermind? And what will a mastermind help you with? [21:06] What are the time commitments for masterminds? [26:53] How Debbie finds masterminds. [28:35] How does having an accountability partner differ from having a coach? [31:34] What to look for in an accountability partner. [33:21] How to hold people accountable without being annoying. [37:25] Which ways can you close the loop and administer some self-accountability? [39:49] Action steps you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life.[43:47]

Links:

Book: The Four Tendencies, by Gretchen Rubin The Time Timer (Analog, Visual of Time Passing)  Book: The Miracle Morning, by Hal Elrod Rock Your Work From Home Guide Schedule a Free Discovery Call  6-month Productivity Transformation Package Organize to Optimize (Special Course for TPS Listeners)  It's About Time (Virtual Productivity Program)  Organize to Optimize- Facebook Group Book: One Habit For a Thriving Home Office Book: Six-Word Lessons to Be More Productive  TPS+ Quiz

Connect with Debbie:

Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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If you’re just starting out in your productivity journey, you are in a GREAT situation. You can optimize right away, and you can learn from what has worked for others and, where it makes sense, apply it to yourself. It’s a gift that will pay off for years to come.

However, maybe you’ve been working for a while. What lessons do you WISH you had learned years ago? If you had a time machine, what changes would you make to make you more productive? And what’s stopping you from making them right now? It’s never too late.

In this episode, Brooks, Marmel, and myself share the productivity lessons WE would implement if we were just starting over — what we wish we knew back then, and what is helping us now. 

Even just asking yourself this question will be a powerful exercise, so benefit from our lessons learned.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:07] What is most important about Self-Management? [6:43] How do personality tests benefit your productivity? [7:37] What paths do we often go down when considering advice? [10:00] How does self-awareness strengthen learning? [12:13] Why is it important to make use of free information [14:35] Marmel’s tips on successful goal setting [16:45] What are some community picks for a productivity reset? [23:34] Brooks’ sage advice on accountability in the workplace [25:21] Action steps you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life. [28:39]

Links:

IronMind Expand-Your-Hand Bands Wicked Cushions Upgraded Replacement Ear Pads for Bose QC35 & QC35ii QuietComfort 35 Headphones Hook for MacOS Free to Focus (Michael Hyatt) TPS+ Quiz

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When searching for productivity apps, you’ll find thousands of apps out there. How do you know which one is right for you? What if you had a limited budget? It’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars on apps only to find out that most are garbage.

So in this episode, we set a challenge for ourselves with our top picks of productivity apps with a budget of only $100. We’ll have recommendations for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS so there’s something for everyone.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:35] What is Thanh’s top FREE productivity app? [7:26] Which calendar app is most effective? Thanh’s pick, or TPS Dojo’s pick? [11:21] What is the most important factor in a quality writing app? [12:38] How can remote workers communicate better with their teams? [14:02] How Brooks utilizes launcher apps for a more productive day [16:25] What is a productivity app that Thanh takes for granted the most? [18:24] What is one takeaway that Brooks has about most premium apps? [24:22] What is “capture”, and why is it important when getting things done? [26:34] How does Brooks utilize “mind maps” when thinking through a project? [29:40] Action steps you can take to integrate today’s topic into your life [34:10]

Links:

Chaga Mushroom Powder Nespresso VirtuoPlus + Aeroccino 3 The Nudge Setapp Evernote 1Password  Fantastical (Mac/iOS) Outlook (Windows) Byword (Mac/iOS)  Scrivener (Windows) Skitch (MacOS) Snagit (Windows) LaunchBar  Wox (Windows)  Spotify Premium  ToothFairy (Mac) TPS+ OmniFocus Pro (Mac) Todoist (Windows) Drafts (Mac/iOS) Idea Note (Android) MindNode (Mac) Mind Meister (Windows) 1Password Family Keyboard Maestro Quiz 

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I’m a big believer in the idea that a majority of our happiness comes from the people we surround ourselves with.

Imagine when everyone in your family, friends, and closest contacts are all cheering for you, are regularly letting you know how much they care about you, and that you can always count on them for anything you need.

Wouldn’t that be amazing?

Well, it is, but to get to that stage, you need to be able to identify who you want to surround yourself with and who you want to stay in touch with.

That’s where Contact Management comes in and what today’s episode is all about.

We’ll show you 5 tips to get started with managing your contacts and ways to stay in touch with people in the most efficient way possible.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. Visit ExpressVPN.com/tps right now to arm yourself with an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:27] Why we need to manage our contacts [7:09] Where does Thanh store his contacts? [12:11] One hidden feature in contact lists that you should definitely pay attention to [16:33] How do you deal with those pesky business cards? [24:40] Which third-party contact management apps are the most effective? [30:25] This one app totally changed how Thanh nurtures healthy business relationships [33:08] How to effectively clean and manage your contacts using the most common platforms [38:02] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [42:23]

Links:

Contactually BusyContacts Apollo Neuro Syncing Contacts Between LinkedIn And Your Address Book TPS+ ABBYY Business Card Reader Evernote Business Card Reader Fujitsu ScanSnap CardHop (Mac) CardHop (iOS) Contacts+ Covve Yujo OmniFocus Contacts Cleaning (Google) Contacts Cleaning (Outlook) Quiz

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One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself online is to be smart about how you create and store your passwords.

In 2021, you don't want to be re-using the same passwords on multiple sites, writing them on sticky notes, or storing them in Passwords.doc on your Desktop.

So what should you do instead?

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to keep yourself safe online with good password management, and we'll share how we keep our passwords safe for ourselves, our families, and our businesses.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:04] How to manage your passwords with one simple solution. [10:04] What is the best free resource for password protection? [12:13] Why are third-party password management apps superior? [17:44] How you can utilize third-party password management apps to store other forms of secure information. [23:05] Thanh’s tips for two-factor authentication. [27:29] The benefit from family plans in password management apps. [31:36] How to utilize team plans for password management. [34:57] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:10]

Links:

Indeed MailBird Authy Beautiful.ai TPS+ Famous XKCD “Correct Horse Battery Staple” Cartoon DiceWare Tool 1Password LastPass Dashlane 1Password Family Plan 1Password- Businesses 1Password- Team

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Imagine for a moment that you only have $100 in your budget to spend on productivity tools. What would you spend it on?

We asked ourselves that question and came up with a list of gear and tools that we would buy on a limited budget of just $100.

Every dollar counts so we made sure that every recommendation would pull its weight and help you become more productive.

We want to show you that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be more productive.

Thanks to Indeed and Feals for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Feels is offering 50% off with free shipping if you become a new member today at Feals.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:38] How Brooks combats back pain from compromised at-home workspaces [11:48] Why Brooks swears by this unbreakable mechanical pencil; lefties take notes! [16:24] What's in Thanh's bag? A noteworthy endorsement of field notes by our CEO [23:17] "Buy Nice or Buy Twice" - How you can take advantage of a life of luxury at any opportunity [24:56] The importance of audio quality in the business/productivity world, and how you can improve your video call experiences [30:56] The effects of sleep on productivity and Thanh's life hack for good rest. [34:01] What is the Pomodoro Technique? How to maximize your work efficiency [35:42] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:21]

Links:

Indeed Feals Chownow Leatherology Buckled Jewelry Roll I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works TPS+ AUKEY USB C Hub 8-in-1 Type C Adapter Nextand Laptop Stand Syntech USB C to USB Adapter 2-Pack Zebra Pen DelGuard Mechanical Pencil Field Notes Pitch Black Notebook - 3-Pack - Small Size Quartet Magnetic Whiteboard, 17" x 23" Small White Board Self Planner by BestSelf Logitech H390 Headset Eye/Sleep Mask (Target) HourGlass Sand Timer Sticky Notes Matcha Green Tea

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Your calendar is so important - it's the ultimate record of where you put your priorities and where you spend your time.

It is also one of the productivity tools we use the most, so any improvement to the way you USE your calendar will have an immediate impact every single day. There aren’t many productivity changes you can make that will do that!

In this episode, we’re going to share 5 calendar hacks that will help you maximize your time, energy, attention while using your calendar on desktop and mobile.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:41] What Brooks and Thanh use as their front-end and back-end calendar stack [5:30] Why color-coding your calendars and tagging your events can have such a huge impact on your productivity [11:36] What widgets Brooks and Thanh use to get super quick and easy access to their calendars on mobile [19:32] Automate your scheduling and get rid of those annoying back-and-forth emails for good [24:01] How to customize your views and be more selective about what information you get from your calendar [29:32] Why you should change your default meeting length [32:31] How a monthly check-in with yourself and your calendar can help trim bad practices out of your daily life [36:01] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [38:36]

5 Calendar Hacks

Color Code Your Calendars Use A Widget On Your Mobile Home Screen Use An Appointment Scheduler Customize Your Visible Days Change Default Meeting Length BONUS: Review your past calendar every month

Links:

Indeed Woven Everytimezone.com Monopoly Deal Google Calendar Fantastical BusyCal Master Your Calendar: 3 Actionable Tips To Take Control of Your Day (TPS306) The Hybrid Calendar System That Will Help You Stay On Top Of Everything (TPS233) How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) TPS+ Carrot Weather iOS 14 Widgets Video Calendly ScheduleOnce Doodle

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Digital clutter is the hidden enemy of productivity.

Bit by bit, it steals your time, energy, and attention. And since we use our computers, tablets, and phones so much every single day, the distraction and wasted time really adds up.

In this episode, we will share 5 ways you can do a digital declutter, and for each one, we'll give you tips to STAY decluttered.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:38] What “digital clutter” is and what you can get from a “digital declutter” [7:04] Why a digital detox is not the same as a digital declutter [9:28] The key places on your computer you want to keep clean and distraction-free [13:30] How Thanh's folder and file management has changed for the better over the years [20:35] The dangers of using your email inbox as a todo list and how to make your email a safer place to go during your workday [24:06] Why not decluttering your phone can lead to a productivity "death by a thousand cuts" [30:27] Declutter your computer's app shortcuts and keep your dock clean [36:50] The easiest way to manage your notifications and their effect on your productivity [40:51] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [47:17]

5 Ways To Reclaim Your Focus

Clear Your Downloads and Especially Your Desktop Declutter Your Email Declutter Your Mobile Device Declutter Your Computer’s App Shortcuts Declutter Your Notifications

Links:

ExpressVPN Indeed Backblaze CleanMyMac SetApp CleanMyPC DaisyDisk Filelight Attend the upcoming Do The Damn Thing call: Digital Decluttering on Tue, February 9, 2021 TPS+ Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World Hazel File Juggler Digital Declutter Organize Your Files Ditch Digital Clutter And Stay Organized: 3 Simple Rules That Work (TPS319) Sanebox Inbox Detox Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (TPS166) Focus Filter Bartender

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When this episode is released, it's the end of January and you know what that means - it means it's the time when those goals and resolutions many of us made at the start of the year begin to fade away.

Well, not this year 2021! In this episode, we are going to share a key strategy for sticking with your goals — keeping them visible — and we're going to share 5 ways we've kept goals visible that have made all the difference.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:34] Why Brooks and Marmel wanted to put this episode just a little bit after the start of the new year [4:57] How something unconsciously in your field of view can help you make better choices [7:25] Set up recurring reminders to keep your resolutions at the front of mind [13:37] Why Brooks and his family swears by using a whiteboard, and how Marmel uses different whiteboards for different goals and projects [16:28] Ways to keep constant visual reminders on your small and large devices [18:49] How repetition can solidify your goals in your mind and in your life [23:51] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [31:41]

Links:

Indeed Small Mini Portable Whiteboard Kershaw Pub Carbon Fiber Multifunction Pocket Knife How to build your tailor-made GTD™ Project Management App in CODA! TPS+ Atomic Habits Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Momentum Dash Canva

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Today I’m joined by Paul Maskill, a business coach helping home service business owners systematize and scale their businesses. He’s also a big productivity nerd like the rest of us and we dove into his personal productivity system, how he uses buffer blocks, why he wakes up every day at 5am, and how he delegates things within his family life.

You can learn a lot from other people and what’s working for them. This episode is no different and I’m excited to share Paul’s productivity systems with you.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:51] What got Paul into the productivity world [3:50] Why "The One Thing" has been one of Paul's most helpful guides on how to work more efficiently [6:40] Why you should share your goals with people you trust to help keep you motivated and accountable [10:45] What a typical work-week looks like for Paul and why he keeps to a rigorous schedule [17:42] Why regularly blocking out time for his work and for buffer blocks ensures Paul finishes what he needs to finish [20:45] How to get back on track when you miss your prep day and how to keep your work-life balance [27:23] How Paul delegates his personal tasks away to make more time for his work and family [31:25]

Links:

Indeed ExpressVPN Blinkist Calendly Asana The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months

Connect with Paul Maskill

Business Owners Freedom Formula Show Paul's Website

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The web browser is one of the most commonly used tools. You probably spend more than 4 hours a day using it and it’s a powerful tool. If you’re like most people you haven’t looked much into how to use this tool and turn it into a productivity powerhouse tool. That’s going to change today as we’re going to share some of our favorite browser hacks that will make you much more productive and efficient. Whether you use Edge, Sarafi, Chrome, or Firefox we got you covered!

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:00] Why we should pay more attention to our web browser and how to be more efficient with it [4:32] How to turn on dark mode for the entire web [8:55] Superpower your personal knowledge management with the ability to get anything you need easily from any page [11:07] How to increase your security online and never again forget your login information [17:01] Why using different profiles or personas in your browser can cut down on headaches ad increase productivity [24:36] Why staying away from your mouse is one of the best ways to get faster in your browser and on your computer [29:06] How your bookmark bar can give you much easier access to your most accessed webpages [34:09] Why adding tasks to your task manager directly from your browser can increase your productivity [38:08] How to quickly and easily get to "tab zero" on your mobile browser [40:30] How to magically vet all Amazon reviews before you buy and make sure you're getting the right thing [43:10] Browser hacks from the Dojo and TPS+ members [46:17] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [49:10]

Links:

Momentum Dash Adblock The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking TPS+ Dark Reader Evernote Web Clipper Lastpass 1Password Todoist Omnifocus (Safari) OmniFocus (Chrome) ReviewMeta Stop The Madness Event Merge for Google Calendar One Click Extensions Manager

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Do you find it hard to find the time, energy, and attention to do everything you want to do each week?

It could be that you're doing things that you really shouldn't be doing.

Maybe they're things you don't like to do, or maybe they're things that you ENJOY doing, but they are taking you away from making progress on your goals.

In this episode, we are going to talk about one of my favorite high leverage productivity topics: Outsourcing. Learn some of the ways we outsource to create more time in the week and discover how to avoid some of the mistakes most people make when trying to outsource.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:06] How the TEA framework ties into outsourcing different parts of your life for more time, energy, and attention in their lives [7:38] Why it's so hard to justify spending money outsourcing things we can do ourselves, and how to move past that [11:54] How to discover all the things in your life that you can (and maybe should) outsource [16:15] How Brooks and his wife collaborated to help outsource the housework they each didn't want to do to each other [19:00] Some prompt to help kickstart ideas of what you could outsource in your life [24:08] The pros and cons of having the work you've outsourced stay onshore or go offshore [30:44] Where you can find people to help you with your tasks, no matter how big or how small [33:23] How to ensure the work you have gets done as you'd like it and gets done well [41:38] Why you should always state the obvious when working with new people, and what can happen if you don't [45:46] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [51:44]

3 Ways To Outsource Successfully

Make a task list Determine which type of personal outsourcing you want to do Set the right expectations

Links:

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Timeular Esington Glass Join the Do The Damn Thing call on Personal Outsourcing this January 12 TPS+ TEA Framework, Level 1: Making the Most of Your Limited Time (TPS219) TPS23: Optimization, Automation, and Outsourcing Personal Outsourcing: How to Get More Than 24 Hours Out of Each Day 4k Weeks How to Get a Great Assistant Who Can Help You Get Back Your Time TPS49: Delegation and outsourcing w/ Julia Tunstall TaskRabbit Upwork Fiverr Care.com The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190)

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Today I’m joined by Joe Fier. He’s the co-host of the podcast Hustle & Flowchart where they interview successful entrepreneurs and go deep about their unique business strategies. He’s also the co-founder of Evergreen Profits where he helps people start and grow online businesses.

In this episode, we talked about how to incorporate more fun in your day to stay productive, how Joe implements sprints in his personal life to get stuff done, how he and his wife raise a 9-month-old kid while working from home, and the importance of slowing down during this crazy time we’re in.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:05] A typical workday for Joe and how he takes a lot of time to center himself before getting to work [5:09] What Joe recommends for parents who are looking for the time to stay productive [8:49] Joe's work habit he believes is fundamental to his productivity, and why he thinks everybody should try it [11:24] How Joe and his wife support each other in their work and their life [17:55] How the GTD methodology has worked for Joe and why it was really hard to get started and then maintain it [21:51] Joe's prioritization process when preparing his week and his day [24:05] How to keep the balance between work and life [27:40] Other lifehacks and work tips that Joe uses in his life [31:05]

Links:

Blinkist Brain FM XPT Life Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Connect with Joe Fier

Evergreen Profits Hustle and Flowchart Podcast

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It sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes we need to slow down a bit in order to achieve our goals. Burnout is a real thing, and it is impossible to stay productive if we are going at 100% all the time.

The solution is to find opportunities to decompress — to find even short periods of time where you can recharge and relieve stress.

But decompressing is about more than just taking a break or going on vacation. In this episode, we are going to cover 5 ways that you can decompress and stay productive in the long term.

Thanks to Fundrise for supporting The Productivity Show. Fundrise is offering our listeners 90 days of advisory free service. Go to Fundrise.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:41] What Asian Efficiency means by "decompress" and why productivity minded people need to keep this in mind, too [5:39] How the TEA framework can help us find when we are working too much and need to regain our energy [10:12] Why picking up a new hobby or activity can help us loosen up and destress [12:52] How Marmel's new hobby has remained relaxing and helpful for her stress despite turning it into a small business [15:48] Why setting a time to relax is an easy way to stay in the flow of work and scheduling while also honoring your self [18:13] How exercise and physical activity can replenish your energy, boost your mood, and give your brain a break [24:49] Why you should schedule some time to connect with your friends and family and add them to your calendar [28:40] How spending time away from technology, a digital detox can really help center us [33:33] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [40:38]

Links:

Fundrise TPS+ NeuYear Monday First calendar Little Snitch 4 Glasswire OUTXE Power Bank Happy People Are Productive People: Turn Your Mood Around In 10 Minutes or Less (TPS326) Revisiting The TEA Framework: Should We Add This 4th Pillar? (TPS275) TEA Framework, Level 2: Maximizing Your Energy (TPS220) 5 Ways For Busy People To Increase Their Energy And Get Things Done Calendar Captain How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World TPS88: Deep Work w/ Cal Newport The Glorious, Almost-Disconnected Boredom of My Walk in Japan

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Here at The Productivity Show, we all use at least an adapted version of David Allen's GTD or Getting Things Done productivity system.

Once you start using GTD the question becomes - what do you use to keep track of your Projects, Tasks, and Next Actions?

For most people it is an app, but which one is the "best"? And what does the "Best GTD app" even mean?

In this episode, we break down 5 GTD apps and give recommendations for which apps are the "best" for different types of users.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:16] How this episode can help people who are new to GTD find their tools, and veterans find their perfect software [4:00] What to consider before investing your time and money in a new GTD system [9:08] Not so fast! How to fight Shiny Object Syndrome with new tools and apps [12:47] Thanh and Brooks's favorite GTD app and why they have been using it religiously for years [14:40] The cross-platform app that Thanh and Brooks recommends most for people looking for a robust and friendly UI [21:17] Why Things holds its own in the task management space, and who would benefit most from using it [25:28] What software can help people who think visually take on GTD (and how it can help people who don't want task management software at all) [29:27] Why this classic David-Allen-recommended app is still a GTD powerhouse after all these years [32:46] Which apps are still amazing for GTD but didn't make the top 5 [36:11] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [37:41]

Links:

TPS+ Official GTD Setup Guides Elgato Stream Deck Miro How to Get GTD to Work For You: Simple Strategies For Managing Your Inboxes And Capturing Information (TPS149) The 5 GTD Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes… Do You? (TPS309) 5 GTD Tips To Become A Power User And Get Things Done Consistently (TPS322) OmniFocus Bullet Journal How to Achieve Your Goals with Any Task Management System The Productivity Perils of Shiny Object Syndrome & 8 Strategies to Overcome Them (TPS158) Todoist Things Trello Microsoft Outlook & To-Do Optimize Outlook Nozbe Nirvana Asana Pocket Informant 2Do Coda

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If you deal with people in your business (and who doesn't?), a key tool is a Customer Relationship Management system or CRM. Not having one can hold you back, and if you implement the right one the right way, it can help take your business to the next level.

In this episode, I talk to Amy Payne, a Certified Professional Organizer, Productivity Consultant, and founder of Lasting Order. Amy and her team help individuals and small businesses in all sorts of ways, but today we mainly focus on how she helps small businesses choose, implement, and use CRMs. It's a topic we get questions on all the time.

Of course, since she does run a Professional Organizer company, I also ask her for her top tips on organizing a productive workspace. I couldn’t help myself.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:58] Where Brooks and Amy met and how she transitioned from a home organizer to productivity consultant [6:22] What a CRM is good for and why Amy believes it is essential for any small business [12:05] Amy's sales pitch for what a CRM can do that your homebrew system can't, and how to know which system is the right one for you [17:14] The most common mistakes that people make when choosing a CRM [21:38] What signs show Amy that she and her client have found the right CRM for the job and not something that is just good enough [24:46] Amy's favorite CRM systems and who they work best for [29:30] How to have a successful migration from one CRM to another [33:05] What Amy recommends for having a functional and effective work-from-home environment [37:14] Amy's most important killer productivity tip [40:40]

Links:

Indeed Atomic Habits by James Clear The Ultimate Guide to The Pomodoro Technique GoodNotes Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Insightly 17 Hats

Connect with Amy Payne

LastingOrder.net Email See The Lasting Ordermobile on Instagram

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2021 is just around the corner and we want to help you get ready for a productive year. I know 2020 has been a weird year for all of us, and we all want to forget about what happened but in order to have a great year ahead of you, you do have to reflect on what has happened, what you learned, and how the next year can be better.

That’s what today’s episode is all about. We’ll walk you through how to reflect on 2020 and we’ll give you 3 tips to make sure 2021 is going to be an uber-productive year for you.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:27] How this episode can help you accomplish your new year's resolutions, create better goals, and set better habits for the new year [4:41] Three questions you can ask to help your annual review if you don't have a journal [10:10] What you can do to turn the challenges you have faced into new opportunities [16:00] How to use the TEA Framework to see where you can make improvements in your life [19:42] Why it is so important not to try and improve too many things at once [24:48] Why scheduling time to work on your goals in your calendar can help maintain momentum [30:10] How to find the right amount of time to be spending on these goals every day [34:24] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [38:49]

3 Steps To Make Next Year Your Best Year

Use the TEA Framework to see where you can make improvements Focus on one main goal Schedule time on your calendar to work on your goals

Links:

Fiverr How to Have a Good Day: Harness the Power of Behavioral Science to Transform Your Working Life BetterTouchTool AutoHotkey Streaks TPS+ Here’s How To Improve Every Year Using Our Annual Review Template (TPS279) How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) TEA: The 3 Pillars of Productivity You Need To Unlock Your Full Potential Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Revisiting The TEA Framework: Should We Add This 4th Pillar? (TPS275) Focus Filter How to Simplify Your Life with Systems Calendar Captain

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The holidays are just around the corner and that means it’s gifting season for many of us. What would you gift someone who is obsessed with productivity? What would you give someone who you’d like to be more productive? And let’s be honest, many of us also like gift guides for ideas to spoil ourselves (I definitely do). In this episode, we’re going to share some of our favorite gift ideas for this holiday season.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:31] The best gifts that Brooks, Marmel, and Thanh have ever received [6:00] How to improve the lives of the tech people in your life with some simple peripherals [10:22] The best investment in his health that Thanh has made this year [15:22] Why Marmel swears by her headphone stand to keep her desk well managed [21:52] How different lights can help improve your mood and your day overall [23:42] The different types of glasses that can help you fall asleep more quickly and get better sleep [28:43] What makes the Kindle so indispensable to Thanh and Brooks that going even a day without it is enough to buy a replacement [33:01] How to never leave the house without that crucial cord or power supply again [37:55] Top picks for productivity gifts from the Dojo and TPS+ members [42:57] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [45:16]

Links:

SpiderOak Start Finishing: How To Go From Idea To Done Avantree 15 Pack Long Lasting Cable Clips TPS+ Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus 7 In 1 USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter ViewSonic VX2776-SMHD 27 Inch 1080p Frameless Widescreen IPS Monitor Theragun Pro Headphone Stand Verilux Happy Light 10’’ LED Ring Light THL Sleep Blue Light Blocking Glasses Amazon Kindle Kindle Paperwhite Kindle Oasis Electronics Organizer Bag Tom Binh Snake Charmer Antidote Banana Hook Lumecube Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi Access Point Ticktime Airpods Pro Tile Chipolo Strongtek Balance Board

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

; document.getElementsByClassName('wp-switch-editor switch-tmce')[0].click(); document.getElementById('in-category-235').checked = 'checked'; document.getElementById('post\_author\_override').value = '4'; document.getElementById('powerpress\_summary\_podcast').value =The holidays are just around the corner and that means it’s gifting season for many of us. What would you gift someone who is obsessed with productivity? What would you give someone who you’d like to be more productive? And let’s be honest, many of us also like gift guides for ideas to spoil ourselves (I definitely do). In this episode we’re going to share some of our favorite gift ideas for this holiday season. \n\n\nYou can find links to everything that we share in the show notes by going to theproductivityshow.com/327.

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Have you ever sat down to work on what you are supposed to be doing, and you just don’t feel like it? It’s not an energy problem, you feel fine, but you’re just… not in the mood.

Being in a bad mood is obviously not an excuse to stop working, but you know the more you can improve your mood, the more productive you’ll be. As I always say: happy people are productive people.

In this episode, we’re going to share 5 tips to turn your mood around, and you can then funnel that into your best work.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to NetSuite for supporting The Productivity Show. Take a free product tour today at NetSuite.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:22] How our mood affects us and our productivity throughout our day [5:16] How mindfulness and deep breathing can help us get out of dangerous mood spirals and relieve difficult emotions [9:26] Why journaling is so effective at relieving stress and anxiety [18:00] The power that changing our environment or context has on our mood [22:34] Why when you're having a bad day is a perfect time to reach out to a positive happy person in your life [26:43] Thanh's and Brooks's go-to method for boosting their mood [30:51] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [38:00]

5 ways to turn your mood around

Practice deep breathing and be mindful Journal every day and get rid of stress and anxiety Change your environment Talk to a positive person Listen to uplifting music and your favorite songs

Links:

Blinkist NetSuite Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life Daylio Young Living Essential Oil Home Ultrasonic Desert Mist Diffuser OneTab TPS+ TPS 210: Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit How We Improved Our Lives and Work With Journaling – And You Can Too (TPS301) 5 Reasons Why You Need to Start Journaling Using Coffee Shops and Cafes to Give Your Productivity a Boost w/ Dave Caolo (TPS172) Become Productive Again: 6 Ways To Get Back On Track (TPS255) The Ultimate Music Collection for Getting Work Done Spotify How To Get Into Flow State and Make Massive Progress Quickly (TPS314)

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The most underrated part of our TEA Framework - which stands for Time, Energy, Attention - is ENERGY. Many of us are trying to improve our time and focus, when it’s often energy that is the real underlying problem.

What do you do when you’re feeling low on energy? Like most people, you’ll down a bunch of caffeine or maybe take a nap. Those are great short-term fixes, but in this episode we are going to talk about rituals you can implement to have more energy PERMANENTLY. So if you feel like you’re low on energy, you don’t want to miss out on today’s episode.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:31] Who this episode was created for and how it can help them (and you, too) [4:38] Why everybody should have a morning ritual [8:20] How having a dedicated meditation time can set your day off right [13:08] Why starting an exercise routine is one of the most difficult to pick up and one of the easiest to give up [20:05] How to close all your open loops at the end of the day so the next day is an easy start [27:16] The surefire way to go from the end of your workday to a great night of sleep [33:51] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [38:45]

5 rituals to create more energy

Implement a morning ritual Set a time to meditate daily Have a regular exercise routine Apply Clearing to Neutral Master your evening ritual

Links:

Indeed Save to Pocket Apollo Neuro F.lux TPS+ Decision Fatigue: Here’s How To Outsmart This Productivity Killer (TPS318) TEA Framework: Pillar 2 - Energy How The Miracle Morning Can Transform Your Life (Before 8 AM) The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) Morning Ritual Starter Kit The Asian Efficiency Guide to Meditation For Less Stress, More Productivity and a Happier Life Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) Calm The One Habit That Stops Procrastination In Its Tracks: Clearing To Neutral Evening Rituals: Getting Better Sleep with a Little Preparation

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Since our name is Asian Efficiency, you might think that we are 100% focused on your efficiency. I mean, it’s right there in the name! Well, efficiency is important, but we think it gets too much focus — what’s just as important is making sure you are doing the right things efficiently.

In this episode, we’re going to share 3 steps to make sure you are efficient AND effective.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Thanks to Net Suite for supporting The Productivity Show. Take a free product tour today at NetSuite.com/tps.

Thanks to Fundrise for supporting The Productivity Show. Fundrise is offering our listeners 90 days of advisory free service. Go to Fundrise.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:46] Why this episode can help even the most Asian-efficient people [4:59] The difference between effectiveness and efficiency [6:49] Why you should measure effectiveness first before efficiency [8:22] How to make sure you are doing the RIGHT things and you're doing them OFTEN [11:21] Why Thanh spends time doing what he calls "backlog grooming" and why it's some of his most important work [18:31] How to get better at doing the right things by doing them well [23:47] How Thanh has optimized everyday tasks that many people may overlook [29:49] Why you should regularly assess how you can improve effectiveness and efficiency [32:58] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [39:58]

Links:

Fiverr Net Suite Fundrise The Effective Executive The Economist Espresso Drafts TPS+ Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why The Overwhelm Survival Kit: Tips & Strategies to Help You Get the Space & Control You Need (TPS206) 9 Ways to Break Up Your Work to Stay Focused and Productive The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change Hazel Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) Check out Asian Efficiency's DTDT session about Planning The Perfect Week

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We’ve all had situations where we know what we WANT to do to be more productive, but it just doesn’t happen. Maybe it’s a habit we once had but it fell apart over time, or maybe we are stuck and are having problems getting started.

If that’s you, this episode will give you 5 strategies to get unstuck, and we will share tips that we used to move forward and rebuild positive habits. You can use these tactics to regain momentum in your work and life, too.

Thanks to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Try Azlo Pro free for 14 days at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Thanks to Masterclass for supporting The Productivity Show. Masterclass is offering our listeners 15% off your annual all-access pass at Masterclass.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:18] Why you should be scheduling your habits if you're serious about sticking to them [9:00] How to honor the calendar commitments we make to ourselves instead of blowing it off [11:20] How to reduce the friction of your difficult tasks and make them easy [19:31] Why despite what you think you are capable of, multitasking does not work [24:54] The power of clearing to neutral when you're completing your work [27:21] How a group or mentor can help get you out of a rut and back on track with your work [30:50] How to design your environment for success [36:34] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:45]

5 Tips to Getting Unstuck

Schedule your habits Make it as easy as possible Focus on one task at a time Find a Group, a Friend, or a Mentor Design your environment for success

Links:

Azlo Masterclass TickTime TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion TPS+ Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why Tune in to the upcoming DTDT on November 3: How to Get Unstuck Or Regain A Habit Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) 5 Ways To Get Laser-Like Focus Every Day Focus Filter How To Design Your Environment To Make It Work For You, Not Against You How To Work Productively From Home How To Design A More Focused and Productive Work Environment (TPS291) TEA Framework

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Getting Things Done, or GTD, is one of the most popular productivity systems on the planet, and for a good reason — it helps you be on top of your tasks and obligations by getting them out of your overloaded brain and into your trusted system, so you can focus on execution, not juggling.

In this episode, we’re going to examine some of the keys to being successful with GTD — we can all read the book and learn the tactical stuff, but how do you actually make it work for you and stick with it?

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Masterclass for supporting The Productivity Show. Masterclass is offering our listeners 15% off your annual all-access pass at Masterclass.com/tps.

Thanks to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Azlo is offering our listeners to Sign up today with no minimum deposit at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:15] A quick overview of Getting Things Done and some quick recommendations for seasoned veterans [7:22] Why using your GTD system, you should always start with being clear on why you are using it [8:49] Why you should have as few places to write things down as you possibly can [20:39] Why avoiding any friction in the note-taking process is paramount [23:24] The simple rule that will remove a lot of simple tasks from your todo list [27:04] Why two tech-obsessed power users think you should print out a flowchart and stick it to your wall [31:40] The power of classical conditioning in helping you stick with your productivity system [35:24] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [40:41]

There are 5 steps to GTD

Capture Clarify Organize Reflect Engage

Links:

ExpressVPN Masterclass Azlo Do You Struggle With These Mental Blocks? Remove And Turn Them To Your Advantage (TPS321) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity Widgetsmith Logitech MX Master 3 Mouse TPS+ The 5 GTD Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes… Do You? (TPS309) Your GTD Weekly Review: Be Consistent And Achieve “Mind Like Water” Each Week (TPS311) Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action Check out the Asian Efficiency courses Optimize Outlook, Inbox Detox, and Habits Crash Course Look at the GTD flowchart Brooks pinned up in his cubicle

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Welcome to The Productivity Show, a podcast by Asian Efficiency, to help you maximize your productivity so you can get everything done without having to sacrifice your health, family and things that matter to you. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people save time, be happier, and become more productive.

What happens if you have your time, your energy, and your focus all nailed down, but you STILL can’t get started? Or if you do start, but making progress is way slower than you expected? The problem might be mental, not tactical.

In this episode, we are going to talk about one of those mental factors that can get in the way of your productivity — mental blocks. We’re going to talk about the types of mental blocks, and how you can get around them or even turn them to your advantage.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Everyplate for supporting The Productivity Show. Get 3 weeks of Everyplate meals for only $2.99 per meal by going to Everyplate.com and use the code TPS3.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:52] Why more focus and attention should be given to the internal factors in improving our productivity [6:15] Why many of the mental blocks we face can be improved through a simple reframing of the problem [7:16] The different types of mental blocks [10:21] How to know which mental blocks you have and which to focus on [17:57] How to uncover the causes of your mental blocks and why that is so important in dealing with them [20:22] The impact of our early work experiences and how they can follow us throughout our life [26:52] How to notice and capture the mental blocks that you can notice so you can work on them later [29:03] How you can reduce the power of your mental blocks [34:04] Transforming the mental blocks into productive behaviors [40:52]

The Seven Common Types Of Mental Blocks

Self Doubt Indecision Fixed Mindset Comparison Uncertainty No Limits Tunnel Vision

Links:

Indeed Blinkist Everyplate Ikea KLUBBSPORRE Ergonomic Pillow Miro BenQ ScreenBar Plus TPS+ Need to Prioritize? Here’s Our Favorite Tool That You Can Start Using Today (TPS315) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) How to Beat Decision Fatigue: The Ultimate Guide Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) Achieving Next-Level Productivity Through Conative Understanding w/ David Kolbe (TPS197) The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning The New Corner Office The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage

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I’m joined today by Jeff Sanders. He is a keynote speaker, productivity coach, author of The 5 AM Miracle, and host of the 5 AM Miracle Podcast. As a fellow productivity junkie, I asked him about his morning routine, what his personal productivity system looks like, and how he balances work and life while raising a young kid. I know you’re going to learn a lot in this episode and I can’t wait for you to dive in.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Thanks to Mint Mobile for supporting The Productivity Show. Mint Mobile is offering our listeners $15 per month and free shipping on their phone at MintMobile.com/tps.

Thanks to Fundrise for supporting The Productivity Show. Fundrise is offering our listeners 90 days of advisory free service. Go to Fundrise.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Why transitioning to working from home was not easy for Jeff at all [2:32] Jeff's advice for people who are new to working from home [4:20] A typical day or workweek for Jeff, and how it has changed since the pandemic started [6:30] How Jeff maintains his balance between work and life [10:28] The rhythm and seasons of work and why we should expect this in our own lives [19:26] How Jeff approaches goal-setting for his work and projects [20:52] Jeff's weekly review process and what happens when he misses one [24:16] The core technology of Jeff's productivity ecosystem [28:00]

Links:

Fiverr Mint Mobile Fundrise The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Evernote Nozbe

Connect with Jeff Sanders

JeffSanders.com The 5 A.M. Miracle: Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast The 5 A.M. Miracle Podcast

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Is your downloads folder a huge mess? Do you find it hard to find email attachments you downloaded a few weeks ago? Do you easily get frustrated trying to find files and documents?

Then you want to listen carefully to today’s episode! We’re going to share with you 3 tips to help you organize your files, folders and documents so you can easily find anything within a few seconds. Even if you have thousands of files and notes laying around, by the end of this episode you’ll know how to organize everything quickly and efficiently.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Azlo is offering our listeners Sign up today with no minimum deposit at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:08] How this episode can help everybody and why it's such an important topic [5:15] Thanh's and Brook's personal digital organization systems [14:30] Why you need to take as much care naming the item as you do naming the folder you put it in [17:02] Why naming your files appropriately is only advantages with pretty much no disadvantages [28:06] Why a simple but very intentional system will usually beat out a "complete" but extremely complicated system [29:57] The case for not fiddling with new systems and staying deliberate and intentional [35:17] Why using the right tools for the job will save you a lot of time and a lot of headache [37:31] Why you need to fall in love with the search functions in your system [44:47] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [50:16]

Links:

Indeed Azlo Blinkist File Juggler Hazel Beetelite TPS+ Mac Power Users Dropbox Ulysses Evernote The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind The PARA Method: A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information How To Build a Second Brain and Be More Organized w/ Tiago Forte (TPS310) Notion The Most Effective Way of Organizing Your Files, Folders and Documents JIRA Confluence DTDT - How To Organize Your Files, Folders and Documents (October 6th)

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How often do you find yourself saying "I can't deal with this right now... I'll figure it out later" or you just avoid decisions altogether?

For busy professionals, it's extremely common, and the culprit is usually decision fatigue — the more decisions you make in a short period of time, the poorer quality your decisions become and the less willing you are to make them. We've all been there.

In this episode, we're going to cover 3 strategies you can use to cut off decision fatigue and tools you can use to keep your focus on the important decisions that really do need your attention.

Thanks to Raycon for supporting The Productivity Show. Raycon is offering our listeners 15% off their wireless earbuds at BuyRaycon.com/tps.

Thanks to Sleep Cycle for supporting The Productivity Show. Sleep Cycle is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial of their intelligent alarm clock and sleep tracker. Learn more at SleepCycle.com/tps.

Thanks to Masterclass for supporting The Productivity Show. Masterclass is offering our listeners 15% off your annual all-access pass at Masterclass.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:55] Why this episode will help everyone, from people new to productivity to seasoned veterans [5:04] What decision fatigue is and why it can be so detrimental to our productivity [10:45] Why decisions cause us to use up so much energy and how Steve Jobs famously handled it [14:41] The number one way to combat decision fatigue [26:21] How to look ahead to the next day and perceive any potential big decisions [29:40] Why you need to work on the most important thing first every day [34:13] What to do if you feel like you have to be always on [38:44] The power of your community and how you can leverage it into less decision fatigue [41:55] How having a solid definition of done is key in good delegation [47:49] How to replace your regular decisions with routines [50:00] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [52:34]

Links:

Raycon Sleep Cycle Masterclass LumaFusion High Output Management by Andrew Grove Airalo TPS+ Origins: The Podcast The Simple 6-Step Process to Start Your Productive Day the Night Before w/ Dave Caolo (TPS196) Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done Eat That Frog – Do Your Most Important Tasks In The Morning Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) 3 Simple Steps To Delegating Work The Right Way So You Don’t Have to Worry About It (TPS182) Need to Prioritize? Here’s Our Favorite Tool That You Can Start Using Today (TPS315) 5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262) Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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If you’ve worked in a decently-sized organization, there’s a good chance that you are, have, or will at some point use Microsoft Outlook. It’s everywhere.

The problem is, most of us just start using it, and don’t spend any time making it work FOR us. In this episode, we’re going to share 5 - ok, more like 8 or 9, Outlook tips that have made us more productive and let us get back to doing our work instead of messing around in our Inbox.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:12] The introduction of TPS+! [7:03] Brooks's and Marmel's experience with Outlook, and why Brooks ditched all of his Google Suite for Microsoft 365 [11:24] Get the zen focus of minimal notifications without sacrificing important communications [15:35] How to reduce the clutter in your email inbox through auto filing meeting responses [24:05] Stop wasting time digging around your messages and use search folders [27:00] Make Outlook Mobile work for you and customize the swipe actions [29:51] Why Brooks and Marmel believe that Outlook has the most comprehensive and useful rules system of any email client [33:06] More quick tips to streamline and maximize your Outlook productivity [38:42] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:49]

Links:

Indeed ExpressVPN Blinkist BOGI Microfiber Travel Sports Towel Tile Todoist Outlook TPS+ Microsoft 365 Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (TPS166) Optimize Outlook Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work Evernote MS Power Automate Zapier

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Today I’m joined by Chris Reynolds, the founder of the Business Method podcast and Get Shit Done Live! Chris' business and events help entrepreneurs optimize their productivity to reach peak performance consistently, and scale their businesses rapidly using research-driven techniques. Chris has been a location-independent entrepreneur for 11-years, living in multiple countries & traveling the world during that time.

In this episode we talk about how to optimize your brain for focus, what high performers have in common, Chris’ workflows, and his personal productivity system for how he gets things done.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Thanks to Mint Mobile for supporting The Productivity Show. Mint Mobile is offering our listeners $15 per month and free shipping on their phone at MintMobile.com/tps.

Thanks to Fundrise for supporting The Productivity Show. Fundrise is offering our listeners 90 days of advisory free service. Go to Fundrise.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:51] How Chris found his dream job and what he realized he needed most in his life [4:32] What about working in an entrepreneur house was most influential on Chris and his future in productivity [9:05] How Chris engages with and helps people looking to boost their productivity [13:00] The importance of setting boundaries on your time, and how to stay productive while traveling [16:24] How Chris manages his rituals while traveling and still enjoying his travels [27:40] What a normal day looks like for Chris [32:48] What Chris believes to be the most important part of every productivity system [38:36] Why Chris doesn't do any formal tracking of his mood or productivity or anything [45:09]

Links:

Fiverr Mint Mobile Fundrise BrainFM Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich NOW Glutathione Supplements No “yes.” Either “HELL YEAH!” or “no.” WAVi Brain Scanner

Connect with Chris Reynolds

TheBusinessMethod.com The Business Method Podcast

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How do you prioritize your projects? How do you know which project to work on first and ignore everything else? It’s not as simple as it sounds. Today we’re going to show you how we prioritize projects at Asian Efficiency using a tool called the ICE Matrix. It’s what we use for our annual goals and quarterly goals to figure out what the most important project is to focus on. You can apply this on a company level but also on a personal level. So if you want to get better at prioritizing, then this episode is for you.

Thanks to Raycon for supporting The Productivity Show. Raycon is offering our listeners 15% off their wireless earbuds at BuyRaycon.com/tps.

Thanks to Masterclass for supporting The Productivity Show. Masterclass is offering our listeners 15% off your annual all-access pass at Masterclass.com/tps.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:49] Why you need to start prioritizing your goals [6:55] What the ICE Matrix is and how you can use it to better align your goals with your actions [11:57] One way to implement the ICE Matrix on your goals today [13:29] How the ICE Matrix helps you prioritize for the most impactful projects [24:08] How to use the ICE Matrix in a team setting [26:19] Why having a goal in mind before trying this method can greatly help its efficacy [32:12] How Marmel has used ICE in her personal life and her own business [34:08] Why scoring should be done both individually and privately, and how it can affect the scoring as a team [37:34] When you should be reprioritizing and why it's more often than you might think [41:03] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [45:25]

Links:

Raycon Masterclass Blinkist Our 3 Biggest Challenges of Implementing Scrum & How We Overcame Them (TPS191) How to Prioritize Your Todo List With A Sheet of Paper reMarkable 2 Grammarly Mobile Keyboard app for iOS and Android Mi Home - Android / iOS Join the DTDT call on Putting the ICE Matrix into Practice on Tuesday, September 8 at 1pm Central The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

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Have you ever been working on a work or personal project and you realize you've made massive amounts of progress? It feels like the time just flew by, and instead of feeling drained after, you feel awesome and energized.

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to get into a state of Flow, and we’ll give you 5 tools you can use to get there yourself.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks to Sleep Cycle for supporting The Productivity Show. Sleep Cycle is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial of their intelligent alarm clock and sleep tracker. Learn more at SleepCycle.com/tps.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:19] What flow state is and why we all strive for it in our work [6:37] The three things you need to get into a flow state [12:34] How to create a flow state ritual [14:55] Why visualizing your day is an easy way to hone your focus for flow state [28:33] How focusing on a single task at a time can reinforce your state of flow [30:53] What Brooks means when he says you want your tasks to be difficult but not too hard [36:05] How to find a quiet and calm place to get into flow state [43:04] Using the Pomodoro technique and deadlines to help get reinforce routine [46:43] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [52:37]

Links:

Indeed Sleep Cycle Blinkist TripMode Headspace Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Ulysses Screenflow Breville Tea Maker The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing Thinking, Fast and Slow Check out our Morning Ritual Starter Kit at theproductivityshow.com/morning Eat Your Frog Ticktime Time Timer

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Being productive at home can be a challenge when you don’t have the right tools.

By "tools", we are talking about your physical gear - things like desks, chairs, technology, AND digital tools - things like desktop & mobile apps.

Like any job, we think the tools you use can make working from home easier and more productive, and in this episode, we are going to share 8 physical and digital tools that we love. We've been working from home for more than a decade each, so we've tried it all and you’re going to get our top recommendations.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Azlo is offering our listeners Sign up today with no minimum deposit at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Thanks to Raycon for supporting The Productivity Show. Raycon is offering our listeners 15% off their wireless earbuds at BuyRaycon.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:09] Why Brooks and Thanh wanted to talk about work-from-home tools on this episode [6:44] What are some of the biggest changes they have made in their setups to increase productivity [8:33] The top physical tools that can help to work from home be more productive [14:56] Thanh's top advice for laptop users who work from home [22:34] How Brooks and Thanh streamline some of their most-used computer functions [26:22] How an anti-fatigue mat can make working at a standing desk even better [30:37] The power of the purse hook for workspace organization [35:00] Why getting reminders to take a break and stay hydrated is so important when working from home [39:16] How Thanh streamlined his screen sharing [41:24] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [44:40]

Links:

ExpressVPN Azlo Raycon Swagup Elgato Stream Deck Anker Powerwave Stand Wireless Charger Check out Brooks' and Thanh's old work from home desks Bose QC25 Join the Work From Home webinar here! Our complete guide to physical and digital tools that can supercharge your productivity at home Logitech C920 Logitech Brio Logitech K750 Logitech MX Master iQunix F96 Coral keyboard Webcam Settings (mac) Check out this open-source webcam settings solution for Windows Dropshare Setapp Droplr Anti Fatigue Comfort Floor Mat By Sky Mats Topo Comfort Mat by Ergodriven Topo Mini Floor Mat ReviewMeta Purse Hooks HeroClip Waterminder Cloud app Zappy (Zapier)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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In this episode, I am super excited to introduce Tim Stringer to the Productivity Show. Tim is a professionally-trained coach, productivity expert, and an accomplished yoga and meditation teacher. He’s the founder of Technically Simple and LearnOmniFocus.

As you can imagine, we cover a wide range of topics like how to best use a task manager for personal tasks, professional tasks, and team projects, what type of tasks to put where, and how a serious health issue led him to develop an approach he calls Holistic Productivity.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Indeed is offering our listeners a $75 credit at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

How Tim got into the productivity space [2:12] The top 3 productivity resources for this week [5:24] How Tim sells the concept of a task manager to somebody who believes they don't need one [11:21] Which task managers and systems Tim uses and why [17:31] How Tim manages both his work and the collaborations he has with others with tools like Asana [21:27] Why Tim advises people to break down projects and larger tasks in their main task manager and not in team management apps [29:40] How integrating Zapier with your task and team management tools can streamline your workflow [32:29] How Tim segregates his work and personal actions in Omnifocus [36:53] Tim's favorite new features in Omnifocus [39:18] The biggest challenges people face when starting with Omnifocus [45:06] What Tim wants to see in future development of Omnifocus features [47:50] Tim's favorite tech tools to make his work life better and more efficient [51:59] How yoga and mindfulness fit into Tim's daily productivity [1:00:38] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [1:04:04]

Links:

Indeed Fiverr Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business Notion Stream Deck The Automators Podcast Episode 40: Automating with Tim Stringer Notion and Choosing The Right Productivity Tool For You w/ Francesco D’Alessio (TPS273) Asana Drafts Bullet Journal OmniFocus Zapier Web Automation: The Easiest Way To Be More Productive Online (TPS282)

Connect with Tim Stringer

TechnicallySimple.com LearnOmnifocus.com TimStringer.com Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimStringer

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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If you've tried David Allen's Getting Things Done methodology, you've probably run into this scenario: You start doing your Weekly Review, and then you miss one, and then you miss another one, and before you know it, things are starting to slip.

It doesn't have to be that way — in this episode, we are going to talk about doing an effective and efficient Weekly Review, and we are going to talk about how to be CONSISTENT. It almost always comes down to one of 2 things, and we'll help you save both of them.

The Weekly Review is the best way to achieve that "Mind Like Water" state, every single week. Even if you are not a GTD person, you can benefit from doing this Weekly Review.

Thanks to Mint Mobile for supporting The Productivity Show. Mint Mobile is offering our listeners $15 per month and free shipping on their phone at MintMobile.com/tps.

Thanks to Sleep Cycle for supporting The Productivity Show. Sleep Cycle is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial of their intelligent alarm clock and sleep tracker. Learn more at SleepCycle.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:52] What the GTD Weekly Review is and why it's so powerful for productivity [6:00] How David Allen breaks down the Weekly Review in Getting Things Done [11:43] Why getting clear of what happened since your last review is so important [12:25] How to improve the trust you have with your current systems and why it matters [24:15] Why having next actions is the key to avoiding procrastination on your projects [30:08] How to drive your professional development by getting creative [33:52] How to overcome the MOST difficult problem people share: consistency [38:57] The common pitfalls that Thanh has seen with people and their weekly reviews [44:55] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [48:54]

The Three Stages To A Great Weekly Review

Get Clear — Tie up any loose ends from the week before. Get Current – Plan out the steps you need to take over the next week to advance whatever projects you’re currently working on. Get Creative — Think about and start planning things you could be doing to move your life.

Links:

Mint Mobile Sleep Cycle Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Verilux Happy Light Nozbe Swagup The 5 GTD Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes… Do You? (TPS309) Join in the upcoming Do The Damn Thing call on Tuesday August 11, on how to do your best GTD Weekly Review Your Perfect Week Starts With 4 Easy-To-Follow Steps 5 Things to Plan Your Week Around for Maximum Long-Term Impact (TPS164)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today I’m joined by Tiago Forte, founder of Forte Labs and the creator of Building A Second Brain. It’s a system he developed for organizing ideas and information to help people become more productive and creative. If you’re a knowledge worker and want to be more efficient and organized, then you’re going to love today’s episode.

We’re also going to host a live webinar together on the topic of Building a Second Brain a few days from now and you can sign up for it here at theproductivityshow.com/brain

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Raycon for supporting The Productivity Show. Raycon is offering our listeners 15% off their wireless earbuds at buyraycon.com/tps

Cheat Sheet:

Tiago's top 3 productivity resources [2:23] How Tiago developed the 'second brain' system [5:36] What the second brain system is and how to build your own [10:50] How Tiago's system addresses the dreaded pile of information and files [17:23] What you can put into practice today with the PARA system [26:49] What you can do if you're "totally new" to productivity [32:38] Why David Allen's GTD system and Tiago's second brain are 'twins' [35:11] Tiago's weekly routine and how it keeps him productive in his own life [38:31]

Links:

ExpressVPN Raycon Hours Tracker Breaking Smart Newsletter GorillaPod The PARA Method: A Universal System for Organizing Digital Information The One-Touch Guide to Doing a Weekly Review: How I Go From Chaos to Clarity in 30 Minutes Asian Efficiency and Tiago Forte Joint Training

Connect with Tiago Forte

ForteLabs.co Subscribe to Tiago's newsletter here and receive '7 Lessons Before You Build A Second Brain' FREE

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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GTD or "Getting Things Done" is a productivity system that has been a lifesaver for us going back to the mid-2000s.

As we've talked to members of the community and podcast listeners over the years, we've found that there are certain things that almost everyone does when they're just starting out, and most of the time they cause problems later.

We don't want that to be you! So we're going to go through 5 mistakes that almost everyone makes with GTD, and what you should do instead. Even if you've been using GTD for years, we bet you're doing some of these too.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks also to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Azlo is offering our listeners Sign up today with no minimum deposit at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:35] What GTD is and for who and for what it works best [9:10] Why the key to having a good capture system is to minimize the amount of inputs [16:25] How specificity with your next actions can have a profound effect on your GTD system [26:46] How not having a clear idea of contexts can be confusing [34:00] The strength of keeping consistent scheduled times to do your weekly reviews [40:38] Why overthinking things can cause your system to fall apart [45:15] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [51:30]

Links:

ExpressVPN Azlo Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity GTD Setup Guides Printful TPS58: Getting Things Done w/ David Allen GTD 101: The Beginner’s Guide To Getting Things Done Join the DTDT GTD Weekly Review on August 11, 2020 at theproductivityshow.com/implement OmniFocus How to Prioritize Your Todo List With A Sheet of Paper How To Plan Your Perfect Week In Under 45 Minutes (TPS293)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Had the pandemic put you behind on your goals? Maybe you’ve completely abandoned your goals altogether when life got too crazy. Given what has been going on in the world this year, you might be thinking "Goals? Those went out the window in March" — we get it.

But there's still half a year to go and so much left for you to accomplish! In this episode, we are going to share best practices around goal setting, how you can start fresh and give you tactics for accomplishing your goals for the rest of the year.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:41] The goals that Thanh and Brooks set for themselves this year and how it's going [6:52] Why changing goals is not giving up [10:38] Why you should not limit yourself to a new year to set new goals [13:35] How Thanh and Brooks prepared their 2020 goals [16:45] How to whittle away the things in your life that are making achieving your goals more difficult [25:16] Staying on track with your goals by measuring your key drivers [31:17] What pitfalls and obstructions to your goals you should look for in the future [35:45] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [41:30]

Links:

Fiverr Pso-rite Glutathione supplement (NOW, 250mg) Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find - and Keep - Love 6 Simple Ways To Stick To Your Goals This Year That Don’t Involve Willpower (TPS281) Q1 Goal Check-In: How We’re Doing, And How You Can Stay On Track With Yours (TPS294) Did You Choose The Right Goals? Here’s How To Find Out And Get Unstuck (TPS304) Should You Keep Or Drop Your Goal? Here’s How To Know If A Goal Is Worth Pursuing Here’s A Quick Way To Stay On Track With Your Goals All Year (TPS254) Daylio Oura Ring How We Improved Our Lives and Work With Journaling – And You Can Too (TPS301) We have a “DTDT” session about creating a journaling habit in the Dojo. View the recording and register for the next session at theproductivityshow.com/implement The Summer Juggle — Can You Be Productive When The Kids Are On Summer Break? (TPS251)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Have you ever noticed that at the end of a long web conferencing call like on Zoom or Teams, you feel way more drained than if it was an in-person meeting?

The term for this is "Zoom Fatigue", and even if you use another tool like Microsoft Teams or Skype, it's a real thing and a lot of us are feeling it these days.

In this episode, we're going to share with you 5 tips to beat Zoom Fatigue and still stay productive in the day, even if you’re staring at a screen full of meetings all day long.

Thanks to Azlo for supporting The Productivity Show. Azlo is offering our listeners Sign up today with no minimum deposit at Azlo.com/tps and get a free copy of Azlo's small business starter guide.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:25] Why despite the advanced tech, online calls are so fatiguing [7:53] Why you should use the "Active Speaker" mode whenever possible [11:40] Why Thanh never prefers using the grid mode over "Active Speaker" mode, even when speaking to a group [14:02] Why AE recommends you turn off the self-view option in a Zoom call [19:35] The power of taking mini-breaks [23:14] Why you should push to do meetings with your camera off if you can [27:47] How multitasking can ruin a Zoom meeting for you and everybody else [34:58]

Links:

Azlo Upwork Canva Krisp Check out the Productive at Home Course Fatigue, Procrastination, and Being Unproductive…These Are Some of the Penalties of Ignoring This One Thing (TPS237) 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) Why Taking Frequent Breaks Is the Key to Productivity Work From Home Challenge Day 4: Reenergize With Breaks How To Design Your Environment To Make It Work For You, Not Against You Work From Home Challenge Day 3: Create Time And Space To Focus TPS291: How To Design A More Focused and Productive Work Environment (TPS291) Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Your calendar is your most important productivity tool. It represents so much — what your commitments are, what your opportunities are, and what is going on in your life and your work.

In fact, we’d even say that your calendar is the true reflection of your priorities. It represents what you ACTUALLY spend your time on, not what you WISH you spend your time on.

Your calendar can be a force for good with your productivity, and in this episode, we’re going to share 3 tips to help you Master Your Calendar and become Jedi level productive.

Thanks to Raycon for supporting The Productivity Show. Raycon is offering our listeners 15% off their wireless earbuds at BuyRaycon.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:36] How to use your calendar to check if your ambitions can fit into reality [7:27] How to figure out what kind of calendar you will use [10:14] The advantages of paper or digital systems [12:34] How to use emojis to streamline your calendar organization [16:16] How to get the best of both worlds with the hybrid method [19:03] Unique ways to fully utilize your calendar [24:28] What should go on a calendar and what should go in your task manager [31:49] The benefits of color-coding your events [34:20] Why buffer blocks are so useful when scheduling your days out [40:43] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [45:06]

Links:

Raycon Worldtimebuddy Asana The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll Join the Dojo to register for the 7/7 DTDT Call: Mastering Your Calendar NeuYear Calendar PlannerPad Bullet Journal BusyCal Fantastical TimePage How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) The Hybrid Calendar System That Will Help You Stay On Top Of Everything (TPS233) How To Use a Calendar and Task Manager Together The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) Calendly

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today I’m joined by Jen Shultz, founder of The Non-Nine-to-Five where she helps people transition from a full-time career to starting a business. She has helped many people over the years and still manages to do everything herself without any staff which to me is crazy. So I asked how she’s able to be productive, run a business, help clients, and live a normal life. We also dove deep into the apps and tools she uses, and her workflows.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:51] What inspired Jen to leave her job in New York and move to Austin [3:13] What gave Jen the courage to just quit her job without a backup plan [7:43] Why Jen transitioned from her first successful business into her current one [10:42] How intuition plays into Jen's work with her clients [13:17] How one can start a side business when they're so busy at work [21:47] What steps Jen takes to ensure her work and personal lives run efficiently [29:56] Why Jen doesn't use a lot of productivity tools and what her priorities are in her planning [37:28] How Jen deals with procrastination [42:31]

Links:

ExpressVPN StrengthsFinder 2.0 Zoho

Connect with Jen Schultz

Grab a free copy of Jen's ebook "The #1 Step to Staying WITH your Business Mission" at her website Instagram Facebook

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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At the start of the year or quarter you made a goal which sounded fantastic. You were all in.

Now? Maybe you're not so sure. How do you know whether the goal you THOUGHT was a good idea truly is a goal worth pursuing for the rest of the year?

In this episode, we're going to share 3 ways you can take a look at your goals and decide whether they're goals you should still go after. Maybe they are, and maybe they're not — we'll find out!

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:59] Why Asian Efficiency felt this topic wasn't discussed enough [6:08] What it takes to make a strong why for your goals [7:56] Why it is okay for our motivations and our goals to change over time [11:06] Why we need to fall in love with our goals and get our emotions involved [14:15] How evaluating your current situation can help you get insight on your goals [18:49] Why you should break down goals into manageable steps and consult with experts often [26:02] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [35:55]

Links:

Fiverr TechSmith Capture Oh Bother Book Depository How To Stay Focused When You Get Bored Working On Your Goals (TPS272) Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having A Why Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) 5 Simple Steps to Setting Goals and Achieving Them

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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We all know that you can't buy your way to productivity. The biggest factor to you becoming more productive is for you to have focus and to execute as consistently as possible.

HOWEVER, applying the right tool, app, book, or course can make things go faster, run more smoothly, or can just make things more enjoyable.

In this episode, we are going to cover 10 of our favorite purchases over the past year, and share how they're helping us get healthier, smarter, more productive, and making our lives better.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:16] Thanh's best purchase he has made to stay healthy during quarantine [5:57] Why Brooks loves his Surface Pro 7 [9:37] Why the Airpod Pros are a step up from the others [12:51] The community-building book that turned out to be way better than Brooks expected [18:27] How Thanh is finding trends in how his habits affect his day [20:38] What data-storage solutions Brooks is upgrading into [24:05] Thanh's number one purchase of the past year [27:37] The course that helped Brooks master the "most underutilized app out there" [30:40] How a percussive therapy massage device has kept Thanh relaxed and in shape [33:45] How Brooks turned a forgotten project into a retro gaming station during quarantine [38:06] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [40:55]

Links:

REARAND Neck and Shoulder Relaxer PSO-RITE Muscle Release Tool and Personal Massager LMNT Recharge Electrolyte Hydration Powder Surface Pro 7 AirPods Pro Bose QC35 Get Together: How to build a community with your people by People & Company Daylio Samsung T5 1TB WD Blue 3D + UGREEN Enclosure Oura Ring Keyboard Maestro Field Guide by MacSparky Theragun Pro CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 Complete Starter Kit - 32 GB Edition

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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If you're listening to this podcast, we're going to bet that you've had some sort of productivity challenge in your life. Maybe you found yourself repeating the same negative habits. Maybe you haven't adapted as well to a new situation than you'd like, or maybe distractions get the better of you and you get to the end of the day and don't feel like you've accomplished anything.

Well, even though we host a podcast called The Productivity Show, we've been there too. In this episode, we're going to share 4 productivity challenges we've had over the years, and what we did to overcome them.

Even though your challenges may be different, we think you'll pick up some ideas that will help you breakthrough.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:33] What happened with Brooks that made him work on his productivity habits [8:15] How Brooks took a weekend off of his work and family life to implement his new productivity system [12:23] What made Thanh and the Asian Efficiency team learn to focus on only one thing at a time [16:00] How to evaluate many opportunities and learn to settle on just one using the ICE matrix [22:14] What Brooks did when he found himself overextended in one area of his work [26:57] How a period of uncertainty in his job and learning about how our brains work brought Thanh to GTD [35:46] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:47]

Links:

Wingz DJI Mavic Mini Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, and Icons Accelerate Success Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery with Jennifer Lava and James Lot Jr. (TPS256) Getting Things Done How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225) Check out Derek Sivers' blog post: No “yes.” Either “HELL YEAH!” or “no.” Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World GTD 101: The Beginner’s Guide To Getting Things Done

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Do you find yourself with scattered thoughts, not sure what to work on at the start of your day, or do you go to bed with thoughts, tasks, and ideas swirling around in your head?

One of the most underrated but powerful productivity techniques is to journal. It’s something that anyone can do, and it is so easy to get started.

However, there is a difference between just jotting down thoughts and journaling to really improve your productivity — and that is what we are going to help you within this episode. We’re going to take you through 4 tips to start journaling and we’ll show you how to be consistent with it going forward.

Thanks to ExpressVPN for supporting The Productivity Show. ExpressVPN is offering our listeners an extra 3 months free on a one year package. Go to ExpressVPN.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:34] The connection between journaling and productivity [4:42] How knowing your "why" for journaling can be the best way to stick with journaling long-term [6:20] Pick a medium that you enjoy to journal [14:12] Two of the most popular ways that you can use your journal [21:53] How you can use your journal to help shape the way you think [26:54] Why it is important to make your journaling a routine [29:11] Brooks's and Thanh's journaling rituals [30:55] Why you should regularly review your journal entries [37:55] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [47:10]

Links:

ExpressVPN BestSelf Journal A Maker and Creative Entrepreneur Reveals Her Personal Productivity System (w/ Best Self’s Cathryn Lavery) (TPS284) Jarvis Standing Desk Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It Join the Dojo to register for the 6/2 DTDT Call on Journaling TPS69: Journaling w/ Kendra Wright 5 Reasons Why You Need to Start Journaling Bullet Journal Day One Mac Journal Ulysses TextExpander TextExpander Snippets for Journaling Prompts How To Make Journaling A Ritual Keyboard Maestro

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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This is Episode 300 of The Productivity Show, and we thought we'd celebrate by turning the show over to you!

This is our first Q&A episode of the show, and we invited listeners of the podcast, readers of the Asian Efficiency blog, and our followers on Social media to ask us anything.

There are questions about productivity, behind the scenes questions about the podcast, our setups, and a whole lot more.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:26] "How has doing the podcast for the last five years helped you with your productivity?" [7:33] "How do you win the fight against start-of-the-day inertia? What motivates you to be Asian Efficient every morning when you wake up?" [11:50] "Where are the past hosts of The Productivity Show now?" [14:30] "What apps do you have on your home screens?" [18:31] "How do you join AE as an employee?" [22:31] "How do you organize your editorial calendar and content creation?" [28:33] "What are some of your personal reasons for choosing Mac over Windows?" [35:52] "How do you decide what kind of products you should develop and how long it will take to bring to market?" [41:57] "Why Asian Efficiency?" [45:56] "What are your audio/video setups and tools? How do you speak into the camera naturally when you’re trying to look at your notes?" [48:14] "How do you estimate your marketing budget for a given project?" [55:32] "What is your main goal for the next 3 years? Where do you want to see the Asian Efficiency Team?" [1:00:23] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [1:05:37]

Links:

Fiverr YNAB (You Need A Budget) Grammarly 5 by Dan Zadra Check out our first podcast survey Thanh's home screen Thanh's favorite apps on his home screen:

Latch Calm Overcast Audible Carrot

Brooks's home screen Brooks's favorite apps on his home screen:

Fantastical Reeder

Logitech C920 Camera Logitech Brio Heil PR40 Mic Audio-Technica AT2005 Audio Hijack Pro PromptSmart Pro (iOS/Android)

Extra Questions and Answers:

What’s the best way to demonstrate improved productivity to my manager when working from home so that when we’re all able to return to work I can KEEP working from home?

Working From Home? Productivity Tips From Decade+ Work From Home Veterans (TPS297)

Best tips on working at home for people who aren't used to this?

Working From Home? Productivity Tips From Decade+ Work From Home Veterans (TPS297) We recently covered this in a Dojo “Do The Damn Thing” live session. You can watch the recording at https://theproductivityshow.com/implement

What’s the best process to follow up with people and action items after meetings?

Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226)

How does one overcome mental tiredness that sets in after a hard day at work to pursue a side hustle in the evening? (Data point: already starts work at 7 am)

Have A Side Hustle? 5 Ways To Maximize Your Time, Energy, and Attention With a Job and a Freelance or Passion Project (TPS290)

What’s the best way to set yourself up for success the next day or the next week OTHER THAN Clear To Neutral, which he loves. Anything else?

How To Plan Your Perfect Week In Under 45 Minutes (TPS293) We recently covered this in a Dojo “Do The Damn Thing” live session - Planning the Perfect Week. You can watch the recording at https://theproductivityshow.com/implement

What do you do when you feel bored when doing a project?

How To Stay Focused When You Get Bored Working On Your Goals (TPS272)

How do you adapt an effective exercise routine at home with minimum or no equipment?

4 Ways You Can Be Happy, Healthy, and Sane When Stuck At Home (TPS299)

How do you use the stat breakdown from the Ou...

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There is a lot of information out there about working from home, but most of it is little hacks and tips and tricks. Those are definitely useful, but they ignore the mental and physical side of being stuck at home.

We always say that happy people are productive people, and that theory has never been tested more than right now while so many people are stuck at home trying to get things done.

In this episode, we’ll share 4 important things you can do to be happy, healthy, and sane when stuck at home.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:50] What Brooks and Thanh are learning about their work habits in quarantine [6:34] Why it's important to try and stick with your routine as much as possible [10:49] Make sleep and exercise a high priority to stay healthy during quarantine [15:58] What Thanh's personal trainer recommended for a minimal home gym and workout [19:32] Why we all need to make sure we are socializing as much as we can [26:46] Why socializing doesn't necessarily mean reaching out to people out of the house [35:17] Disconnect when you can! [37:06] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [45:41]

Links:

Centriq Houseparty iLightshow COVID-19 Guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Tune into the LIVE “Do The Damn Thing” session about working from home Family and Working From Home: How To Get Things Done When You’re Stuck Together 24/7 (TPS298) The article linked to Charlotte Armitage's (a media and business psychologist at YAFTA) post about routines  Learn more about the effects of exercise on depression Do These 3 Things, and Your Energy and Productivity Will Skyrocket (TPS238) Check out this article from the American Psychological Association, The risks of social isolation How to Focus While Fear, News and Social Media Is Dominating Your Life (TPS296)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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The perfect storm has finally happened. Many of us are working from home whether we want to be or not, and if that wasn’t complicated enough, if we have family members, they’re stuck at home too!

If you are working from home with kids, you’ll know how hard it is to get your work done AND keep them from going feral AND keep them from playing video games or watching Youtube 12 hours a day.

If you DON'T have kids, chances are you're working with people who are going through this.

Many of us here on the AE team is in this situation, so in this episode, we will be sharing what we and members of the community have been doing and what works for us to get things done with kids at home.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:13] How to create a fun learning environment for your kids at home [7:19] What activity stations can do to help delineate activities and tasks for kids [14:16] Creating a routine for you and your kids [17:40] How to use visual cues to minimize interruptions [28:47] Why we need to make sure we have compassion for ourselves and for our family in this time [33:03] Why communicating your schedule effectively with others can alleviate a lot of issues [39:17]

Links:

Wired In ClickUp Loom Productive At Home Brooks' Family Kanban Board Children interrupts BBC News interview Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) Khan Academy TPS47: 13 Productive Parenting Hacks Dojo member: Meghan McInerny's Red/Yellow/Green paper for signaling her deep work time Dojo member: Meghan McInerny's Kanban for Kids Check out this automated “Dad’s on a call” sign with LEDs and controlled by a Telegram bot

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Recently a lot of people transitioned to work from home and feel out of their element. They’re finding it harder to focus and get things done. They don’t have the right tools, they have their kids at home, a partner around them 24/7 and they’re going crazy staying inside the whole time! Don’t worry, anyone can productively work from home with a few tips and strategies and that’s what we’ll share with you today. Brooks and I have combined over 21 years of working from home and we have 5 tips that we’ll help you get more done at home without going crazy!

Thanks to Literati for supporting The Productivity Show. Literati is offering our listeners 25% off their first two orders. Go to Literati.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:33] How today's episode can help everybody, from people new to working from home to seasoned veterans [4:40] Why people who are used to working from home will have an advantage in this new economy [7:41] The importance of having a dedicated workspace that you love [14:48] How creating a schedule for your day can help direct your energy and focus [24:02] Why making a schedule and sticking to it can help you keep a healthy work-life balance [31:24] Why keeping your team members informed about your availability is very helpful for you and for them [33:05] How regular breaks throughout the day can keep you healthy, refreshed, and recharged [42:20] The importance of letting your family know when you are at work and when you are not [48:10] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [53:00]

Links:

Literati Anker USB C Charger, PowerCore+ 26800 PD The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance By Josh Waitzkin SelfControl Check out our live webinar about how to be productive at home Using a Virtual Background with Zoom 7 Keys to Setting Up Your Home Office for Maximum Productivity (TPS202) How To Design A More Focused and Productive Work Environment (TPS291) 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) The Asian Efficiency Guide to Getting Started With Structural Productivity How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) 4 Strategies for Developing Your Focus Muscle and Creating the Future You’ve Always Dreamed of (TPS145)

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Recently, we did a survey of the Asian Efficiency audience and did a check-in: we asked what kind of impact the global pandemic we're going through is having.

As we suspected, a lot of us are struggling. Even if you and your family are healthy, and even if you're used to working from home, there's a lot of change going on right now, and change can be extremely disruptive.

The good news is that it is possible to focus on your important priorities and be informed. In fact, we think that ability is going to be a competitive advantage in the future.

In this episode, we're going to give you 5 strategies to give you that advantage.

Thanks to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Thanks also to Literati for supporting The Productivity Show. Literati is offering our listeners 25% off their first two orders. Go to Literati.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:50] What inspired this episode and who will benefit most from it [5:35] Why you should only be focusing on what you can control [11:43] How to be proactive and firewall your attention [16:49] What music can do to help ensure you have a focused time for work [25:20] Use focus blocks to carve out time to focus [31:57] Why setting aside time to stay up to date on what is happening in the world helps [36:23] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [43:04]

Links:

Fiverr Literati Focus Booster StayFocusd Momentum Dash COVID-19: How To Be As Productive As Possible During Coronavirus Isolation (TPS291.5) Freedom Cold Turkey Focal Filter Pomodoro The Ultimate Guide to The Pomodoro Technique The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months The 12 Week Year: The “Secret Sauce” To Achieving Your Goals Every Quarter (TPS288)

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Let’s talk about failure. It is easy to be productive when everything is going well, but what happens when you have a setback? Even a small failure can be discouraging and get you in a rut. What can you do to get yourself to be productive again? We’re going to share 3 strategies for how to bounce back from failure and share examples of how we’ve done it ourselves.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:43] Some of Brooks' and Thanh's recent failures [5:42] Why it is important to separate yourself from your successes and failures [8:48] Why your first instinct may not always be best [16:12] What changing your environment can do to get you back on track [17:25] Why happy people are productive people [24:05] What makes different members of the Asian Efficiency Dojo happy [30:15] Action steps you can take to integrate today's topic into your life [33:15]

Links:

Blinkist Otter MindMeister HelloSign The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance The Secret to Finding Your Blindspots and Overcoming Setbacks w/ Nabill Idrisi (TPS160) How to Bounce Back When Everything Goes Wrong (TPS150) Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why The ONLY Way You Can Inspire Change in Others (TPS204) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171)

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The first quarter of the year is done — how are you doing on your yearly goals? Are you on track? Are you behind? Have you dropped some goals and added any new ones? Have you even made any goals for the year?

In this episode, we will be reviewing the goals we made on the podcast at the beginning of the year, and most importantly — we will share some tips and things we've learned about keeping and working towards your goals.

We'll also share what to do when a goal doesn't make sense anymore. Sometimes things come up and you need to make a course correction.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:24] Who this episode is for and how it can help people who struggle with goal setting [4:33] The goals Brooks and Thanh set last quarter [7:29] How Thanh's goals evolved over the first quarter and what he could do better next time [10:28] What Brooks implemented for his goals this year and how it helped him succeed so far [14:08] How Thanh is increasing his likelihood of succeeding at his new goal [19:38] The little "kaizen" improvements Brooks has made over this first quarter [24:10] Why Thanh prefers consulting professionals for advice instead of going the DIY route [27:53] How Brooks and Thanh keep track of their progress [30:20]

Links:

Zoom Copied How to Lead When Your Boss Can't (Or Won't) by John Maxwell Here’s How To Improve Every Year Using Our Annual Review Template (TPS279) What Do Productivity Ninjas Do To Prepare For An Amazing 2020? (TPS280) 6 Simple Ways To Stick To Your Goals This Year That Don’t Involve Willpower (TPS281) Day One Ulysses Daylio

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Do you ever get to the end of the week and realize that you haven’t made real progress on any of your goals and priorities? You see stuff on your todo list that didn’t get done. And then maybe you thought to yourself: “How did this happen?”

The key to having a productive week is not just what you do during the week - it is what you do before the week even starts. You need to plan your week and plan it the right way.

In this episode, we will take you through the 4 things you should do to plan your perfect week, so you can finish the week with a feeling of accomplishment, not frustration.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:46] One of the new techniques that the Asian Efficiency Dojo has been implementing [5:42] Why it is important to set aside dedicated time to plan out your week [8:54] Why we can't leave our priorities for the week up to chance [17:54] What you can learn from reviewing your past week [26:06] How leaving yourself with unplanned time is necessary for a productive week [34:39] Some action steps to help you get started on this today [40:57]

Links:

Join in on the Asian Efficiency Dojo's "Do The Damn Thing" call Blinkist Uniball Signo DX .38 pen Marinara Pomodoro Timer MagicPlan How I Plan My Week as a CEO Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) How to Use Your Calendar Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) 3 Simple Steps to Help You Master Your Calendar (TPS198) How to Prioritize Your Todo List With A Sheet of Paper Listen to Time Ferris's podcast with Jim Collins — A Rare Interview with a Reclusive Polymath (#361) Oura Ring The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months The 12 Week Year: The “Secret Sauce” To Achieving Your Goals Every Quarter (TPS288) Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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I did a Google search for “productivity advice”, and it brought back 210,000,000 results. A lot of those results are giving the same advice over and over, and a lot of time we just accept it. Someone puts it in a book, so it must be true!

Here’s the thing though: it may not be true for YOU.

In this episode, we are going to share our controversial opinions on productivity. Things that we believe, even though they may not be conventional wisdom or people may not be willing to talk about.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks also to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:21] What "Time Arbitrage" is and why Thanh believes it is the key to getting more productive hours out of your day [6:01] Why even though you _think_ you're a night owl, you're probably not [9:33] How having a day of only meetings can free up a lot of time and deep work disruption [12:05] What to do if you want a meeting day but aren't in charge of scheduling meetings [20:34] Why DIY is often not efficient at all [24:27] Believe it or not, doing your most important task first is NOT necessarily the golden rule of productivity [39:03]

Links:

Freshbooks Fiverr Grailed Daylio Snapseed 8 Strategies for Waking Up Early and Becoming a Morning Person (TPS130) Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don'tscaling up book 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) TaskRabbit How I Spend $5,000 a Month to Win Back Time and Make Me Happier Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Eat That Frog – Do Your Most Important Tasks In The Morning Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226)

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As you know we’re in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. We thought it was our duty to help you stay productive throughout this period, and that’s why we put this bonus episode together at the last minute.

The reality is, for most of us life goes on and we have to adapt to what’s going on. We still have to pay our bills, mortgages, and rent. Deadlines still have to be met.

A lot of people are now forced to work from home which is challenging, and then having your kids at home on top of that can make it even more difficult to be productive.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [2:23] How to work from home and in a remote team, even if it is new to you [9:44] How you can get anything done with kids at home [29:53] Ways to focus while fear, news, and social media is dominating your life [38:01] Tips to stay healthy and sane during isolation time [47:34] How to make "social distancing" bearable [59:43]

Links:

Calm App Congaplex Freedom Zoom The Summer Juggle — Can You Be Productive When The Kids Are On Summer Break? (TPS251) Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) OK To Wake Alarm Clock The Ultimate Guide to The Pomodoro Technique Vitamin-R Serene Sleep Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214) Start Yourself On A Lifetime of Unlimited Physical Energy and Amazing Sleep (TPS267)

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Whether you are working in an office or working from home, the environment you are in is either supporting or hurting your productivity - you just may not know it!

This episode is about designing your environment. We don’t mean whether your walls should be “Raspberry Truffle” or what size your baseboards should be — we mean setting up where you work and live so that you are able to get your best work done and be as productive as possible.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks and Marmel's top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:05] How Marmel has put today's topic into immediate practice during recording [6:10] The productivity boost of having a well-curated workspace [9:53] How Brooks and Marmel have made difficult corporate workspaces in the past work for them [13:36] Why "a cluttered desk makes a cluttered mind" [18:06] What to do if you need to use one space for many different contexts [30:32] How to minimize digital distractions [33:51] The power of friction [38:05] Keep a recurring time to declutter your space [48:06]

Links:

Freshbooks Visit a City Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug Portable Bidet Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) 7 Keys to Setting Up Your Home Office for Maximum Productivity (TPS202) NexStand 57 Secrets for Organizing Your Small Business post-it note Twitter thread Jarvis Momentum The One Habit That Stops Procrastination In Its Tracks: Clearing To Neutral OneTab

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Today’s episode is about how you maintain a full-time job while starting and growing a side hustle. This could be a passion project, freelancing gig, or something else you want to start on the side while maintaining your full-time job. It can be tough to balance the two without feeling overwhelmed and for a lot of people, it’s almost impossible to start a side hustle because their full-time job is taking up all their time.

But don’t you worry, we got you covered. We’ll share 5 tips to maximize your time and ways for you to start and grow your side hustle.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Get started today at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources for this week [3:32] What a side hustle can mean and who this episode is for [5:24] Why becoming a master of scheduling your time is so important in having a side hustle [7:19] The power of cumulative time [18:15] How to automate and delegate tasks and why you should do it as often as you can [24:54] Prioritize communication way higher than you think you should [32:24] Why you need to celebrate the wins you get with your side hustle [41:08]

Links:

Freshbooks Indeed Peerspace Fully Jarvis Swish Target Shipped 5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262) 10% Entrepreneurship w/ Patrick McGinnis: Achieving Entrepreneurial Freedom Without Sacrificing 9-to-5 Stability (TPS157) 5 Ways to Set Your Side Hustle Up for Growth

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One of the most common questions we get is: "Should I keep my work and personal tasks together? Or should I separate them? How about my email and calendar?"

In this episode, we’re going to tackle this controversial topic and give you 4 strategies that have worked well for us and others in the Asian Efficiency community.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial and 25% off your new subscription. Go to Blinkist.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks also to Fiverr for supporting The Productivity Show. Fiverr is offering our listeners 10% off their first order by going to Fiverr.com and using the code TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top three productivity resources for this week [2:12] What inspired Brooks to create this episode and why it's a topic for everybody [4:28] The question people are _really_ asking when they are trying to figure out their work-life balance [7:58] How to free up your Time, Energy, and Attention [11:45] What to look for when you're hiring outside help [18:02] How consolidating your inputs and capture points can focus your energy to where it's most effective [23:34] Why you should develop your tunnel vision [31:55] The power and unintuitive nature of intentional imbalance in achieving your goals [40:31]

Links:

Blinkist Fiverr LegalShield Fantastical 3 TripMode Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year With 5 Time-Saving Techniques (TPS241) 4 Tools to Automate Your Technology and Save 100+ Hours a Year (TPS242) TaskRabbit Web Automation: The Easiest Way To Be More Productive Online (TPS282) Never Enough Time? Schedule Your Priorities by Color Coding Your Calendars Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139)TPS 139 How to Prioritize Your Todo List With A Sheet of Paper

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Do you have trouble achieving your goals? Even if you've meticulously planned out your year, taking those plans and translating them into accomplishments doesn't always work out the way you hope.

A powerful framework for achieving your goals is called The 12 Week Year, which is based on a book by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington.

In this episode, we revisit The 12 Week Year and share 5 tips that will help you succeed with it and accomplish your goals faster and more consistently.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's and Thanh's top 3 productivity resources for the week [3:24] What the 12 Week Year is and why the Asian Efficiency community loves it [5:13] Why you should focus on fewer goals than you think [11:06] The power of knowing your "why" when setting your goals [19:24] What tracking your actions does for accomplishing your 12 Week Year goals [23:42] The difference between measuring lead instead of lag indicators [31:21] Accountability buddies and how it can increase your motivation when you feel like you don't have any left [37:04] Action steps that can help you get started on your 12 Week Year [41:25]

Links:

Freshbooks Grammarly Pocket Biases How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) CableCreation 2-in-1 Cable Gratitude How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Check out the 12 Week Year Dojo course Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence

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If you’ve looked at productivity apps at all, you will have come across Evernote. Some people think about Evernote as a “note-taking app”, but it is so much more than that. It’s where you can remember everything that is important, and it’s the tool you can use to stay organized, wherever you are in the world and with whatever device you have access to.

We’ve talked a lot about Evernote on the podcast, going back as far as 2015. In this episode, we are going to revisit how we use Evernote, and share some of our favorite Evernote tips — some you may not have used before, even if you’ve been using Evernote for as long as we have.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks also to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Get started today at Indeed.com/tps.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's top 3 productivity resources for the week [3:23] How Thanh and Brooks first encountered Evernote and what they used it for [7:16] Why despite some popular articles and videos, Evernote is far from dead [11:14] How Evernote has made the Asian Efficiency team's organization much better [14:54] Why it's really important not to overthink how you organize your notes [25:16] The advantage of creating a dashboard or table of contents [30:54] The power of utilizing the Evernote template system [35:02] How to become a web clipper power user and combine it with Gmail [39:30] The super-shortcut that is under-utilized in Evernote [43:35]

Links:

Freshbooks Indeed Evernote ScanSnap iX1500 Scannable Scanbot Rocketbook Core Check out the upcoming Charles Byrd webinar on Evernote The Future of Work w/ Andrew Sinkov of Evernote (TPS50) An Evernote Consultant Reveals How She Uses The Tool To Manage Busy Life and Business (TPS268) Notion and Choosing The Right Productivity Tool For You w/ Francesco D’Alessio (TPS273) We Were Tired of Forgetting The Books We Read — So We Use This System (TPS245) How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225) Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (TPS166) Learn more about this awesome Siri Shortcut: How to capture ideas before they’re gone forever with iOS Shortcuts!

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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I’m joined by Eric Tivers who runs the podcast ADHD Rewired and is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people with ADHD succeed in life. We dive deep into what ADHD is, how to diagnose it and what to do be productive if you think you have ADHD.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks also to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Why Eric wanted to share his experience as a person with ADHD, and how that evolved into his work [2:11] What people with ADHD commonly experience in their daily life [4:57] How to know if you have ADHD [8:00] Some of the strategies that Eric teaches to the people he works with [11:39] What Eric sees those with ADHD learn and develop to overcome their disorder [20:26] Eric's stance on medication and nootropics for people with ADHD [30:16] What Eric would recommend for people who think they may be suffering from ADHD [36:50]

Links:

Freshbooks Grammarly Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling

Connect with Eric Tivers

ADHD reWired

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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We talk about health quite a bit here on the podcast, and for good reason: we believe that good health leads to energy, and energy is a key part of our TEA Framework: if you don’t have enough energy, it doesn’t matter how focused you are or how much you master your time - you aren’t going to be as productive as you want to be.

In this episode we are going to be sharing some of our best health hacks - things you can do RIGHT NOW to be more rested, have more energy and have a solid foundation to be uber-productive.

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Thanks also to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

This week's top 3 productivity resources [2:59] Why Thanh drinks apple cider vinegar every night before bed [4:39] Brook's favorite sleep and travel hack [8:17] How one of Thanh's favorite health hacks has saved him from food poisoning [11:09] The supplement that helps keep Thanh and Brooks avoid getting sick [15:50] How to avoid the side effects of afternoon coffee drinking [18:32] The best meditation app that doubles as a sleep aid [24:29] How a float tank can act as a "meditation on steroids" [28:31] The easiest way to make sure you're hydrated throughout the day [33:06] What Egoscue is and how it helped Thanh fix his alignment and posture [36:22] Tracking your food intake and the many benefits it can have on your health [40:12]

Links:

Freshbooks Grammarly Calendly Notion Minaal Carry-On 2.0 Manta Sleep Mask Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214) Congaplex by Standard Process Calm.com Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) An Evernote Consultant Reveals How She Uses The Tool To Manage Busy Life and Business (TPS268) Waterminder Low Productivity, Procrastination, Back Pain…These Are Some Of The Penalties For Neglecting Your Posture w/ Rick Mathes (TPS246) Egoscue MyFitnessPal

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I’m joined this time by Cathryn Lavery. She’s the co-founder of the Best Self company that you might recognize as the creator of the Self Planner and Self Journal. Cathryn considers herself a maker and creator so we dove deep into how she approaches the creative process, gets things done and what her personal productivity system is.

Thanks to Indeed for supporting The Productivity Show. Get started today at Indeed.com/tps.

Thanks also to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Cheat Sheet:

Cathryn's three favorite productivity resources [1:34] How Cathryn accidentally made productivity into her job [4:18] What makes Cathryn's Self Journal so effective [9:38] The strategies and productivity tools Cathryn had before she started Best Self [11:50] How Cathryn's weekly structure works with her creativity to maximize her most productive times [16:29] How Best Self evolved from productivity into a more holistic brand [26:46] What benefits the Oura Ring has had in Cathryn's life [34:00] Why you should work with people who are passionate about what they do [47:00] How Cathryn uses the Best Self products in her own life, and surprising stories from other Best Self clients [50:17]

Links:

Indeed Freshbooks Notion Loom Self Journal The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) Oura Ring Landmark Forum Peloton CITYROW GO Productive Workouts and Recover Like a World-Class Athlete w/ Garrett Salpeter (TPS223)

Connect with Cathryn Lavery

BestSelf.co Instagram Twitter Facebook

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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This isn’t going to be your normal “New Year” productivity podcast. You may or may not know that a few days after this podcast is released, it will be the start of a new Chinese New Year, or more accurately called Lunar New Year.

5,000 years of Asian culture can’t be wrong, so since this is Asian Efficiency, we are going to talk about some of the lessons from Lunar New Year traditions, and how we can apply them to have a more productive and happy 2020. So Happy Year of the Metal Rat!

Thanks to Freshbooks for supporting The Productivity Show. Freshbooks is offering our listeners a free 30-day trial, no catch and no credit card required. Go to Freshbooks.com/tps and enter TPS in the "How did you hear about us" section to get started.

Cheat Sheet:

Thanh and Brooks' top 3 favorite productivity tools for this week [2:37] What this year's Chinese sign is and why it is such a good omen [10:52] Why we work on being productive in the first place [13:02] How these elements of the Lunar New Year can help anybody, regardless of heritage or ethnicity [15:28] What can be learned from the Chinese traditions of giving red envelopes for the new year [23:39] Spring cleaning and the sweeping away of our demons for the new year [32:45] Why you should be wary of being too ambitious with your new year's goals [37:27]

Links:

Freshbooks Just Timers Logiix Peels Airpod Case Mixtiles 3 Keys to Planning the Perfect Week (TPS156) How to Prioritize Your Todo List With A Sheet of Paper Productive Networking: 5 Secrets To Connect That Anyone Can Do (TPS276) Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention How To Be Productive Through Illness and Recovery (TPS256)

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Usually when people talk about “automation”, they’re talking about turning the lights on and off with smart lights or automating things on the computer like moving files around or text expansion.

Those are all super-useful automation, but what about a huge chunk of our work and home technology use: the web?

In this episode, we’re going to be sharing some examples of personal and business automation that happen automatically thanks to some insanely useful web tools, and we’ll share some of our favorite browser extensions that save us time and hassle.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's top 3 productivity resources of the week [2:14] What web automation is and how it can save you time and energy [5:43] The web browser automation Brooks loves the most [7:19] Thanh's top browser extensions [12:32] How web automation services can connect all of your different internet tools [18:00] The big differences between IFTTT and Zapier [22:36] Some of the Asian Efficiency team's favorite Zapier automation [30:35]

Links:

Momentum Zoom Freshbooks Send To OmniFocus OneTab Grammarly 1Password An Evernote Consultant Reveals How She Uses The Tool To Manage Busy Life and Business (TPS268) Evernote Web Clipper Pocket IFTTT Zapier

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In today’s episode, we’ll be covering 6 strategies for how to stick to your goals this year and even if you lose momentum, we’ll give you practical tips for picking it back up. We know that this is going to be an awesome year for you, and we want to give you the tools to make that happen!

Cheat Sheet:

The top 3 productivity resources of the year so far [1:46] Who this episode is for and what it will help you accomplish in the new year [3:25] Get real with your goals: do you know what you're getting into? [6:45] Why Thanh recommends aiming for only one goal at a time [12:32] How to break down your goal into actionable steps [23:11] How to create rituals that will support your goal and habits that can make them stronger [30:41] The many different ways to track how you are doing with your new goals [37:24] How setting a regular review process can keep you on track for success [42:13]

Links:

Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention Vessi Waterproof Knit Shoes Ibble 2 Ways to Instantly Create the Motivation You Need to Accomplish Any Goal (TPS203) How To Stick To Your Goals This Year And Every Year (TPS229) Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Calm A System for Reviewing Goals (TPS56) How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138)

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The day this podcast is released is the day before New Year's Eve. By the time you’re listening to it, it will either be right at the end of the year, or your new year has already begun.

Either way, it is never too late to set yourself up for success for the rest of the year, and today is a perfect time to do it. We will share 5 ways to make this new year your best year ever.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's and Thanh's top productivity resources for this week [2:07] What the Asian Efficiency team saw in their clients that inspired this episode [5:52] Why conducting an annual review is so helpful in showing you where to spend your time and energy in the upcoming year [8:05] How you can use the TEA framework to level up your 2020 [15:35] How Thanh attacked his own shortcomings within the TEA framework last year [23:06] Why you should put your number one goal in writing [30:03] The power of making a strong system when you are setting your goals [37:07] How to use your calendar with your new system to achieve super-powered productivity [46:28]

Links:

Grammarly HyperFocus Noisli 1Password Here’s How To Improve Every Year Using Our Annual Review Template (TPS279) If You Focus On This, You’ll Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet (TPS228) Revisiting The TEA Framework: Should We Add This 4th Pillar? (TPS275) Start Yourself On A Lifetime of Unlimited Physical Energy and Amazing Sleep (TPS267) Momentum for Chrome Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) We Were Tired of Forgetting The Books We Read — So We Use This System (TPS245)

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In today’s episode, we’ll be giving you the tools to conduct an annual review the right way and share new practices we’ve learned over the past year to help you achieve your goals. Whether you’ve never done an annual review before or you already do them, if you want to make 2020 your best year yet you cannot miss this episode.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks and Thanh's top 3 productivity resources of this week [1:42] What an annual review consists of and why the AE team swears by it [3:08] The first tool you will need for a successful annual review [9:56] How Thanh approaches his journaling process [16:11] The accomplishment list and how it helps with your annual review [21:56] What kinds of accomplishments Thanh and Brooks write down in their list [28:24] Why keeping a failure list is overall a good thing [32:27] What you can do if you don't have these resources available for your annual review [40:18]

Links:

PhraseExpress FC Folding Pocket Utility Knife Manta Sleep Mask How To Do An Annual Review The Right Way (TPS227) How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) DayOne

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Working while studying has many benefits, but it can also be overwhelming and exhausting. Don’t let the juggle between the two overtake your life or jeopardize your academic or career success. Whether you’re working your way through college, working in a field that you love or expanding your experience and knowledge while having a full-time job, then this episode is for you.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Marmel and Brooks's top 3 favorite resources [2:13] The challenges many people face when trying to juggle work and continuing their education [5:48] Why the why is so important in discovering your priorities [9:36] How involving those closest to you can help energize your continuing education [13:46] Why you can't neglect your energy when you're working hard on a project [20:52] How to use all of this information to create your own productivity system [26:05] The importance of celebrating your milestones along the way [35:13]

Links:

NordVPN Otter Nexstand Being Good At Your Job Is Not Enough For Growth: You Need To Create This Plan (TPS240) TEA Framework, Level 2: Maximizing Your Energy (TPS220) The Ultimate Guide to The Pomodoro Technique Celebrating Your Wins (TPS100)

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Today I’m joined by Corina Frankie, the founder of Brand Besties that helps companies with experiential marketing services. She’s a good friend of mine and a very smart, successful single mom and entrepreneur. We talk about how she’s able to run a business while raising a kid by herself, how she approaches work-life balance and her unique approach to productivity.

Cheat Sheet:

Corina's top 3 productivity resources [1:31] What makes Corina stand out to Thanh, and what a typical week looks like for her [3:57] How Corina's work-life has been set up to maximize her time with her son [11:52] Corina's "money date" and how it helps her plan for the future [15:40] Why routine has never been normal for Corina, and how she plans with that in mind [20:12] How Corina finds it effortless to find time for what she wants out of life [25:15] The benefits of living an extremely intentional life [38:28] Corina's best "mom hacks" [41:13] What Corina teaches her kid about how she lives her life and why she sees it as super important when they are young [45:53]

Links:

Apple Airpods Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle with One-Touch Flip Lid Tim Ferris

Connect with Corina Frankie

Instagram Brand Besties

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Today we are going to be talking about Productive Networking. You’ll discover 5 tips and strategies you can use for your next networking event to meet new people. Whether you’re introverted and have trouble meeting people, or you are looking for ways to improve your networking, this episode is for you.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/tps to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks and Thanh's top 3 favorite resources for this week [2:12] What makes a successful networker [5:11] How not to network [9:05] How to take advantage of predictable questions when meeting someone new [13:40] Ways to get past the awkward beginnings of a new conversation [19:53] Why you should be relentlessly helpful and never keep score [30:29] What you should always do before you start exchanging information [36:02] How to increase the likelihood of people to come out and remember you well [40:05] The most important part of networking: the follow up [46:28] An actionable exercise you can start using today to improve your networking skills [53:38]

Links:

BusyContacts 1Password Zero How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225) Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention

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A year ago we unveiled the TEA Framework here on the podcast, which is our simple framework that will help you get laser-focused on the root cause when your productivity dips. We’ve learned that there are three currencies that you must master in order to be as productive as you can be, and one year on we are going to revisit the TEA framework, share some feedback and successes that we’ve received, and share our lessons learned one year on.

We’ll also cover where you should start if you are feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or distracted.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's top 3 productivity resources [2:30] The three areas that make up the TEA framework and how it can help with your productivity [4:51] What makes the TEA framework so useful in diagnosing problems [10:32] Why the Time element is the reason most everybody learned about productivity [15:37] Why Energy is the most important element of the TEA framework [21:43] The three components of Attention [33:24] Why Attention may be the most important for freelancers and those high up in their company [39:00] How to get started in implementing the TEA framework [45:29] How members of the Dojo have used the TEA framework to supercharge their productivity and remove roadblocks [47:51] Is this the newest letter to the TEA framework? [49:29] What a whole year of the TEA framework has shown Thanh and Brooks [52:47]

Links:

ScanSnap iX100 Anker USB C to Lightning Cable Wiiv Custom Orthotics Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) TEA Framework, Level 1: Making the Most of Your Limited Time (TPS219) 12 Week Year TEA Framework, Level 2: Maximizing Your Energy (TPS220) Oura Ring TEA Framework, Level 3: Maximizing Your Attention & Focus (TPS221)

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Think back to when you started your productivity journey — are there things you know now that you wish you did back then? Is there anything you’d do differently? Are you just getting started and want to make sure you start off on the right foot?

In this episode, we will be talking about the things we’d change if we were starting over from scratch, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. You can learn from the things we did well, and the areas of growth we’ve experienced.

Thanks to Honeybook for supporting The Productivity Show. Honeybook is offering our listeners 50% off your first year. Go to Honeybook.com/tps to learn more.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's and Thanh's top 3 productivity resources [2:47] How the TEA framework can guide you whether you're just starting out with productivity or you're a veteran [5:01] What Thanh recommends to manage your time most efficiently [8:43] How Brooks and Thanh make quickly capturing tasks and ideas simple [18:37] How Brooks's favorite time management tips have paid dividends over time [20:55] The tried and true methods to recover and make the most of your energy [27:45] The power of "eating the frog" first thing in your day [37:11] Thinking time to improve the clarity of your goals and quality of your work [44:46] Why asking for help is such an important tool for honing our focus and attention [49:17] The "bonus round" of productivity tips from Brooks, Thanh, and the Dojo [51:55]

Links:

Honeybook Grammarly Thnks Jason Markk Quick Wipes The Republic of Tea, Tea Of Inquiry Full-Leaf Green Tea Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful 3 Simple Steps To Win The Last Quarter Of The Year (TPS269) Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) 5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262) Thinking Time: The Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) Use These 5 Tips To Travel Stress-Free and Organized This Summer (TPS252)

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In this episode, Francesco D’Alessio from the Keep Productive Youtube channel returns to the podcast. We talk about Notion, a productivity tool that has been getting a ton of buzz over the past year, as well as how to pick a productivity tool that's right for you.

We also do a lightning round where Francesco shares his favorite tools that he uses to be productive every day.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to LinkedIn.com/jobs to learn more about how LinkedIn can help you.

Thanks also to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Francesco's top 3 productivity resources [2:22] What Notion is and why it's such a revolutionary application [6:58] Some of the more inspired uses of Notion that Francesco has seen in the community [11:05] How Notion's flexible options make maintaining a database much easier than with other platforms [13:49] Why Francesco says Notion does 80% of what every other application can do [19:19] What Airtable is and how it is useful for teams [25:30] Why Francesco made his "Sorry Evernote Users" video and how Evernote's role in his life has changed [28:54] What apps and tools Francesco for different productivity areas [37:13] Francesco's advice for how to best use your tools [44:07]

Links:

LinkedIn Grammarly 21 Lessons for the 21st Century JBL Lifestyle E65BTNC Over-Ear Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Headphones Woven Calendar Task Manager Smackdown: Simplify Your Life By Choosing the Right Task Manager for YOU (TPS181) Notion Notion Template Gallery Watch Francesco's documentary on Notion: Notion's Team & Culture Airtable "The Most Advanced Airtable I've Ever Seen!" The Productivity Show: productivity books airtable article "Sorry Evernote Users" Todoist Moleskine Timepage App Missive Sanebox Baron Fig Notebooks

Connect with Francesco D’Alessio

Keep Productive on Youtube Twitter Email

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Do you get easily bored with your goals after a while? Do you get easily distracted even though you know you should be focusing on your goals? Then this episode is for you. I’ll share 5 tips with you to help you stay focused when you get bored working on your goals. This episode is going to be a solo episode too. Brooks is somewhere vacationing in Siberia, I wish that was a joke but he’s traveling the country by train right now and Marmel is spending quality time with her family, so it’s just you and me today.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your premium account today.

Thanks to Rhone for supporting The Productivity Show. Visit Rhone.com/tps and enter code TPS during checkout for 20% off your first purchase. Go to Rhone.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Thanh's top three habit-building resources [2:22] Why putting in the hours is the most important thing [5:10] The power of falling in love with the process [8:50] Why you need to stay connected with the purpose of your goals [16:30] How to change your plan if necessary, and keep your goal the same [23:01] What advantages a process-oriented habit has over a goal-oriented one [26:18]

Links:

Grammarly Rhone Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It Loopsie

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Today I’m joined by Katherine Fan, a senior writer for The Points Guy, one of the leading websites on travel. She has flown a million miles in her lifetime so she knows a thing or two about traveling productively and efficiently. That’s what we’re diving into today and how she does it while staying productive on the road.

Thanks to Honeybook for supporting The Productivity Show. Honeybook is offering our listeners 50% off your first year. Go to Honeybook.com/TPS to learn more.

Thanks also to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Katherine's top 3 productivity resources [1:46] How Katherine stays on track with her routines as she travels [8:48] Why staying on track with goals while traveling is actually easier for Katherine [14:36] How Katherine packs to maximize space and usefulness of every item [19:19] What suitcase Katherine recommends for people to travel with [28:54] Why Katherine insists on having two of everything she uses regularly at home [33:53] How her work gets done while on the road, and Katherine's robust backup strategy [37:37] The key to getting upgraded on your flights [48:44] How Katherine approaches solo travel as a woman [59:16]

Links:

Honeybook Grammarly The Points Guy The Enneagram Kindle Audible App FRYE Women's Belted Harness Mule Rosegold Away Aluminum Suitcase Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series I) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling Dropbox Slack

Connect with Katherine Fan

The Points Guy KatherineFan.com Instagram

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When people talk about planning, usually they talk about planning your day, planning your week, or even your quarter or year. But what about higher-level strategic planning?

In this episode, we’re going to talk about making sure you are doing the right things and making sure that what you are doing is actually taking you where you want to go using the 5-step strategic planning we use ourselves.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to LinkedIn.com/jobs to learn more about how LinkedIn can help you.

Cheat Sheet:

This week's top 3 productivity resources [2:15] Why strategic planning isn't just for your boss [5:01] The importance of a distinct and clear vision in strategic planning [8:07] What you need to research to make your planning a success [16:04] The ideal outcome of the research process and what it will provide for you [23:52] The strategy of how to implement your ideas, and why knowing where you are is the best way to get started [29:51] Brooks's and Thanh's strategy development processes [40:26] Why the strategy planning matters so much when execution comes around [44:13] How to improve your execution as you go [48:01] What a review of your plan can do for you and your future [53:37]

Links:

The Road Less Stupid Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen Rocketbook Clarity.fm Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career 3 Simple Steps To Win The Last Quarter Of The Year (TPS269)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Can you believe it’s already the final quarter of the year? Q4 is often a time where one of two things happens: either we feel down because we haven't accomplished what we thought we would during the year, or we're motivated to make a final push to finish up the year strong.

This episode will help you be in the latter camp: we're going to take you through the 3 step framework we use to make sure the final quarter of the year is our best quarter, so you can go into the holidays feeling accomplished.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's top 3 productivity resources this week [2:32] How to review your last quarter to prepare for the final quarter of 2019 [5:34] What you can discover about yourself and your next quarter with three simple questions [8:31] What to look for when goal setting for the new quarter [15:37] How to improve on the things you're doing already [25:27] Ways to get in-depth with the events from last quarter to do them even more effectively this time [32:04] How to make optimize your goal setting [40:42] Why you should be optimistic but not too eager in how many goals you set for yourself [47:19] Some rapid-fire quick tips and tricks to make next quarter your best quarter [50:08]

Links:

Leatherman Style PS Keychain Multitool Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career Calzones The Summer Juggle — Can You Be Productive When The Kids Are On Summer Break? (TPS251) Here’s A Quick Way To Stay On Track With Your Goals All Year (TPS254) 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel Become Productive Again: 6 Ways To Get Back On Track (TPS255) 12 Week Year Fatigue, Procrastination and Being Unproductive…These Are Some of the Penalties of Ignoring This One Thing (TPS237)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Today I’m joined by Stacey Harmon, a certified Evernote consultant who helps people get setup and use Evernote. We dive deep into how she uses Evernote to run her life and business, we share examples of how other people use Evernote and some advanced tips and tricks to get the most out of the tool. Even if you don’t use Evernote, you’ll learn a lot of ways to organize information and process them in whatever tool you use.

Thanks to Honeybook for supporting The Productivity Show. Honeybook is offering our listeners 50% off your first year. Go to Honeybook.com/TPS to learn more.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to LinkedIn.com/jobs to learn more about how LinkedIn can help you.

Cheat Sheet:

Stacey's top three productivity resources [2:17] How Stacey got started working with Evernote [4:11] How to make next year's taxes easy [7:27] Why Evernote being a blank slate is so powerful, but can be daunting to new users [9:51] What Stacey sees as the strengths and drawbacks of Evernote [16:57] How to set up a GTD workflow in Evernote [26:12] Stacey's productivity philosophy [37:07] How to use Evernote for anything [47:02] Poweruser tips for people looking to get better with Evernote [51:34]

Links:

Evernote Honeybook LinkedIn Scannable Superhuman Calm Why Michael Hyatt is Wrong about Organizing Evernote with Tags TPS96: Setting Up Your Dashboard in Evernote w/ Stacey Harmon

Connect with Stacey Harmon

Harmon Enterprises Twitter Facebook

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A couple of weeks ago, I took a hair test that tested for mineral deficiencies. I learned about this when I met Barton Scott, founder of Upgraded Formulas, that helps people identify mineral deficiencies in their bodies and then makes recommendations for you to optimize your health and which supplements to take. On this episode, we go over my test results and I didn’t know what they were before we recorded so you’re going to hear my first reaction on the episode. You’ll also learn how you can optimize your health to live longer, sleep better and feel your best. I’m excited for you to listen to this episode today!

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

The three things that most affected Barton's life over the last 10 years [2:23] What happened in Barton's life that got him started in productivity and health [3:45] What Barton has learned about the absorption rates of supplements, and what that means for your health and wellness [7:02] Why multivitamins are not only ineffective but can be harmful to your health [12:44] How a hair test can reveal more about what your body needs than a blood test [14:23] How mineral makeup differs between different types of people, and some of the most important minerals we need [18:46] Thanh's hair test and what he learned from it [23:17] How to improve your sleep hygiene and use of your circadian rhythm [41:39] What Barton recommends for taking care of food sensitivities [48:19] Why many of us have forgotten what feeling good really feels like [53:56] What kinds of things Barton recommends Thanh do outside of nutrition to manage his health [1:04:00] How to take nutrients and supplements to maximize their efficacy [1:08:25]

Links:

Grammarly Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Transcendental Meditation Recept CBD Seeking Health Vitamin B Supplement Whole Foods Truffle PatĂŠ Productive Workouts and Recover Like a World-Class Athlete w/ Garrett Salpeter (TPS223) Neufit

Connect with Barton Scott:

UpgradedFormulas.com

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Last week we shared with you our favorite productivity tools under a $100. This time we’ll share our 10 favorite tools over $100 that we personally use to help us save time and be more productive.

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting The Productivity Show. If you're doing over $20,000 per month in revenue, Clearbanc is offering our listeners a 20-minute term sheet for Clearbanc Capital. Go to Clearbanc.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

This week's top three productivity resources [2:30] Why Thanh and Brooks can't go for very long without their Kindle Paperwhite [4:36] How the Oura Ring beat out the Apple Watch for fitness and sleep tracking [8:05] Brooks's ultimate carry-on suitcase [13:13] Thanh's even more ultimate carry-on suitcase [20:19] Why a good pair of pants can make all the difference when you travel [25:55] Why you can't go wrong with a good powerbank [32:07] How a blood test can get you the important data you have to get healthy [34:29] The household items that make the biggest impact for Brooks and Thanh [39:39]

Links:

Clearbanc Apple Airpods Bose QC35 Sonos:1 Player The 10 Best Productivity Tools Under $100 (TPS265) Kindle Paperwhite Oura Ring Productive Workouts and Recover Like a World-Class Athlete w/ Garrett Salpeter (TPS223) Away Carry-On Suitcase Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 Outlier Slim Dungarees Theory Wool Burberry Wool Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD WellnessFX Baseline Blood Test Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch (2 count) Starter Kit 5 Home Automation Techniques To Make Your Life Easier (TPS243) Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker

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At Asian Efficiency we have dozens of productivity tools that we use to save time, to be more productive and effective. We put together a list of our 10 favorite tools under $100 dollars that we personally use and can recommend to you.

Cheat Sheet:

Thanh and Brooks's top three productivity tools for this week [2:03] Why a USB hub for Brooks's new Macbook is such a huge productivity tool [5:55] How Thanh's glasses help him fall asleep easier at night [8:11] How electrolyte powders can make it easier to stay hydrated [14:10] The power of automation with Amazon Echo and how it can cut down on distraction in your work [20:26] What benefits Brooks gets from his NeuYear calendar [24:31] Why Thanh takes his Manta Sleep Mask with him everywhere he travels [27:13] How a uniquely shaped water bottle solved so many problems for Thanh [31:54]

Links:

Audio Technica AT2005 Dr. Zevia HyperDrive USB C Hub Gunnar Glasses Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug Vega Sports Hydrator LMNT Gerber Dime Multi-Tool Amazon Echo 5 Home Automation Techniques To Make Your Life Easier (TPS243) NeuYear Monday First Calendar Manta Sleep Mask Tom Binh Snake Charmer (Small) Memo water bottle (A5)

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Asian Efficiency has always been a remote team and we have team members all over the world. We all come from different backgrounds, different cultures, and with different ‘quirks’. Despite all these differences, we are able to work well together because we always work as a team. But, it wasn’t always without problems. We have struggled to work together as a team across different continents and time zones but eventually, we did figure it out. In this episode, we will go over what 3 lessons learned about highly productive teamwork and how you can use it in your own team. Whether you are in a remote company or not, these lessons will apply to all teams.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account today. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS for 20% your premium account.

Cheat Sheet:

Asian Efficiency's top three team productivity resources [2:20] Why trust is the foundation of every good team [6:02] How Marmel accelerates the trust-building process with new employees [9:37] The different ways Asian Efficiency has built trust between their team members [17:10] How acting with integrity will develop trust between you and others [28:46] Why under-communication is such a waste to a company [31:45] What practices Asian Efficiency has implemented to help with communication [36:03] Why Thanh prioritizes getting everybody's input on a project [41:42] What it means for everybody's happiness to be equally important in a company [45:28] How Thanh and the AE team have prioritized the happiness of the team [52:45] The "roundtable of gratitude" and how it helps the team morale [1:00:00]

Links:

Grammarly The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable Zoom Confluence Bonusly

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Are you curious about automation, but want some examples of what others like you do, to spark some ideas?

In this episode, we continue our mini-series on Automation that we started last week in TPS262, but this time we share more examples of what Asian Efficiency readers have automated to save time. Without spoiling too much, it will include examples like paying bills, reporting, clearing emails, and much more.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks's top three productivity resources [2:22] Why you don't have to be a coder or a superuser to embrace automation [6:15] Why you should automate your food, grocery, and household purchases [7:44] How Asian Efficiency members have automated their household purchases [11:03] What you can learn from a time tracking app [13:38] Learning how to better trust your automation system [18:24] Why you should always "setup and verify" your new automations [21:52] How you can make your email experience organized, easy, and efficient [29:26] How to make centralizing information into one simple place [39:54] Ways that the Asian Efficiency community have streamlined their reporting [46:42]

Links:

5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262) Nekteck USB C 4 Port Desktop Charging Station Setapp TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp Check out Asian Efficiency's new Automation Academy go live next week! Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) KetoFridge Freshly SnapKitchen Amazon Subscribe and Save HelloFresh Pete's Paleo Feedly RescueTime Timing The Right Tool For The Job: 5 Things You Need For Your Personal Productivity System (TPS180) How To Get Started With Personal Finance With Proven Workflows, Apps and Tools w/ Charles Ngo (TPS261) Evernote Deliveries Sanebox Ontraport Zapier FreshBooks Bookcision

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Have you ever wanted to start with automation, but you weren’t sure where to start? Then this episode is for you. We talk about our 5 biggest personal automation wins, and where we think you should start if you want to get started with automation. We also share an exciting new automation course that we’ve been cooking up, so stay tuned for that until the end.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account today. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS for 20% off your premium account.

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting The Productivity Show. Clearbanc is offering our listeners a free 20-minute term sheet to receive Clearbanc capital today. Go to Clearbanc.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The top three productivity resources for this week [2:09] What Thanh and Brooks learned from their automation survey [5:17] How you can type faster without learning how to type faster [10:52] Why everybody can get started with text replacement today easily and for free [16:03] How Brooks and Thanh use Text Expander to work more efficiently [19:37] How keyboard shortcuts speed up your workflow and save time in your work [26:06] A simple way to get started with keyboard shortcuts [36:40] Thanh shares some of his favorite keyboard shortcuts [41:06] The power of using "copy and paste on steroids" [45:29] How automatic file management can keep your workspace clutter free and organized [55:04] Examples of how to use automatic file management to enhance your computer's organization [1:05:33] The peace of mind of having all your backups completely automated [1:08:15]

Links:

Zapier File Juggler Default Folder X Check out the Asian Efficiency Personal Automation Challenge now! Confessions of an 8-Figure Entrepreneur w/ Noah Kagan (TPS253) CheatSheet Omnifocus Alfred Launchbar Keyboard Maestro Hazel BackBlaze SuperDuper!

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What’s the best way to get started with personal finance? How do you track your money? Which personal finance apps do you recommend? We get these questions a lot from Asian Efficiency readers and podcast listeners. That’s what we’ll cover in this episode. I’m joined this time by Charles Ngo, a successful entrepreneur and one of my best friends. You might recognize his name because he was on the podcast before in episode 143 where we talked about how to get started with executive assistants. About three years ago, Charles started to dive into personal finance and tracking every cent he spent. He learned a lot along the way and I asked him to share his workflow, tools and how he budgets so you can get started with managing your finances in a more efficient way.

Thanks to Lumen5 for supporting The Productivity Show. Lumen5 is offering our listeners 50% off their first month. Go to Lumen5.com/tps to get 50% off your first month.

Thanks also to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off their premium account today. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS for 20% your premium account.

Cheat Sheet:

Charles's top three productivity resources [2:43] What got Charles interested in better understanding of personal finance [3:50] How the fear of confronting your financial situation [9:27] The only way you can really learn about your own personal finances [12:58] Why forecasting is the key in personal finance, and how deeply it can impact your financial security [17:06] The different systems that Charles has tried [29:46] Why Charles likes having an accountability partner for his finances [34:37] Charles's two favorite tools outside of YNAB to get a handle on your finances [38:37] How Charles uses the data he gathers to improve [46:40] The power of the leading indicator, and how you can leverage it [53:25] The different components of Charles's financial system [57:07] What Charles would recommend for everybody getting started with their own financial literacy [1:02:42]

Links:

Grammarly Lumen5 The Asian Efficiency Guide to Meditation For Less Stress, More Productivity, and a Happier Life The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) YNAB (You Need A Budget) The Simple Path to Wealth: Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life Custom Google Spreadsheet from Charles to help track your net worth Mint

Connect with Charles Ngo

CharlesNgo.com

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Today I’m joined by Mridu Parikh, productivity coach, speaker, and trainer at Life Is Organized. We talk about the biggest challenges her productivity coaching clients face, how busy professionals can squash overwhelm, and ways to commit to your biggest priorities.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Mridu's top three productivity resources [2:45] How Mridu helps people recover their time and get more productive [4:55] The first thing Mridu does with every client [7:42] How to stop spinning your wheels and start taking action [10:33] Why Mridu believes avoiding distractions is the most powerful thing you can do to boost your productivity [13:55] The exercise that will prove to you the power in not multitasking [16:09] The unique way Mridu uses the Pomodoro technique [23:44] Committing to your "power hour" and why it's so important [25:51] How to keep your priorities front and center and easy to remember [32:42] The only way we can accurately get through our day and know what we can accomplish [36:56] The key to holding fast to your time boxing [41:49] What the most common challenge is for people and their productivity [50:15]

Links:

Gusto Evernote Inbox Pause Gratitude Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions To Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals Focus Keeper

Connect with Mridu Parikh

LifeIsOrganized.com Learn from Mridu 21 Killer Hacks To Stop Feeling Overwhelmed Facebook LinkedIn

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How many times have you found yourself with a few minutes in the middle of the day, and you decide to “check social media” or hit up YouTube or watch TV and then next thing you know an hour is gone and you feel like the time has been totally wasted?

In this episode, we are going to be talking about Productive Power Breaks — things you can do in the gaps to still give you an important break, but leave you feeling energized, ready to take on the rest of the day, and with a sense that it's been time well-spent.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The top three productivity resources of the Asian Efficiency team [1:55] The idea of the "productive power break" and where it came from [3:11] Ways to get your blood flowing and get a big boost to your focus during your power breaks [6:30] How running a quick errand can help chip away at your todo list and give you a solid break [9:49] How Marmel uses a foam roller on her breaks to keep her relaxed and focused [13:29] The way to reduce overwhelm while taking a power break [14:06] How to integrate personal development into the little breaks throughout your day [18:02] Engage your brain! Use your breaks to stay sharp [20:32] Why Brooks's mini OmniFocus reviews help make his breaks more efficient [22:03] Using those times for self-care [23:38] How to best utilize and remember these ideas in your workday [27:57]

Links:

Newton Tinderbox Noisli Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214) Lastpass 1Password Being Good At Your Job Is Not Enough For Growth: You Need To Create This Plan (TPS240) Normatec

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I’m joined this time by Jamie Masters. She's been a top Business Coach for over 10 years and has helped hundreds of 6 & 7 figure Entrepreneurs and Business Owners optimize every area of their business.

She's also the host of the online show - Eventual Millionaire, where she's interviewed over 400 self-made millionaires. Jamie is a tech geek, has two kids - and even has a sword wall in her house. In this episode, we talk about ADHD, something that Jamie has been diagnosed with. I asked her how she’s able to run her successful business, be a parent and be Asian Efficient while managing her ADHD. Even if you aren’t diagnosed with ADHD, you’re going to learn new ways to focus, get less distracted and make the most out of your limited time with time tracking.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Top 3 productivity resources [2:16] How Jaime and her podcast have grown together over the past seven years [3:36] What common themes have come up between the over 400 guests in Jaime's podcast [5:37] The common misconception about people with ADHD and their ability to focus [7:40] When Jaime realized she was coping with ADHD, and how she dealt with it [9:38] What Jaime often sees when working with someone who has ADHD that doesn't know it yet [15:03] How to keep yourself accountable without having an assistant to help you out [18:07] What nootropics are and how it is different than drugs like Adderall [19:28] How Jaime sets her environment and works with others to make it easy to get things done [23:47] Why having a strong definition of done is so important for people with ADHD [30:35] Time tracking and why Jaime makes all her clients do it [33:03] What Jaime looks at on her client's timesheets, and how she helps them optimize it [38:42] Why so many people resist delegation, and why it is so good for you [41:20] How time tracking can help you understand what you actually need to recharge after a long day [46:56] Why you can't afford to be anything but "all in" when working on a task [52:06]

Links:

TPS32: Intentionality w/ Eventual Millionaire Jaime Tardy Timeular Genius Consciousness Super Nootropic Brain Booster Supplement Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success Check out Jaime's free resources from EventualMillionaire.com

Connect with Jamie Masters

EventualMillionaire.com

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In this episode, Thanh is joined by Alan P. Brown, author of “Zen and the Art of Productivity” and host of CrusherTV.com. Thanh and Alan talk about ADHD, productivity, and tactics and strategies that work.

Thanks to Lumen5 for supporting The Productivity Show. Lumen5 is offering our listeners 50% off their first month of Lumen5's video creation platform. Visit Lumen5.com/tps for 50% off your first month.

Thanks also to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Alan's top productivity resources [1:42] Why many people suffer from ADHD and don't know that they are affected by it [5:03] What you can do if you feel you're unable to prioritize tasks or focus for long periods of time [10:32] The different brain hacks that Alan recommends to help people coping with ADHD stay productive [19:59] Alan's complicated relationship with medication that treats symptoms of ADHD [28:41] The medication and tools that Alan has tried that didn't work for him and why [32:31] What productivity systems Alan recommends [34:27] Why Alan warns against research without implementation [39:35]

Links:

Lumen5 Gusto TextExpander Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals Take the Online Adult ADHD Test from ADDA monaplanner The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Pocketbook Guide to Fulfilling Your Dreams Zen and the Art of Productivity: 27 Easy Ways to Have More Time, Earn More Money and Live Happier

Connect with Alan Brown

ADDCrusher.com ADD Crusher youtube CrusherTV Email Alan

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So you’re feeling fairly productive and then wham - a life change happens. It could be any number of things, but in today’s episode we are going to talk about one specific topic: being productive during illness or recovery.

I’m joined by Jennifer Lava and James Lott Jr., two professional organizers and productivity consultants who have unique experience in this area, which you’ll hear about. Let’s just say they know what they’re talking about.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Thanks also to Rhone for supporting The Productivity Show. Rhone is offering our listeners 20% off their first purchase. Visit Rhone.com/TPS and enter promo code TPS during checkout.

Cheat Sheet:

Why Brooks brought Jennifer and James on to talk about this topic [4:30] Why James believes you need to change what being productive means during illness or recovery [10:53] How Jennifer has changed her mindset to accept her circumstances and keep moving forward [12:47] Why the productivity tools Jennifer used before her chronic pain began became even more important [16:01] The importance of everything having its correct place in helping relieve stress and save energy [22:50] Why breaking your work down into chunks is always paramount in your productivity [32:33] Why self-care should be your first priority always when you are in illness or recovery [38:33] Jennifer's advice on how to prioritize best in tough situations [43:02] The benefits of hiring a personal organizer, also known as a "personal trainer for your stuff" [49:27]

Links:

Rhone Gusto Banana Holder Headphone Stand Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Smart Notebook Philosophy Skin Care Products Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year With 5 Time-Saving Techniques (TPS241)

Connect with Jennifer Lava and James Lott Jr.

JenniferLava.com Jennifer Lava on Facebook The Super Organizer Universe James Lott Jr. on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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In the past, we’ve talked about making goals and creating rituals. What do you do when you have those goals and rituals that work well for a while but then… don’t. How do you get back up when your productivity or goals have slipped? Sometimes it's a sudden change, but other times it's so gradual we don’t even notice.

In this episode, we'll go over 6 ways to help you bounce back.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

The two most common ways most of us get off track with our goals and productivity [3:15] Why you should schedule your habits [6:13] How to make getting back to your habits as easy as possible [10:56] Why focusing on one task at a time will make your work go by faster and easier [15:49] What happens to your brain when you try to multitask, and why it doesn't work [18:07] The power of community and mentorship in building and maintaining your routine [22:51] How our environment deeply affects us and our habits [31:55] Why you should clear to neutral at the end of your workday [38:45] Why showing up is the most important thing [42:07]

Links:

Gusto Due 3.0 MyFitnessPal TimeAudit Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell Confessions of an 8-Figure Entrepreneur w/ Noah Kagan (TPS253) The One Habit That Stops Procrastination In Its Tracks: Clearing To Neutral How to Motivate Yourself With Motivation Pages

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At the beginning of the year, we set personal goals, family goals and for some even business goals. At the end of the year, we evaluate our achievements and weed out what didn’t work versus what did work. You don’t need to wait 12 months to evaluate your goals. A mid-year check-in is as equally important as an annual review. In this episode, we’ll give you 5 important things to look out for when you’re doing your mid-year check-in.

Thanks to Gusto for supporting The Productivity Show. Gusto is offering our listeners 3 months free when you run your first payroll. Check out Gusto at Gusto.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

How long most people's yearly goals last, and why a mid-year check-in is so important [4:11] Why it's never too late to set your goals [5:26] What to do if your goals are no longer what you want or need [8:40] The importance of removing unnecessary goals [11:29] Why it's much more efficient to set one goal at a time, even if you think you can do more [13:58] How to set better goals by figuring out where you are now and how best to measure it [16:20] Why setting more shorter goals is better than one big goal [23:20] The power of reflecting on your past experiences in going towards your goals, and knowing you can't predict what roadblocks are in your future [29:30] Why you should keep your work and life goals separated [35:31]

Links:

Gusto Nexstand Laptop Stand Magicplan Yelp If You Focus On This, You’ll Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet (TPS228) How To Stick To Your Goals This Year And Every Year (TPS229) Myfitnesspal From Tim Ferris's podcast: Jim Collins — A Rare Interview with a Reclusive Polymath (#361) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214)

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I’m joined this time by Noah Kagan. He runs several companies and we got into how he is able to do that and still live a great life outside of work. We talked about goal setting and his unique systems for achieving goals, what his daily routine looks like and he shares his top-down approach to productivity.

This was one of my transparent interviews because we also talked a lot about our own failures and what we learned from them.

Cheat Sheet:

The importance of making getting started as easy as possible at every stage of a project [1:23] How Noah uses commitments and coaches to make achieving his goals easier [4:29] Why Noah invests 5% of his net worth in risky investments every year [11:41] How Noah sets his goals, manages them, and reminds himself of them daily [13:29] How to prepare for getting back on track with your goals, and how to play games you can win [19:09] The nature of personal growth, and how we aren't always directly steering the ship [24:50] Aligning your time and money spent with your values [27:16] Why Noah doesn't feel like he sets big enough goals, and why it's important to be humbled by them [35:05] How to know if it's time to recommit to your goals or drop them [42:18] How to keep interested in achieving your goals over the long term [46:33] The apps that Noah uses every day, and what he recommends you do before checking those apps out [53:34] How Noah leverages others to help increase his quality productive time [1:00:24]

Links:

SendFox AppSumo Sumo.com Strides Pedometer++ Remember the Milk Evernote Strava Pocket Overcast TimeETC

Connect with Noah Kagan:

OKDork.com

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Are you about to go on vacation? Before you do, be sure to listen to today’s episode where we share our top 5 tips for summer travel. You’ll discover the best travel apps, what you need to pack on your trip, and how to best prepare for your upcoming trip for it to be stress-free and comfortable.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Why you should always have a packing checklist [3:53] How a checklist can help you not only with forgetting something but also with bringing too much [6:52] How you can make your checklists smarter by making them activity-specific [10:21] Other travel necessities and tips and tricks from Brooks and Thanh [13:10] How to train yourself to travel smart and light [17:30] The advantages of leaving some things at home and getting them delivered to your destination [26:09] How Thanh made his frequent destinations work better for him when he traveled there [29:21] The mighty packing cube and how it can make your luggage easier to pack and to use [30:33] How to make sure that you will have access to WiFi on your travels [36:53] The apps and travel services that you must have when you travel [42:08] How to protect your sensitive data with a VPN on your devices when you are traveling abroad [50:13]

Links:

Grammarly Tripit Visitacity Hidrate Spark 2.0 Smart Water Bottle Escape The Summer Productivity Slump With These 7 Tips (TPS250) The Summer Juggle — Can You Be Productive When The Kids Are On Summer Break? (TPS251) Carrot app Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year With 5 Time-Saving Techniques (TPS241) Flight001 Spacepak Cubes Away Suitcases Rent the Runway Gotoob Tripadvisor encrypt.Me NordVPN FlightAware

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Remember how happy you were when you were in school and that final bell rang before the summer holidays?

Now that we're out of school and working we know the other side of that equation — the parents that have to figure out how to get work done while the kids are off school.

In this episode, we'll go over 8 tips for staying productive when the kids are out of school.

Thanks to Rhone for supporting The Productivity Show. Rhone is offering our listeners something. For 20% off your first purchase, visit Rhone.com/TPS and enter promo code TPS during checkout.

Cheat Sheet:

How Marmel and Brooks handle having kids at home over the summer [3:32] Why determining your big priorities is critical in maximizing your time with your kids [6:53] The equally important task of setting clear boundaries for your time [11:38] How to manage your work hours so you can spend your best time with your kids [15:59] What cool opportunities libraries can provide your family other than just books [22:17] How summer activities for kids are a win for everybody [24:56] How to take advantage of your environment with your work [28:57] Why you should always consider asking for help [33:37] The importance of creating memories for you and your family while you can [38:17]

Links:

Rhone HyperFocus Stop, Breathe & Think Kids Kayak Escape The Summer Productivity Slump With These 7 Tips (TPS250) How to Save Hours of Chaos and Damage Control With A Family Calendar (TPS235) Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) Screen Time Labs

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Summer is coming up and for most people that means vacations, extended time off and more time outside. The summer productivity slump is a real thing. But for some of you, you need to be productive and make the most of your summer. Maybe you’re studying for something, starting a business or you’re behind on work and need to catch up - this episode is for you. We’ll go over 7 tips you can implement right away to ensure you have a productive summer.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Thanh's top three productivity resources for the week [2:05] How the change in environment, both in the weather and in your workplace, can stifle productivity [4:30] Why keeping an optimal temperature in your workspace is so important [8:20] How people in much hotter climates adapt to their otherwise unbearable summers [9:19] Why when you work is super important in keeping you productive [15:48] Why the best solution is sometimes just working less [21:51] The importance of staying hydrated, especially during the summer months [26:48] Tricks for staying cool and hydrated all day long [28:45] How to minimize your water loss throughout the day [33:04] Why enrolling your kids in summer activities is a great benefit to your productivity [36:02] Why summer is a good time to tackle that self-care activity you've been postponing [37:41] How doing the same work activities in the outdoors can make a huge difference in your energy [42:48]

Links:

Grammarly Skiplagged Word Counter LegalShield Vega Sport Electrolyte Powder Memo Bottle

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In today’s episode, we are finishing up our 3 part series about our favourite things to get things done. We’ve talked about our favorite apps for the computer, our favorite apps for mobile, and now we are going to talk about our favorite physical devices and tools.

These are the things we use every day, and we love them all.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial. Go to Blinkist.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

What computers, tablets, and phones Thanh and Brooks are using [3:56] The device that Thanh and Brooks use so much, it is an "insta-buy" when it breaks [7:44] How Thanh keeps all of his different devices charged with just one cable [9:40] The solution to making sure you always have WiFi throughout the house [11:21] How Thanh ensures he always gets a good night's sleep [14:59] Why Thanh and Brooks like Sonos speakers so much, they have six of them throughout their houses [17:21] How the Oura ring miniaturized the fitness tracking accessory [20:32] The smart watch that beat out Apple Watch for Brooks [23:53] How Airpods became a must-have despite Thanh wondering who would buy them when they came out [25:36] Brooks's favorite portable keyboard to use with the iPad [28:13] The gift that made writing more enjoyable and easier for Thanh [29:44] The favorite devices of the Dojo members [32:38]

Links:

Blinkist Bluefishing: The Art of Making Things Happen Self journal Swivel Top Purse Hanger Our Top 10 Mac and Windows Productivity Apps And The “10X Rule” (TPS247) Here Are Our 10 Favorite Mobile Apps To Help You Get More Done (TPS248) 5 Home Automation Techniques To Make Your Life Easier (TPS243) Macbook Pro iPad Pro iPhone Kindle Paperwhite CableCreation 2-in-1 (Lightning + microUSB) eero Netgear Orbi Gunnar glasses Sonos Oura ring Withings Steel HR Hybrid Smartwatch AirPods Tooth Fairy Logitech Keys-to-Go Portable Keyboard Montblanc pen Esington Timer Pomodoro 2.0 w/ Esington Method Founder Rudy Marsh (TPS188) Apple Pencil Bose QC35s Hero Clip

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This is episode 2 of our 3-part series on our top 10 favorite apps and tools. In today’s episode, we are going to do the monumentally difficult task and narrow down our 10 favorite mobile apps for iOS and Android that we use, love, and that makes us more productive.

This was hard because there are so many apps we love, but I think we have something for everyone. We also give an honorable mention to favorites submitted by the community.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to learn more.

Thanks also to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial. Go to Blinkist.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Brooks and Thanh's app of choice for email both on their smartphones and computers [6:37] How to manage all of your travel details better [8:05] What mobile app Brooks uses to plan and brainstorm everything [12:12] How to easily make intermittent fasting a part of your life [18:16] How to make sure you never forget an idea or task [20:35] How to keep track of tons of packages and deliveries at once [21:54] Using Calm to stay centered, keep focused, and sleep better [25:15] How to get a whole library of books, audiobooks, and movies on your mobile device [31:08] Thanh's favorite app and what it can do for you [33:00] The favorite apps of the Asian Efficiency Dojo members [35:39]

Links:

Grammarly Blinkist Otter Ibble Finance Overcast Our Top 10 Mac and Windows Productivity Apps And The “10X Rule” (TPS247) Spark Gmail Outlook Tripit MindNode Mindmeister We Were Tired of Forgetting The Books We Read — So We Use This System (TPS245) Zero How To Lose Weight Efficiently with the Ketogenic Diet and Fasting w/ Scott Rose (TPS244) Drafts Google Keep Quick Capture, Part 3: Drafts Deliveries (iOS) Deliveries (Android) Calm Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210)TPS210 ScanBot OverDrive 1Password Fitbod iSmoothRun Brain.fm iAWriter AnyList Notability PDF Expert YNAB MyFitnessPal Voice Recorder HD Sudoku+

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In today’s episode, we are going to get super-tactical. A question we get asked all the time is “what are your favorite apps?”, or “what is the best app for X?”

While we believe that the best app is the one that is best for YOU, there are some that prove themselves time and time again. Today we’re going to start a 3-part series going through our favorite apps, devices, and tools that make us more productive or just plain improve our lives — and we’ll start in this episode with our top 10 apps for the computer.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

Why a great app isn't the first step towards productivity [4:51] The importance of having a password manager [8:34] Why Thanh chooses SublimeText over other text editing software [11:08] How Ulysses helps keep Brooks creative in his writing [13:30] Why BusyCal's flexibility and compatibility with other apps makes it Thanh's go to calendar app [15:49] How Brooks uses TripMode to control his network's bandwidth, saving money and time [18:06] The app that Thanh uses every single day without thinking about it [21:43] How to give your Finder windows superpowers [27:53] Thanh's scratchpad on Mac, and what he uses it for [31:27] Which apps the Asian Efficiency Dojo recommends [35:22] The apps that Thanh and Brooks have been using the longest [41:31] When and why you should switch productivity apps [42:23]

Links:

Grammarly Giftology - The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention NordVPN BusyContacts Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) OmniFocus Things Todoist 4 Tools to Automate Your Technology and Save 100+ Hours a Year (TPS242) The Ultimate Guide to Task Managers: Selecting the Right One w/ Mat Rhein (TPS194) 1Password SublimeText BBEdit Ulysses Scrivener Inspire Writer BusyCal The Hybrid Calendar System That Will Help You Stay On Top Of Everything (TPS233) TripMode Little Snitch Launchbar Alfred Launchy Virtual Box PathFinder SnagIt nvalt Sign up to learn more about the new nvULTRA QOwnNotes SetApp PopClip Bartender Trickster Dropzone Default Folder X

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I’m Thanh Pham, founder of Asian Efficiency, and today I’m with Rick Mathes. He is the owner and clinic director of The Egoscue Clinic in Austin, Texas. Rick and his wife have helped thousands of people get out of pain by helping them understand that if they’re hurt, the problem isn’t the condition of their body; it’s the position of their body. They use simple but powerful exercises to correct the reason why someone gets hurt so they can get back to doing the things they love to do.

I invited Rick to my home to have a fireside chat about Rick’s approach to productivity. We share his lessons from studying Getting Things Done and his favorite apps and tools for staying productive. We also go into detail how health is a key driver for productivity and you’ll learn how you can eliminate chronic pain that’s holding you back from being Asian Efficient.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Blinkist is offering our listeners a free 7-day trial. Go to Blinkist.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

How Rick survived a near-fatal car accident and came to the Egoscue method of therapy [3:15] Rick and Thanh's shared passion for productivity and how they met [6:46] Why Rick focuses on health first to make him the most productive [8:54] Why sitting for long periods of time won't be fixed by standing, and how to avoid the problems that come with it [14:16] How pain has become an epidemic, and what your body is trying to tell you when you are in pain [18:26] What basic exercises you can do to start living pain-free [22:17] Why the problem isn't always where the pain is and how to find the source [25:58] The benefits of treating your job as a sport and preparing like an athlete [32:36] What a typical day and week looks like for Rick, and how he stays productive [34:31] How to bounce back after you drop your system or mess up for a few days [45:39]

Links:

Blinkist Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Omnifocus Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Check out the The Egoscue Clinic of Austin Youtube Channel Headspace Calm Airmail FantastiCal Productive Workouts and Recover Like a World-Class Athlete w/ Garrett Salpeter (TPS223)

Connect with Rick Mathes

Egoscue Email Rick

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Books are an amazing source of learning and leverage. For little or no money, you can quickly learn what someone else has spent years figuring out, and you can avoid the mistakes that they made.

However, there's a big difference between READING a book and LEARNING from a book, and more importantly IMPLEMENTING what you've learned.

In this podcast, we’ll share our best systems and strategies for reading books and implementing what you’ve read.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to get 20% off your Grammarly premium account today.

Cheat Sheet:

Why Thanh and Brooks developed this system [3:47] What books Brooks has been reading [11:30] The books that Thanh and Brooks have gifted the most [14:15] Why highlighting alone is not good enough to retain more knowledge from your reading [16:33] Why Brooks uses mindmaps to organize his takeaways [21:41] What makes something a "highlight" to Brooks when he's reading [25:12] How Thanh implements action items from a book into his life [28:36] The review process, and how Thanh and Brooks go over their takeaways [33:25] How his long-term review process helps Brooks "gain interest" on what he got out of his books [38:21] How Thanh and Brooks use thinking time to get the most out of their new information [43:29] The key to making your system work, no matter what system you choose [45:06] What you can do to take action with this system and the books you're currently reading [45:55]

Links:

Grammarly Kindle Paperwhite Bookcision Pocket Utility Knife Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Focus Tips From the Most Productive Man You’d Ever Hope to Meet w/ Chris Bailey (TPS213) Finding Your Focus w/ Michael Hyatt (TPS109) Essentialism w/ Greg McKeown (TPS102) Deep Work w/ Cal Newport (TPS88) Getting Things Done w/ David Allen (TPS58) The One Thing w/ Jay Papasan (TPS46) Advanced Strategies for Reading Faster and Remembering More w/ Abby Marks-Beale (TPS159) What books Brooks has been reading:

The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger Mindset: The New Psychology of Success The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

What books Thanh has been reading:

The Road Less Stupid When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans

Blinkist Mindnode Brooks Siri shortcut How to Effectively Read and Implement Books

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I’m with Scott Rose, The Inspirational Nerd, and we’re going to talk about how you can lose weight efficiently without working out much. We’ll be diving deep into the ketogenic diet, a somewhat controversial diet that he and I both follow. We’ll be talking about fasting and how Scott coached me through my first 3-day water fast where I didn’t eat anything for 3 days and only drank water, and what kind of fat loss and other results I got from that. Here’s a sneak preview - I was extremely productive, which might sound counterintuitive.

In fact, I want to say that a lot of things that are discussed today might sound controversial, but I want to ask you to keep an open mind. When I first heard these ideas it went against everything I ever learned about health, nutrition and productivity. But once I dove deeper into the research and tried it myself, it all made sense and I’m excited to share these ideas with you.

Thanks to Blinkist for supporting The Productivity Show. Fit more listening and reading into your life with key takeaways from the best nonfiction books. Get a free 7-day trial at Blinkist.com/TPS.

Medical disclaimer: this episode is not giving medical advice. This is for entertainment purposes only. If you do anything, please consult with your physician.

Cheat Sheet:

What got Scott interested in the ketogenic lifestyle [5:06] How an incredibly painful experience opened Scott up to a new way of thinking [11:39] Why the logic behind eating fat making you fat is unsound [19:26] Why the ketogenic lifestyle is both about what you eat and when you eat [22:27] The super simple way to make almost any meal a high-fat meal [28:24] Thanh's personal journey into the ketogenic lifestyle, and how it affected his daily life [29:25] How government programs and regulations helped lead America into the obesity epidemic [33:03] Why reducing your calorie intake can actually have the opposite effect in a diet [39:34] Thanh's test of adding tons of extra calories through fat in his diet [47:00] Why a high-fat low-carb diet won't necessarily help you lose weight, and what will [54:35] Why obesity is the canary in the coal mine for your overall health [1:07:10] How focusing on your health is the natural key to healthy weight loss [1:11:43] How intermittent fasting can completely rebuild your immune system [1:14:09] What you can eat to get started in the ketogenic lifestyle [1:22:52] The surprising cause of the weight gain from your burger, fries, and a coke [1:30:02] What other tips and hacks you can use to keto your meals [1:33:33] Some of Scott's favorite keto-friendly foods [1:41:11] The most important things that Scott would recommend for people to get started in the ketogenic lifestyle [1:53:40]

Links:

Blinkist DietDoctor.com Foundation for Economic Education The Intensive Dietary Management (IDM) Blog Dr. Mercola World Health Initiative Low Carb Denver 2019 Keto Subreddit (Discussion Forum) Jason Fung on "Solving the Two-Compartment Problem" Dr. Eric Berg on Youtube Butter Bob Briggs' video "Butter Makes Your Pants Fall Off" The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss The Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat We Eat Is the Key to Sustained Weight Loss and Vibrant Health The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It Fat for Fuel: A Revolutionary Diet to Combat Cancer, Boost Brain Power, and Increase Your Energy Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease Eat Bacon, Don't Jog: Get Strong. Get Lean. No Bullshit. The Coconut Oil Miracle: Use Nature's Elixir to Lose Weight,

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Today, we’re going to be talking about 5 ways to automate your home. We’ll share the tools and devices we use to save time and make life more convenient. Home automation is a relatively new topic and one we’re excited to explore with you today. If you’ve ever thought of purchasing an Amazon Echo, Google Home or Apple Homepod, but haven’t yet, then you’re going to learn how you can use them to save time and be productive. Or if you already have one of the devices, you’ll discover new ways to get the most out of them and in some cases even save money.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly premium account. Go to Grammarly.com/TPS to learn more.

Cheat Sheet:

The automation devices that Thanh and Brooks use in their homes, and how they use them [4:50] How home automation ties into the TEA framework [9:31] The "old school" solution for efficient lighting in your home [10:06] Why automated home appliances can make your cooking easier and more consistent [13:46] The high tech route for efficient lighting in your home [21:15] Why smart technology is extremely helpful for when you aren't at home to control analog devices directly [30:56] How to use smart assistants as the hub for all of your other smart devices throughout your day [35:07] How Thanh uses his smart assistant with his housekeeper to stay stocked up [38:12]

Links:

Grammarly Amazon Echo MD Live Deliveries app Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year With 5 Time-Saving Techniques (TPS241) 4 Tools to Automate Your Technology and Save 100+ Hours a Year (TPS242) Sonos Mac Power Users podcast Breville BTM800XL One-Touch Tea Maker Moccamaster Vonchef egg electric cooker Instant Pot Can The “Sandwich Technique” Solve Your Focus Problems? w/ Erin Chase (TPS226) 5DollarDinners.com Freezer Meals in an Instant: 65 Delicious Freezer Friendly Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker Philips Hue Lutron Caseta WeMo Nest ecoBee HomePod Google Assistant

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Something we say a lot at AE is that small changes or improvements to the things you do every day can add up to big savings over time. This is really true with technology: we all have these little points of friction that we just accept because we think that’s just the way it is — but it doesn’t have to be. There are tools and features that you can use to become WAY more efficient on your computer or mobile device, and since many of us are using these all day every day, they can have a huge impact in time and efficiency.

Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting The Productivity Show. HelloFresh is offering our listeners a total of $80 off your first month. Visit HelloFresh.com/TPS80 and use the code TPS80.

In this episode, we’ll take you through some of our favorite cross-platform technology automation tips and share how we use them to be more Asian Efficient.

Cheat Sheet:

How automating your technology saves you time [4:14] The one thing to take away from this episode, even if you don't install a single app [5:33] How command launcher apps can save time finding files, webpages, launching applications and more [8:07] Why Thanh and Brooks are so adamant about their command launcher apps, and the ways that they use them [12:42] How text automation tools can relieve you from typing the same things over and over and over [17:40] How Brooks uses text automation to standardize Asian Efficiency's SOP's and reports [29:09] What file automation is and how it handles your digital organization [31:39] Thanh's "trifecta" of tech automation that makes it all work together [38:22] How Asian Efficiency uses web automation tools like Zapier or IFTTT in a team setting [46:44] The incredibly powerful automation tool that you already have built into your iPhone [50:15] How to automate your backups by using cloud backup software [56:37]

Links:

HelloFresh SetApp iStatMenus Bartender Automate Your Life: How We Save Over 500 Hours/Year With 5 Time-Saving Techniques (TPS241) Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) CheatSheet Alfred LaunchBar Keyboard Maestro Launchy TextExpander A Comprehensive Video Guide to TextExpander aText PhraseExpress Hazel Pathfinder Dropit Zapier IFTTT MacStories Siri Shortcuts Archive MeetEdgar Backblaze

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This episode is the first in a 3-part series all about automation. Usually, when we think about automation we think of technology, but there are other types of automation as well and that’s what this episode is about.

We discuss 5 ways you can automate your life to save time and make life more convenient. We’ll talk about automating your finances, your daily essentials, and one of the strategies that saves me over 500 hours a year.

Cheat Sheet:

What automation is and why it isn't just a technological tool [4:01] Why you should get your essentials delivered automatically [4:53] Why looking for your "me time" in activities like grocery shopping is a net loss for your time [10:59] How the meal kit delivery model helps save time and energy, but not necessarily money [15:44] How Thanh takes meal kit delivery one step further and saves himself 500 hours a year [19:11] Why Brooks and Thanh both think hiring a house cleaner is one of the most beneficial automations you can set up [29:23] The power of financial automation and how it can affect your emotional well being [36:22] How Thanh handles Asian Efficiency's finances through the idea of "profit first" [39:10] The action items you can take from this episode and start today [44:37]

Links:

Linea Ulysses Tripit Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Amazon Subscribe & Save Instacart Hello Fresh Blue Apron Home Chef How I Spend $5,000 a Month to Win Back Time and Make Me Happier Pete's Paleo Feedly Freshly Ketofridge TaskRabbit YNAB Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Richest Man In Babylon

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In this episode, we talk about creating a Personal Development Plan. Setting yourself, and your team, up for success doesn't just happen. You want to figure out where you want to go and what you need to do to get you there, and Marmel and Brooks will take you through 8 questions to help you do that.

If you're an employer or have a team, we'll also go through how to support your team members with their learning journey, because the more your team grows, the more your organization will grow. We'll wrap up with how we at AE go from yearly objectives from the CEO -> each team member's Plan, so everyone is growing and aligned.

Thanks to Airbnb for supporting The Productivity Show. Airbnb is offering our listeners a $100 Amazon gift card if you generate $500 in booking value by May 30th. Visit airbnb.com/tps to start hosting.

Cheat Sheet:

Why bother making a personal development plan instead of just learning on the job [6:09] What a personal development plan is [9:24] Why being good at your job isn't enough [11:45] The 8 questions to ask yourself in creating your own personal development plan [17:01] Why you should reflect on where you are in your career and if you are where you want to be [18:51] How to work in the short and long term to get into the position or role you want [24:01] What Marmel is working on in her own personal development plan [26:20] The importance of getting feedback and using the "skills matrix" during your process [27:05] What to keep in mind when you begin learning new skills [29:40] How to deal with the constraints we have over our time, energy, and financial resources [33:00] The many different educational resources that are available for you to develop your skills [35:11] How to support your employees or team members in their own development plans [37:11] How the learning and development process works at Asian Efficiency [39:31] What actions you can take right now to get started on your own personal development plan [43:53]

Links:

Find your local library here MindNode Genius Scan Pamela Slim How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225)

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This is the 3rd episode of our podcast series on energy. In this episode, we asked AE team members and clients what they have done to increase their energy and double their productivity. You’re going to discover a new type of coffee that gave an AE client crazy amounts of energy, how one tweak to a ritual gave an AE client more energy, what to do the night before a busy day, a supplement that has helped one person get better sleep, and a lot more.

Thanks to eero for supporting The Productivity Show. eero is offering our listeners $100 off the eero base unit and two beacons package, and one year of eero plus. Visit eero.com/tps and at checkout, enter TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

What two changes in Brooks's mornings gave him much more energy [5:36] How napping helps Thanh get his necessary mid-day reset [7:18] What Marmel has noticed since the changes she made in her diet and exercise [12:45] Why you should always do your "big rocks" first [13:57] How Sherby changed her morning routine to adapt to her changing energy levels [16:34] Mary's psychological approach to improving her energy throughout the day [22:45] How meditating can help maintain your energy levels, both at the beginning and at the end of the day [23:45] How to master the first 90 minutes of your day [27:58] What "black blood of the earth" is and how it can give you what you love from coffee without the acidity [29:57] The power of getting things done the night before [32:13] How Wim Hof's breathing exercises have helped Thanh get energized [42:45]

Links:

Verilux Happy Light Gunnar Glasses DoMatch Green Tea Powder Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Fatigue, Procrastination and Being Unproductive…These Are Some of the Penalties of Ignoring This One Thing (TPS237) Do These 3 Things, and Your Energy and Productivity Will Skyrocket (TPS238) Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) Black Blood of the Earth Headspace Philips Wake-Up Light Calm Magnesium Supplement Wim Hof Method Sign up for Asian Efficiency's upcoming Energy Course

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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This is the 2nd episode of our 3-part series on increasing your energy and doubling your productivity. The lack of energy can be doubly tough: we don’t feel like doing what we want or need to do, but we also don’t feel like we have the energy to truly focus on important things.

In this episode, we are going to make it easy and super-actionable for you. We are going to give you 3 easy things you can do, and if you put them into place you’ll have an almost immediate boost in energy. And no, we’re not talking about drinking more coffee or taking some weird supplement!

Cheat Sheet:

Why it's not wise to try and tackle all three things at once [4:16] How sleep affects your productivity, and why Marmel values sleep more highly than she did in the past [5:03] What you can do to help get more quality sleep every day [8:20] Why you can't value every hour of the day the same [9:50] How rituals help save you time and energy [11:54] The biggest way you can start your day to make the rest of the day better [16:24] How to make completing your goals inevitable [18:05] How to "push play" and get motivated at any time [19:50] The power of stacking the positives so you feel even better than you ever could have before [26:40]

Links:

Oura Ring Gunnar Glasses Lonfrote Sleep Mask (Star Moon) Fatigue, Procrastination and Being Unproductive…These Are Some of the Penalties of Ignoring This One Thing (TPS237) The Wim Hof Method The Inevitability Mindset: How to Achieve Anything You Want Without Willpower Spotify 10 Playlists to Triple Your Productivity

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We’re going to kick things off with a 3-part podcast series on how you can get more energy and double your productivity. Most of you listening are probably looking for different ways to increase your productivity. You might have tried a lot of different things and not many have worked. One of the biggest breakthroughs you can make is to increase your energy. When you have more energy, it’s easy to get things done, to focus and accomplish your goals. When you don’t have energy, you procrastinate, postpone important things and get behind on work.

In this episode, we’ll share with you 5 signs to look for to find out if energy is holding you back from being productive. We’ll also talk about all the different areas where you might be robbing yourself of energy and what to do about it.

If you want to have another breakthrough in your productivity, I can’t wait for you to go through this 3-part podcast series on Energy.

Cheat Sheet:

What inspired Thanh to make this 3-part series on energy [4:34] Why the "Energy" component of the TEA framework can be the most difficult to take control of [8:13] The signs that a lack of energy may be hurting your productivity [9:55] What could be actively draining your energy throughout the day [17:31] Why multitasking is such a common energy drain for productivity-minded people [21:55] The sneaky ways energy drain enters your life [24:20] Why playing "catch up" with caffeine is so dangerous for our daily energy levels [29:19] How poorly made goals can sap your energy [30:25] Why you should question assumptions you have about yourself to see if they are hurting you instead of helping [32:58]

Links:

Lutron Caseta Wireless Smart Lighting 2 Dimmer Switch Alfred Clocker Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218)

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I’m with Betty Jean Bell today and we’re talking about how you can improve your health. You’re going to learn how you can get more energy and lose weight efficiently without spending a lot of time and money throughout the process. We also share how we shop for groceries and prepare our meals for the upcoming week to save time. If you’ve been doing all the right things - sleeping, exercising, and eating right - but you’re still struggling, then I know you’re going to love this episode.

This conversation is a little different from most shows we’ve done because a lot of what we talk about today is very high-level and strategic...not so much tactics and little hacks you can do. Nonetheless, there’s a lot of lessons and wisdom packed in this episode that you’re going to walk away with.

Cheat Sheet:

Why Betty focused on getting healthy after she started her own business [3:00] How focusing on her self-care and health didn't bring about the same self-love Betty was looking for [7:14] What Betty changed to put her life back on track to become healthy inside and out [13:00] The good and bad of focusing on quick wins in your life [18:48] Why focusing on your health and your self-talk will naturally bring weight loss and other great things [23:15] Why focusing on what feels good should direct your health choices [26:59] How what we do in one part of our life can helps us learn about other parts of our life [30:36] What the new abundance of energy offered Betty after her big life changes [36:25] Why you shouldn't "wreck the car after you scratched it" [47:09] How Betty approaches meal prep and outsourcing her food planning [54:43] Betty's two hacks that you can use to keep productive [1:02:12] How Thanh and Betty keep their diets manageable and bounce back from a bad meal [1:17:28]

Links:

Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Psycho-Cybernetics How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190) Learn more about Betty Jean Bell's meal prep and food plans How I Spend $5,000 a Month to Win Back Time and Make Me Happier

Connect with Betty Jean Bell

Instagram beingbadass.com

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The more people you have in your family, the more having a reliable and trusted family calendar becomes critical. How do you keep everyone in the loop, and do it in a way that avoids conflict and mismatched expectations?

We'll share the 3 requirements a family calendar needs to have, best practices around sharing a family calendar, and one activity that will make sure that everyone knows what the plan is for the week.

Thanks to eero for supporting The Productivity Show. eero is offering our listeners $100 off the eero base unit and two beacons package, and one year of eero plus. Visit eero.com/tps and at checkout, enter TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Why it's important to have a shared calendar for your family [5:08] How a calendar solves problems and helps reduce unwanted situations [10:08] How to build and cement a routine for your family [12:39] What has happened with Brooks in the past when he wasn't using a calendar, or when it was misused [15:41] The three things that are critical to have with a family calendar [24:34] What technology Brooks uses for his family's calendar system [27:07] How a few best practices can help perfect your family calendar [30:28] How Thanh recommends the best way to get started in implementing the family calendar [40:46] Why Brooks believes that everybody should have some unstructured time in their calendar [42:03]

Links:

Mpow CD Slot Car Phone Mount You Need A Budget Monopoly Deal Card Game The Hybrid Calendar System That Will Help You Stay On Top Of Everything (TPS233) Would You Like A Team Calendar That Gets Everyone Aligned? Use “The Anchor” (TPS234) Achieving Next-Level Productivity Through Conative Understanding w/ David Kolbe (TPS197) Simple Strategies To Find Time to Parent Without Feeling Guilty w/ Julie Morgenstern (TPS232) NeuYear Brooks’ whiteboard

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Working with others can provide a lot of challenges, and one challenge in particular is managing your calendar. How do you balance getting your deep work done, while at the same time collaborating with your teammates? And how do you do that in the most efficient, effective, and reliable way?

We'll share our philosophies around team calendars, what has worked (and not worked!) for us, and some best practices for managing a team calendar, booking time with others, protecting your deep work time, and having everyone aligned and informed.

Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting The Productivity Show. HelloFresh is offering our listeners a total of $60 off, $20 off your first three boxes. Visit HelloFresh.com/tps60 and use the code TPS60.

Cheat Sheet:

What Thanh and Asian Efficiency have found to be the best solution for them [7:00] The 6 procedures everyone needs to know when it comes to using a calendar [9:39] What makes these procedures so important, and why it's extra important for remote teams [14:27] The pros and cons of booking meetings the "normal" way [16:30] How the more militant approach can help you avoid "calendar tetris" [26:52] How Asian Efficiency handles their calendars, and how it overcomes the challenges found in other systems [34:35] What makes Asian Efficiency's daily huddle such a good "anchor" for scheduling meetings, and how Thanh uses this in conjunction with his own "meeting day" [37:38] Questions and tips about scheduling and calendars from Dojo members [49:58]

Links:

HelloFresh Calendly It Doesn’t Have To Be Crazy At Work by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hanson Uniqlo HEATTECH Socks - Men / Women The Hybrid Calendar System That Will Help You Stay On Top Of Everything (TPS233) 3 Simple Steps to Help You Master Your Calendar (TPS198) 5 Tips to Master Your Calendar (TPS77) 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) Doodle ScheduleOnce

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Have you ever considered using an analog calendar with a digital calendar? A lot of people like the feeling of writing on their paper or wall calendar but they miss the portability and speed of a digital calendar. If you’ve tried both approaches and you haven’t found a working solution yet, then you’re going to love this episode. We’ll share our system for using a digital and analog calendar together. It’s so simple and effective that you might be wondering why you haven’t done it yourself yet!

Cheat Sheet:

The advantages and drawbacks of going fully digital [7:44] How an analog calendar can help you achieve certain goals that a digital calendar can't [10:48] Why use both calendars and how the sum is greater than the whole of its parts [13:23] How Brooks keeps all of his and his family's digital calendars synced up [17:03] Why you should keep your digital calendar as the 'master' and the analog as the 'servant' [21:47] How having a hybrid calendar system can help curb distraction and keep you more focused during your day [24:30] How Brooks recommend you protect yourself against conflicts and forgetting to transfer dates [30:18] What members of the Asian Efficiency Dojo do use for their hybrid system [31:02]

Links:

CableCreation 2-in-1 cable with microUSB and lightning outputs Neu Year calendar BusyCal Fantastical Moleskine Things3 3 Simple Steps to Help You Master Your Calendar (TPS198) Increasing Your Productivity By Using Analog Tools w/ Curtis McHale (TPS177) 10 Ways You Can Increase The Productivity of Your Team

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Today I’m speaking to Julie Morgenstern, who is the author of five books including the New York Times bestsellers Organizing from the Inside Out and Time Management from the Inside Out.

We’re going to drill down into the topic of parenting, and ways you can organize your life to bring out the best in your child AND in yourself. We get into a framework she’s developed to do this from her new book, Time to Parent, and you know how we love frameworks here on the Productivity Show.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly Premium account. To sign up, go to Grammarly.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Why it's never too late to hit reset on your relationship with you and your kids [2:53] What Julie calls the PART framework, and how it helps streamline the relationship between you and your child [8:18] What the SELF framework does to prioritize your own self-care [14:34] How Julie recommends you use the frameworks, and what she warns against [19:02] The reasons why parents who were productive before being a parent often lose their momentum [22:18] What children need to feel loved and secure according to science [27:16] The five anchors in your kid's day to help you plan your day [31:51] Who is in charge of running the family and how to empower everyone to help [37:18] How to deal with the curveballs life throws at you to stick to your goals [43:33] The big takeaways you can get from Julie's book, Time To Parent [47:03]

Links:

Time to Parent: Organizing Your Life to Bring Out the Best in Your Child and You Organizing from the Inside Out, Second Edition: The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life Time Management from the Inside Out, Second Edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule -- and Your Life Grammarly

Connect with Julie Morgenstern

JulieMorgenstern.com Time To Parent podcast Time To Parent Self Assessment Survey

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Today we have Lauren Goldstein, an entrepreneur and business strategy consultant from Austin, TX. Lauren and Thanh have known each other for a while and we invited her to come on the podcast to share her unique approach to productivity.

You’re going to get specific tips on how to use a calendar to run your life and business, how you can theme your days and weeks to stay focused, and how you should plan your weeks in advance with a simple tool.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Find out more at their website.

Cheat Sheet:

What admin days are, and why they have been so important for Lauren [4:19] What a typical admin day looks like for Lauren [6:18] How Lauren 'themes' her weeks and focuses on what's important for her business [8:30] The misconception about goals that Lauren sees most often with her clients [13:10] What Lauren recommends if you're looking to plan or theme your week [18:18] How to deal with the unexpected on your admin day [26:18] How Lauren plans her week out [28:26] Handling the important but not urgent tasks [32:59] How Lauren increase her clients profit without looking for more work [37:13] How you can streamline your calendar and your scheduling [40:07] What tasks Lauren automates with Zapier to save her time [46:16] The key to getting ready for the day quickly [48:06] Lauren's tips for women to get ready quicker in the morning [56:10]

Links

Be Focused Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change Teamwork (online platform) Scaling Up Eat That Frog Eat That Frog – Do Your Most Important Tasks In The Morning Calendly Zapier DUFL The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Connect with Lauren Goldstein:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Youtube Golden Key Partnership Golden Key Labs

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Welcome to The Productivity Show, a podcast by Asian Efficiency to help you maximize your productivity so you can get everything done without having to sacrifice your health, family, and things that matter to you. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people save time, be happier, and become more productive.

You probably have heard of the saying “you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”. While most of us agree with that idea, very few people put that into practice. In this episode, we want to help you take this idea and consciously make an effort who you spend time with. We’ll discuss how to identify which people you should spend more time with AND which people you need to ditch. As always, you can expect it to be simple and actionable.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting The Productivity Show. Grammarly is offering our listeners 20% off a Grammarly Premium account. To sign up, go to Grammarly.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet:

Why who we surround ourselves is so important [5:25] What it means to "spend time" with people [9:05] How the people you spend time with can impact your energy [11:38] Why we need to protect our attention in dealing with the people in our lives [16:27] How to perform an audit on the people in your life [23:00] Finding the people who are doing what you want to be doing [29:14] The importance of going where your people are [33:58] How to use the people you surround yourself to hold yourself accountable [39:58] What to do if you want to change your routines with people for the better [46:20] Why having clear goals can make this process easier [50:14]

Links

Grammarly Withings Steel HR NeuYear Calendar Zebra Delguard Mechanical Pencil The Power of Positive Thinking: How Gratitude Gives You More Energy (TPS175) Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) How to Get the Most Value Out of Conferences and Implement What You’ve Learned (TPS225) 6 Ways a Mastermind Can Accelerate Your Success w/ Nate Lowrie (TPS178) Inside the AE Mastermind: What Really Successful People Do Differently to Fix Their Blind Spots (TPS192) How To Stick To Your Goals This Year And Every Year (TPS229)

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Welcome to The Productivity Show, a podcast by Asian Efficiency, to help you maximize your productivity so you can get everything done without having to sacrifice your health, family and things that matter to you. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people save time, be happier, and become more productive.

In today’s episode, we’ll be covering 6 strategies for how to stick to your goals this year and even if you lose momentum, we’ll give you practical tips for picking it back up.

Cheat Sheet

When people start to drop their new year's resolution and why [3:53] The importance of understanding visibility with your goals and new years resolutions [5:05] How discomfort keeps us from achieving our goals [8:44] Why learning to trust the process is so important [10:41] How to deal with the curveballs life throws at you and your goals [12:47] Why willpower does not work for long-term results [16:59] The importance of knowing what you're getting into and choosing the right goals [19:27] The power of one goal accomplished is more valuable than three half-done [24:16] How to break down your goal into practical action steps [27:26] Rituals that can help build momentum towards your goal [32:46] How to use all of these ideas and tools together to make an effective system [38:12] How to establish and use a review process to keep on track [43:32] Six action steps that can get you started towards keeping your new year's resolutions this year [47:24]

Links

Tooth Fairy Quest Tortilla Style Protein Chips, Nacho Vonchef Electric Egg Cooker Strava's data on when new years resolutions drop off Why Willpower Doesn’t Work (and What You Should Use Instead if You Want to Achieve Your Goals) Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Having a Why The Life Changing Power Of Finding Your One Thing Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Zero 5 Common Mistakes That Cause The 12 Week Year to Fail (and What to Do About Them)

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. You can also leave a review! Here's how.

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Welcome to The Productivity Show, a podcast by Asian Efficiency, to help you maximize your productivity so you can get everything done without having to sacrifice your health, family and things that matter to you. We’ve helped tens of thousands of people save time, be happier, and become more productive.

Now that it is a new year, we want to help you make this year your best year ever. You must be really excited for what’s coming up and what you’d like to accomplish. We’ll share with you a few of our favorite strategies to make sure that you’re able to accomplish everything that you’d like to do in the time you have.

Cheat Sheet

Why everybody should review their past year, even if it was a good one [5:51] The importance of the TEA framework when preparing for the new year [7:58] How to know where to use the TEA system in your life [11:05] Why putting your number one goal in writing makes it easier to accomplish [12:48] Why focusing on your system is more effective than focusing on your goal [16:31] How Thanh and Brooks refine their goals through defining their systems [18:19] Why you need to stick with your system once you decide to use it [22:18] Bringing your system and your calendar together [23:06] How calendars can push you towards your goals, even when you don't feel like it [26:08] What you can do to get started on your best 2019 [27:46]

Links

Memobottle Bukey cable clips JBL Clip 3 portable speaker How To Do An Annual Review The Right Way (TPS227) Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Check out the rest of the TEA Series on The Productivity Show:

TEA Framework, Level 1: Making the Most of Your Limited Time (TPS219) TEA Framework, Level 2: Maximizing Your Energy (TPS220) TEA Framework, Level 3: Maximizing Your Attention & Focus (TPS221)

Systems Thinking: The Secret to Achieving Any Goal Never Enough Time? Schedule Your Priorities by Color Coding Your Calendars 3 Simple Steps to Help You Master Your Calendar (TPS198)

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In today’s episode, we’ll be covering how you can conduct your own annual review. This has allowed Thanh and others on the team to achieve our goals, be happier and be more fulfilled in our lives. Unfortunately, it’s something that most people are not doing because there isn’t a lot of great information out there on this topic. That’s about to change and you’ll discover the 3 tools you need for your annual review, how it will help you achieve your goals, and the 8-step process for conducting your own annual review.

Cheat Sheet

Brooks and Thanh's top 3 productivity resources for this week [1:25] What you can get out of conducting your own annual review [5:00] The common mistakes that are made in conducting your own annual review [5:55] What a year-end review is and is not good for [8:24] The myriad benefits of keeping a journal, and how it helps in your annual review [10:32] How an accomplishment list can help your business, your workplace, and your personal life [17:21] Why it is crucial to keep the accomplishment list going, no matter how big or small the accomplishments [21:19] Why we should not dread the failure list [23:58] How to not make the same mistake twice [27:13] How to use these three tools to conduct your own annual review [28:21] Why you should write an extremely brief summary of your year in review [33:52] How you can still do an annual review despite not having these tools [36:42]

Links

TimeShifter DayOne The 5-Minute Journal How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154)

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In today’s episode, Brooks interviews Erin Chase, one of the most productive people we know and a very successful businessperson who helps busy and overwhelmed home chefs learn to spend less money on groceries and get organized in the kitchen. She's the founder of 5 Dollar Dinners, the author of the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook series, and has just released a new app called Vonnie, which teaches you to cook in your own kitchen with the help of a live instructor.

We're not going to be talking about meal planning though - we're going to talk about how she structures her days, her weeks, and how she stays focused on executing her big ideas while managing her work, her team, and her busy family.

Cheat Sheet

The problem that Erin Chase is solving 1:39 How her team is structured 10:07 How Erin structures her days so that she is working on the right things 15:19 Why she gives themes to different days of the week in order to juggle multiple brands or businesses 32:20 How she schedules her meetings for her team 40:32 How Erin deals with distractions in order to keep focused using "power days" 56:39 Why it is important to be a fast decision maker 1:04:24 What tools she uses to stay on top of everything she has to do 1:10:58

Links

Toggl Ontraport Dropbox Flock Voxer Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218)

Connect with Erin Chase

5DollarDinners.com GroceryBudgetMakeover.com

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This episode is all about how to maximize the value you get from conferences. We’ll share strategies and tips for how to pick the right conference to go to, how to implement what you’ve learned, how to maximize your time at a conference and make sure it’s worth your time and money - especially if you’re introverted!

Cheat Sheet

What Brooks has learned from attending hundreds of conferences 1:30 How to pick a conference to attend 7:30 The true cost of going to a conference 16:41 Tips for traveling to conferences 25:11 How to pack for a conference 36:36 How to maximize your time when you are at the conference 44:35 The concept of "un-conferencing" 53:58 How to take good notes 57:43 Networking tips for introverts 1:05:04 How to keep track of expenses when traveling 1:14:02 What to do once you get back from the conference 1:17:13

Links

How to Effectively Read and Implement Books Blog post: Why I decided not to go to a conference and what I’m doing instead Wingz Scanbot Hazel

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Today’s episode is going to be a little different. Mike Schmitz will be leaving Asian Efficiency and The Productivity Show and he’s going on to do other big and exciting things. We thought it would be great to have Mike share his lessons and experiences he learned over the years that would benefit others like you.

Cheat Sheet

How Mike found Asian Efficiency 1:53 The impacts that AE has made on Mike 11:55 Why thinking time became a very powerful tool for Mike 22:01 How Mike has impacted the productivity community 25:44 Mike's favorite episodes of The Productivity Show 28:27 Mike's list of hit favorite productivity books 33:04 What advice Mike would give to his younger self, knowing what he knows now 38:10 Where to go to keep following Mike going forward 42:23

Links

Thou Shalt Hustle Kolbe Wealth Dynamics Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Achieving Next-Level Productivity Through Conative Understanding w/ David Kolbe (TPS197) Confessions of a Pricing Man A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (TPS189) Intentional Attention: How Small Decisions Can Bring You to Your Ideal Future (TPS184) The Power of Positive Thinking: How Gratitude Gives You More Energy (TPS175) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Focus Tips From the Most Productive Man You’d Ever Hope to Meet w/ Chris Bailey (TPS213) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends

Connect with Mike Schmitz

Faithbasedproductivity.com Free Agents Bookworm.fm MikeSchmitz.me

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Today’s guest is Garrett Salpeter, the founder of NeuFit. He invented a device that has helped Thanh recover from shoulder surgery in only 2.5 months - something most people would take 6 months to do. We dive deeper on how he’s changing the way world-class professional athletes recover from injuries and surgeries, and how you can too. Whether you’re recovering from an injury yourself or you’re fascinated about how you can achieve peak performance with your body through technology, this episode is for you. In the end, we also talk about how you can build muscle faster with technology and how you can have more productive workouts.

Cheat Sheet

What NeuFit is 1:38 How the device actually works 8:51 Examples of how NeuFit has worked for people 16:52 Thanh's story of his shoulder 26:06 How you can use the device to help with workouts 43:18

Links

neu.fit/efficiency @NeuFitRFP

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In today’s episode, Thanh interviews Lynan Saperstein, a very successful businesswoman who travels all over the world and someone who has a very unique approach to productivity.

She wasn’t always this productive though. About 5 years ago, when she started her business, she didn’t know anything about productivity and she couldn’t keep up with the demand. Her clients were getting upset and she knew she needed to make a change. Today she’s sharing her story of how she transformed her life by hiring an organizational coach, why she hired an assistant just to remind her what to do, and how she has managed to travel the world and still be Asian Efficient. She also shares her favorite workflows, apps, and tools she uses to run her company to stay productive.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting The Productivity Show. Skillshare is offering our listeners 2 months of unlimited access to over 20,000 classes for just $0.99. To sign up, go to Skillshare.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet

How Lynan went from unorganized to very efficient by hiring a coach 2:10 When she decided to turn her life around and hire a coach 8:55 How systems helped Lynan create more freedom 17:20 How she leads her remote team 28:38 Apps that she uses to be productive 31:58 How to create a system of accountability with her assistant 35:58 Why you need to learn how to delegate 43:46 How to get stuff gone while you are traveling 50:12

Links

Trello OmniFocus Zoom Boomerang Monday.com WhatsApp Roost stand How To Design the Life You Want w/ AJ Yager (TPS215) How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190) Girls Love Travel

Connect with Lynan Saperstein

@ExperienceExprt TheExperienceExperts.com TravelCon.org

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We’re back for the conclusion to our series on the TEA Framework, a simple mental model to help you identify and overcome the specific productivity obstacles that may be keeping you from reaching your full potential. Today Brooks and Mike will be diving into the last of the 3 Pillars of Productivity and talking about attention - What it is, how it works, why it’s important, and what you can do to make sure you stay focused on what’s most important to you.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Learn more at Slack.com.

This show is also supported by SkillShare. SkillShare is offering our listeners 2 months of unlimited access to over 20,000 classes for just $0.99. To sign up, go to SkillShare.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet

Recapping the 3 pillars of the TEA framework 1:50 What Mike and Brooks have done when everything on their to-do list looks like the most important thing 6:56 The positive effects of being more focused and having more attention 12:27 The 3 main components to attention 22:06 Tips for creating more focus time 26:51 Why we are big fans of over-ear headphones 36:26 Why goals are important for improving your focus 41:07 Tips for developing better goals 48:45 Tips for developing the right mindset 1:00:47 Action steps for those who want to start claiming more attention towards what you want to do 1:03:40

Links

Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) TEA Framework, Level 1: Making the Most of Your Limited Time (TPS219) TEA Framework, Level 2: Maximizing Your Energy (TPS220) The Productivity Killer We Face 35,000 Times Each Day (TPS147) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Focus Tips From the Most Productive Man You’d Ever Hope to Meet w/ Chris Bailey (TPS213) Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction Cortex podcast Downtime on iOS  Bose QC 35 The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones 3 Keys to Making This the Year Your New Year’s Resolutions Finally Stick (TPS176) Bookworm

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Today we’re continuing our exploration of the TEA Framework and the 3 pillars of productivity with pillar number 2: Energy. We’ll be sharing our own struggles with energy and how we overcame them to be productive, we explain the 3 key areas to keep an eye on when it comes managing your energy, and we share simple strategies to help you create more energy so you can take action on the things that are important to you, achieve your goals faster, and reach your full potential.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. For $50 off of your first job post on LinkedIn Jobs, go to LinkedIn.com/TPS.

This episode is also brought to you by Simple Contacts. Get $20 off of your first Simple Contacts order by visiting SimpleContacts.com/TPS and entering promo code TPS.

Cheat Sheet

Why energy is the second pillar of the TEA framework 2:37 Examples of people who might not have the energy to get things done 12:02 What life looks like when you have the energy to do everything you want to do 16:22 The 3 main components that make up energy 22:51 Why you should focus on sleep in order to get more energy 23:44 How creating rituals can save energy as well as energize you 36:15 Things you can do to increase your energy 40:42 How motivation factors into how much energy you have 45:47 A visualization exercise you can use to increase your motivation and get more energy 53:35 3 simple action steps you can take to get more energy 1:00:01

Links

Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) TEA Framework, Level 1: Making the Most of Your Limited Time (TPS219) Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214) Better Sleep The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business TPS98: Making Rituals Stick w/ Nabill Idrisi The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work Atomic Habits: 4 Laws for Changing Your Identity & Living the Life You Want w/ James Clear (TPS217) Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Morning Ritual Starter Kit Making Better Decisions: How to Say “No” and When to Say “Yes” (TPS155) How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126)

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Today Brooks and Mike continue the conversation that Thanh and Mike began last week on the TEA framework, a simple mental model to help you identify which levers to pull to get unstuck and help you reach your full potential. We’ll dive deep on the first pillar of the TEA Framework, explain the 3 parts of making the most of your time, give you guiding questions to help you identify where you can make improvements, and give you several resources to help making the necessary changes even easier. At the end of today’s episode, we give simple and practical action steps to stop spinning your wheels and start making the most of your limited time. Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show.  For $50 off of your first job post on LinkedIn Jobs, go to LinkedIn.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet

Dissecting the first pillar of TEA - Time 1:37 How to start by looking at the systems in your life 4:12 Strategies for getting through the business of your day 12:53 Using other people to help you get things done 27:31 Why communication is so important and how to communicate better on a team 35:49 How to know if you should be looking into optimizing your time 42:43

Links

Introducing TEA: A Simple Framework for Getting Unstuck and Achieving Your Goals (TPS218) Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work RescueTime Timing SetApp Airtasker TaskRabbit The Simple Guide to Managing Your Email More Efficiently (Blog)

Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (Podcast)

5 Ways to Turn an Unproductive Day Around (Blog)

The Overwhelm Survival Kit: Strategies to Help You Get the Space & Control You Need (Podcast)

Eat That Frog - Do Your Most Important Tasks in the Morning (Blog) Pomodoro 2.0 w/ Esington Method Founder Rudy Marsh How to Help Other People Become Productive (Blog)

The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (Podcast)

Working with People Who Don’t Understand Productivity (Blog)

4 Strategies for Making Your Friends & Family More Productive (Podcast)

10 Ways You Can Increase the Productivity of Your Team (Blog)

A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (Podcast)

GTD 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Things Done (Blog)

Systems Thinking: The Secret to Achieving Any Goal (Blog)

Think Like a Geek: How Simple Systems Lead to Sustainable Success (Podcast)

5 Common Mistakes That Cause the 12 Week Year to Fail (Blog)

How to Get GTD to Work for You (Podcast)

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Today we’re introducing you to our new productivity framework, which we call TEA. This simple framework will help you identify the root causes when your productivity dips and show you which levers you need to pull to get back on track. If you feel like you’re not living up to your full potential but can’t quite figure out why, or are just starting on your productivity journey but could use a roadmap to help you achieve your goals, then this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

The origin story of how the TEA framework was created 1:31 Examples of how these three different currencies work together to help you reach your full potential 5:48 What to do if you don't have the energy to do the things you want to get done 10:26 Why attention and focus are becoming hot button topics in the productivity community 16:48 In-depth descriptions of each the 3 pillars of productivity 27:54 Tactics: things you can do now to quickly win back time 32:11 Creating rituals and habits in order to have more energy to be productive 37:01 Why most people focus on the area of attention last 44:28 Where to start with the TEA framework for yourself 50:01

Links

Busycal The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity How to Get Started with An Executive Assistant w/ Tim Francis (TPS190) The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) Focus Tips From the Most Productive Man You’d Ever Hope to Meet w/ Chris Bailey (TPS213) Speed Up by Slowing Down: Sleep Secrets to Boost Your Focus and Maximize Your Productivity (TPS214) Things 3 The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business SaneBox TPS89: Stop Email Overload w/ Dmitri Leonov of SaneBox Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

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Do you have trouble getting your habits to stick? Or maybe you have trouble breaking bad habits that keep you from realizing your full potential? Either way, you won’t want to miss today’s episode with James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits and creator of the Habits Academy. James’ writing combines ideas from a wide range of disciplines including biology, neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, and is focused on how we can create better habits, make better decisions, and live better lives. James joins me today to talk about his new books, Atomic Habits, which is available on October 16th. We talk about why habits are so important to James, the key difference between goals and systems, and why identity-based habits are better than outcome-based habits. We dive into the 4 Laws of Behavior Change, talk about why “how long” is the wrong question to ask when building habits, and James explains what to do when your habits break down.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. For $50 off of your first job post on LinkedIn Jobs, go to LinkedIn.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet

Why habits are so important to James Clear 2:15 Why he believes habits are better for creating progress than  goals 5:47 Outcome-based habits vs identity-based habits 9:59 Why genes can tell you where to work hard 18:38 Four laws for behavior change 20:47 The inversion of the four laws for habits that you want to break 27:47 A simple formula for creating habits 33:09 Three different groups that we tend to imitate habits from 39:05 Decisive moments where you make the choice to change your habit or not 44:43 How to get back into a habit after you break the chain 50:58

Links

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones JamesClear.com The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Connect with James Clear

@JamesClear

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Leo & Harry, creators of the iOS app Sorted, come on the show to talk about their unique approach to task management. We dive deep into the topic of scheduling your tasks, and why they believe it’s so important if you really want to be productive. We discuss how this intentional approach towards organizing your day led to the development of Sorted, which was recently featured by Apple in the iOS App Store, and they share their tips for working productively as a small team as well as give some great advice for not only aspiring developers but anyone with a crazy big goal they want to achieve.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Learn more at Slack.com.

Cheat Sheet

How Mike got connected to Harry Ng via the Dojo and the story of how Sorted got started 1:59 What Sorted is and what it does 7:45 How Sorted's auto-schedule feature works 11:09 Why Sorted allows your schedule to be fluid and change with the situation 20:50 How users of their app use other to-do apps in conjunction with Sorted 23:27 The challenges with trying and stand out in a crowded to-do app landscape 30:08 One of the biggest productivity lessons that they've learned 35:45 How they decided what features to add and what not to add to the app 43:07 Tips for working productively together as a partnership or small team 46:27 What advice they would give to anyone wanting to build an app startup 52:02 How you can connect with Harry and Leo 58:20

Links

Sorted OmniFocus 3 "Millionaires Don't Use To-Do Lists" Kevin Kruse, Forbes 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs Zoom The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

Connect with Harry and Leo

@Stay_Sorted

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Today’s episode is with Thanh, the CEO of Asian Efficiency, who’s having a conversation with his friend AJ about how to design the life you want. He goes into detail about how you can envision the perfect lifestyle and take actionable steps to build it. They share their personal productivity strategies for doing it - some that you might not have heard of. What’s also unique about this episode is how AJ shares his data-driven approach to building a productive and fun lifestyle - something that took him over 15 years to figure out - but you’re about to learn how to do it in less than an hour.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting the Productivity Show. Get 25% off your first order at RXBAR.com/TPS using the promo code TPS.

Cheat Sheet

Who is AJ Yager? 2:17 How he decided to design his ideal future 6:30 How he increases productivity and happiness when he travels for months at a time 13:47 How AJ designed his business so that he could travel 18:39 Why you don't have to be an entrepreneur to choose your lifestyle 27:46 Why rest and recovery is super important 32:17 What being data-driven in all aspects of your life really means 39:24 Tools that AJ uses to create a data-driven life 42:22 How living a lifestyle you want applies to having a partner 49:45

Links

All the tools and resources mentioned by AJ can be found on one page here The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results 3 Simple Steps To Delegating Work The Right Way So You Don’t Have to Worry About It (TPS182) The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Remote: Office Not Required The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Your Genetic Blueprint Kit Garmin Fenix 5s Plus Sapphire Black TheEnergyProject.com Coach.me Apeiron Center

Connect with AJ Yager

@TwoTravelingTrackers // @ajyager AJYager.com Need help learning how to reduce waste and optimize data in your business? Want a “command center” dashboard to make better decisions? - Get a FREE 30-min data strategy call for your business. PraxisMetrics.com

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For many of the people we work with here at Asian Efficiency, the thing that is holding them back from reaching their full potential is simply the ability to focus free from distraction on the things that they already know are important. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about those distractions - you can’t stop someone from barging into your office and derailing your day with an urgent project that wasn’t on your radar. But other times they are self-imposed obstacles that keep us from achieving the success we desire.

In today’s episode, we talk about one of the most effective strategies for boosting your focus and maximizing your productivity: getting enough sleep. We dive deep on what actually happens when your body sleeps and share 7 strategies to help you sleep more productively so you’re ready to hit the ground running and have a productive day once your feet hit the floor. We also share a couple of emergency strategies for when you know you didn’t sleep well but you need to push through and be productive anyway.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Learn more at Slack.com.

Cheat Sheet

Why sleep is such a personal topic for both Thanh and Mike 2:23 How to use sleep as a focus and productivity booster 7:02 Why sleep deprivation is classified as a disease in the US 12:56 Side effects from not getting enough sleep 14:59 How sleep works from a scientific perspective 29:50 7 tips for maximizing your sleep 36:42 Why you absolutely should not work in your bedroom 43:11 Preparing for restful sleep and creating an evening ritual 53:09 Why a colder bedroom helps you get better sleep 1:01:50 Why you need to minimize stimulants like caffeine and working out later in the day 1:07:03 What you can do if you didn't get enough sleep and you need to power through the next day 1:12:24 Why "eating your frog" is even more important when you don't sleep well 1:18:06 Action items you can take today to get better sleep 1:22:29

Links

The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction Focus Tips From the Most Productive Man You’d Ever Hope to Meet w/ Chris Bailey (TPS213) CDC: "1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep" Sleep Cycle Oura Ring Bedphones Flux Gunnar glasses Hue lights Sleepyhead: The Neuroscience of a Good Night's Rest Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210)

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Mike is joined today by productivity expert Chris Bailey. Chris is the internationally bestselling author of The Productivity Project, and most recently his second book, Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction. Chris writes about productivity at ALifeOfProductivity.com and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can become more productive, without hating the process. Fast Company has called him a "productivity mastermind" and the TED Talks organization said that he “might be the most productive man you’d ever hope to meet." In this episode, we're thrilled to have Chris join Mike to talk about the idea of Hyperfocus and how you can manage your attention in order to be more productive.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. Get $50 off your first job post at LinkedIn.com/TPS.

Cheat Sheet

The inspiration behind Chris' new book 1:59 The 4 types of tasks that Chris lays out in Hyperfocus 7:33 How to use attentional space effectively 14:32 The only way to multitask 19:42 The different stages of Hyperfocus 21:33 How to tame distractions when you're trying to focus 30:35 How you can make Hyperfocus a habit 37:54 What to do when your mind wanders and how to unlock your brain's creative mode 44:37 The 3 different styles of Scatterfocus, or deliberate mind-wandering 51:37 How Hyperfocus mode and Scatterfocus mode relate to each other 56:23 The idea of collecting and connecting dots 59:13 How to consume better information 1:04:38

Links

Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction TPS35: A Year of Productivity w/ Chris Bailey The 3 Things You Need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) GTD Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative TED Talk by Chris Bailey

Connect with Chris Bailey

@Chris_Bailey ALifeofProductivity.com

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Do you ever find yourself reacting emotionally to things that are beyond your control? Maybe you don’t fly off the handle and say something you’ll regret later, but you still find certain people or things in your work or personal life that make your blood start to boil. This is known as the fight vs. flight response, and unfortunately, in an effort to save us from physical harm our body tends to trigger it at just the wrong moments.

In this episode, we show you how you can overcome the fight vs. flight response to see things the right way and make better decisions using the practice of mindfulness. We’re not going to talk about the practice of mindfulness meditation in this episode (we did that in TPS210), but we will look at some of the natural enemies of mindfulness and show you how you can overcome them. We also give you some mindfulness exercises you can use anytime, anywhere to start developing a practice of mindfulness in your daily life.

Cheat Sheet

Why mindfulness does NOT equal meditation (and what it really means) 2:10 Why mindfulness is about observing and controlling your thoughts 11:39 What happens when the fight vs. flight response is triggered and how to deal with it appropriately 12:54 Why the philosophy of stoicism aligns so well with the concept of mindfulness 23:18 Some of the major benefits of practicing mindfulness 29:28 How distractions at work and with technology can prevent us from being mindful 38:57 Why multitasking is something that should really be avoided 43:30 How FOMO and the Fear Of Keeping Up prevent you from being mindful 48:50 Why it is so important to get good sleep in order to stay healthy and productive 53:27 Exercises you can do right now to implement mindfulness 58:15 A simple mindfulness framework (RAIN) 1:06:38

Links

Meditation for the Rest of Us: 10 Surprising Benefits from Making Mindfulness a Habit (TPS210) The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less Work the System: How to Make More and Work Less w/ Josh Fonger (TPS208) "Real Happiness At Work: The Myth Of Multitasking" The Huffington Post The Daily Stoic The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story 10% Happier podcast - #86 Gary Vaynerchuk "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks" Pomodoro 2.0 w/ Esington Method Founder Rudy Marsh (TPS188) Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Personal Retreat Handbook: The 7-Step Process to Make Achieving Your Goals Inevitable (TPS207)

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A lot of people dream of working remotely. They picture themselves checking email occasionally from the beach or working a couple hours a day when it’s convenient for them. But anyone who works on a remote team knows there’s much more to it than that. Sure remote work gives you freedom and autonomy, but working with team members who are halfway around the world has its fair share of challenges. In this episode, we talk about how we’ve managed to build a successful remote team here at Asian Efficiency, and share the real secret that makes it all work for us.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to https://slack.com to learn more. Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting The Productivity Show. Use the code TPS to get a 4-week trial offer by going to https://Stamps.com.

Cheat Sheet

How to figure out how to communicate as a remote team 3:15 Ways to make meetings work when your team is remote and people are working in different time zones 9:15 How to get everyone's buy-in on your team when deciding how and when your team members work 17:05 The language and cultural barriers when hiring team members from different countries 20:52 How to track performance when you have a remote team 23:35 How to address the lack of trust you might have with people you don't interact with often in-person 29:14 What you learn from getting together in-person as a remote team 39:52 Why there's a boost in productivity after an in-person meet up 47:36 The Importance of thanking team members and building trust with each other 56:18

Links

Atlassian JIRA Confluence Zoom 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) Our 3 Biggest Challenges of Implementing Scrum & How We Overcame Them (TPS191) A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (TPS189) Skitch Alfred

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Do you have trouble focusing on one thing for any length of time? You’re not alone - in today’s crazy-busy society, we’ve become addicted to distraction. Today we’re going to show you how you can fight the urge to be always-on through establishing a mindfulness meditation habit. We talk about what mindfulness meditation is, how to do it effectively, the 10 major benefits that come from mindfulness meditation, and give you our recommended apps and tools to help you make it a habit. Whether you are a beginner or have been meditating for years, this episode will help you train your brain so it stays on what you tell it to focus on.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting The Productivity Show. Get $50 off your first job post at LinkedIn.com/TPS. Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting The Productivity Show. Use the code TPS to get a 4-week trial offer by going to Stamps.com.

Cheat Sheet

Exploring mindfulness meditation as someone who was initially resistant to the idea of doing it 2:31 Getting started with the simple process of meditating 7:56 How meditation helps you be more engaged in other things in your life 14:58 What to do when you've taken a break from meditation and want to get back into it 17:45 The 10 benefits of meditation 23:12 Why mindfulness meditation improves your mood and focus 29:22 How meditation makes you smarter by changing your physical brain 35:38 Meditation tools and apps that Mike and Brooks use 42:47 How to get started with a guided meditation 55:28

Links

10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) "Self-reported mindfulness and cortisol during a Shamatha meditation retreat." "Brief Mindfulness Training May Boost Test Scores, Working Memory" "From Ouch to Om, Meditation Reduces Pain" "Can meditation make you a more compassionate person?" "A low‐dose mindfulness intervention and recovery from work: Effects on psychological detachment, sleep quality, and sleep duration" The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Back to Work Podcast Calm.com Headspace Buddhify Meditation Studio Insight Timer

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We talk a lot about the concept of deep work here at Asian Efficiency, which is all about maximizing your intensity of focus so that you can produce excellent work and be more productive. But that assumes that you have time to focus on your important projects, which for many people is a luxury they don’t have (especially those in a corporate environment who have to deal with pop-ins from bosses and coworkers).

In this episode, Mike is joined by Curtis McHale, creator of the new focus time video course in the Dojo, our online productivity community, and we talk about how you can create the time to focus on your important projects. We talk about the tools you can use to facilitate focus when it’s time to sit down and do deep work, how you can set up your workspace to facilitate focused work more easily, and how to deal with the expectations of others and carve out focus time for yourself - even if you work in a corporate environment where you don’t have complete control of your time.

Cheat Sheet

A brief intro to Curtis McHale 1:53 The difference between focus time and deep work 3:00 How to get a focus block and how much time to spend on it 9:03 Why passion and purpose are important when trying to get focus time 12:09 Tools you can use to get more focus time 14:01 How to build a workspace for creating focus time 23:08 How to carve out focus time in a corporate environment 29:15 When is focus time bad? 35:03

Links

Get Curtis McHale's book The Art of Focus when it comes out! The Secret to Making the Most of Your Limited Time w/ Curtis McHale (TPS201) Increasing Your Productivity By Using Analog Tools w/ Curtis McHale (TPS177) Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Ulysses Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule The Cost of Not Paying Attention: How Interruptions Impact Knowledge Worker Productivity Pomodoro 2.0 w/ Esington Method Founder Rudy Marsh (TPS188) Focus@Will Brain.fm HazeOver Scrivener Calm The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less Great at Work: How Top Performers Work Less and Achieve More

Connect with Curtis McHale

CurtisMcHale.ca @CurtisMcHale

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Everyone wants to make more money and work less hours, and in this episode Josh Fonger shows us how it's possible using simple systems mechanics. Josh is a business performance architect and the co-founder of Work The System. He is an international business consultant, coach, and speaker. He's had the unique experience of personally helping hundreds of businesses grow simply, using the WTS Method. His specialty is taking stressed out entrepreneurs from working "in" their business to working "on" their business using systems so that profit and freedom become a consistent mechanical reality.

Work the System is where Mike first heard about The Systems Mindset, so he's thrilled to have Josh on the show to talk about the benefits of the systems mindset, the different kinds of systems that compose your life and how to make small improvements that translate into big results. They talk about the Work the System formula, key principles that will help you make the most of the systems in your life, and the perspective you need to develop in order to see systems correctly.

Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting The Productivity Show. Receive $30 off your first week of deliveries when you go to HelloFresh.com/TPS30 and use the offer code TPS30.

Cheat Sheet

How Josh became connected with Sam and started coaching businesses 1:58 Organic vs Mechanical systems 6:48 What Josh tries to fix first when he starts to work the system with clients 12:32 How systems can improve your personal life 18:37 The benefit of a business embracing the systems mindset 20:15 Why it's important to memorialize your wins 26:20 How small improvements over time can produce big results 29:48 The Work the System formula 32:28 The 4 main components of the Work the System method 42:51 Why a simple solution is usually the correct solution 48:43 Why improving systems will improve your emotional state 57:56

Links

WTS Enterprises Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life @workthesystem

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Do you like the idea of the 12 Week Year, but have trouble achieving your 12 Week Year goals? So did Mike, until he started implementing the concept of a personal retreat (or thinking day) that we’re about to share with you in this episode. Brooks and Mike talk about how to make the most of your personal thinking time, Mike shares the process he uses to achieve my goals for the last few quarters, they give you the questions you should ask when identifying your own 12 Week Year goals, plus a bunch of other tips to make achieving your personal and professional goals inevitable.

Cheat Sheet

How Mike started using a personal retreat after failing to accomplish his 12-week year goals 1:51 What a personal retreat is and why it's related to "thinking time" 8:54 Why putting a personal retreat on your calendar is the key to finding the time to getting it done 16:30 The 7-step process you can follow to hold your own personal retreat 18:59 How to review the previous quarter and finding lessons from the progress you've made 23:31 Identifying all of your roles and responsibilities and putting some on the "chopping block" 27:16 Why saying no saves "future you" from letting people down 33:15 The 3 Questions you should ask about your roles and commitments 36:48 Why you should pick at most 3 12-Week Year goals 44:27 Re-evaluate your morning routine 50:57 More tips for making sure you actually achieve your goals 55:47

Links

The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) Schmitz Family Values 5: Where Will You Be Five Years from Today? 4 Steps to Regaining Control Whenever You Feel Overwhelmed The Most POWERFUL Productivity “Tool” I’ve Discovered (Thinking Time blog post) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162)

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Do you ever get overwhelmed? Ever feel like you’ve lost control of your day and there’s absolutely nothing that you can do about it? Do you get frustrated with having to respond to things other people declare are urgent and find yourself with no time left for the things that are important to you?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this episode is for you. Brooks and Mike talk about what overwhelm is as well as what contributes to it, and share a simple 4-step strategy to help you escape overwhelm once and for all. They share 5 quick tips for disconnecting from the moment and getting some space and control when everything goes wrong, and give you 5 tactical tips to help you systematically create space and escape overwhelm once and for all.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting The Productivity Show.

Cheat Sheet

How this topic came about from a Twitter question 1:49 What overwhelm feels like and why it's often self-imposed 6:50 How today's society creates a culture of emergency-scan modality 11:57 Resetting the expectations surrounding work/life balance 18:47 4 Steps to escape overwhelm 19:58 Why you need to learn how to say "No" 22:52 How email is a major contributing factor to overwhelm 30:25 Why rituals help you keep overwhelm at bay 35:26 Action item: identify one thing that you want to turn into a ritual or routine 39:11 What should you do when everything is going wrong right now 40:37 How meditation or taking a walk outside can help you feel like you are more in control of your life 44:52 Ways that famous authors and business owners deal with overwhelm 48:40 5 Things you can do to make sure you will systematically fight against overwhelm 51:43 Why you should reflect on your experience after you make it through an overwhelming situation 58:06

Links

The tweet that sparked this episode Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) My Morning Routine: How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do Calm Headspace Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World 3 Simple Steps To Delegating Work The Right Way So You Don’t Have to Worry About It (TPS182) Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World

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It can be difficult balancing close relationships with the important people in your life and your desire to get things done as efficiently as possible. What do you do when you have friends or family members who don’t share the same approach to getting things done? How can you win them over and convince them to implement new and better ways of doing things?

In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about how you can walk the fine line of productivity evangelist with the people who are close to you without being pushy or damaging important relationships. They share 3 strategies for working productively with a spouse or significant other, tips for communicating and inspiring other family members and friends when you need to tread carefully in close relationships, and share several personal examples of how they’ve convinced the people close to them to prioritize productivity.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to https://slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

Why you have to be careful when trying to convince family members to use new productivity techniques 1:57 4 strategies for maximizing your chances of success when you are advocating for productivity with your spouse or significant other 7:00 Questions to ask your spouse during a family meeting 10:50 Why you can't force your preferences on your significant other 16:37 Why clearly articulating the problem you are trying to solve helps you get on the same page 22:40 How patience can really help produce change in productivity within a household 28:42 Productivity in other family relationships, like Mom and Dad 39:22 Productivity tips you can use with your kids 43:07

Links

The ONLY Way You Can Inspire Change in Others & Make Them More Productive (TPS204) Family scoreboard  Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) The 3 Things You Need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable​ About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life

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Do you ever get frustrated because your team or family members “just don’t get it” and insist on doing things in a way that’s completely unproductive? If so, you’re not alone. We all struggle with people who are close to us that haven’t yet seen the light when it comes to the way they choose to get things done. If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, you probably feel like this is a battle that you just can’t seem to win. So in this episode, we’re going to share our best strategies for winning over the people closest to you to a productive mindset so you can fix the broken systems in your life. We share 6 ways that you can influence others to change, and talk about what you can do in specific situations to improve efficiency with the people you live and work with while protecting your relationships.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to https://slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

Quick wins for approaching a coworker to help them with email management 2:02 Why pain is a driver for change 11:09 How to lead by example when it comes to productivity 15:18 Why you should show people you are really interested in them when you want to influence them 26:42 How to share what is working for you 35:31 Why you want to teach and educate when the pain is high 43:31 How to use third-person framing to start a teachable moment 51:46 How to frame delicate requests so that they are heeded 55:09 How to get your spouse on-board with productivity mindset 59:19

Links

The Simple Guide To Managing Your Email More Effectively Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (TPS166) Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success TextExpander How To Win Friends and Influence People The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family: A Leadership Fable​ About Restoring Sanity To The Most Important Organization In Your Life 10 Practical Tips for Identifying and Implementing Core Values With Your Family (TPS133)

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Ever wonder why so many New Year’s Resolutions don’t stick? It’s because most people rely solely on willpower to achieve their goals. Don’t be like so many who start things but can’t finish them. Tune in to understand why willpower alone isn’t going to allow you to achieve your goals, the 2 different approaches you can use to maintain motivation, and 5 practical tips for increasing your motivation. In this episode, we also walk through 2 different scenarios and show how managing motivation can help achieve any goal.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

What makes some people give up on their goals and what allows other people to stick with things 2:29 What willpower really is and why you can't count on it to obtain a goal 3:33 How motivation can help you overcome inertia and reach your goals 11:30 Why Brooks decided to do intermittent fasting and how he used motivation to keep it up 16:47 How Mike used motivation to get through ups and downs to finish his first half-marathon 24:52 What to do when your routine or habit falls off and you need to get back on track 33:09 How deliberate practice gives you complete control over your outcome 41:10 5 Practical tips for increasing your motivation 44:42

Write down your why 44:50 Create a ritual 49:12 Don't break the chain 56:10 Get accountable 59:31 Get a coach, whether formal or informal 1:03:41

Links

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise The Productivity Killer We Face 35,000 Times Each Day (TPS147) "The Chocolate-and-Radish Experiment That Birthed the Modern Conception of Willpower" - The Atlantic The War of Art Morning Ritual Starter Kit DontBreakTheChain.com Zero Fasting Tracker app Productive habit tracking app 6 Ways a Mastermind Can Accelerate Your Success w/ Nate Lowrie (TPS178) Inside the AE Mastermind: What Really Successful People Do Differently to Fix Their Blind Spots (TPS192) Clarity.fm

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People seem to self-identify into 2 categories: those that thrive working from home, and those that say they could never do it. But working from home is like any other productivity challenge - if you set yourself up for success, become aware of some best practices, and apply some creativity and flexibility, anyone can do it and do it productively. In this episode, we talk about some of our favorite home office gear, talk about the 4 challenges present with trying to work from home, and share 7 keys to setting up your home office environment for maximum productivity.

Cheat Sheet

How your workspace impacts how productive you are 2:19 Some of our favorite home office gear 10:19 Why you might want to use two monitors 17:18 Why Mike uses a "clicky" keyboard to motivate him to write 26:24 The challenges that come with working from home and how to overcome them 29:31 How to set ground rules when you decide to work from home 37:14 How to define your storage system so you have a place for everything 47:09 How the right ergonomics will make you more productive 55:18 Why it's important to take the time to have social interaction if you're working from home 1:00:43 Tips for dealing with paper in your home office 1:05:10 Additional resources for getting started or going to the next level with your home office 1:11:52

Links

"Are poorly designed offices eroding productivity?" Gensler Research Brooks’ desk when he started his online business Mike's current desk setup Fully.com standing desks Veridesk NeuYear AE Calendar "Boosting Productivity At Work May Be Simple: Stand Up" Texas A&M University 10+ iPhone Productivity Strategies from Apple Tech Jedi David Sparks (TPS199) "The Virtues of a Second Screen" New York Times @JakeShell - DIY Standing Desk TPS7: Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan The One Habit That Stops Procrastination In Its Tracks: Clearing To Neutral Organizing from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System For Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life New Order: A Decluttering Handbook for Creative Folks (and Everyone Else) NAPO.net

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Ever wonder why some people seem to get so much more done than others? We all have the same 24 hours in a day, so what makes some people super-productive while others just can't seem to get things done? In this episode, we dive into the strategy of timeblocking and how high-achievers use it to focus their effort to become super-productive.

Mike is joined by Curtis McHale, who recently produced a video training course for the Dojo to help people implement timeblocking for themselves and take massive action on their goals. Curtis is a Dojo member and business owner who has been running a successful web software consulting business for 6 years and helping others do the same for the last 2. In this episode, Curtis and Mike talk about timeblocking and why it’s so effective, give tips to help you implement it for yourself (even if you’re completely new to the idea), strategies for keeping it going and making the habit stick, and even a few tips for people in a corporate environment with little to no control over their work schedule.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

Why Curtis is a huge proponent of timeblocking 2:05 Making time vs finding time (and why they're both wrong) 3:34 Four steps to designing your ideal week 8:18 Manager your work hour as a freelancer or if you have a boss 13:36 How to talk to your boss about your core values in order to succeed in your job 21:14 How to track your time effectively 27:52 Reviewing your timeblocks and making adjustments 32:57 How to make your timeblocking and time tracking into habits that stick 41:53 Why you should have a written plan for your week 46:55 Why you should double your time estimates when you're guessing how long a task will take 51:19

Links

Increasing Your Productivity By Using Analog Tools w/ Curtis McHale (TPS177) 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) Never Enough Time? Schedule Your Priorities by Color Coding Your Calendars Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love Unique Ability® 2.0: Discovery - Define Your Best Self How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) RescueTime Cushion Toggl Timing Ulysses The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (TPS189) Deep Habits: The Importance of Planning Every Minute of Your Work Day (Cal Newport blog post)

Connect with Curtis McHale

CurtisMcHale.ca @CurtisMcHale

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You’re listening to the 200th episode of the Productivity Show which is a major milestone for us. Three years and almost 5mm downloads later we’re still going strong and helping people like you achieve your goals in record times with our actionable content. To celebrate this special occasion we will reveal something at Asian Efficiency that we have never done before - an inside look at our planning process at the company. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, team leader or someone who wants to learn how to plan their goals in a different way, you’ll learn a lot from this today’s episode where we share how we plan our goals for the year and how we try to achieve them. We talk about which mistakes we’ve made along the way, share how we’ve sometimes failed at hitting our targets, and what we’ve learned that helps us execute better the more we stick with the process.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

How Asian Efficiency's planning and goal-setting systems have changed over the years 3:03 How AE grew from a 2-person side project to a larger business with a team of people 11:44 The concept of "disagree and commit" and why it’s important 15:49 Why nothing beats doing planning sessions in person 21:35 Why you should start with the end in mind when it comes to planning 24:02 How the "critical number" keeps you on track 33:09 Using an example of creating an online course to talk about goal setting and the critical number 41:31 Using scrum and story points in the planning process 51:05 Understanding where you are now with leading indicators 53:10 How to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be 58:26 Why planning is 50% of the work 1:03:42 How "thinking time" can help you accomplish your goals 1:07:21 Lessons that we've learned from our own quarterly planning process 1:13:57

Links

Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't TPS7: Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan Our 3 Biggest Challenges of Implementing Scrum & How We Overcame Them (TPS191) A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (TPS189) How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results Tomatobot for Slack

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It’s hard to think of something that has made as big an impact in the way we live and work during the past decade than the smartphone. The iPhone in particular, introduced with its large touchscreen and lack of a physical keyboard, has had a profound impact on our productivity and changed the way we get work done. Its capability and portability have allowed people to work when and where they like. So for this episode on iPhone productivity, we can think of no one better-suited to show you how to get more out of your Apple-branded handheld computer than David Sparks, known affectionately to the internet as “Macsparky.”

David writes and produces the MacSparky Field Guides at MacSparky.com, and is the co-host of the popular Mac Power Users and Free Agents podcasts. David speaks and writes often about Apple technology, and when he’s not falling down fiddly geek rabbit holes, David is a business attorney in Orange County, California.

David recently released the iPhone Field Guide, a multimedia guide to making the most of your iPhone. With over 50 screencasts and more than 65,000 words, there’s something here for everyone whether you are new to the iPhone or been using it for years. David joins us to talk about some of his favorite iPhone productivity tips, some of his favorite productivity apps, and how he accelerated the writing process to finally publish the book.

Thanks to Slack for supporting The Productivity Show. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Cheat Sheet

Who David is and why he's been podcasting for 10 years 2:44 How smartphones have changed the way we live and work 4:00 What notifications David allows and which ones he blocks 8:11 All about the iPhone field guide that he wrote 15:10 What hyper-scheduling is and how David finished this field guide as a side project 20:29 Some of David's favorite iPhone productivity tips 30:32 Using dictation on iPhone 37:58 Different things you can do with Live Photos 47:05 3 different categories of task managers on the iPhone 52:42 Why you shouldn't use too many due dates for your tasks 58:28 David's perspective on habit trackers for iPhone 1:06:45 How to use the Grammarly keyboard and Voice Dream apps to be more productive 1:10:43 How to get the most out of the Find Friends app on the iPhone 1:17:10

Links

MacSparky iPhone Field Guide Mac Power Users podcast Free Agents podcast "U.S. consumers now spend 5 hours per day on mobile devices" (TechCrunch) 3 Simple Steps to Help You Master Your Calendar (TPS198) Fantastical Drafts Bookworm podcast Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Anker Charger Dragon Anywhere Kolbe Achieving Next-Level Productivity Through Conative Understanding w/ David Kolbe (TPS197) Productive app Habitica Grammarly Copied app Voice Dream Ulysses

Connect with David Sparks

MacSparky.com @MacSparky

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Ever wonder why some people get so much done compared to others? Behind every super-productive person is an intentional approach to how they manage their calendar. In this episode, Brooks and Mike dive deep on how to set your day up for success by managing your calendar well. They talk about why you need a calendar in the first place, what types of things should go on your calendar, the 3 simple steps for setting up your calendars, recommended applications and services (including some PC and Android options), and 8 advanced calendar management tips to help you plan and execute your perfect week.

Thanks to HelloFresh for supporting The Productivity Show. Receive $30 off your first week of deliveries when you go to HelloFresh.com/TPS30 and use the offer code TPS30.

Cheat Sheet

Why do you need to use a calendar anyway? 2:04 How many calendars do you need? 4:58 Steps you can take to set up your calendars for optimal productivity 12:13 Why Mike uses a "goose calendar" 18:50 Things that don't need to be scheduled into a calendar 23:11 Why we recommend using a cloud-based calendar app 24:40 Our calendar app recommendations for Mac and PC 33:58 Why you should schedule everything that you intend to do 47:23 Small things you can implement today to be more productive with your calendar 57:00 Why you should plan at around 75% and over-estimate how long you think things will take 1:04:47 How to use a routine and take advantage of biological primetime 1:09:39 The advantages of using a scheduling application 1:15:20

Links

Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) 6 Tips for Running More Effective Meetings (TPS195) The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family How To Use a Calendar and Task Manager Together Never Enough Time? Schedule Your Priorities by Color Coding Your Calendars The Artist's Way AE NeuYear Calendar BusyCal Fantastical Calendars 5 (by Readdle) Google Calendar (iOS & Android) Timepage Vueminder One Calendar Chronos Calendar Microsoft Outlook Deep Habits: The Importance of Planning Every Minute of Your Work Day The 3 Things You Need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) Moodnotes ScheduleOnce Calendly Doodle.me

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Do you ever feel like things are harder than they should be? Then today’s episode about conative productivity is for you. Mike is joined by David Kolbe, CEO of Kolbe Corp, who has lived and breathed the Kolbe Concept® since its inception. 

Today David joins us to talk about how making small adjustments based on conative insights can improve your productivity in all areas of your life. We dive deep on the Kolbe A assessment (which we’re BIG fans of here at AE), identify the cost that ignoring your conative M.O. has on your productivity, how you can use your M.O. to achieve greater productivity in your team or organization, and even how conative knowledge can improve your relationships.

Thanks to Weebly for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to weebly.com/tps to get 15% off your first purchase.

Editor's Note: We apologize that the audio quality for David isn't great. We did our best to clean it up. Fortunately, the information is still awesome.

Cheat Sheet

What Kolbe is and how the company started 3:00 Detailed explanation of the four action modes that are part of the Kolbe A Assessment 9:18 What the initiating and counteracting spectrum is all about 15:07 What the "followthrough" scale really means 24:27 An illustrative story about two family members with different ways of communicating 30:22 The conative strain that occurs when you work with people who have different strengths 39:39 Tips for overcoming the different types of conative stress 43:50 How to be an effective communicator and play to other people's strengths 50:01 Using Kolbe scores in personal relationships 55:21 Conative families 1:03:07 Why using "ergs" of energy intentionally for work and other ones for hobbies helps you be more productive 1:09:34

Links

Kolbe.com Conative Connection: Uncovering the Link Between Who You Are and How You Perform TakesTwo.com @KathyKolbe

Connect with David Kolbe

@Kolbe_Corp

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Do you ever find yourself frustrated because the day has just gotten away from you? If so, we’ve got good news for you: there are things you can do to set yourself up for a successful and productive day. Today Mike is joined by writer, author, and podcaster Dave Caolo. Dave was the managing editor at The Unofficial Apple Weblog for eight years where he covered major Apple releases, produced podcasts and video, and oversaw the site’s day-to-day editorial operations. He’s a regular contributor to Unclutterer, a website dedicated to home and office organization, and he’s created a few video courses for the Dojo, our online productivity community.

Dave’s latest video course is all about setting your day up for success, so in this episode, we dive deep on specific things you can do the night before to make sure tomorrow is productive, how to get your day started right with a solid morning routine, and what you can do to overcome a midday slump.

Thanks to Weebly for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to weebly.com/tps to get 15% off your first purchase.

Cheat Sheet

3 keys to setting up your day for success 2:15 Why getting enough sleep is so important 3:12 Why the simple act of saying hello and goodbye to coworkers can make a big difference in your productivity 8:04 How to identify your MITs (Most Important Tasks) 12:43 Tips for prepping your gear the night before 16:35 Making sure your calendar is ready to go for the next day so you can hit the ground running 20:10 How to have a productive morning 25:08 What to include in a morning routine 29:00 How both of them tried "Morning pages" and didn't end up incorporating it into their routine 35:25 How to "chunk" your time 41:15 How to overcome a mid-day slump 44:35 All about the "52/17" method 51:31 What Dave uses to track his time 53:23 When to turn off your email client 57:17 Where to start in order to implement something you've learned tonight 1:02:45

Links

Overcoming Digital Clutter: Strategies for Reducing Stress and Regaining Focus w/ Dave Caolo (TPS185) The Power of Positive Thinking: How Gratitude Gives You More Energy (TPS175) Never Enough Time? Schedule Your Priorities by Color Coding Your Calendars Getting Things Done The Artist's Way Busy: How to thrive in a world of too much Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Pomodoro 2.0 w/ Esington Method Founder Rudy Marsh (TPS188) DavidSeah.com Timing app RescueTime SetApp

Connect with Dave Caolo

52tiger.net @davidcaolo

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Have you ever found yourself in a meeting thinking to yourself, “when is this going to end?” or even “why am I here?” If so, you’re definitely not alone. Meetings can waste a ton of time and are often not helpful in getting your actual work done. So in this episode, we dive into the 3 big problems with most meetings and share 6 things you can do to turn an unproductive meeting into a productive one. We also give 3 questions you can use to start having more productive meetings today, even if you’re not the meeting facilitator.

Thanks to Weebly for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to weebly.com/tps to get 15% off your first purchase.

Cheat Sheet

The problems with most meetings 2:25 Things that cause most meetings to fail 6:11 The AE solution to making sure people take meetings seriously 8:35 How to make meetings shorter AND more effective 15:47 Why most meetings wander off-topic 22:03 How to make sure that people actually follow-up on action-items from the meeting 30:20 What to do if you realize a meeting is a waste of time for everyone 34:48 How to establish trust within your team and why it's so important for effective meetings 38:35 Why bringing hard data will make meetings productive and help get buy-in from your team 42:58 Action-items you can implement today to make your next meeting successful 47:42

Links

The Science and Fiction of Meetings (article) Time Wasting at Work (infographic) Our 3 Biggest Challenges of Implementing Scrum & How We Overcame Them (TPS191) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't TPS87: How to Run Effective Meetings w/ John Poelstra

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How do you know which task manager is right for you? Task managers are great because they allow you to filter your available tasks and only display the ones that are appropriate right now, but the problem is there are so many to choose from. And moving everything over from system to system to see if it’s a good fit is incredibly time-consuming. Wouldn’t it be great if you had someone who had tried them all and could guide you so that you could be sure the task management app you were about to spend your hard-earned money on has the right features for the way you work BEFORE you buy it and spend hours setting everything up?

Well, that’s just what Dojo member Mat Rhein is here to help with. Mat put together an incredible task manager comparison chart to help you sort the many options and find the one that has the exactly what you’re looking for. In this episode, we’ll be diving deep and doing an in-depth feature comparison of task management options, talking about where the OmniFocus 3 beta fits, and introducing you to the AE task management hierarchy to help you pick the right task management system based on the features you need.

Thanks to Weebly for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to weebly.com/tps to get 15% off your first purchase.

Editor's Note: There is a little bit of noise in Mat's audio, but the information in this episode is so good that we decided to release it anyway.

Cheat Sheet

All about the incredible task manager comparison chart that Mat created 2:38 Why Mat now uses Things 3 as his task manager 7:35 The 5 different levels of task management complexity 11:40 Why projects should not be classified as tasks 18:33 An overview of the task manager comparison chart 24:09 A comparison of the cloud sync options provided by different task managers 28:17 How planning complexity is organized 35:37 Why start dates are so important 39:48 Why you don't want to display all of your tasks on your calendar 45:59 Mat's experience with using the app Sorted 3 53:39 What apps Mat and Mike use on a daily basis for task management 58:53 Who should use Things 3 1:04:29 Mike reviews some of the new OmniFocus features 1:11:45 How to remain productive no matter what task manager you are using 1:17:50 How to find an app that fits your unique productivity style 1:25:47

Links

Mat's Task Manager Comparison Chart Overcome the Limitations of GTD to Get Things Done By Using the 2Do App (TPS137) Text Editor comparison How to Achieve Your Goals with Any Task Management System (5 levels of task managers) 5 Tips to Work Smarter and More Effectively with Evernote (TPS141) Omni Roadmap 2018 The Omni Group Reveals Details of Upcoming OmniFocus 3 for Mac & iOS A Video Tour of the OmniFocus 3 for iOS Beta Scannable by Evernote Scanbot TaskPaper Clear

Task Managers Mentioned

Wunderlist Swipes 2 Sorted 3 Todoist Things The Hit List 2Do Nozbe Firetask OmniFocus

Connect with Mat Rhein

@mat_rhein7

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Thanh & Ben share their best travel hacking tips to make your next trip stress-free. Ben is a good friend of Thanh's who runs a very successful Artificial Intelligence company that has Fortune 100 clients and works with big corporations hire him from all over the world. Ben is based in Germany but he’s rarely home because he spends more time traveling all over the world. Thanh travels a lot as well, and always finds it very challenging to be productive and run a business at the same time.

They discuss how to pack light, which airlines are the best, which apps, tools and travel gadgets they recommend, and how to stay productive while you’re traveling across time zones.

We want to preface this episode by saying that Ben never does interviews or make appearances in the media. He likes to stay anonymous and stay behind the scenes, so you won't find links to his website or ways to contact him in the show notes.

Cheat Sheet

Why Ben spends almost half of his life traveling all over the world 2:12 How his whole process works for booking a flight, and why he always flies on Saturdays 9:10 How he prepares for his trip two weeks in advance 17:28 How to beat price fluctuations in rental cars, hotels, tickets, and more 24:06 Ben's hotel strategy for being more productive on the road 32:12 How to create an airline strategy and get loyalty points 43:21 His favorite airline he has ever flown 52:40 Ben & Thanh's favorite airports in the world 1:00:51 Some of the best travel gear 1:08:30

Links

Google Flights Booq Superslim 3M Privacy Screen LoungeBuddy PowerCube Extended USB Cable And Adapter Ultraslim Power Bank Portable Lightning Cable WhatsApp

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One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to get around other productive people who can help you see your blind spots and share what really works. And that’s exactly what facilitated last November for some of our best customers when we invited them to come to Austin, TX for the Asian Efficiency mastermind.

In this episode, Thanh and Mike go behind the scenes and share the Asian Efficiency perspective on masterminhds. We share how we put together a successful mastermind meeting, including how we made sure that the right people were there, the process we used that helped attendees get the results they were looking for, why asking the right questions is so important, and how you can apply these questions and frameworks right now even if you aren’t currently connected to a mastermind group. If you want to know how you can start achieving next-level results by finding the right people and asking the right questions, then this episode is for you.

Thanks to Weebly for supporting The Productivity Show. Go to weebly.com/tps to get 15% off your first purchase.

Cheat Sheet

#askTPS: How do you take notes while listening to podcasts and audiobooks? 2:21 How Thanh and the team put together the AE mastermind that they hosted last year 10:38 How the mastermind was set up and how it works 20:21 Why deciding the ideal outcome before attending a mastermind will help you reach your goals 26:10 Why a lot of the value of a mastermind comes from listening to other people's problems 29:28 Why many people already know what they need to do, but they need a gentle nudge to help them do it 34:56 The reason why no one can see their own blind spots, and why diversity is important 39:00 Why asking a group of people who aren't your family or friends will help you get better answers 46:17 Questions you should ask in your mastermind 51:39 How to run a "hot seat" session 56:50 What the ICE Matrix is and how you can use it to help your productivity (even if you can't attend a mastermind) 59:19 Lessons Thanh learned from hosting the mastermind 1:09:16

Links

Drafts app Evernote Dynalist 6 Ways a Mastermind Can Accelerate Your Success w/ Nate Lowrie (TPS178) Think and Grow Rich How to Overcome Academic Challenges with Productivity Tools w/ Eric Benchimol & Richard Keijzer (TPS186) Corporate Executive and Mother of Two Kids Reveals How She Balances Her Life Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162)

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Marmel Becerial, Asian Efficiency’s very own scrum master, joins Mike to dive deep on how we use scrum here at Asian Efficiency. This episode explains how we use the scrum framework in order to consistently and systematically create podcast episodes, video courses for the Dojo, and everything else related to Asian Efficiency’s day-to-day operation. We talk about some of the things that Marmel has learned from her experience as scrummaster for Asian Efficiency, and share 3 of the specific challenges we’ve had to overcome in the 4+ years we’ve been using the Scrum framework, plus the 5 reasons we love Scrum here at AE.

If you’re looking for an explanation of scrum you’ll want to check out our interview with Lucas Smith in episode 189, but if you want to see how we implement it here at AE then this episode is for you.

Thanks to Casper for supporting The Productivity Show. Save $50 on select mattresses at https://www.casper.com/tps, and use promo code tps.

Editor's Note: In this episode, Mike misspoke when he listed the 3 questions we use for every sprint. The 3 questions are:

What should we start doing? What should we stop doing? What should we keep doing?

Cheat Sheet

Welcome to The Productivity Show, Marmel Becerial! 2:30 What it's like being a Scrum master 9:22 How AE has adapted the Scrum framework to fit the way our small remote team works 11:08 Implementing Scrum for solopreneurs 14:27 How to execute a retrospective 21:14 Recommended ways to determine the number of story points an issue will require 24:17 How our daily huddle (stand-up meeting) works 30:34 Our experience doing a gratitude roundtable at all of our Scrum meetings 36:38 Challenges we have with Scrum, and how we keep our team happy 38:09 Why we love Scrum for the AE team 47:52 How Scrum helps us continuously improve 54:23 Advice for starting to use Scrum with your team 57:56

Links

A Professional Scrum Master’s Best Advice for a Productive Team w/ Lucas Smith (TPS189) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable JIRA Asana Trello ONTRAPORT

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Have you ever considered hiring an assistant to help you? Today we are talking to an expert on finding and hiring assistants, Tim Francis. Tim has hired more than one hundred assistants so he knows a thing or two about the topic. In this episode, you’ll learn how to know when you’re ready for your first assistant, which traits an assistant absolutely must have, how much you should pay your assistant, and the exact step-by-step process to follow when hiring your first assistant.

Cheat Sheet

3 Quick Tips for delegating 1:55 What prevents people from getting an executive assistant 7:07 Common mistakes people make when they get their first assistant 9:25 The moment that changed Tim's life forever 14:29 When is the right time to hire your first assistant 22:32 Culture differences of hiring assistant abroad 36:15 Things to look for in an executive assistant 41:58 How KOLBE scores can help find the right assistant for you 46:13 Why income level is not very helpful when deciding whether or not it is time for an assistant 50:44 How having an assistant can also free up time for your personal life, not just your business 58:43 The things you should look to delegate first 1:04:08 Tips for handing off your email inbox to an assistant 1:15:03 How to master delegation 1:25:28 How to delegate everything from small tasks to large events 1:42:33 Creating decision-making guidelines so that your executive assistant can make decisions without you 1:48:52 How to use an assistant to drive automation for all parts of your business 1:57:14 The technology used to delegate to assistants 2:11:11

Links

The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) 5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Free Up 2+ Hours A Week (TPS118) 3 Keys to Using the 80/20 Rule in Your Business for Exponential Growth (TPS119) Loom Convo LastPass Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans WhatsApp KOLBE 3 Simple Steps To Delegating Work The Right Way So You Don’t Have to Worry About It (TPS182) So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love Evernote Tripit Egnyte Teamwork

Connect with Tim Francis

@TimothyJFrancis ProfitFactory.com GreatAssistant.com 360 Delegation 100 Tasks to delegate How to Organize Procedures

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In this episode, Mike is joined by Lucas Smith, an agile trainer, coach, and scrum master for LitheWorks, LLC who has over 14 years experience in software development, delivery, management, product development, coaching, and training. Lucas is one of only 50 Professional Scrum Trainers in the United States and in addition to being a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST) with Scrum.org he also holds the distinguished Level III Professional Scrum Master (PSM III) and Level II Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO II) certifications, as well as the Certified Scrum Professional (CSP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certifications through Scrum Alliance.

We use Scrum here at Asian Efficiency, so we're thrilled Lucas is able to join us today to dive deep on the topic. If you’re new to Scrum, don’t worry - Mike and Lucas will give an introduction to how it works and share several scenarios where it could be useful for you, even if you aren’t a developer or don’t work remotely. They talk about why scrum is for everyone, the productivity benefits that come from using scrum, and how to implement it for yourself and your team. They share common mistakes people make when implementing scrum for the first time, share additional resources, and Lucas gives some pro tips to help you take scrum to another level.

Cheat Sheet

How Lucas got introduced to Scrum as a software developer at Boeing 2:35 How Scrum evolved in order to tackle increasingly complex problems 4:23 The history and definition of Scrum 7:22 How a cross-functional team works and why it's important 11:26 How a to execute an effective sprint 14:14 Why using Fibonacci numbers to estimate how long a task will take is so effective 21:42 The different roles on a Scrum team 26:08 The value of implementing Scrum 30:43 The different events of Scrum: daily Scrums, sprint review, and sprint retrospective 36:23 Visualization and transparency techniques for scrum 44:55 How to move from doing to done, and the meaning of the terms "burn up" and "burn down" 48:58 Recommended tools you can use to execute the Scrum method 57:30 The "3 times" rule 1:05:03 Tips for taking Scrum to the next level 1:07:56 Further reading on Scrum 1:14:02 Situations that might really benefit from the use of Scrum 1:18:06

Links

Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time Kolbe index Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't Nobody Gets Credit for Fixing Problems That Never Happened The New New Product Development Game Trello Scrumy PlanITpoker JIRA VSTS Rally (CA Agile) VersionOne Asana Scrum Guide Scrum.org Scrum uses:

For Church For Personal/Family

Personal scrum: Using agile techniques to manage your life Solo Scrum The Agile Household: How Scrum Made Us a Better Family

For Education

Connect with Lucas Smith

LitheWorks.com  LinkedIn

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Rudy Marsh joins us to talk about procrastination, the pomodoro method, and goal achievement. Rudy is the founder of the Esington company and creator of the Esington Glass, a beautiful Pomodoro timer that you can use to help you overcome procrastination and take action on your goals. Rudy grew up in a multi-ethnic family in North Texas and studied physics at the University of Texas at Dallas. Rudy joins us to talk about how he created the Esington Glass to help him in his own battle with procrastination, and he shares why he created the Esington Method to help make the Pomodoro Method stick in his own life.

In 2014, he introduced the Esington Glass that the Esington Method is based up to the world on Kickstarter, raising nearly $200,000 and backed by over 2,200 people. We share some of the lessons he’s learned from launching a successful Kickstarter campaign, and why Mike personally believes the Esington Timer is Pomodoro 2.0.

Cheat Sheet

Who Rudy is and the story behind the development of the Esington Glass 1:28 The importance of developing a keystone habit 4:37 The core idea behind the Pomodoro method and why it is so effective 6:28 Why the soft stop of the Esington timer helps you keep going if you're in flow and get more done 13:18 How a flow state works and why you should try to get there as fast as possible 19:13 Lessons Rudy learned from putting together a successful Kickstarter campaign 23:47 True stories from Esington Glass users 27:29 What's next for the Esington Company 30:54

Links

Esington Timer The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business TPS78: Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle w/ Thanh Pham Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Connect with Rudy Marsh

@rudymarsh or @esington_com

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In this episode, Brooks and Mike revisit our favorite productivity apps for the Mac with our 2018 Mac Productivity Draft. A lot has changed since last year, including many of our favorite apps switching to a subscription model (and a new service that allows you to get a bunch of them at a discount). We share some of our favorite workflows and the key apps we use every day here at Asian Efficiency. If you’re looking to upgrade your Mac, this episode will give you plenty of good suggestions for boosting your Mac productivity.

Cheat Sheet

Top 10 Mac Productivity Draft, 2018 Edition

Round 1 3:07

Mike: SetApp Brooks: Zoom.us

Round 2 7:19

Mike: TextExpander Brooks: 1Password

Round 3 11:56

Mike: OmniFocus Brooks: Alfred

Round 4 15:51

Mike: MindNode Brooks: Keyboard Maestro

Round 5 21:36

Mike: Ulysses Brooks: Default Folder X

Round 6 24:15

Mike: Timing Brooks: CleanMyMac

Round 7 27:43

Mike: BusyCal Brooks: Clocker

Round 8 30:42

Mike: Bartender Brooks: Snagit

Round 9 34:02

Mike: MailMate Brooks: ScreenFlow

Round 10 37:08

Mike: Day One Brooks: Encrypt.me

Honorable Mentions 41:51

Little Snitch SublimeText Byword nvAlt Shush Hazel Deckset

Best New app 46:27

Mike: Things 3 Brooks: Pixelmator Pro Honorable Mention-Mike: Twitteriffic (backup: Bear) Honorable Mention-Brooks: MarsEdit

Most Surprisingly Useful Productivity App 54:02

Mike: Bumpr Brooks: BBEdit

Also 56:27

TripMode DropZone 3

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In this episode, Mike is joined by Eric Benchimol and Richard Keijzer, two academic physicians who recently published an article titled “Living Like an Academic Athlete: How to Improve Clinical and Academic Productivity as a Gastroenterologist.” The article was published in Gastroenterology, the top-ranked gastroenterology journal, and the world’s #46 ranked scientific journal (according to Google) and they join us to talk about some of the unique productivity challenges that academics face.

We talk about the need to balance multiple areas of responsibility, how to create systems to ensure success and minimize stress, and they share some of the things that have worked for them and allowed them to achieve their academic goals. While the information that we discuss in this episode will benefit anyone, if you work in an academic field you definitely don’t want to miss this as Eric and Richard share strategies and tips to help you succeed as an academic athlete.

Cheat Sheet

How Eric and Richard came to write the article on productivity for academics 1:05 How they got into productivity 6:00 How productivity is viewed in the academic world 11:56 Why having a system really helps when you have multiple roles 14:00 How they define productivity and the benefits of the paper for an academic 20:48 The routines that they both do on a daily basis to stay productive 25:45 What Eric's journaling habit looks like 28:51 How they avoid distractions and notifications 31:29 How to say no to meetings in order to protect your productive time 34:04 How having a mentor will help you stay on course to meet your goals 39:19 How to get a mentor or seek out a mentorship program 47:51 Self-care to help you perform at an elite level 50:48 The reception that their article has enjoyed in the academic world 59:58

Links

Living Like an Academic Athlete: How to Improve Clinical and Academic Productivity as a Gastroenterologist Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity New Yorker: Atul Gawande on coaching Headspace RescueTime Harvard Business Review: The Making of a Corporate Athlete Evernote Feedly EndNote The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy

Connect with Eric Benchimol & Richard Keijzer

@ericbenchimol LinkedIn: Eric Benchimol @richardkeijzer LinkedIn: Richard Keijzer

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In this episode, Mike is joined by Dave Caolo, a regular contributor to Unclutterer, a website dedicated to home and office organization. Mike & Dave dive deep into digital clutter: What it is, where to find it, and how to deal with it. We explain the very real cost of clutter and the effect it has on your productivity, give you a couple of simple questions to help you realize if you need some help clearing out digital clutter yourself, and offer helpful strategies for decluttering your digital life if you do.

Thanks to Audible for supporting The Productivity Show. Get a free audiobook with a free 30 day trial at audible.com/TPS or text TPS to 500-500. Cheat Sheet

Why decluttering is harder to understand (but just as important) when it comes to digital items 2:05 What clutter really means 2:58 Why FOMO-bawed clutter drives a lot of the time we spend on social media 10:17 Real world examples of digital clutter 11:25 Important distinctions: things that are not digital clutter 14:38 Ways digital clutter can be harmful 19:02 Tips to start getting rid of digital clutter 26:30 How to declutter a smartphone 32:27 The one thing that Dave would tell people to do to start decluttering your digital life 40:26 How to automate decluttering 41:41

Links

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Intentional Attention: How Small Decisions Can Bring You to Your Ideal Future (TPS184) Hurry Slowly podcast episode 03 Using Coffee Shops and Cafes to Give Your Productivity a Boost w/ Dave Caolo (TPS172) The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance in a Wired World Gazelle MacSparky SaneBox Hazel

Connect with Dave Caolo

52tiger.net @davidcaolo

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Do you find yourself being pulled in too many directions? In this episode, Thanh and Mike talk about how your attention determines your future and why a simple mindset shift to regain control of your attention can provide stability and direction for all areas of your life. We talk about how being careless about how you spend your attention results in a condition called “attention slavery” and share some strategies to help you escape it. If you feel overwhelmed by everything or like you just can’t keep up, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

Tactical tips for directing your attention that can provide immediate focus 1:52 Why scheduling focused time for being offline can be beneficial to your productivity 5:30 How to get focused work done in an open office plan 8:12 Advice for short bursts of focus 16:39 How to focus your attention on the tasks that really matter 21:06 What "flow" is and how to get into it on a consistent basis 30:17 Why former social media executives are recognizing the adverse effects of social media platforms 36:11 How to use social media intentionally 41:06 How to start regaining your attention 46:17 The many advantages from tracking your time 52:41 How to develop mindfulness 54:18 Ways to decide what is not important to focus your time on 59:46 Personal stories from Mike and Thanh on how they became focused on their tasks 1:04:55 Why it's important to associate yourself with the right people 1:07:57

Links

Pomodoro Technique blog post Esington Glass Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World Timing Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) Rework podcast episode 13 FlowLight article Brain.fm Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Hurry Slowly podcast episode 03 The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Calm Headspace Toggl Harvest The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

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Email is a nuisance to your productivity and something that everyone has to deal with on a daily basis. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about strategies and tools you can use to process the email in your inbox even faster, and give you 5 strategies you can use to get out of your inbox and start reclaiming your time. We share several resources and tools you can use no matter what operating system or email client you decide to use. If you find yourself struggling to keep up with email, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

Why email apps have limited impact on the time it takes to process email and what tools you can do to decrease the time email requires 1:20 Two approaches you can use if you want to spend less time in email 4:44 How to use email filters effectively 6:24 How to set up email filters in common email clients 15:08 Why you should use text expansion for canned responses 18:57 How to use a shared inbox for team accounts 23:20 What VIP notifications are and how to use them to avoid distractions 26:10 Why direct integrations are so useful for getting email out of your inbox 27:54 Resources you can use to process email more effectively 31:01 How to use TextExpander beyond just the basic text expansion 37:36 How to use MailPusher to get VIP notifications for email with any client 41:07 How to make Apple Mail better with MailButler 42:54 Why you should use Boomerang if you use Gmail 45:26 Why Newton's premium features will blow you away 47:19

Links

Next-Level Email Processing: How to Handle Any Email in Your Inbox (TPS166) Hazel TextExpander SaneBox A Comprehensive Video Guide to TextExpander MailPusher MailButler Newton Todoist

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Have you ever tried handing off a work task but were frustrated because it took too long or wasn’t done correctly? You probably made one of the 5 common delegation mistakes that we cover in this episode. We show you how to avoid these mistakes, overcome 4 common limiting beliefs people have about delegation, share some of the expensive costs of ineffective delegation, and show you the 3 critical components you absolutely must have if you want your delegated work to get done correctly and on time.

Cheat Sheet

Frustrations that cause people to not want to delegate work 2:01 What delegation really means 4:57 Overcoming the 4 common limiting beliefs that people have about delegation 12:06 The value of understanding how your colleagues work 18:16 Delegation from the point of view of the CEO of a business 23:48 Why acceptance criteria is so important when delegating tasks 31:32 The unexpected costs of bad delegation 33:15 The 3 critical components your tasks MUST have when delegating effectively 38:52 Resources for creating standard operating procedures 47:15 How to set the definition of done for delegated work 51:02 How to get started if you're just beginning with delegation 57:35 Common delegation mistakes to avoid 1:01:37

Links

Conative Connection: Uncovering the Link Between Who You Are and How You Perform Paid to Think: A Leader's Toolkit for Redefining Your Future Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less ScheduleOnce Calendly Doodle Tapes (MacOS) Clarity.fm The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) Alfred Launchbar TextExpander

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Wondering what task manager you should use? Today we're joined by Francesco D’Alessio, a writer, blogger, and freelance marketer who Mike discovered because of his awesome YouTube channel, Keep Productive. Francesco does a lot of video reviews for different apps and tools and he recently put together the Task Management video course which was just launched inside the Dojo to help you pick the right task management app for YOU.

In this episode, Francesco and Mike talk about some of the important things to consider when it comes to task management and dive deep into several task management tools that he covered in the video course. We talk about the different types of task management applications, the best use cases for each, show you how you can implement the Asian Efficiency task management workflow no matter what app you decide to use, and cover some of the advantages and disadvantages of several common task managers so that you can pick the right tool for the way YOU work.

Cheat Sheet

Why you should use a task manager in the first place 2:03 Defining what we mean by a "task" 6:00 The difference between a due date and a defer date (and why you generally want to use defer dates) 10:07 The difference between a project and a task 12:47 How using contexts can help you sort your tasks more effectively 14:44 The advantages of simple list apps 23:24 A task management workflow for any task manager you are using 26:05 What snowballing is and why it's dangerous for task managers 32:37 Some of our favorite task management application options 36:10 How Todoist fits the bill for people needing a truck cross-platform task manager 39:39 How the flexibility of 2Do can help you get your work done more efficiently 46:07 The power of Things and why it's the most beautiful to-do list application you can get 48:44 Why Asana is a great task manager for working with other people 52:39 Some task manager honorable mentions to get you started 57:25

Links

The Right Tool For The Job: 5 Things You Need For Your Personal Productivity System (TPS180) How to Find and Choose the Perfect Todo List App For You (TPS 135) Asana Due Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience Any.do Remember the milk TickTick Nozbe Toodledo OmniFocus 2Do Things 3 Todoist Trello Increasing Your Productivity By Using Analog Tools w/ Curtis McHale (TPS177) Drafts iOS

Connect with Francesco D’Alessio

@FrancescoD_Ales YouTube Facebook group KeepProductive.com

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Productivity can be very personal, but all good systems have a couple of things in common. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about 5 things you absolutely MUST have for an effective personal productivity system. They define what a personal productivity system is, talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches, and walk you through the necessary pieces you need to make sure you stay on top of everything. They also give you some implementation tips to help you make sure the system you decide to use works for you so that you stick with it long enough to start realizing the benefit.

Cheat Sheet

What it means to have a personal productivity system 1:38 The analog vs digital approaches to personal productivity systems 6:30 Why it might be beneficial to start with analog tools even if you're a "digital native" 10:48 Tool #1: a calendar, and why everything you need to do must be done within the context of time 14:28 The criteria for deciding what gets added to your calendar 22:23 Tool #2 :a time tracker 31:16 Why time trackers help you figure out how you actually spend your time so that you can make changes to how you spend it 37:01 Tool #3: a contact manager 44:26 Tool #4: a note taker 51:00 Tool #5:  a task manager 59:323 Why the weekly review is so important 1:02:06 Implementation tips for the 5 tools of your personal productivity system 1:08:48 Why the best solution is often the simplest one 1:16:05

Links

To Automate or not to Automate Your Personal Productivity System (Lifehack.org) Until You Have Productivity Skills, Productivity Tools Are Useless (Harvard Business Review) OmniFocus 2Do Things 3 Todoist Trello Increasing Your Productivity By Using Analog Tools w/ Curtis McHale (TPS177) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) Fantastical Busycal Asian Efficiency 12 Week Calendar BestSelf journal Timing Mac app RescueTime Toggl Vitamin-R 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think BusyContacts Cardhop Field Notes notebooks Drafts iOS nvALT Evernote Leuchtturm1917 - Bullet journal Baron Fig - Confidant journal Scanbot

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Efficiency is usually a good thing, but in this episode we talk about some common productivity pitfalls and show you how you can get back on track when you fall victim to the 6 deadly sins of productivity. We share how to avoid the hidden dangers inherent in a wrong (but common) definition of productivity and give you some strategies to use when it all goes wrong. We set the record straight on what productivity really means and show you how to approach it correctly so you can achieve your ideal future, not just get more done. If you or someone you know has been bothered by productivity as a mechanical approach to being busier, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

The inspiration for this episode on "the dark side of productivity" 1:18 The dictionary definition of productivity vs. the Asian Efficiency definition 4:12 How not only focusing on the numbers can make you more productive 8:39 The 6 productivity pitfalls:

#1: Optimization at the expense of resilience 11:19 #2: Efficiency at the expense of effectiveness 16:14 #3: Busyness at the expense of mindfulness 24:27 #4: Information at the expense of learning 28:42 #5: Consumerism at the expense of contentment 34:40 #6: Projects at the expense of people 38:36

The real reason for productivity (it's not just to get more done) 44:42 Ways to become more productive by removing something that you don't need to be doing 47:14 Why you should budget and not forecast (work with what you have, not with what you'll have in the future) 52:16 The dangers of comparing yourself to other people 55:30

Links

Jason Fried tweet Hurry Slowly Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder YNAB You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want Mac Power Users Karabiner app How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) The 3 Things You Need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy Kolbe index

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In this episode, we answer the questions about masterminds that you were too afraid to ask. Mike is joined by Nate Lowrie, a Dojo member and owner of FineLine Automation, who recently attended the Asian Efficiency mastermind that we held in Austin, TX. Nate joins Mike to talk about his experience as well as to dive deep into the concept of masterminds and the clarity they can provide. They discuss what a mastermind is and who it’s for, share several of the benefits a mastermind group can give you, and share the key ingredients of a successful mastermind group if you want to start your own.

If you’ve ever been curious about the idea of a mastermind but didn’t know how to proceed, or if you love the idea of a mastermind but have been hesitant to start one of your own because you didn’t know how, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

Nate's background and why he got into making CNC machinery 1:48 What is mastermind? 3:09 The benefits of joining a mastermind group 8:11 How masterminds help refine your focus or vision for your future 12:55 How you can find much needed accountability by joining a mastermind group 17:07 The 3 key ingredients you need to make your mastermind successful 24:30 Why you need to be vulnerable to get the most from a mastermind 28:00 How many people is ideal for a mastermind group 33:10 Different mastermind formats that you can use to help you achieve your goals 36:46 How to figure out what question you want to be answered in a mastermind (this is important!) 46:10 Guidelines for hosting your own live mastermind 47:23 Nate's experience being a part of the AE mastermind 54:19 Advice for people looking to attend a mastermind 1:06:09

Links

How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) Clarity.fm Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less Think Like a Geek: How Simple Systems Lead to Sustainable Success (TPS174) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162)

Connect with Nate Lowrie

FineLineAutomation.com @NateLowrie

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In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of analog productivity. Mike is joined by Curtis McHale, a Dojo member and business owner who has been running a successful web software consulting business for 6 years and helping others do the same for the last 2. Curtis is also the creator of the Analog Productivity video module which was just published on the Dojo where he does a great job explaining how sometimes the best way to speed up is to slow down by using analog tools. Mike and Curtis talk about how analog productivity can actually help you get more done by introducing constraints, share the benefits and drawbacks to analog productivity, and walk you through some popular analog systems. They discuss the essential components to any productivity system, and give you a sneak peek into Curtis’ own hybrid system that he uses to stay on top of all his professional responsibilities and still carve out time for outdoor activities and being a dad. If you are intrigued by the concept of speeding up by slowing down, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

How Curtis got started with analog productivity 2:12 The advantages of embracing an analog productivity system 2:59 A simple question you should ask before you use any tool, analog or digital 6:29 The drawbacks of analog productivity and why the benefits may outweigh the costs for you 9:07 How to resist "shiny new object syndrome" when using an analog system 14:25 An introduction to several popular analog productivity systems 17:48 What the KJ method is 20:20 The 5 parts of a good task management system 23:59 What anti-goals do and how to use them to move you forward 32:28 Curtis's hybrid system that combines digital and analog 35:15 How he applies this system to personal projects 45:03

Links

The Pen is Mightier Than the Keyboard Leuchtturm1917 Weekly Planner & Notebook The Power of Anti-Goals Merlin Mann's Hipster PDA BestSelf Journal $1 Dojo offer (includes access to Curtis' Analog Productivity video course)

Connect with Curtis McHale

CurtisMcHale.ca @CurtisMcHale

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It’s a new year, which means a bunch of New Year’s resolutions about how this is the year that you’ll finally get in shape, get a promotion, or make that big step towards your ideal future. But oftentimes, these well-intentioned self-promises don’t actually materialize. Sure, we may start off strong, but after only a few weeks we find ourselves starting to skip out on the gym and when that happens it’s not long until we stop going altogether.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about what you can do to help your New Year’s resolutions actually stick. They share 5 reasons why New Year's resolutions typically don’t last and show you what you can do it about by giving you 3 strategies to make them sticky so you don’t find yourself in the exact same position next year.

Cheat Sheet

Why everyone can relate to the topic of not keeping your New Year's resolutions 2:06 What to do if you don’t see results immediately 6:04 Why it hurts to put in the time and get outside your comfort zone 9:40 How to handle unexpected "emergencies" and not let them derail your plans 15:14 Why you need people around you to support you if you really want to create new habits 20:35 What happens when your “why” is not strong enough 25:16 What to do to make sure this is the year your resolutions stick 37:08 Why establishing rituals work so well to help you achieve your goals 41:04 The 4 essential components of a good ritual 46:02 Why you should be very careful about who you choose let speak into your life 58:04

Links

Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck--Why Some Thrive Despite Them All Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Happy New Year: Why Labour Day Has Become My New Year’s Day The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals Sam Carpenter Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

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Ever find yourself with time to work on your important project but you don't still don't get anything done because you just don't have the energy to work on it? In this episode, Brooks and Mike explain why energy management (and not time management) is the key to taking massive action on your goals. We explore the power of gratitude, showing you how a simple mindset shift can help you become happier AND more productive. We talk about why living your life according to the old saying that “life is a marathon” is actually a very bad idea if you want to achieve your goals, teach you the mindset you should be developing instead, and share some of our best tips for staying positive. If you're ready to go beyond basic time management and start making serious progress towards your ideal future, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

Why you are always going to get more done by tackling your most important tasks (MITs) at the beginning of the day 1:30 What Mike has learned by implementing the ritual of morning pages 6:56 Why energy management (and not time management) is the real key to success 9:19 Why life is not a marathon and this is actually a very dangerous idea 12:44 How downtime is essential and actually productive 16:05 Explanation of the energy quadrant and what zone you want to be spending your time in 21:26 Why it’s hard to thrive in that survival zone and the how it can quickly translate into burnout 27:21 How to get into the state of sprinting and then recovering 33:15 How practicing gratitude can help you stay in a positive mood and be more productive 35:40 Why meditation can help you be more effective and how it helps you stay positive 40:40 Accountability and its power of making you more productive 44:20 Examples of gratitude we can have in our lives 50:32

Links

What time do top CEOs wake up? Overlap: A simple strategy for closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be w/ Sean McCabe (TPS163) Timing app The Artist's Way Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: How a Growth Mindset Leads You to Your Ideal Future (TPS171) The Power of Full Engagement Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day The AE Holiday Gift Guide (TPS173) 30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer Calm Headspace Meditation Studio

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Simple systems are all around us, and being able to influence these systems is important in order to attain both personal and professional success. There’s a saying that you are where you are today because of the choices that you made yesterday. But if you don’t like the results that you’re getting, we have good news for you - YOU have the ability to create the positive change you want. All you need to do is tweak the system.

In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about how everything in life is the result of simple systems mechanics, share how these simple systems are vital to working effectively (and not just efficiently), and why they are the real key to achieving your goals. All you need to do to change your future is make the right adjustments to your systems, and in this episode we’ll help you identify the systems that need attention in your own life by sharing 6 characteristics of a good system, show you how to develop a systems mindset and achieve the results you’re looking for, and give you some quick tips you use to start making those 1% improvements that will take you to your ideal future.

Cheat Sheet

What is a system anyway? 2:15 The 3 key parts of any system 4:40 Six characteristics of a good system 9:18 Why a system should always give you predictable results, and how to change it if it doesn’t 18:15 Thinking like a geek: how to always be on the lookout for improvements to your systems 23:21 How to create habits and rituals to manipulate your systems for greater success 28:00 1% improvements that leverage the compound effect to get you to your ideal future 34:42 Why "eating your frog" is so important to your success 36:39 Why you need to get better sleep 44:45 How movement is an important habit, and why meditation and gratitude can transform your habits 53:22 Saying "no" even when there is free space on your calendar 59:36 Additional resources to help you develop a systems mindset 1:05:46

Links

Video Interview with Sam Carpenter of Work the System 6 Characteristics of Good Systems Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less Think Like a Geek Image Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Overlap: A simple strategy for closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be w/ Sean McCabe (TPS163) Sleep Cycle Flux Headspace The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It AE NeuYear calendar  The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life The Compound Effect The Art of Exceptional Living 1% Better Video The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement 2 Second Lean The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World's Greatest Manufacturer

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It’s time for another edition of the Asian Efficiency Holiday Gift Guide! If you have no idea what to get for the productivity nerd in your life (or just want a few ideas for yourself), this episode is packed with the top tools and toys that the Asian Efficiency team considers essential productivity gear. If you have trouble shopping for that special someone who always seems to have everything, this episode will give you a bunch of great ideas to help make you a holiday hero.

Special Offer (10% discount): 3 month Dojo gift subscription!

Cheat Sheet

#askTPS: "My brother is a big productivity nerd and I don’t know what to get him for Christmas. Any gift ideas? - @matthewcschmitz" 1:17 Thanh’s first pick for the Holiday Gift Guide 2:26 How Brooks fixed the horrible wifi in his home 5:11 Why Mike bought a Sonos One to replace the Echo in his kitchen 7:57 How Thanh relieves stress and sleeps better with this gift (he’s had it for many years) 10:56 The suitcase that both Brooks and Mike use 14:13 Why Mike uses this specific notebook to jot things down while he’s working 18:12 What book Thanh gifts the most, and why it was also his 2014 book of the year 20:44 All the things you can do with Phillips Hue light bulbs 26:34 Thanh’s favorite board game and why you should gift it 31:52 The pants that bring Brooks happiness 36:15 Thanh's justification for picking the same gift 2 years in a row 41:43 Why Brooks uses this rugged bag that attaches to the top of his car 46:37 The travel coffee maker that Mike (the coffee snob) recommends 48:46

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Round 1

(Thanh): Gunnar Optiks (Brooks): eero Routers (Mike): Sonos One

Round 2

(Thanh): MobilityWOD Supernova (Brooks): Away Travel Carry-On (Mike): Panobook by Studio Neat

Round 3

(Thanh): 30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer (Brooks): The Elements of Eloquence by Mark Forsyth (Mike): Phillips Hue White Bulb Starter Kit

Round 4

(Thanh): Carcassone board game (iOS available too) (Brooks): Uniqlo Blocktech Warm-Lined Pants (Mike): AirPods

Round 5

(Thanh): Fitbit Charge 2 (Brooks): Thule Interstate Cargo Bag (Mike): Cafflano travel pour-over coffee maker

Other ideas/mentions

Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Chemex Ottomatic Pandemic (board game) Tsuro (board game) Slow Dance Productive Spice Rack Oura Ring Killer Bunnies (board game) Kaizen foam The AE Holiday Gift Guide (2016 Edition) Dojo 3-month gift subscription

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In this episode, Mike talks with Dave Caolo, a writer, author, and podcaster who has a lot of experience working remotely. Dave and Mike dive deep into coffee shop productivity, talking about why it can be beneficial, addressing the specific challenges you’ll have to face, tips for finding the right shop, and what gear you’ll need once you get there. This episode has tons of tactics you can use to make your next remote work session more productive. If you frequently work outside your office or home or even if you just want some strategies to help you overcome a noisy open office environment, you'll get a lot out of this episode.

Cheat Sheet

Why you might actually want to leave your home or office to work in a coffee shop and the science behind why it can make you more productive 1:59 How working from your local library can be a cost-effective strategy for people who need to change their location 5:36 Challenges that come with leaving your home or office and working in public places 9:24 How travel time can be an advantageous to your productivity and just wasted time 12:04 Tips for finding the right coffee shop to get some serious work done 14:36 The gear that you need to work successfully from the coffee shop 20:40 How to account for outlets and charging when you go to a public place to work 26:21 Etiquette to use when you’re working from a coffee shop (don't be that guy!) 32:02 How to keep your Internet access secure when working outside a trusted network 35:55

Links

Is Noise Always Bad? Exploring the Effects of Ambient Noise on Creative Cognition Bose QC35s Tom Bihn Synapse 25 How to Get Things Done at Coffee Shops and Cafes Like You Would at the Office Field Notes Fisher Space Pen TPS78: Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle w/ Thanh Pham Shush Encrypt.me

Connect with Dave Caolo

@davidcaolo 52tiger.net

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Ever wonder why some people are so successful and others seem to really struggle? More than likely, it has little to do with their talent or ability and more to do with their growth mindset. In this episode, Thanh and Mike talk about the importance of developing a growth mindset and how it can translate into personal and professional success. They explain what a growth mindset looks like and how it’s different from a fixed mindset, how you can spot a growth mindset in several different areas, and share some tips about how you can change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset yourself. If you find it difficult to take action on things that you know are important but you struggle to find motivation, or you find yourself giving in to procrastination more often than you’d like, then this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

How today’s topic came from an #AskTPS question on Twitter 1:10 The difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset 3:23 The surprising benefits that come from having a growth mindset 9:50 What the fixed mindset does to you personally 15:12 How to tell if you might have a fixed mindset in certain areas of your life 21:15 How you can have  a growth mindset in some areas of your life while having a fixed mindset in other areas 27:59 3 quick tips to identify if a business partner, friend, or romantic partner has a growth mindset 29:30 The impact of truly mastering a skill, and why it's about how you put in the time and not just the amount of time 36:01 Examples of using a growth mindset for your relationships 44:33 Using a growth mindset for finances 51:15 The top areas where Thanh and Mike have a growth mindset 55:14 Where Thanh and Mike find themselves struggling with a fixed mindset 57:48 5 tips to change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset 1:01:38 Why you should collect “reference experiences” in order to make yourself believe that your goals are possible 1:07:24 Dojo member Jon talks about why he joined and how he’s changed since joining 1:12:42

Links

Tim Ferriss Mind Food: How to Become More Creative and Successful by Watching What You “Eat” (TPS170) Mindset: The New Psychology of Success How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Tony Robbins Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth and Impact the World The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

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You’ve probably heard the old adage, “you are what you eat,” but it applies to more than just your physical body - it applies to your mind as well. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about “mind food,” an idea Mike picked up from author Tim Sanders on the importance of curating what information you allow your mind to feed on. We discuss why it’s so important to watch what you’re putting into your mind, explain how the right information can change your world and help you achieve your ideal future, and share the most influential books and podcasts that we personally include in our own information diets.

Cheat Sheet

What mind food means and why we don’t think about this concept often 1:18 Why a lot of workers in today’s world are mental athletes and knowledge workers 5:15 How technology allows us to control who we are connecting with in our life 9:52 Why successful people read over 50 books a year, which is a great way to tune out the noise and tune into the signal 16:03 How to get out of a creative rut by collecting inputs from other places besides your own head 21:00 How to create a system for collecting good ideas 25:43 Different sources of mind food you can access 30:26 Our top ten books and podcasts that make great mind food 38:36

Top 10 Books

#1 (Brooks): Patrick Lencioni The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team 39:45 #2 (Mike): Deep Work by Cal Newport 42:06 #3 (Brooks): Cal Newport So Good They Can’t Ignore You 42:52 #4 (Mike): Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill 44:46 #5 (Brooks): Ed Catmull Creativity Inc. 46:03 #6 (Mike): The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday 47:55 #7 (Brooks): Fay Wolf New Order 49:44 #8 (Mike): Essentialism by Greg McKeown 52:03 #9 (Brooks): Garr Reynolds Presentation Zen 53:12 #10 (Mike): Make Your Bed by Admiral William McRaven 54:23

Top 10 Podcasts

#1 (Brooks): Hardcore History by Dan Carlin 55:57 #2 (Mike): 10x Talk w/ Joe Polish & Dan Sullivan 57:46 #3 (Brooks): The Tim Ferriss Show 59:37 #4 (Mike): Hurry Slowly by Jocelyn Glei 1:01:08 #5 (Brooks): The Economist - The Week Ahead 1:02:36 #6 (Mike): seanwes podcast by Sean McCabe 1:03:45 #7 (Brooks): Mac Power Users 1:05:30 #8 (Mike): The Art of Manliness 1:07:02 #9 (Brooks): Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin 1:08:21 #10 (Mike): Cortex 1:10:39

Links

It’s All Too Much: 3 Keys to Overcoming Information Overload (TPS161) Change Your Habits, Change Your Life by Tom Corley A Primer to Quick Capturing for GTD Austin Kleon (Steal Like an Artist) Tim Sanders - Today We Are Rich Drafts iOS nvALT Mac OS How to Find Balance While Working in a Corporate Culture (TPS140) Essential Travel Tips to Make Your Next Trip a Breeze w/ Kevin Clack (TPS168) Overlap: A simple strategy for closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be w/ Sean McCabe (TPS163) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Leverage Leadership Multipliers Happier with Gretchen Rubin

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In this episode, Thanh and Mike talk about an essential concept for productivity enthusiasts, which is “Freedom.” They introduce you to the 3 different types of freedom and talk about which types of freedom typically coincide with different stages of life, as well as how real productivity is not just about doing more but about doing the right things that build up your freedom capital and increase your options.

If you have trouble sticking with the practice of certain productivity principles like journaling or a morning routine, this episode will help you understand the value of doing the right things repeatedly and how that will lead you to your ideal future.

Cheat Sheet

What the productivity "F word" is and why it’s talked about so much in the productivity space 1:34 Mike's issue with people who "wouldn’t do anything differently" if they could go back in time 6:43 The three different types of freedom 8:44 What freedom commodities you typically have available to you at different stages of life 13:48 Why compound interest applies to learning and why you should spend as much time learning as you can when you’re young 16:43 Thinking about what you would do differently if you were 20 years old 18:18 Why you need to be careful what you say "yes" to 23:01 Easy things you can spend money on to create more free time 29:01 A great thinking exercise you can use to see what you would do if you had an extra $5k per month 31:40 How to come up with your own list of resources and assets you're building 39:10 What goals you need to set when you’re a seasoned veteran 41:45 Why you can invest in things now that will help you succeed in later points in life 47:45 What's important about recognizing that we all have limited resources 52:42

Links

7 Productivity Tips I Wish I Knew at Age 18 How to Find Balance While Working in a Corporate Culture (TPS140) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) Timing 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change Jim Rohn

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Traveling can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, Mike is joined by Dojo member Kevin Clack to talk about how to make your next trip a breeze. Kevin’s job requires both domestic and international travel and in this episode he shares several of the things that he’s learned over the years to make travel less stressful. We talk about some of the different apps you should use if you travel regularly (including a trick to tie w specific apps together and increase functionality at a fraction of the cost), some of the things you can do ahead of time to make travel easier, and even what kinds of bags you should consider and how to pack them. Even if you only travel occasionally, there’s a lot of tips in this episode to make your next trip more enjoyable.

Cheat Sheet

Who Kevin is and why he travels so much 1:14 Recommended apps for travel 3:39 How to make App in the Air and TripIt work together 9:25 The pros and cons of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry 13:13 Packing recommendations and what suitcases you should use 18:20 Why you should invest in packing cubes and the best way to use them 22:43 A strategy for not taking a checked bag and what backpacks are best for flying 27:51 Recommended credit cards that offer amazing travel perks 36:47 Why using credit cards for travel can be a great guard against fraud 45:41 A checklist of things you need to think about when you travel 47:54 Kevin's workflow for making sure he has data when traveling abroad 54:28

Links

TripIt App in the Air Samsonite hard top Ricardo suitcases Away suitcase The Mad Fientist SpacePak packing cubes AmazonBasics packing cubes Bagail packing cubes The Wirecutter Incase EO backpack Tom Bihn Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve American Express Platinum card The Points Guy Travel Miles 101 Bedphones Bose QC 35 headphones

Connect with Kevin Clack

@BaronVonClack ClackConsulting.com

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Everyone deals with procrastination, but the reasons why may be drastically different for each person. In this episode, Thanh and Mike dive into the 8 different root causes of procrastination and how to overcome them so you can figure out what's causing you to get tripped up when trying to get your work done. They walk you through the 9 different types of procrastinators and share tactics for each procrastinating personality type to help you overcome procrastination when it strikes. If you find yourself putting off work that you know you need to do, this episode will help you overcome that feeling of being stuck and help you start taking action on your goals.

Cheat Sheet

Some of the root causes of procrastination 1:43 Where the disconnect comes from when you understand something logically but not emotionally 4:56 What happens when you have a lack of clarity 7:59 Why people can struggle with taking action when they have a lot to do and feel overwhelmed 12:48 How fear can hold you back from being productive when you have a task that you don’t want to deal with 15:58 Why resentment can boil up when you are asked to do something that you don’t want to do 21:27 How to switch from a negative mindset to a positive mindset and get your work done 25:00 What happens when you have low energy and you put off doing a task 25:40 How jumping between tasks can really hurt your productivity 29:36 How to say "no" to more projects so you can say "yes" to the ones that are really important 32:35 The 9 different types of procrastinators (or procrastinating personality types) 35:49 How to keep yourself from avoiding tasks until the last minute 40:18 Why perfectionism is such a serious issue for some people 44:17 How first-time entrepreneurs often get stuck when they over-promise something and procrastinate because they’re in over their heads 51:19 How and why working on tasks you don’t want to do zaps your energy 55:31 Why your great ideas don’t turn into action 1:02:27 The real signs that you’re procrastinating because you’re in the wrong job 1:07:41

Links

Getting Things Done 5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Free Up 2+ Hours A Week (TPS118) How Journaling Can Make You 25% Happier (TPS154) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) 10 Practical Tips for Identifying and Implementing Core Values With Your Family (TPS133) The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results Pomodoro method

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Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of email you have to deal with every day? Or do you have hundreds of email messages sitting in your inbox? You're not alone. In this episode, Brooks and Mike revisit the Asian Efficiency email workflow and share some important updates to make your email processing even more efficient so you can get (and keep) a state of Inbox Zero.

We interviewed over 30 people recently on their biggest pain points when it comes to email and achieving the coveted state of Inbox Zero. Most of the email that came into their inbox they had no problem with, but there was one kind of email that popped up over and over again that gave them pause and quickly caused their inbox to get backed up. We share how to solve this one common email problem that causes many email to quickly get backed up in your inbox. We walk you through the updates we've made to the AE email workflow that will allow you to process any email that comes into your inbox with ease. We’ve been testing this process with beta testers and are thrilled with the results we’ve been getting, so if you struggle to stay on top of your email (or if it takes you longer than 30 minutes per day to process it all) then you don’t want to miss this episode.

Cheat Sheet

What Mike learned from interviewing 30+ people about their biggest email and inbox management problems 2:06 How and why we changed the original Asian Efficiency email workflow  6:30 2 essential email concepts you need to know 9:40 How to use the two-minute rule to decide if you should take action on an email 16:30 The AE Email Workflow v. 2.0: The 5 different types of email 22:20 Why integrating a task manager with your email client can save you a lot of time 28:15 How to overcome mental hurdles to delete emails that you don’t need 34:24 Ways to teach your team how to be better at email 40:41 What to do with emails that fall into the reference category 41:48 How to deal with "time-sensitive reference email that requires eventual action" 45:23 5 tips to help you process your email more efficiently 50:24 How to curate your read-it-later service so you don't get overwhelmed (and why it's ok to not read everything) 57:55 Why you should turn off email notifications 1:02:34

Links

Postbox Airmail OmniFocus Email - Inside OmniFocus Spark Overlap: A simple strategy for closing the gap between where you are and where you want to be w/ Sean McCabe (TPS163) Evernote OneNote BusyContacts Pocket Instapaper Advanced Strategies for Reading Faster and Remembering More w/ Abby Marks-Beale (TPS159) Inbox Detox 

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This episode is all about weird things that we do every single day to help us be more productive. Thanh and Mike share several tips that they’ve discovered along the way to solving things that drive them crazy, and the Dojo chimes in as well with several tips that our awesome Dojo members use to help them focus on the things that really matter. We share 15 of our favorite productivity tips, plus the overall philosophy to help you figure out what problems are worth solving in your own life.

Cheat Sheet

Why productivity is such a personal thing 2:05 Why Thanh has an oversupply of Apple power cables 5:11 Why Mike skips breakfast 7:59 Using Black Friday as a way to de-clutter your home 11:53 Other weird productivity tips from Mike and Thanh 14:12 How to create a productivity circuit 19:00 User contributions to this topic from our Dojo 22:33 Why making your clothing decisions the night before will make you more productive 28:33 Using Evernote to create reference files for everyday things you buy 30:30 How to use meal preparation services to increase productivity 35:14 How to train Google Now to be able to do lots of little tasks 39:44 A cure for binge-watching Netflix 47:11

Links

Apple charger cables The Secret to Finding Your Blindspots and Overcoming Setbacks w/ Nabill Idrisi (TPS 160) The Art of Manliness Podcast #328: The Pros and Cons of Intermittent Fasting Jaybird X2 | X3 Bose QuietComfort 25 Camel Camel Camel Cortex Podcast How to Find Balance While Working in a Corporate Culture (TPS140) Missussmartypants.com Evernote 9 Ways I Use the Amazon Echo to Double My Productivity Amazon Echo Todoist TPS101: Lean Thinking w/ Paul Akers Let Your Biggest Problem Speed Up Your Reading

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If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Luckily for you, planning is much easier than you think. It all starts with planning the perfect day and then the perfect week. You’ll learn how to be in control of your schedule and make the planning process easy (and not so intimidating). Whether you have kids, run your own business or work in a big company - there are 5 things you want to watch out for when you plan your week. Thanh and Brooks discuss what has worked for them and the Asian Efficiency team, and what they’ve learned from evolving their planning process over many years.

Cheat Sheet

Things you want to pay attention to when you plan your week 0:45 How Thanh's and Brooks’s planning process has changed over time 4:31 Why you want to be proactive about your week and not reactive 7:35 The big rock approach to planning the week and the process approach 8:56 How Thanh uses leading indicators to plan 9:49 Why thinking time can be a leading indicator 15:44 How meeting with influencers can help you in the long term 19:29 Why conferences are important even though it's hard to attach an ROI to them 27:12 Using customer research to grow your business and stay in tune with the marketplace 30:01 Why leading indicators don’t need to have immediate effects 37:09 Finding and recruiting great talent for your team 43:40 How deep work can be scheduled into your week to create value 51:02 How leading indicators can also be created for your personal life 56:57 Ways to track your leading indicators 59:52

5 Leading Indicators

Thinking time Meeting with influencers Customer research Finding and recruiting people to come work for us Deep Work

Links

How I Plan My Week as a CEO 3 Keys to Planning the Perfect Week (TPS156) Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162) Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World TPS88: Deep Work w/ Cal Newport The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138)

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Your ideal future is a lot closer than you might think. In this episode, Mike talks with entrepreneur and author Sean McCabe about how to create the future you’ve always dreamed of bu starting right where you’re at. Sean runs seanwes.com: a learning community for entrepreneurs looking to do fulfilling work. Sean is also the author of Overlap: Start a Business While Working a Full-Time Job. We go deep on several of the topics Sean covers in his book, including embracing an abundance mindset, why you can’t compromise when it comes to achieving your goals, and why Sean believes “Yes” is the most expensive word in the English language.

Cheat Sheet

Why Sean made it his goal to help people reach financial freedom 1:23 How he defines the concept of “overlap” 3:14 Why so many people fall into the trap of the scarcity mindset 6:27 Why you should create goals that are outside of your current reality 10:30 How to identify what to say no to so that you can focus on the right things 14:56 Why yes and no are directional words, not emotional words 17:23 About the sabbaticals that he takes and gives his employees 19:46 Why it might not matter what you do as a side hustle because you can course correct 24:28 How you can start by teaching what you know 29:22 About the trifecta of making money from any pursuit 31:30 Why you should only sell your services at full value or for free, and never discount 34:31 How you attract what you project 39:39 Why you can do many things, but you should choose only one thing to share publicly 45:34

Links

Overlap: Start a Business While Working a Full-Time Job seanwes.com The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure Thinking Time: the Counterintuitive Approach to Growth (TPS162)

Connect with Sean McCabe

@seanwes

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Want to know what makes the top CEOs so successful? It's the time they take to think critically about their business. In this episode we’re going to talk about how you can actually go faster by slowing down and developing a habit of thinking time. We walk you through the critical questions you need to ask yourself in order to go to the next level and share how we implement this here at Asian Efficiency. We teach you the right mindset and mental frameworks to work through the problems that you are facing both personally and professionally, and in this episode we explain how to implement these frameworks effectively.

Cheat Sheet

What thinking time is, and how Thanh presented it to his team 1:58 Why most problems you think you have are actually symptoms, not problems 4:58 The difference between reflecting and thinking 6:17 What Thanh discovered from studying other people who were successful at what they do 11:47 How Keith Cunningham came up with the concept of thinking time 17:53 What gains you will realize from implementing thinking time consistently 21:03 Should you spend time on thinking time first thing in the morning? 25:42 How thinking time can determine the value of an idea 29:52 4 Ways to use thinking time to solve the problem you are thinking about 33:48 How to unlock the one big obstacle that is standing in the way of achieving your goal 37:38 How overwhelm and procrastination are often symptoms and not problems by themselves 44:00 The process that helps you figure out what the root problem really is 52:23 What to do after you figure out the real problem 59:57 Why the question that you ask is so important 1:05:42 How to start implementing thinking time in your life right now 1:07:54

How to Identify a Real Problem

Why isn’t this problem already solved? Why am I not where I want to be? How did this get to be a problem to begin with? What have been the impediments or constraints that have hindered me from solving this problem? (skills, desire, resources, time, discipline, environment) If I could only ______ really, really, well, I would have it all figured out What could I do to make this problem even worse? What can be done today to improve this situation? If I only had ____, I could solve this problem.

Links

Thinking Time Questions [Download] How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't Keith Cunningham Rich Dad Poor Dad The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results Why Time Management Doesn’t Work & Why You Should Focus on Energy Instead (TPS142) Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

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As the amount of information increases exponentially, it's easy to find yourself being completely overwhelmed or succumbing to the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). You need a plan for dealing with it, and in this episode Brooks and Mike talk about the problem of information overload and more importantly what you can actually do about it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re being forced to drink from the information firehose or felt stressed from not being able to keep track of everything, then this episode is for you. We discuss the root causes of information overload so you know what to look for and share practical tips for establishing a system you can trust to regain a sense of control.

Cheat Sheet

The contributing factors to the abundance of information in the world today 1:39 How to deal with the root causes FOMO and FOBO 4:16 A look back to the good 'ol days when there was less information to keep track of online (it wasn't that long ago) 9:51 Why it is so important to accept that you can’t know everything 11:36 Why the things you already know are much more valuable than the information you’re looking for 16:00 How to pick the things that are actually important for you to keep track of 16:38 How to let everything else go if it doesn't make the cut 19:03 Why there are often more things that you should do then things that you can actually get done 23:49 What the Zeigarnick Effect is and why it is so bad for focus 24:48 Why multitasking is a myth and the real impact of attention residue to your productivity 26:00 How many different things can push information at you and what you can do to shut them down when they're not important 29:01 Why taming your notifications is so important on your mobile devices 36:08 Why capturing your tasks into a task manager is a critical piece of any system 41:28 What to do with your different inboxes and how to keep on top of them 48:18 How to use a read-it-later service like Pocket 54:50 Best practices for managing your various inboxes 58:48 How to resist FOMO and beat it once and for all 1:04:14

Links

Hello Internet podcast App Developer Magazine: "More data will be created in 2017 than the previous 5,000 years of humanity" Zeigarnick Effect Study: Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks The Accidental Tech podcast 10% Entrepreneurship w/ Patrick McGinnis: Achieving Entrepreneurial Freedom Without Sacrificing 9-to-5 Stability (TPS157) The Art of Thinking Clearly GTD MailMate Instapaper Pocket

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Nabill Idrisi is back on the podcast to discuss the right way to set goals, how to accelerate the results you want, and how coaching and mastermind groups can help you towards your goals. Nabill attended an Asian Efficiency mastermind and in this episode he shares how the clarity he achieved from that even has changed his life for the better. He talks with Thanh about how process-based goals changed his life, and why coaches can benefit you in all areas of your life.

Cheat Sheet

Who Nabill is and how he found his true calling 1:43 Why he started working with coaches and the benefits he's seen from it 5:10 How to tweak your current systems to get more success 10:36 Why gathering data on your habits is important if you want to be more productive 15:54 Why process-based goals are so much more effective than outcome-based goals 19:22 How Nabill made a shift in his life that effected his business negatively and what he did to recover 24:44 How to rely less on willpower and emotions to act and get things done 30:33 Why you need to get clear on what changes you can make that will have the greatest impact in your life 34:56 What masterminds are and how they are helpful 36:25 Why journaling is important in helping you see the growth in your own journey 40:50 How to get over the hurdle if you’ve never invested in a coach before 42:07 Why you should use a coach for every facet of your life 49:09

Links

TPS98: Making Rituals Stick w/ Nabill Idrisi Schedule a Free 30-minute Get-It-Done call with Nabill NabillIdrisi.com The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

Connect with Nabill Idrisi

@Nabill_Idrisi

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If you're like most people, you have more reading that you need to do than you can keep up with. Whether it's a textbook for class, a newsletter for a trade association, or the personal development book that's been sitting on your nightstand for far too long, we all could you a little help handling our reading workload. In this episode, Mike is joined by reading expert Abby Marks-Beale to talk about how you can learn how to read faster AND comprehend even more of what you read. We discuss the basic principles of “speed reading,” how to identify your reading attitude, strategies to help you find more time for reading, and how to manage your reading workload more efficiently no matter how big your "to read" pile is. If you've ever wanted to know how to read more in less time, this episode is for you.

You can get access to Abby's exclusive video course "Read More in Less Time" inside the Dojo by going to theproductivityshow.com/dojo and signing up for only $1 for your first month!

Cheat Sheet

Why developing a positive attitude toward reading is vital to becoming a life-long learner 2:12 How having a growth mindset and establishing a reading habit helps you become more successful 6:38 The important but subtle differences between fast, effective reading and "speed reading" 8:03 The different types of readers, and how attitude significantly impacts your ability to read and comprehend 11:04 The major differences between an active reader and a passive reader 16:20 Why you might be a better reader than you think 20:12 How you can become a better reader and read more in less time 24:51 Why you should create a goal when you begin to read 28:02 The ideal time to read fiction vs nonfiction 33:14 How to create and curate your “want to read” pile so it helps get you reading faster 34:04 How to make more time to read no matter how busy you are 38:08

Links

Rev It Up Reading TPS85: Read at the Speed of Thought w/ Abby Marks Beale Entrepreneurs on Fire The Art of Exceptional Living How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Bookworm podcast Timing app

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If you find yourself being distracted by the newest app or the latest productivity tool, you're not alone and it may not even be completely your fault. You might be suffering from Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS). In this episode, Brooks and Mike dive deep into the allure of the new and shiny. We discuss why this neurological disposition towards the latest and greatest impacts so many people, explain why people who embrace a growth mindset are actually more susceptible, describe the symptoms to identify if you suffer from SOS, and share what you can do to escape it. If you do find yourself struggling with SOS, we give 8 strategies to help you overcome it and reclaim your productive time.

Cheat Sheet

Why shiny object syndrome effects so many people and how it applies to everyone at some level 1:39 The definition of Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) and how it works 2:27 The symptoms of Shiny Object Syndrome (so you can see how bad you have it) 6:55 Why you shouldn’t try to keep up with every new tool 9:25 Why craving the new features in software can be an indication you have SOS 14:38 How and why we get so distracted by notifications 21:24 Why information bias can kill your productivity if you're not careful 23:39 How to stay focused on the end result that you’re trying to achieve even when you have a lot going on around you 25:41 How to “80/20” your software tools for maximum impact 28:02 Why you need to figure out what works for you (and stick with it) 34:17 Key questions to ask yourself before deciding to adopt a new tool 37:55 How to create a time block that is dedicated to trying out new tools and improvements (and why it's so important) 45:20 The benefits of asking an expert to use other people’s knowledge 51:47 Why a high price tag can actually be a benefit when thinking about using a tool for a long time 57:47

Links

The Art of Exceptional Living OmniFocus Todoist 2Do Things 3 Why 45% of all software features are never used The Art of Thinking Clearly Asana Making Better Decisions: How to Say “No” and When to Say “Yes” (TPS155) How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) 5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Free Up 2+ Hours A Week (TPS118) Dispatch Pocket Casts Overcast Evernote Kolbe

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Ever thought about launching out on your own but been hesitant to make the leap because you didn't want to give up the security of your day job? In this episode, Mike Schmitz is joined by Patrick McGinnis who explains that you don't necessarily have to choose one or the other. Patrick is the author of The 10% Entrepreneur, a book about how you can achieve entrepreneurial freedom without sacrificing the stability of your 9-5. We talk about the different ways you can chase your entrepreneurial dream from right where you're at, why pursuing a side hustle actually makes you more effective at your day job, and how consistent effort is the key to making your side project a success.

Cheat Sheet

What it takes to become a successful entrepreneur 2:02 The hidden costs associated with full-time entrepreneurship 6:04 The lifestyle compromises entrepreneurs are forced to make 7:30 How and why people you know may look at you differently when they find out you don’t have a "normal job” 9:42 The benefits and problems with traditional careers (even prestigious ones) 12:33 How you can achieve entrepreneurial freedom without sacrificing the stability of a 9-5 16:37 The steps to becoming a 10% Entrepreneur 18:41 Why consistent effort is so important regardless of the amount of money or time you have to devote to your 10% 23:05 How to escape FOMO and avoid burnout 28:10 Ways to make sure you surround yourself with the right people who can help you achieve your goals 31:20 How becoming a part-time entrepreneur can actually make you better at your day job 34:01 How to figure out how much you should invest in your side hustle 40:10 The importance of mindset in achieving your goals 45:52

Links

The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job Free 10% Entrepreneur Workbook PatrickMcGinnis.com Dirigo Advisors

Connect with Patrick McGinnis

@PJMcGinnis

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Do you find yourself wishing you had more time to devote to the things that are really important to you? Chances are it’s not actually a lack of time that’s the problem, it’s how you approach it. Join us as Brooks and Mike break down how to change your mindset so that you can plan and execute your perfect week. Implementing small tweaks to your weekly planning process can help you make significant steps towards your ideal future, and in this episode we’ll teach you 3 key steps to planning your perfect week, explain what tasks you should schedule on your calendar, and show you how to get back on track when things don’t go exactly according to plan.

Cheat Sheet

Why you MUST schedule the things that you actually want to get done 1:33 The real reason why time (not money) is your most precious commodity 4:38 Visualization exercise you can use to picture your perfect week 5:47 Step-by-step exercise to execute your perfect week 11:43 Different ways to figure out what your are currently spending your time on 12:47 The importance of telling your time where to go and why every hour needs a job 17:29 Why you need to write down what you want to get done on your calendar 22:37 The reason why the most important things to you NEED to go on your calendar first 26:13 How Brooks implemented these strategies to start DocumentSnap while working a corporate job 30:36 Why scheduling "thinking time" in order to disconnect is so important 34:12 How to create time for personal development even when you are super-busy 39:36 What to do when things don’t go according to plan (hint: Don't panic!) 43:00

Links

Covey’s Time Management Quadrants Timing app Toggl Harvest RescueTime GTD BusyCal SELF journal NeuYear Calendar TPS88: Deep Work w/ Cal Newport The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Roger Bussel’s Poetry

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If you feel stressed out or overwhelmed, there's a good chance it's because you've said "yes" to the wrong things. In this episode, Mike and Brooks cover how to escape this by making better decisions. We show you several strategies you can use today to start making better decisions for your personal and professional life. They discuss the fundamental reasons why you might be saying "yes" to the wrong things and show you how you can say "no" without damaging your relationships. We walk you through a simple framework for making tough decisions, including ways to ward off cognitive biases that lead to bad decisions. If you have trouble saying no or are stressed out because you’ve overcommitted yourself, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

The reasons why people say "yes" to things that they shouldn’t be doing (and how to overcome them when you really want to say "no") 2:44 How people get paralyzed by having too many options when it comes to the many things that you could be doing 5:53 The formula for a positive "no" (how to say "no" without damaging your relationships) 8:10 How you can be accommodating and still respect your own boundaries by saying "no" to a request in the right way 10:41 Why you need to respect the other person when you say no (and why it's really connected to YOUR character) 16:04 Three times when you should actually say "yes" 17:37 How most people make important decisions (and why it's the wrong approach) 24:23 The formula for making better decisions which are free from biases 29:43 Why it’s important to test your assumptions when making important decisions 34:18 Why it is so important to achieve distance before making important decisions 36:25 How to use the 10-10-10 rule to make better purchasing decisions 38:57 The benefits that come from planning the future death (and success) of a project 44:09

Links

How to Beat Your Brain and Conquer Cognitive Biases to Make Better Decisions (TPS152) Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No Derek Sivers Bookworm The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change Mike Rowe - Dirty Jobs - Art of Manliness Podcast Cal Newport Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives Groundhog Day BrainChains: Discover your brain, to unleash its full potential in a hyperconnected, multitasking world Clarity.fm Instant Pot Bose QC 35 headphones

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Journaling is a bit of a buzzword in the productivity space, but with good reason. And in this episode, Mike and Brooks explain why it's so important. They dive into the many benefits of journaling, and share 5 tips for making journaling actionable and effective. They explain how to implement a journaling habit, recommend some different tools and apps you can use, and explain how to make the habit stick. If you’ve never understood why you should journal or you have trouble doing it consistently, then this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

Why there’s a stigma associated with journaling (and why's it isn't true) 1:39 The benefits that come from pairing journaling and meditation 5:13 How journaling increases your mindfulness 7:53 The ways that journaling actually increases the likelihood that you will actually achieve your goals 9:55 How journaling strengthens self-discipline and improves communication skills 14:15 Why many people do something called “morning pages” and how it sets their day up for success 18:24 Why you don’t need to take a long time each day to journal (it's the consistency that counts) 20:27 Why it is so important to keep your journal positive 24:09 The benefits of keeping a gratitude journal and how it impacts your outlook on your life 26:07 Why it is important to see the gains you’ve made by reviewing your journal 32:17 How to use journaling to identify pain points in your life so you can fix and solve them 36:38 AE recommendations for digital journals and apps you can use 38:38 Why you might want to use an analog journal and the benefits of pen and paper 48:42 Why it is so important for you to pick a time to journal that works for you and stick to it 55:03 Using automation and prompts to make journaling more efficient 58:24 5 tips to make the most of your journaling experience 1:04:56 Why you should review your journal on a regular basis 1:06:19

Links

SELF Journal TPS2: How to Get Started with Journaling TPS69: Journaling w/ Kendra Wright How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months 10% Happier by Dan Harris Huffington Post "10 Surprising Benefits You’ll Get From Keeping a Journal" Moodnotes Day One The Five Minute Journal TextExpander Evernote Launch Center Pro Journey app Baron Fig notebooks Field Notes Moleskine Rhodia notebook Bullet Journal Miracle Morning

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Ever dreamt about working remotely? It's not all sunshine and rainbows - there's a lot of things people don't see that go into making a remote team operate successfully. In this episode, Thanh and Brooks go in-depth on the inner workings of Asian Efficiency’s remote team setup and how you can run an effective remote team as well. We share several lessons we've learned over the years of running a remote team, and we discuss the differences between office work and remote companies. We reveal 8 of AE’s best strategies and systems for running a highly effective remote team so that you can learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them yourself. If you’ve ever thought about hiring a remote team or going remote yourself, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

How and why Asian Efficiency was founded as a remote team 1:24 Lessons learned from Brooks' journey of having an office job to owning a company to working for a remote company 3:49 The misconceptions people have with working remote (why the stock image paradise stigma isn't reality) 6:14 Why working remotely can't fix a job you aren’t right for 8:11 Some of the unseen negatives that come from running a remote team 9:14 Why it can be very lonely working remotely (and how to overcome this) 11:27 Why allowing team members to choose how present they want to be can be beneficial for a remote team 15:00 The advantages and disadvantages of a flexible schedule 18:30 Why working remote allows you to work how you work best 25:58 Why it’s important to hire the right people for a remote team (and what to look for) 30:39 How to create decision-making guidelines for your remote team 35:34 Why it is important to have communication guidelines in place for team members when working across different timezones 46:41 The importance of showing team members what you are working on 50:43 Why checking in with your employees is essential as a manager of a remote team 55:13 How to create a project management philosophy for effective remote work 59:41 Why it’s important to have good technology infrastructure when working with a remote team 1:03:51 Why switching tech platforms can be very expensive for a remote team 1:09:15 How traveling can complicate the work of a remote team 1:10:30 The advantages that come with have a predictable meeting rhythm in your remote company 1:14:33 How to create better systems so your remote team can scale effectively 1:18:32 Why getting in-person with your remote team is critical to long-term success 1:22:09

Links

Kolbe test Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less TPS28: Working the System w/ Sam Carpenter Video Interview with Sam Carpenter of Work the System 5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Free Up 2+ Hours A Week (TPS118) 3 Keys to Using the 80/20 Rule in Your Business for Exponential Growth (TPS119) How we run a productive remote team at Asian Efficiency The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich JIRA The Year Without Pants: WordPress.com and the Future of Work Scrum Extreme programming (XP) Kanban HipChat Clarity.fm Upwork

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The average person makes over 35,000 decisions in a single day, but many times we make wrong decisions because of our own cognitive biases which influence how we see our situation. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about the different sources of cognitive biases and how they impact our ability to make good, rational decisions. They discuss the many different types of cognitive biases and explain how they can lead to bad decision making. They also share 4 strategies to help you overcome your own cognitive biases and help you be more productive. If you want to start seeing things more clearly and making better decisions, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

What is a cognitive bias? 2:10 The 4 different sources of cognitive bias 3:59 Why we judge others by their actions and ourselves by our intentions 5:16 How to avoid confirmation bias when analyzing data 10:00 How a diverse mastermind group can help you identify and conquer your cognitive biases 14:02 How to stay open-minded and understand that your own beliefs might be wrong 20:03 How the bandwagon bias impacts the productivity space (and how to overcome it) 22:52 How to overcome the negative influence of the stereotyping cognitive bias in the hiring process 29:02 How survivorship bias can make you overestimate your chances of success (and how to see the situation correctly) 35:05 The function of cognitive biases and why they may be good in certain situations 37:49 How aversion bias makes it hard to switch jobs or make changes 43:47 How the salience cognitive bias colors how you remember successes and feedback 46:35 Strategies for overcoming cognitive biases 49:46 How to use masterminds to keep yourself accountable for your decisions 50:50 How to train yourself to make the right decisions by using checklists 54:51

Links

What to Do When You Feel Stuck and Need a Fresh Start (TPS148) Common Cognitive Bias types (Wikipedia) Seanwes podcast - The Communication Episode OmniFocus Things How to Make Sure Your Projects and Tasks are the Right Ones (TPS151) The Innovator’s Dilemma The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right The Art of Thinking Clearly

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The average person has somewhere between 300-500 hours worth of tasks they need to complete, but how can you be sure they are the right ones? With so much that needs to get done, you can't afford to waste your time on the wrong things. Brooks and Mike discuss how to achieve clarity from knowing that the tasks and projects in your task manager are the one you should be working on. They walk through six different horizons from the Getting Things Done productivity framework, and show how to apply this mental model to achieve confidence by confirming that the things you are working on will actually get you to your ideal future. Listen in for how to decide what each of the horizons means for you, tips for implementing this model, and how to make sure you stay on the right path.

Cheat Sheet

How to plan your tasks and projects effectively so that they are in line with your vision and values 1:36 How to handle your day-to-day tasks 3:50 Why capturing tasks is very important no matter what productivity system you use 6:37 How to achieve clarity on your near-term projects 7:11 How to balance all your different areas of responsibility when you wear many hats 9:38 Why it’s important to say "no" to some of your projects and roles 12:05 How to think about where your job is going and what to do if you want to change it 12:40 How to think about and get to where you want your career and personal life in 3-5 years 14:54 How to set your life goals in a way that keeps you moving towards the right things 20:05 Tips for implementing the six horizons model into your own life 23:43 How core values help keep you on the right path 27:47 Why it is very important that you get your spouse or significant other on board with your vision 31:31

Links

How to Get GTD to Work For You: Simple Strategies For Managing Your Inboxes And Capturing Information (TPS149) GTD The 6 Horizons of Focus The Innovator's Dilemma The Miracle Morning Greg Hickman How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) 10 Practical Tips for Identifying and Implementing Core Values With Your Family (TPS133) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

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Have you ever felt like everything was going wrong you had no idea what to do? On this episode, we celebrate 3 million podcast downloads by opening up about the times when it looked like we weren't going to make it. We look back on our journey to accomplishing this podcast milestone, and talk about how we overcame 5 specific setbacks we’ve encountered as a company over the years. We highlight the lessons that we learned that allowed us to keep going even when it looked like there was no way forward. In this real and honest episode, we share the difficult times we've been though as the Asian Efficiency team, and we share what helped us bounce back so that you don’t have to make the same mistakes we did.

Cheat Sheet

Celebrating 3 million downloads! 2:11 The setbacks that the Asian Efficiency team has had along the way 5:45 The real reason we decided to launch the podcast in the first place 9:05 Why Thanh initially thought the podcast was a bad idea 10:24 Lessons we learned from launching the podcast without a clear vision or plan 17:23 Things to avoid if you're looking to start a blog or a podcast 20:56 The staff shake-ups that have changed the face of the podcast and company (and how we overcame them) 25:02 Brooks’s take on company changes from the perspective of a listener 31:17 What to do about the things in life that you can’t plan for 34:47 How to deal with personnel changes as a CEO or entrepreneur 37:36 How our team finally figured out how to make the podcast profitable 43:44 How we overcame early discouraging results with the podcast (and also with a few of our products) 51:53 The things we do to mitigate risk and setbacks before they happen 54:25 How to deal with a work emergency when one arises and use a post-mortem process to make things better in the future 59:55 Why it’s beneficial to iterate your products in public 1:04:04 How to use critical feedback to make your company even better 1:07:21

Links

OmniFocus Premium Posts TPS7: Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan Kaizen

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Ever tried to implement Getting Things Done (GTD) and find it just won't stick for you? In this episode, we'll break down this popular productivity system and show you where the common failure points are so you can avoid making the same mistakes as countless others. Even if you don't like GTD and use something else to get things done, this episode will show you how to make your productivity system work for your personal work style. In the first part of the episode, Mike walks through the 5 different steps involved in the GTD method, how to ask the right clarifying questions when you’re capturing tasks, and how to identify all the different inboxes that exist in your life. In the second part of the episode, we share a sneak peek at a recent coaching call between Mike and a client who was looking for some help making his system work for both personal and professional tasks. If you ever tried GTD and found it frustrating or have trouble sticking to your system, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

The basic idea behind the super-popular Getting Things Done methodology and why you need a system to capture information to in the first place 1:13 How the 5 step process of GTD work together to help you feel relaxed and engaged in what you're doing 4:44 The real reason why it’s so important to process your inbox regularly 9:06 Several common inboxes that people use and how best to use them 13:01 How you can use contexts to have tasks show up at the right place and the right time in your task manager 20:14 Behind-the-scenes look at a recent coaching call between Mike and Chandler 24:54 A list of the things that haven't worked when it comes to deep work 30:24 The strategy Mike uses to batch smaller tasks and interruptions so they don't derail his entire day 32:06 How using the “breakout” block from the 12 Week Year to give your brain a break can have long-term productivity benefits 39:30

Links

Getting Things Done nvALT OmniFocus 2Do Evernote Airmail MailMate Postbox Mailplane Drafts iOS JIRA Things Vitamin-R Deep Work The 12 Week Year

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Have you ever felt stressed from being overcommitted but didn't know how to fix the situation? You need someone who can show you how to break out of the mundane and make sure you're moving in the right direction towards creating your ideal future. If so, you're not alone. Many people feel completely overwhelmed with everything they need to do, but they don’t know how to start over or slow down. In this episode, Brooks and Mike talk about what to do when you find yourself in this situation and you need to make a fresh start. If you’ve ever felt stuck, this episode has practical tips and strategies to help you get out of your rut and hit the reset button.

Cheat Sheet

Why it can be beneficial to hit the reset button when you find yourself feeling stuck 3:30 Practical tips for how you can start to reset your career and get that job you've always dreamed of 4:03 How to identify when it’s actually time to make a change 8:36 The process of establishing career capital to create the future you've always wanted 12:09 How to figure out what you can do that is valuable for the marketplace to start building career capital 14:56 Why the passion mindset won't lead you to the future you want and what you should do instead 20:21 The simple formula you can use to start making deposits into your career savings account 22:01 Why the ability to form relationships and work well with others is so important in today's 's society 27:13 Why you need character in order to successfully reset your career 29:17 How to use the principle of hustle to make sure you’re moving in the right direction (and make sure you're doing it effectively) 31:21 How you can adjust expectations by learning to say "no" even if you have a history of saying "yes" 34:06 How to set boundaries to make sure you are focusing on the right thing at the right time 36:49 Why it is so important to pay yourself first when it comes to your time, attention, energy, and focus 40:17 How to reset your projects when you find yourself overcommitted 48:08 Other things you can use to make a fresh start that aren’t work-related to help you get out of a rut 55:46 Why you might want to reset your environment and tips for how to do it without breaking the bank 59:38 How to reset your routine for maximum effectiveness 1:02:22

Links

Deep Work by Cal Newport Do Over by Jon Acuff The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Blue Apron Five Four Club Overcome the Limitations of GTD to Get Things Done By Using the 2Do App (TPS137) Due (iOS) 2Do John Lee Dumas How to Find Balance While Working in a Corporate Culture (TPS140) Joey Roth poster Brooks's office makeover

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The average person makes over 35,000 decisions per day, which can easily leave you too tired to take action on your most important tasks (or MITs). In this episode, Mike and Thanh tackle decision fatigue, and show you how to exercise all the tools at your disposal so that you don’t get burned out or make bad decisions. Decision fatigue is #1 the enemy of sound decision making and procrastination’s greatest ally, so in this episode you'll learn what you can do to overcome it by conserving your willpower for the decisions that really matter as well as several tips for replenishing your willpower when it’s gone but you still have more work to do.

Cheat Sheet

The negative consequences associated with decision fatigue and how to avoid them 1:55 The three types of decisions that we make on a regular basis that contribute greatly to increased decision fatigue 4:11 Why most people blame their lack of goal achievement on willpower (and what you can do to flip the script by leveraging it to take massive action on your goals instead) 5:37 How willpower influences your ability (or inability) to do deep work 9:00 Why you shouldn’t make important decisions when you are mentally fatigued 11:47 How the massive number of small decisions we have to make in a day contributes to making bad decisions when they matter most 13:27 How changing habits (like deciding what to wear the night before) can help alleviate decision fatigue and increase your willpower 15:23 Why not all hours of the day are created equal and how you can leverage time arbitrage to get more done 16:14 How to leverage the 80/20 principle to maximize the effectiveness of your decision making 19:27 Why most people tend to make decisions at the worst possible time (and when you should make them instead) 22:50 How to align the most important things you need to do with when you have the most possible energy for maximum effectiveness 27:42 What you should really be doing at the beginning of every day 33:19 Why email is such a productivity killer and what you can to do to avoid having it zap you willpower 36:24 How to systemize your daily decisions into a ritual so that you have more willpower left over for the ones that really matter 39:58 How to get other people to help you so that you have to make less decisions 51:31 The template you can use to make a decision easier so that you can use less energy to make it 1:00:40 What “eating your frog” is all about and how it can help you be more productive by increasing your willpower 1:05:09 What you can do to replenish your willpower when you need a quick boost 1:07:05 Why happy people are productive people 1:17:15

Links

"Survey Finds Most People Check Their Smartphones Before Getting Out Of Bed In The Morning" Tech Times Clarity.fm Why Time Management Doesn’t Work & Why You Should Focus on Energy Instead (TPS142) The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It The War of Art Time Arbitrage (AE blog post) 5 Ways to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Free Up 2+ Hours A Week (TPS118) First Things First Morning Ritual Starter Kit The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change OmniFocus The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time Joe Buhlig's podcasts: Theoretical Accountability | Bookworm

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Do you always have too much to do? You're not alone. Life in today's society can be complicated as it's common for people to have more than just work and home to think about. It can be extremely difficult to maintain balance between your different areas of responsibility. If you find yourself stressed about or feeling like you can’t honor the commitments you’ve made, this episode is for you. Mike and Brooks walk through the advice given on actual coaching calls they had with Asian Efficiency customers, and provide actionable tips for how to focus on what you should be doing, as well as when you should be doing it.

Cheat Sheet

We're LIVE in front of our Dojo audience! 1:34 The process we used from actual coaching calls and how we identified solutions for our customers 2:44 What "attention residue" is and why it makes it so hard to do your work 3:24 How to stay appropriately engaged when you wear multiple hats 7:29 Coaching call takeaways with “Jane,” who needs to switch tasks all the time and manage lots of requests from colleagues 12:19 How to implement scheduled focus time at your workplace 14:28 Why you don’t have to be connected all the time (and how to overcome the FOMO it causes) 16:16 Why you should setup specific office hours so that you can create the time and space to focus on what's important 19:36 The importance of examining how you deal with email to create more time in your day 21:36 Tips for learning to say "no" effectively 22:19 How to track your time to learn whether what you’re doing is in alignment with your values 25:32 Coaching call takeaways with “John,” who has a hard time getting work done in the afternoon 29:10 Why having a plan for your day can help you better execute on your goals 31:22 Why it’s important to identify all of the responsibilities and dependencies that you have 34:38 How to be OK with what you are not doing 36:45 Using the 12 Week Year planning method to focus on something that needs to be improved 41:23 The importance of focusing on one thing at a time 42:14 How to stay focused when you don’t have a supervisor 45:27

Links

Sophie Leroy's "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks" How to Find Balance While Working in a Corporate Culture (TPS140) Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) EntreLeadership 1 day summit Timing Mac app Why Time Management Doesn’t Work & Why You Should Focus on Energy Instead (TPS142) How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Scaling Up by Verne Harnish The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington Essentialism by Greg McKeown Back to Work podcast

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Being able to focus is a lost art in today's society, but it's also extremely important (and valuable). Distractions are everywhere, and we’re constantly being interrupted by our technology and other people. We want to teach you how you can overcome the business and create the future you've always dreamed of by focusing on what's really important. You can create time in your schedule to focus on your most important tasks, no matter how busy you are. In this episode, Thanh and Mike show you a better way to work that maximizes focus time and produces higher quality work in less time. They talk about strategies you can implement right now to get maximum results from your work and walk you through how to develop your focus muscle. If you have trouble focusing, this episode will help you create the momentum you need to achieve the future you've always dreamed of.

Cheat Sheet

Why the deck it stacked against us as a society when it comes to productivity and focus 1:28 How to not only survive but thrive in the “attention economy” 5:22 How we (unintentionally) tell our companies and and coworkers "please, interrupt me at any time!" and how to break free of this 10:21 Why the ability to focus is a lost art and why's it's so important 13:37 How to become more economically valuable by developing your focus muscle 16:06 How to effectively implement the Maker vs Manager schedule 19:59 The important differences between deep work and shallow work and how you can create space to do more deep work 25:50 How to implement fixed schedule productivity to create things more consistently 31:06 How employers can help their staff carve out time for deep work and become more productive 34:32 Why you must work out your focus muscle in order to do deep work effectively 40:44 Meditation, Pomodoros, and other actionable tips you can use today to work out your focus muscle 46:48 The simple formula for doing deep work and how to implement it 51:01 Strategies to help you intensify your focus 54:23 How focusing on deep work has big advantages for your employer as well 1:01:24 How to implement the rhythmic approach to deep work, no matter what your schedule looks like 1:05:00 10 Quick tips you can use to get a win right now and start focusing on your most important task 1:12:04

Links

Harvard Gazette: "Wandering mind not a happy mind" Paul Graham: Maker vs Manager schedule Grit by Angela Duckworth Deep Work by Cal Newport FocusAtWill.com Brain.fm Carcassonne app The CEO’s Secret to Productivity: An Executive Assistant (TPS143) Pomodoro Technique Adam Grant Why Time Management Doesn’t Work & Why You Should Focus on Energy Instead (TPS142) 10 Playlists to Triple Your Productivity

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Does it really take 10,000 hours to master a skill? In this episode, we debunk some common misconceptions and share 4 keys to establishing mastery more quickly using focused deep work. We explain the major benefits that come with doing deep work and give you practical tips for implementing it no matter how busy you are to help you achieve excellence in any area. Whether you want to master a specific skill, start a business, or pursue a side project and need to make the most of your limited time, this episode is for you.

Cheat Sheet

How the concept of mastery became so popular 1:43 Why the 10,000 rule concerning mastery isn’t really accurate and what you can do to achieve it even sooner 2:35 Why focused deep work is essential for mastery 5:09 How you can develop your focus muscle and master deep work just like any other skill 12:00 Why modern technology make it more difficult to perform deep work and what you can to overcome this 16:15 How deep work optimizes your performance and actually makes it easier to get your work done 19:36 The surprising ways that deep work actually increases your happiness and fulfillment 22:27 How consistently doing deep work can make you more economically valuable 25:45 How to leverage the compound effect to get more done in less time 28:48 The importance of developing a craftsman mindset in order to master any skill 30:57 Why pushing yourself to things that are difficult is way more fulfilling than not taking risks 38:19 How being consistent with your rituals can make your brain better and more efficient 41:58 How to develop a personal vision that attaches to your desired skill or goal 47:11 Why finding an accountability coach or person that pushes you to reach your goal is so important 49:58

Links

How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Deep Work by Cal Newport So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Grit by Angela Duckworth FREE Deep Work Presentation World Domination Summit

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Ever wish you had more time? Then this special episode about how to find, hire, and make productive use of executive assistants is for you. Thanh Pham is joined by Charles Ngo, an expert who has hired and worked with executive assistants for many years. Charles is actually the person responsible for Thanh recently hiring his first executive assistant, and in this special 2 hour mega-episode they discuss why you should get one, how having an executive assistant can help you multiply your time, best practices for getting started, things to watch out for, and much, much more. If you've ever thought about working with an assistant, you don't want to miss this jam-packed episode.

Cheat Sheet

Why you should hire an executive assistant 1:41 Why Thanh initially resisted getting an executive assistant and what finally convinced him 4:47 The many residual benefits that come with having an executive assistant brings you besides just saving you time 7:17 How executive assistants help protect you against decision fatigue 9:12 How to identify when you need an executive assistant and why it may not for everyone 18:12 How having an executive assistant is like using a jetpack in terms of your productivity 23:33 How to overcome perfectionism and learn to delegate your tasks 24:59 Charles’s story of how he found the perfect executive assistant and the lessons he learned from the process 27:39 How hiring is a hard skill that will take time to learn (and how you can shortcut the process) 35:57 The things you should look for when choosing your executive assistant 40:14 How to use personality tests in your hiring process (and what red flags to look for) 44:19 The difference between a personal assistant, a virtual assistant, and an executive assistant 54:45 Examples of things that Charles’s and Thanh’s executive assistants do frequently and the time it save them 1:00:45 How to use your values and anti-values to make sure your assistant is a good fit for you 1:12:55 How to overcome the obstacles inherent in sharing your personal or sensitive information with your executive assistant 1:21:33 How to teach and communicate your decision making guidelines to your executive assistant 1:26:50 How to give good instructions to an executive assistant so that the job gets done correctly 1:33:24 Recommended technology tools to use for working with your executive assistant 1:40:43 How to get started with an executive assistant 1:52:19 Actionable steps you can take to decide if an executive assistant is right for you 2:04:32

Links

CharlesNgo.com 3 Keys to Using the 80/20 Rule in Your Business for Exponential Growth (TPS119) How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism JoePolish.com Kolbe test DISC test Wealth Dynamics test Mastering the Rockefeller Habits Deep Work Instacart How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) Upwork.com TPS78: Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle w/ Thanh Pham JamesClear.com: The Value of Time: How Much is Your Time Really Worth?

Connect with Charles

@Dr_Ngo

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Ever wonder why some people seem to get so much more done than others? We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but some people are much more productive and the secret to this next-level productivity is not traditional time management but actually energy management. Energy management is a force multiplier for how productive you are in the time you have available to you, and in this episode Brooks and Mike dive deep into why energy management is the real key to high achievement and how to do it effectively. They walk through different types of energy that need to be managed, and what you can do to maximize each one. Do you find that you often can’t muster up the energy to focus on an important task? Then you don't want to miss this episode.

Cheat Sheet

Why energy management is more important than time management 3:12 The four pieces of the energy pyramid presented in The Power of Full Engagement 6:40 Why getting enough sleep is so important (and why you're probably not getting as much as you should) 8:07 How to track your sleep cycles to maximize the quality and quantity of your sleep 11:15 How blue light causes your body to stay awake and why NightShift and f.lux are so important in getting enough sleep 15:41 Why regular exercise will decrease the amount of sleep you need and help you have more energy during the day 19:11 How walking every day can boost your energy levels 22:07 The power of productive meditation and how to do it correctly 24:15 How eating healthy can exponentially increase your energy and productivity 26:04 The emotional impact that positive and negative emotions have on your energy levels 28:51 Ways to give your brain a break to have more mental energy 35:08 Why going back and forth between being fully engaged and strategically unengaged is so effective 38:01 Why going back to your “Why” and your foundational vision can help keep you motivated 38:49 6 Things you can do right now to increase your energy 43:50 How to establish rituals that will help you have more energy throughout the day 46:54 Why giving to others translates into a higher quality of life and more energy 50:58

Links

Carcassonne board game TPS78: Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle w/ Thanh Pham The Away Carry-On (The suitcase that Brooks bought and Mike has) The Power of Full Engagement Energy Management article The Energy Pyramid graphic The Science of Sleep (CBS News) Sleep Cycle app Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light With Colored Sunrise Simulation f.lux TPS6: Which Supplements Actually Help with Focus and Productivity? Why Pursuing the Work-Life Balance Myth is Hurting Your Productivity (TPS139) Fitbit Jawbone UP 10 Practical Tips for Identifying and Implementing Core Values With Your Family (TPS133) Energy Quadrant Eisenhower Matrix

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Certified Evernote expert Charles Byrd joins us on the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of working smarter with Evernote. Charles has years of experience teaching people how to use Evernote more efficiently and has tons of tips for creating systems, pulling up information quickly, and doing more with Evernote apps. In this episode, Charles shows us how to use tags effectively, how to use Evernote with teams, shares some powerful keyboard shortcuts that makes working Evernote even easier, and even convinces Thanh to (potentially) move away from his beloved folder structure. Whether you’re an Evernote power user or just beginning to use this software, you’ll find a lot of valuable tips and actionable information in this episode.

Cheat Sheet

How Evernote expert Charles Byrd got started using the software and how it allows him to find anything he's looking for quickly 1:49 How Charles met the CEO of Evernote and how he came to be a Certified Expert in Evernote 4:51 Why the Evernote team is so concerned about your privacy and how it's different from Google 7:40 How to create local notebooks that don’t sync with the cloud 12:28 Common mistakes that people who are new to Evernote make over and over again 13:57 What to do when you have lots of places to store information (like task managers, note apps, etc) 18:23 Charles’s default approach to Evernote 20:55 Using Evernote to create a workflow between multiple apps and systems 23:28 How to use the local link and the public link features in Evernote 25:34 How to process new projects using Evernote, Todoist, and other apps 27:34 How to use Evernote with a team 30:27 How to use tags in Evernote to find things instantly 35:56 What tags to use in order to make searching for notes easier 45:38 Using Evernote with virtual assistants 50:22 Recommended apps that you can use in conjunction with Evernote 52:50 The most effective ways to use the Web Clipper for Evernote 58:22

Links

Evernote Charles Byrd - certified Evernote consultant TPS96: Setting Up Your Dashboard in Evernote w/ Stacey Harmon DEVONthink Asana Todoist TheBrain Zapier Postbox Newton email app Skitch

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Ever felt stuck in your job? In this episode, dojo member Gary Smith joins the podcast to share how to develop career capital and maintain personal growth, even when your work culture doesn't make it easy. Mike and Gary talk about how to balance your personal goals with your corporate responsibilities, why the idea of work-life balance is antiquated, how to advance your career no matter where you find yourself, and how to stick to your vision to achieve the future you've always dreamed of. Gary shares tips from his experience working with both individuals and organizations and gives some great pointers for entrepreneurs and business owners to effectively communicate their vision to their teams. If you work in a corporate environment or have your own business (regardless of size), you don't want to miss this episode!

Cheat Sheet

Gary Smith's experience developing positive corporate culture and helping people achieve their dreams 1:33 How you can develop your career capital no matter what your current job is 3:09 How the economy is driving the depravation of “work-life balance” 3:50 Why you should focus on connecting to your purpose instead of chasing work-life balance 7:57 Tips for how to leave work at work in this digital age and maintain presence no matter what you are doing 11:25 Why understanding expectations at work is critical to your personal and professional development 13:49 What to do when work bleeds into personal time 18:03 Why investing in your career while you are young is a good idea and how this can pay HUGE dividends down the road 19:52 How to use your vision as a compass to make sure you are heading in the right direction 23:52 How to avoid burnout and stay connected to your purpose 25:50 How your life and career focus will change as you move through different stages of life 28:57 The mistaken view of passion most people possess (and what the term really means) 32:44 Why personal development is so important in achieving the future you want 35:25 What entrepreneurs can do to make sure their employees are growing personally and professionally 38:14 How to communicate your vision to your employees or team effectively 45:51 Why soft skills are so important in today’s business world 47:19

Links

How To Win Friends and Influence People Lead the Field Customer Conundrum by Gary Smith Other books by Gary Smith Optechs.com twitter.com/optechs facebook.com/optechsonline linkedin.com/in/optechs

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Ever feel stuck trying to achieve the elusive "work-life balance?" In this episode, we show you why it’s not only impossible to achieve, but also why's it's not something you should be striving for anyway. We explain the solution (which is intentional imbalance), and in this episode we show you how to achieve this by working on the areas of your life that need it the most and provide the greatest return on your time, attention, energy, and focus investment. Thanh agrees to become Mike's guinea pig and volunteers to go through the Wheel of Life exercise live on the podcast, showing you step-by-step how to implement this exercise on your own using the included PDF. Listen in if you’re keeping too many plates spinning in your life, and to find out how you can not only define your ideal future but make achieving it inevitable.

Cheat Sheet

The history of work-life balance and why it became a buzzword 2:13 The problems with work-life balance and why the concept doesn’t apply in a modern society 3:39 Why extremely successful people actually don’t have work-life balance and what they do instead 8:10 Why pursuing intentional imbalance actually leads to MORE balance 11:56 The importance of thinking high-level about your life 15:31 The problem with living out of emergency scan modality, or “living like a firefighter” 19:18 The solution to living like a firefighter (and why it's so effective) 20:26 How to apply Wheel of Life exercise so that you can make conscious decisions on what you should be focusing on 23:21 Why it is so important to write your life vision down on paper 25:15 How to accurately measure how close you are to your ideal future so you can decide what you need to focus on 29:43 Thanh goes under the microscope by doing the Wheel of Life exercise live in the podcast 33:55 What to do after you complete the Wheel of Life exercise 42:16

Links

Wheel of Life PDF The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months How to Take Massive Action on Your Goals by Implementing the 12 Week Year Effectively (TPS138) Eisenhower matrix

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Many people make New Year's resolutions and have grandiose plans for the year, but often fail to follow through and execute on them. In this episode, 12 Week Year 2.0 module creator and Dojo member Brandon Wentland shares how to overcome these common problem by implementing The 12 Week Year method effectively. He shares his experience and how he implemented the 12 Week Year method successfully at both a personal and professional level. We cover the concept of intentional imbalance, the importance of a strong vision, and the power of habits to help you overcome resistance and take massive action on your goals. If you've ever felt stuck or been frustrated by your own lack of action, you definitely want to check out this episode as it will help you break out of the status quo and create the life you've always dreamed of.

Cheat Sheet

Brandon's personal productivity journey 1:49 The problems with traditional planning and how the 12 Week Year solves them 3:00 How using the 12 Week Year framework provides flexibility to help you reach your goals 6:58 The importance of vision and breaking down your goals so it's really easy to take action on them 9:16 Why planning for the entire year is not effective and New Year's resolutions don't work 11:34 How to set up your 12 week sprint so success is inevitable 17:03 Tips on how to select your objectives during your 12 Week Year planning 20:10 How to take massive action on your goals once you have your objectives 22:25 How to craft a vision statement that inspires action and creates motivation 27:05 Integrating the 12 Week Year with the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology 29:34 Why writing down your goals creates motivation to follow through and achieve them 33:15 How to put your time for 12 Week Year actions on your calendar 36:47 The importance of creating time to recharge, focus, and do admin tasks 41:13 Why accountability is important and how to use it for the 12 week year 44:03 Why and how consistent execution is the key to achieving your goals 51:02 What to do when you’re burnt out (and how to avoid this in the first place) 53:15

Links

The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) Procrastinate on Purpose Deluxe: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time Compact calendar 8,760 Hours ebook Focus app Fast Company: Change or Die

Connect with Brandon Wentland

@BrandonWentland Optimal Digital Marketing

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Are you frustrated with the limitations of the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology? Have you ever wished you could add a second context in your task manager, like OmniFocus? Then you don't want to miss this episode where we break down the advantages and features of the powerful task manager app, 2Do. Mat Rhein, a member of the AE Dojo, shares from the vast research he's done on his task management spirit quest and lays out what specific features in 2Do finally convinced him to make the switch from OmniFocus. If you’re looking for a task manager solution or concerned about the limitations or complexity in OmniFocus, have a listen as Mat makes a very convincing case for using 2Do to get things done.

Cheat Sheet

What got Mat interested in human productivity 2:09 How and why Mat started using 2Do as his daily task manager instead of OmniFocus 5:19 The productivity philosophy behind 2Do and why this flexibility makes it more approachable 7:59 A few recommended ways you can prioritize tasks in 2Do 10:20 The pitfalls you should look to avoid when using 2Do 12:57 How 2Do syncs with Reminders (and how this allows you to use 2Do collaboratively) 17:55 What got Mat to finally switch over from his beloved OmniFocus to 2Do 20:40 How 2D0 makes turning emails into tasks easier than ever 22:57 How and why to use display modes to manually sort your tasks in 2Do 26:58 Tips for doing a weekly review in 2Do 30:47 What Smart Lists are and how to use them 31:58 Incredibly useful 2Do keyboard shortcuts 35:35 Some of Mat’s favorite 2Do workflows 42:36 What “Project Processing” is and what happens when you come up with an idea for a project 45:27 Who can benefit the most from using 2Do 47:19

Links

2Do 2Do intro video OmniFocus The Hit List app Due app Informant (Mac) Informant (iOS) Connect with Mat on Twitter

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OmniFocus is very powerful, but can be difficult to use and might be overkill for your task management needs. Mike and Brooks explain the killer features of this app and how best to use it, so you can decide if it's worthwhile for you to invest in it. If you're already an OmniFocus user, you definitely don't want to miss this episode as they'll also tell you how to get the most out of it by showing you how to set up custom views or perspectives and walk you through the AE task management workflow. They also answer some of the most frequent questions we get from the community regarding OmniFocus, including how to use OmniFocus when you have to use a PC at work and the best way to implement OmniFocus when going iOS only.

Cheat Sheet

What OmniFocus is all about and why you might want to use it 1:46 The key features of OmniFocus that help it work for Mike 3:38 What separates OmniFocus from other task managers 5:31 When to use Start Dates or Defer Dates correctly 12:49 How to use the custom view and focus options in OmniFocus to see only the appropriate tasks 19:06 Using location awareness 21:21 How to use Siri to add tasks to your OmniFocus inbox automatically 24:15 Advantages of the custom perspectives feature and how to use them to work more efficiently 25:56 How to leverage OmniFocus integration with email clients to get links to specific email messages 31:10 Examples of how to use the Applescript support in OmniFocus 36:35 How OmniFocus can automatically create projects using URL schemes on iOS devices 37:27 How to transfer mindmaps in Mindnode into projects in OmniFocus 42:01 The #1 question we get: What if I use a Windows or PC at work? Can I still use OmniFocus? (Yes) 43:52 How to use OmniFocus on an Android device 49:11 Should you get the Pro version of OmniFocus? 50:54 How to go iOS-only and implement OmniFocus task management only on mobile devices 53:21 The best way to use OmniFocus (The AE workflow) 56:01 How to use Evernote and OmniFocus together 1:00:23

Links

OmniFocus OmniFocus course 2Do GTD Remember The Milk Mailmate Mailplane Workflow for iOS Launch Center Pro MindNode Hazel The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business Evernote How to Use Location-based Contexts in OmniFocus 2 for iPhone (Screencast) TPS57: Advanced OmniFocus Setup + Workflow w/ Joe Buhlig OmniFocus email help OmniFocus Applescript help Joe Buhlig OmniFocus auto parser Explanation of OmniFocus syntax OmniFocus on Android

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Finding the right todo list app can be extremely difficult. We want to help you shortcut the process by helping you match the correct task manager or todo list app with your specific needs. In this episode, Thanh and Brooks weigh the pros and cons of popular apps like OmniFocus, Trello, Asana, Todoist, and 2Do to help you pick the one that fits your specific situation so you don't need to personally try each one. By the end of this episode, you'll have a much better idea about what type of app you're going to need to manage your tasks. You'll also know the pros and cons of the most popular apps so that you can make sure that you don't just use the latest shiny new object but the one that will actually work for YOU.

Cheat Sheet

Brooks’ story of figuring out which todo list app was best for him via trial and error 2:52 How Thanh eventually landed on Omnifocus 5:10 The 3 different types of todo list apps 7:43 How a simple paper-and-pen todo list system can scale to digital task managers 9:17 The specific use cases that Thanh uses the macOS Reminders app for 10:39 Why cross-platform solutions can make task management easier 13:47 Why you want the company behind the app you use to be financially healthy 16:00 Our recommended apps for both personal use and team collaboration 19:09 The pros and cons of the iOS and MacOS Reminders app 22:25 Why Asana works so well for collaboration 26:11 How to use Trello to get an overview of what’s going on 28:08 How to create multiple workspaces in Asana for different areas of responsibility 30:54 The advantages of using Todoist 33:09 The very real productivity costs associated with switching to another todo list app 35:07 Why we use and teach OmniFocus at Asian Efficiency 39:02 Using contexts, defer dates, and more in OmniFocus 39:28 About the 2Do app and why it’s popular 45:28 Final thoughts on task managers 48:45

Links

OmniFocus OmniFocus course Trello Asana Todoist 2Do GTD Remember The Milk Things Kolbe TPS57: Advanced OmniFocus Setup + Workflow w/ Joe Buhlig TPS4: How to Use GTD Contexts in OmniFocus and Other Task Managers

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We have completely replaced internal emails at Asian Efficiency. No one sends emails to co-workers anymore. Think it's impossible? It's not. You can do it too within your team and organization. There's one communication and collaboration tool that you need. That's either HipChat or Slack.

In this episode we discuss how we've replaced company emails with one of these tools. If you've considered using HipChat or Slack, we also go over the pros and cons of each tool so you can make an informed decision which one works best for you and your organization. These tools will help you get closer to eliminating company emails, useless meetings, and other miscellaneous time-wasters.

Cheat Sheet

What team communication and collaboration software is and why you should use it 1:27 Slack’s independent research on the effectiveness of using team communication and collaboration software 3:32 How team communication and collaboration software increases transparency in your organization (and why that's a good thing) 8:07 How Slack and HipChat specifically can help improve the culture of your team 10:27 How to share messages and communicate effectively using Slack or HipChat 10:56 How to attach files in team communication software and how this can help you keep things organized 16:06 Why using emoji in Slack and HipChat can help make communication better, more complete, and more fun 19:07 When and how to use team communication and collaboration apps for calls and video calls 22:21 How to customize Slack or HipChat to be more personal 23:20 Our favorite integrations for both Slack and HipChat 26:36 Setting up notifications correctly in team communication and collaboration software 31:11 Which is better: Slack or HipChat? 34:47

Links

Slack HipChat Tomatobot Simple Poll Deep Work by Cal Newport Zoom Asana JIRA Bonusly

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Mike is joined by his wife Rachel share her perspective on the topic of core values and vision. They share the process they followed to created a vision and set of core values for themselves and their family, and they discuss how they came to their values as well as 10 handy tips for identifying and implementing them.

Cheat Sheet

Our five core values as a family, starting with #1: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength 5:22 Core value #2: Give selflessly by finding the need and meeting it 7:53 Core value #3: Lead courageously and always stand for the truth 12:13 Core value #4: Impact the culture and leave your own legacy 14:05 Using Bitsbox to teach kids how to code 18:21 Core value #5: Determine to be different and don’t settle for average 21:30 Why even implement family core values in the first place 22:51 10 Practical tips to help you identify and implement your vision and core values 27:56 #1: Play to each others' strengths 28:14 #2: Have a weekly family meeting 32:35 #3: Establish rituals and routines 35:14 #4: Pay attention to teachable moments 37:35 #5: Capture ideas or issues that you need to discuss in a shared list or task manager 41:20 #6: Practice gratitude 44:50 #7: Put each other first 48:11 #8: Meal planning 51:44 #9: Don’t disagree in front of your children 53:41 #10: Be transparent, real and genuine 55:53

Links

How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) TED Talk by Homeschooler Logan LaPlante Bitsbox Kolbe Strengthsfinder Asana

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This episode is all about FOMO - The Fear of Missing Out. It’s a troubling trend with major productivity costs, and Mike and Thanh help you understand and solve it. They chat about FOMO’s symptoms and common causes, as well as 9 tips to help you overcome it once and for all.

Cheat Sheet

Why the Fear of Missing Out (or FOMO) is a topic that is not often discussed and why it's so important to address How FOMO manifests itself from a productivity point of view The consequences of living in an attention economy and what to do about it The real reasons why FOMO doesn’t allow you to focus How to curate or edit your life so you can focus on the things that are important How to become a producer rather than a consumer when it comes to information and technology Tips to help you stop checking your phone all the time Why dealing with email FOMO is a constant struggle and what you can do to to get victory over it once and for all Some of the common sources of FOMO and how to eliminate them How knowing your "why" (your purpose) can help you overcome FOMO How creating a system you can trust safeguards you from FOMO Why GTD is so popular and the benefits of applying it for yourself - even if you only implement the first part Why social media channels are purposely built to get you hooked and make you feel like you need to check them all the time Why you really should turn off your push notifications How to use full screen mode to minimize distractions and overcome FOMO while on your computer How priorities and goals can drive your actions and help you overcome FOMO once and for all A simple exercise you can use to figure out how much your time is really worth

Links

The Next Evolution in Productivity is Lifestyle Productivity (TPS127) How to Get Started with Journaling (TPS2) Journaling Challenge blog post Time tracking blog post Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months The Power of Story: Change Your Story, Change Your Destiny in Business and in Life So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains GTD Ulysses Mac app Byword Mac app

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What's the best way to brainstorm and take notes? We discuss mindmapping vs outlining, and when to use each technique. There are times when you should mind maps - especially if you have the personality type for it. For others, outlines and text notes might be superior. Listen to this episode to find out which tool works best work you and which apps we recommend for each.

Cheat Sheet

What mindmapping is and why you might want to use it for information retention and organization Dissecting the anatomy of an effective mind map How a mindmap works and the process used to make one How mindmaps helps you to see information in new ways and how it can stimulate the creative process The three different types of mindmaps (and when to use each) How to use mindmaps for taking notes when reading a book to increase retention of what you're reading How to structure a mindmap for presenting to an audience (and why you might want to use this approach) How to use proper mindmapping techniques to solve problems The specific instances when you should use an outline instead of a mindmap The advantages of outlining over mind mapping and how to leverage these advantages in certain situations Specific use cases for how Asian Efficiency uses outlining and mind mapping Recommended apps and tools that you can use to create killer mindmaps and outlines

Links

Tony Buzan Effective Brainstorming Using Mind Maps (AE blog post) 7 Everyday Mind Mapping Uses (AE blog post) Prezi MindNode OmniFocus MindMeister Shelf Mind map for Escape Your Email iThoughts and iThoughtsX Setapp Scapple FreeMind MindJet OmniOutliner OneNote

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Today we are talking about getting up early - a polarizing topic and one that we’ve discussed a lot with our community lately. Thanh and Mike share 8 strategies for getting up early, finding the motivation to get up earlier, and things you should avoid when you do get up ahead of the sun.

Cheat Sheet

Why you should consider becoming a morning person Why the most successful CEOs all get up early Why getting up early can be very beneficial and the science behind it The increases in willpower you will have when you start to get up earlier Why each hour is not worth the same and how to leverage "time arbitrage" Practical tips for to help you transition into waking up earlier regardless of your chronotype How to figure out how much sleep you actually need (it's probably more than you think) The importance of “eating your frog” and how it can set your entire day up for success How to craft your own morning routine How to get over the fact that it’s still dark outside and dominate your day Why making a schedule and to-do list the night before will allow you to hit the ground running int he morning How the motivation behind getting up earlier and knowing why you want to get up earlier will help make it sticky Things you should avoid when you do start waking up early

Links

The 3 Things You Need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) "What time do top CEOs wake up?" Guardian article The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure Eat That Frog! f.lux app Morning Ritual Starter Kit

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Brooks and Mike go round-by-round picking their top 10 essential Mac productivity apps. From menu-bar apps to task managers, this is the definitive list for 2017 on a Mac.

The 2017 Essential Mac Productivity Draft Round 1

Brooks: 1Password Mike: TextExpander

Round 2

Brooks: Alfred Mike: OmniFocus

Round 3

Brooks: Hazel Mike: nvALT

Round 4

Brooks: Bartender Mike: Keyboard Maestro

Round 5

Brooks: Default Folder X Mike: Popclip

Round 6

Brooks: MindNode Mike: Shush

Round 7

Brooks: DaisyDisk Mike: iStat Menus

Round 8

Brooks: Soulver Mike: Tapes

Round 9

Mike: Dropzone 3 Brooks: Amphetamine

Round 10

Brooks: FruitJuice Mike: Flux

Honorable Mention

Brooks: Ulysses Mike: ScreenFlow

Other Links

2017 Mac apps blog post A Comprehensive Video Guide to TextExpander Brett Terpstra: A Useful Caps Lock Key A Comprehensive Guide to Keyboard Maestro (Start Saving Time Today)

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We welcome new Asian Efficiency team member Brooks Duncan on the show to chat with Mike about solutions to common corporate productivity problems. If you work for an organization and are trying to make productivity systems work for you in a corporate environment, this episode will help with ideas about meetings, distractions, email, and more.

Cheat Sheet

What Brooks learned about being productive while working for a company with thousands of employees Essential tips for dealing with and overcoming corporate working environments that aren’t conducive to productivity Strategies for getting deep work done in open office environments The pros and cons of coworkers "dropping by" What to do when you have too many meetings to attend and can't get any work done Strategies for running a productive meeting How to create company knowledge and documentation that is accessible to everyone How to overcome a corporate email culture and take control of your email The real cost of reply-alls and BCCs How to maintain your own productivity when other people are telling you what to do What to do when you find yourself dealing with constant distractions and interruptions Why searching for email is actually faster than archiving messages in specific folders (and how to do it effectively) Tips for getting out of your email as much as you can Ways to influence the priorities within your company (even if you're not the boss)

Links

How to Run Effective Meetings w/ John Poelstra (TPS87) How to Get Things Done at Coffee Shops and Cafes Like You Would at the Office Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan (TPS7) Getting Things Done 4-Hour Workweek RescueTime 3 Things You need to Maximize Your Productivity (TPS121) The Productivity Project Sanebox Hipchat Confluence Deep Work

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How can you design your life and your environment so that is it inevitable that you will be productive? We are tackling this question on today’s episode, as Mike and Thanh discuss the tools, systems, and concepts you can use to make your lifestyle more productive.

Cheat Sheet

How Thanh came upon the concept of Lifestyle Productivity The Asian Efficiency definition of personal productivity How where you live impacts your productivity Why the people who surround you might be sabotaging your productivity Keys to creating an environment where it is inevitable that you’ll be productive How to create personal systems to achieve next-level productivity How to identify the 80/20 of personal productivity How to evaluate the pros/cons when choosing what productivity tradeoffs you have to make in order to be successful Tips for changing the technology and the tools that you use 9 ways using the Amazon Echo can make you more productive The big difference between podcasts and audiobooks Closing open loops to increase productivity How subtracting things from your life can help you become more productive Keys for designing your life in a way where productivity is inevitable

Links

Become a Minimalist w/ Joshua Becker (TPS90) Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle (TPS78) 8 Productivity Predictions for 2017 (TPS124) How to Discover Your Own Core Values (TPS126) 9 Ways I Use the Amazon Echo to Double My Productivity Amazon Echo Hue Lights Kolbe Test Nest IFTTT Zapier Wemo Automatic Chamberlain MYQ garage door opener

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Mike and Thanh explore the Asian Efficiency core values, how they came to them, and why they've changed over the years. They discuss the benefits of having core values for your personal life and your company, and how you can use core values to make decisions, hire new staff, and create a more productive work and home life.

Cheat Sheet

All about the "Mission to Mars" process Asian Efficiency uses for identifying our core values What core values really are and how they're different from the things that you want How having personal core values will benefit every area of your life Why core values can be polarizing and how that can be a good thing What core values and successful relationships have in common How to make better decisions by using your core values The power of alignment and how it can be a force multiplier for organizational productivity How core values can help battle cognitive dissonance How we landed on the AE team Core Values and what they are Why we have the whole team do customer service Why you don't want to frame your core values negatively Why we chose to remove a core value and replace it with something else What accountability really is (hint: it's not just finding someone to blame when things go wrong) How to improve your hiring decisions using core values Key questions to ask yourself when discovering your own core values Why it can be beneficial to publish your core values instead of keeping them internal A writing exercise for finding your own core values Why having core values at all is more important than having the "right" ones

Links

Mike's family's core values graphic TPS66: The Asian Efficiency Core Values Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Ready, Fire, Aim: Zero to $100 Million in No Time Flat TPS7: Going Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan Disc test Kolbe test TPS101: Lean Thinking w/ Paul Akers TPS78: Live a Minimalist Luxury Lifestyle w/ Thanh Pham

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Mike is team iOS, arguing that this platform is superior for getting things done with ease, mobility, and focus. Thanh represents team Mac, making the case that laptops and desktops are far better at getting important things done in less time and with more automation. Listen in and decide for yourself which platform is best for your productivity needs.

Cheat Sheet

The advances in iOS technology that have leveled the playing field when choosing what platform to use Why improvements in mobile technology have opened up doors for getting work done on the go What you can do with the increased screen real estate when using a second monitor How the constraints of iOS can actually provide a better environment for some tasks like writing The benefits of iOS for single-tasking and how you can recreate this on the desktop The travel benefits of iOS and the flexibility offered for people who move around a lot while working How the increased battery life in iOS devices eliminates friction and allows you to work on your own terms Why Thanh thinks Mike needs to hit the gym more and quit whining about how heavy his MacBook is The benefits of having an always-on cellular connection on your iOS device (and how to mimic this on your MacBook) Why you might want to use a VPN when connecting to a wifi network The automation and systems benefits of using macOS and what the iOS equivalents are Clearing the backlog after coming back from vacation How to determine what your time is worth (and why Thanh uses his Mac to get his work done as quickly as possible)

Links

9to5Mac article Workflow Drafts TextExpander Keyboard Maestro Omnifocus Evernote SixColors.com re: podcasting Ferrite for iOS

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Mike and Thanh break down their productivity predictions for 2017, and discuss how the future of inboxes, notifications, and the Internet of Things will take shape over the next year.

Cheat Sheet

Why the term "productivity" is such a buzzword and a brief look back at the history of the productivity industry How productivity has changed in the last decade and what it will look like going forward Why cross-platform solutions will be so important in 2017 (and beyond) What you should look for when choosing a task manager How the way you monitor inboxes (and which ones) will change in the future Why hacking email for task management is not a good approach How to deal with and tame all the different notifications you get Why people tend to become overcommitted with their time Why email is so inefficient when it comes to collaboration and what tools you should use instead How lifestyle productivity will become more important as we become more connected How the future will feature overwhelming options and what criteria to use when you decide what tools you're going to use

8 Productivity Predictions

Cross-platform solutions will become even more important More inboxes to monitor the more we move online Non-traditional approaches to email as people try to hack it to make it more manageable Information (and notification) overload with the rise of connected wearables More business, but less effectiveness Increased use of instant messaging (i.e. HipChat or Slack) Breakthrough in the Internet of Things (IoT) More opportunities to be distracted by "shiny new objects"

Links

Omnifocus Amazon Go video Hipchat Slack AEDojo.com

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