CoolTimeLife: Recent Episodes

Steve Prentice

This podcast is about surviving and thriving in today's modern workplace. Each episode offers a collection of techniques and skills to help you become more productive, take control over your present and future, and enjoy a balanced fulfilling life. Topics include time management, organization, career independence, health, influence, and achievement. Written and hosted by Steve Prentice, a specialist in organizational psychology, author, speaker and professional project manager. Steve has written books on time management, stress management and career management, and is a frequent media guest. These podcasts will share the most popular topics that his audiences have asked for.

How staying in the moment will save you online and off.

Most people live in reaction mode, constantly responding to emails, pings, and pop-ups. But every reaction costs attention and control. Just like a traveler who touches their wallet after seeing a “Beware of pickpockets” sign, we reveal too much when we react unconsciously. Unfortunately, proactivity isn’t natural. It’s a learned skill. Our brains are wired to react first, think later. But when you shift from reaction to proaction, you regain control of your choices, your time, and even your physiology. Proactive people anticipate. They ask questions. They slow down just enough to steer outcomes instead of being swept along by them. And most importanty, they regain control of their lives. Learn how in this episode.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://cooltimelife.com.

Find out more about Cyber Security Headlines here: https://cisoseries.com/category/podcast/cyber-security-headlines/

Find out more about the Thales Security Sessions podcast here: https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/podcasts/data-security-sessions

Details about my "Bath sponge" episode are available here: https://cooltimelife.com/cooltimelife-episodes/#bath-sponge

Links to resources mentioned here can also be found in the show notes or on this episode’s dedicated page, cooltimelife.com/conscious

To support this podcast through Patreon, visit patreon.com/cooltimelife.

A World Where Work Can Start Without You - How Agentic-AI will impact your work

In a world where work can start without you, what happens to your role, your career, and your sense of control? This episode explores the rise of Agentic AI: a new generation of artificial intelligence that doesn’t just respond to prompts, but anticipates goals, plans multi-step actions, and executes them before you even ask. We’ll look at how this technology is already reshaping workplaces, the opportunities it opens for career growth, the risks we need to manage, and a real-world case study that shows the future in action.

If you have a comment about this podcast or a suggestion for a topic you would like me to discuss, join the conversation on LinkedIn. My ID there is stevenprentice. Or feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at cooltimelife.com, where you’ll find a full listing of our evergreen CoolTimeLife episodes.

If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching, preparing, and updating our podcast series, as well as delivering the episodes more frequently. Members get all kinds of useful bonus content, including email Q&As with me as well as resources that I use to teach at universities and organizations around the world. If that feels fair to you, please visit https://patreon.com/cooltimelife.

Real Genius Classroom montage (1985) - https://youtu.be/wB1X4o-MV6o?si=4ZbBTFmOr45BIs3p

How to manage your career during an AI revolution

Will AI Take Your Job – Or Make You More Valuable?

The fear of artificial intelligence replacing human jobs is real, and it's growing. Think of the meme: “AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows AI will,” uncertainty is everywhere.

In this episode I tackle the question head-on: should you be afraid of AI, or should you see it as the biggest career opportunity of your lifetime?

AI is not a job terminator so much as a task transformer. Technologies like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity can automate repetitive work, but they also open doors to higher-value, human-driven services.

So, what’s the survival strategy? You must work like a wolf: stay sharp, adaptable, and self-reliant. Start with what you already do well and ask how AI can make you better at it.

Visit https://cooltimelife.com/wolf to explore strategies, tools, and resources that will keep you relevant, confident, and in demand.

If you have a comment about this podcast or a suggestion for a topic you would like me to discuss, join the conversation on LinkedIn. My ID there is stevenprentice. Or feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at cooltimelife.com, where you’ll find a full listing of our evergreen CoolTimeLife episodes.

If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching, preparing, and updating our podcast series, as well as delivering the episodes more frequently. Members get all kinds of useful bonus content, including email Q&As with me as well as resources that I use to teach at universities and organizations around the world. If that feels fair to you, please visit patreon.com/cooltimelife.

AIJobs #FutureOfWork #CareerDevelopment #WorkLikeAWolf #JobSecurity #AIandCareers #ResilienceAtWork #CoolTimeLife

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In the latest episode of the CoolTimeLife podcast, I present a crucial message for anyone navigating today’s high-risk digital world – not just yourself and co-workers, but your family too:: Don’t trust. GAP IT instead. With phishing attacks, social engineering scams, and emotional manipulation on the rise, your best defense isn’t a new antivirus software, it’s your brain. Or more precisely, your ability to pause and think before reacting.

Today’s scams are smarter, faster, and more emotionally charged than ever. Cybercriminals know they can’t easily beat modern security software, so instead, they target the weakest link in any system: human beings.

The GAP IT technique is a powerful but simple mental habit that can save your identity, your money, and your peace of mind. It stands for “Give it A Pause.” The idea is this: when a message triggers urgency, fear, or outrage—pause. Don’t click. Don’t reply. Think out loud “what’s really going on here?”

The GAP IT technique is both a personal skill and a required element of workplace culture. Teach someone else to GAP IT, especially a colleague or older relative. This habit could stop a scam before it starts, and might just protect someone you care about.

If you have a comment about this podcast or a suggestion for a topic you would like me to discuss, join the conversation on LinkedIn. My ID there is stevenprentice. Or feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at cooltimelife.com, where you’ll find a full listing of our evergreen CoolTimeLife episodes.

You can also check out my YouTube video that supports this episode, as well as others by visiting my YouTube channel.

If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching, preparing, and updating our podcast series, as well as delivering the episodes more frequently. Members get all kinds of useful bonus content, including email Q&As with me as well as resources that I use to teach at universities and organizations around the world. If that feels fair to you, please visit patreon.com/cooltimelife.

Links to resources mentioned here can be found in the show notes or on this episode’s dedicated page, cooltimelife.com/gap-it

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Key cybersecurity SEO terms included in this episode: phishing, social engineering, zero trust, email scams, robocall fraud, data breach, online safety, critical thinking, and cyber hygiene.

Night owls have always had it tougher in a workday designed by and made for “morning people.” So why are some people aligned to a later body clock and what does the new normal hold for them? It’s good news.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://cooltimelife.com. If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Meetings, whether in person or online, are notorious as time wasters, often plagued by late starts, irrelevant discussions, and a lack of clear outcomes. There’s a better way, which I call the 55-Minute Meeting. This approach offers practical solutions to reclaim productivity, minimize stress, and maximize the effectiveness of meetings, by connecting with people’s motivations and physiology rather than the agenda. I use the analogy of retail pricing strategies, where a slight adjustment (like $19.95 instead of $20) significantly influences consumer behavior. Similarly, a shorter, precise meeting duration – 55 minutes instead of an hour – or even shorter, or even asynchronous – taps into our need for structure, clarity and balance.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://cooltimelife.com.

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://patreon.com/cooltimelife

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In this episode, I dive into an exciting and timely topic: how generative AI is becoming a powerful and innovative tool for boosting human motivation, unleashing creativity, and reducing the fear of failure. It explores how today’s AI tools are not just for coders and tech-savvy professionals—they are emotional allies, collaborators, and motivators for anyone looking to innovate and express themselves.

I offer a thought-provoking narrative that looks at the emotional side of creativity, seeking to make the case that the real value of generative AI lies not in replacing human effort, but in enhancing confidence, reducing creative blocks, and providing a safe, judgment-free space for people to try new ideas. Whether it’s writing a song, designing a business plan, or simply exploring new ways of thinking, AI can act as a motivational partner, helping people take that crucial first step.

One of the most compelling points made in this episode is that creativity doesn’t always have to start with a blank page. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others can provide prompts, first drafts, and conceptual ideas that give people the courage to keep going. These tools "ignite the spark"—the initial momentum that’s often the hardest part of any creative journey.

The episode also discusses how AI reduces the fear of failure. Since the interaction happens privately on a screen, people are more willing to experiment, iterate, and take risks. This gives AI a surprising and powerful role as a personal motivator, one that doesn’t judge or grade, but simply supports.

I explore how this can have deep implications across all walks of life—from students and professionals to entrepreneurs and artists. Generative AI becomes not just a tool, but a trusted creative collaborator, always ready to listen and offer ideas, no matter the time of day.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or creatively blocked. If you’re curious about how AI can be more than just a technical assistant, and instead become a source of emotional empowerment and creative liberation, this episode is for you.

Tune in to discover how you can turn generative AI into your personal muse.

If you have a comment about this podcast, feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at https://cooltimelife.com. A full listing of our past CoolTimeLife episodes is available there too. I update the episodes regularly so that the concepts do not get dated. So, check them out and download whatever feels good. If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching and preparing our podcast series. If that feels fair to you, please visit https://patreon.com/cooltimelife.

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The Lost Dimension - How Reconnecting with Physical Space Enhances Learning and Communication

In an era dominated by video calls and digital communication, we may be overlooking a critical element that enhances learning, creativity, and connection: our interaction with the physical spaces around us. This podcast explores the profound impact of three-dimensional awareness on our ability to learn, communicate, and engage with others. It delves into how the simple, tactile act of using a landline telephone in the past offered a richer, more grounded conversational experience compared to today’s mobile phones and video chats.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://cooltimelife.com. If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Key Takeaways:

The Lost Art of Tangible Interaction:

The transition from landline telephones to mobile devices and video chats has diminished the unique, focused engagement once fostered by fixed-location conversations. Reconnecting with tangible, physical surroundings can enhance communication and creativity.

The Value of Passive Focus:

Activities such as watching an aquarium or playing sports like tennis allow the mind to relax and focus naturally, emphasizing the importance of integrating passive, manageable stimuli into modern technology-driven interactions.

Video Chat Limitations:

Video conferencing, while convenient, often lacks the depth of connection and engagement found in in-person meetings or even traditional phone calls. This is largely due to the sterile, two-dimensional nature of video calls.

Importance of Shared Spaces in Communication:

Physical surroundings in a shared space enrich conversations and foster creativity. Virtual environments, like Virbela, offer a promising alternative by simulating three-dimensional interaction.

Human Connection in Retail and Beyond:

The resurgence of human cashiers and knowledgeable sales assistants in retail highlights the enduring need for personal interaction and the value of contact with three-dimensional, real-world environments.

Keywords:

Importance of tangible interaction in communication
Benefits of passive focus for creativity
Limitations of video conferencing for engagement
Virtual environments for three-dimensional communication
Role of shared spaces in meaningful conversations
Enhancing remote meetings with virtual reality platforms
Connection between physical surroundings and creative thinking
Benefits of human interaction in retail settings
Reducing video call fatigue with innovative technologies
Reimagining workplace communication in a digital age

In this episode, I encourage listeners to dedicate time to comfort as part of their work strategy. By proactively managing client and employee expectations, sharing stories, and reframing change as an opportunity rather than a threat, you can turn fear into trust and satisfaction into loyalty.

Whether you’re dealing with customers, employees, or adapting to emerging technologies like Generative AI, comfort is your greatest ally in fostering connections and inspiring confidence.

Tune in to this episode for actionable insights and transformative stories that show how delivering comfort can set you apart in today’s competitive world. For more, visit the episode page at cooltimelife.com/comfort.

5 Key Takeaways from the Episode

Comfort vs. Satisfaction: Comfort precedes satisfaction in customer relationships. It establishes trust and reduces stress, forming the foundation for lasting loyalty and engagement.
The Power of Storytelling: The phrase “let me tell you a story” instantly connects with people, creating a safe, relaxed environment for effective communication.
Proactive Communication: Simple acts like providing updates or setting clear expectations deliver comfort and reassure customers, employees, or clients.
Managing Change Through Comfort: Leaders can ease fears about new technologies like Generative AI by reframing change as an opportunity and emphasizing human adaptability.
Comfort in Leadership: Within organizations, delivering comfort to employees builds engagement, reduces turnover, and fosters a positive culture of trust and respect.

If you have a comment about this podcast, feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at cooltimelife.com. A full listing of our past CoolTimeLife episodes is available there too. I update the episodes regularly so that the concepts do not get dated. So, check them out and download whatever feels good. If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching and preparing our podcast series. If that feels fair to you, please visit patreon.com/steveprentice.

Keywords:

The importance of comfort in customer service relationships
How to build trust through proactive communication
The role of storytelling in delivering comfort and trust
Managing employee fears during technology adoption
Comfort strategies for building loyal customers
How to differentiate comfort vs. satisfaction in customer service
Effective leadership through managing expectations and delivering comfort
Creating a positive organizational culture with proactive reassurance
Storytelling techniques for enhancing customer experience
AI in customer service: addressing fears and creating opportunities

We all communicate, but we don’t all do it well. The need to send information in small packages, like texting, has taken away a vital component of conversation: conflict. Sounds strange, right? But we learn more when arguments and counterfactual discussions are introduced into our interactions. It strengthens knowledge and relationships. My guest, Douglas Squirrel, is an expert in practising the art of constructive conflict.

You can find out more about Douglas Squirrel by visiting https://douglassquirrel.com.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://cooltimelife.com.

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

AI’s Unmentioned Emissions: Induced Demand, Ergonomic Inflation, and what they might mean for you. There’s no question that AI and generative-AI can do a lot of great things, with more being developed every day. But humans have a terrible knack of falling prey to “induced demand” and “ergonomic inflation,” both of which hold the potential of stealing away all the productivity that AI promised to deliver.

If you have a comment about this podcast, feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at https://cooltimelife.com. A full listing of our past CoolTimeLife episodes is available there too. I update the episodes regularly so that the concepts do not get dated. So, check them out and download whatever feels good. If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching and preparing our podcast series. If that feels fair to you, please visit https://patreon.com/steveprentice.

Why is it that so many people lose the brilliance and creativity they are born with? Life has a way of pressing peoples' motivations and self confidence down to a tiny fraction of their former selves.This is particularly tragic when you realize just how many times people hear the word "no" as they are growing up. My guest for this episode, Simon T. Bailey wants to give people their ability to be brilliant again. His drive and passion are refreshing and inspiring, and time spent with him will give you the chance to reconnect with your own inner brilliance and resilience.

Much has been written about great leaders, but what happens when a leader starts to poison the well? Some leaders do not have the right people skills, some are only in it for themselves and others actually see a merit in appearing as a saint while ruling through fear and oppression behind closed doors. It only takes one person with one drop of poison to cause enormous and lasting damage to an organization. My guest, Sean Lemson, is an expert in spotting and fixing the poisonous leader problem.

Sean’s website is https://motivatedoutcomes.com and his/her/their LinkedIn profile is https://www.linkedin.com/in/slemson/.

If you have a comment about this podcast, feel free to drop me a line through the contact form at cooltimelife.com. A full listing of our past CoolTimeLife episodes is available there too. I update the episodes regularly so that the concepts do not get dated. So, check them out and download whatever feels good. If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and tell just one person about us, or mention us on social media. And if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching and preparing our podcast series. If that feels fair to you, please visit patreon.com/steveprentice.

An interview with Rebecca Ahmed

The most recent State of the Global Workforce Report from the Gallup Organization says that less than one-quarter of the U.S. workforce is engaged at work, and traditional methods to engage workers clearly aren’t working, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining Gen Z workers. Some might say it has always been that way, but it doesn’t need to be, and Rebecca Ahmed is leading the charge to restore energy into work culture.

Visit Rebecca at: energeticimpact.com

Her book, The Energy of Success, is available everywhere books are sold.

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at CoolTimeLife.com

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

An interview with Drew Jones, PhD.

For decades, companies have been spending money on culture and training and have very little to show for it. Why? Because they have been going about it all wrong. They have been ignoring the concept that Drew Jones and others call “the collective brain” which is more organic, a lot easier, and tends to stick a whole lot more easily.

Visit Drew Jones at drewjones.co and his company at Experient.work. He is available on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amjonesphd/

Drew's book, The Open Culture Handbook: Five Questions to Drive Engagement and Innovation is available wherever books are sold.

A full listing of our episodes is available at CoolTimeLife.com.

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit Steve on Patreon at patreon.com/steveprentice

Far too much of our management practices are based on thinking developed as far back as the 1950s. Lori Mazan says this needs to change, but there are many reasons why it takes so long. Lori is co-founder, president, and chief coaching officer of Sounding Board, Inc., a center for leadership development. She is also author of a new book, Leadership Revolution: The Future of Developing Dynamic Leaders (Wiley, 2023)

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at CoolTimeLife.com.

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit Steve on Patreon.

Barbie Brewer has held executive positions at Netflix and GitLab and has been instrumental in establishing successful hybrid work environments at both places. In this interview she talks bout what she learned, how it affected her own life and what she recommends for leaders who are struggling with the concept of hybrid work at their own locations.

Her website is https://barbiejane.com

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://CoolTimeLife.com

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

UPDATED January 2023: The Box of Time - Sounds like a science fiction movie, doesn't it? But it's not. At least not here. A box of time is a highly powerful way of influencing people and managing time, simply by managing expectations and giving people an alternative to fearing the unknown. It will allow you to to be left alone to focus, and also get people to show up when you want them to. It will give you some ideas on how to best structure your day and even lighten your load by no longer being the path of least resistance.. As a bonus, you'll even learn a bit about Bonsai trees.

More information on our CoolTimeLife series is available at https://cooltimelife.com

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

The problem with in-person get-togethers: Whenever events and get-togethers occur, they come up against a big problem – people’s time. We’re just not as available as we used to be, and frankly we don’t always want to go. So, what’s to be done? Are get togethers worth it anymore?

A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://CoolTimeLife.com

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Every week we take some of the most interesting news stories about people, work and life and summarize them. Here’s what we found interesting about the workweek this week:

Looking for work-life balance? How about sharing your job?
The four-day workweek grows in popularity.
Britons least likely to say work is important to them, world study finds.
Treat yourself: one way people are finding back-to-the-office motivation.
Late for your meeting? Zoom's new 'AI companion' has your back

Show notes to this episode are available at https://cooltimelife.com

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Many high-profile companies these days are reflections of their superstar CEOs – people like Elon Musk and Jaime Diamond. Author Thomas Keil suggests that although they may be good for branding, just like regular rock stars, they can’t truly do it alone.

His new book, co-authored with Marianna Zangrillo, is entitled The Next Leadership Team: How to Select, Build, and Optimize Your Top Team, and is available at Amazon and elsewhere.

Thomas Keil, D.Sc. (Tech.)

Thomas professional aim is to bridge the divide between academia and practice.

He is a Full Professor at the University of Zurich, Switzerland where he teaches strategy and international management. Thomas holds a D.Sc. (Tech.) and Lic. Tech. from Helsinki University of Technology and a Dipl. Wirtsch. Ing from TH Darmstadt. Previously he taught at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Canada and at Aalto University in Finland.

Thomas’ research focuses on the senior leader’s agenda in multinational corporations, specifically board design, CEO succession, leadership teams, transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and strategy. His research has won several awards and has been published in leading practitioner journals, including the Harvard Business Review and the MIT Sloan Management Review in addition to top academic journals.

Thomas is a partner in The Next Advisors a consulting firm advising CEOs, executives, and boards of small and large corporations across a wide range of industries. As an internationally recognized authority on CEO, leadership, and strategy topics, he has taught executives from Asia, Europe, and North America and is a regular keynote speaker.

Marianna Zangrillo, D.Sc. (Tech.)

Born in 1974, Marianna is a transformational leader, a business angel and an author.

She has spent the past 20 years working in senior roles across industries, where she has been driving significant transformation initiatives to drive operational excellence, higher ROI and increased corporate performance. In those roles, Marianna has led teams and projects in Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America.

Marianna has been teaching at leading European universities including Aalto University and the University of Zurich and has been a keynote speaker at various practitioners’ conferences.

In addition, she has conducted research on boards, CEO succession, leadership teams, and board design which has been published in MIT Sloan Management Review, LSE Business Review, I by IMD, her book “The Next CEO” and her new book “The Next Leadership Team”.

Marianna holds a Master of Laws (Italy, 1999), a LLM in Contract and Commercial Law (Finland, 2000), a MBA in International Management (U.K., 2005) and a PhD in Supply Chain Management (Finland, 2017).

Marianna is a partner in The Next Advisors where she advises to CEOs, executives, and boards members in multiple industries.

In June 2023, FORTUNE magazine published a piece entitled "Bosses are fed up with remote work for 4 main reasons. Some of them are undeniable." Well, I'm going to deny them.

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

A career never should be a clear, straight highway laid out by someone else for you to follow. This is increasingly true in this age, where career mobility and self-determination are more valuable and more appreciated than ever. There has never been a better time to explore your options, and Chris Fontanella is here to share his story and his wisdom.

Find Chris at https://chrisfontanella.com/

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Have you ever thought of the word office as a verb? It changes everything, shining a light on the work we do rather than the place we do it. This is just one of many great ideas presented by futurist Bob Johansen in his new book, Office Shock. In this conversation, Bob shares his views on the future of work, the impact of AI on careers, the way we handle change, and much more, all through the lens of his special brand of future-back thinking.

Bob’s book, Office Shock, Creating Better Futures for Living and Working, co-authored with Joseph Press and Christine Bullen, and published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers is available here. You can get a 30% discount off the purchase price by entering the code “OFFSHOCK” after adding the book to your cart. More information about The Institute for the Future can be found here.

If you have a comment about this podcast, you can drop me a line through the contact form at steveprentice.com, where you can also find my social media links. A full listing of past episodes is available at steveprentice.com/podcast. I update all episodes regularly so that they remain a collection if viable and timely concepts. So, check them out and download whatever feels good. If you feel you are getting value from this series, please leave a review, and if you want, you can support us on Patreon. Contributions from our listeners allow me and my team to spend more time researching and preparing our podcast series. If that feels fair to you, please visit patreon.com/steveprentice.

One of the ways the workplace has changed is an increase in disrespectful leadership. Where did such disrespect come from, and what can leaders to to reverse the trend? Can we blame politics? Social Media? How about the fall of the Berlin Wall? Or maybe all those things. Here’s my interview with author and leadership expert Gregg Ward.

Find Gregg's tour schedule at https://restoringrespectbook.com

The first CoolTimeLife listener who connects with Gregg on LinkedIn and mentions the CoolTimeLife podcast in the connection message will receive a a free all conference pass for March 6-8, 2023

Gregg's main website is https://centerforrespectfulleadership.org/ and his Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gregg-Ward/author/B001K7X112

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

ChatGPT took the world by storm in early 2023. But it’s not what you think it is. Steve takes a look at what it does and how it might affect you.

Here is David Smerdon's Twitter thread: https://twitter.com/dsmerdon/status/1618816703923912704

Here is a link to my YouTube video about avoiding phishing traps: https://youtu.be/-QhgT5icZV0

If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series and discovering our Work Like a Wolf Series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

The 40 hour workweek is a myth in term of productivity expectations. The reality is people in knowledge work positions get far less than 40 hours of work done per week, in fact you’re lucky if you get 40 days’ worth or work done in a year. This episode looks at the numbers and a suggests it’s time for a better way for employers to assess what work actually is.

The pandemic got everyone onto video chat faster than they may have wanted. As convenient as it may be it lacked a certain three-dimensionality But there are new environments available in which your avatar can walk around and be more natural as we spend time together. Are you ready for it? Is the world ready for it?

Curious about Virbela? Check out https://www.virbela.com/

The "slacker barista". The "McJob". The Liberal Arts "Basket weaving" degree. These terms are routinely used to make fun of people who work hard in the food service industry, or who pursue education that does not seem to have a direct path to a set career. In all cases, these people are thought of as unmotivated and unsuccessful. But despite the fact they are working hard to make a living, there is great career potential that can come from the experiences gained in the food service, and through broad education.

Why Asynchronous meetings make more sense for the future of work.

Email and meetings have been uncomfortable necessities for decades, and they both hearken back to a time when communication was formal and hierarchical. The fluid nature of collaboration technologies like Slack is a game changer.

Regain mental fluidity by leaving email behind.

Email and meetings have been uncomfortable necessities for decades, and they both hearken back to a time when communication was formal and hierarchical. The fluid nature of collaboration technologies like Slack is a game changer.

How Human Reflex Stands in the Way of Digital Transformation

Hidden behind the term digital transformation is the word “change,” and that does not sit well with most people because change represents a threat that strikes at the hearts of our greatest fear: losing our job.

A discussion with author Alberto Silveira about his new book on managing distributed teams.

There is a big difference between remote work teams and distributed work teams, and this is as much to do with workplace innovation as with how the team members are managed, and with how they interact from their separate locations. Author Alberto Silveira chats with Steve about his book and his career to date, building successful companies by employing people who work somewhere other than the office.

Night owls have always had it tougher in a workday designed by and made for “morning people.” So why are some people aligned to a later body clock and what does the new normal hold for them? It’s good news.

Dan Price is CEO of Gravity Payments and his attitude towards how work should be done is a great proof of concept that could lead to a mutually beneficial reversal in hiring and onboarding processes.

The multi hour classroom session never really worked. It was too much information delivered in the wrong way, to a range of people with vastly different learning styles. The better, more effective way is upon us, and it’s called microlearning.

One of the chief pushbacks to virtual presence technology and the work-from-home lifestyle has been that people will miss out on networking and career enhancement opportunities. Steve assesses whether this is true or not.

Trust is a fragile thing, but must only be shared between people who know each other well. Unfortunately, we trust too many other things, especially when this comes to technology, and it has to change. We need to embrace a trustless society. In this episode, Steve shares his easy-to-learn and easy-to-teach technique for avoiding getting tricked by SMS and spam messages, avoiding robocalls, understanding social engineering, and the blockchain. All in 15 minutes.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Virtual: How to Enjoy a Full-Time Virtual Workspace.

There will soon be a time when we question why we ever packed ourselves into cars, trains and subways twice a day, just to do what we can do from home. The Virtual Workplace is not about endless Zoom meetings. It’s about establishing a presence where work and socializing can occur. And it’s here now.

Kosy Office is available at https://kosyoffice.com

Toucan is available at https://toucan.events

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Virtual: How to Enjoy a Full-Time Virtual Workspace.

There will soon be a time when we question why we ever packed ourselves into cars, trains and subways twice a day, just to do what we can do from home. The Virtual Workplace is not about endless Zoom meetings. It’s about establishing a presence where work and socializing can occur. And it’s here now.

Kosy Office is available at https://kosyoffice.com

Toucan is available at https://toucan.events

The Persistence of Memory: What the Pandemic Taught Us About How We Remember

When you visit a place that you haven’t been to for a year or more, the first is you say to yourself, “is it really a year since I was last here?” This phenomenon reveals something about memory that should change the way we work and learn.

For centuries, people in crowds have acted irrationally, passionately and violently, even if they didn't start out that way as individuals. This episode looks at the contagion of crowd madness and where it comes from.

One of the key discoveries we made in 2020 about video chat technology was how much it revealed about what was not there: the hum of human presence. We need a technology that helps us not only get through the meetings together but one that will get us through the whole day. If you ever visited Wii Island, you’ll see what I mean.

People around the world have reported experiencing more vivid dreams as they endure the COVID-19 lockdown. So why is this? This episode looks at how sleep and dreaming actually work and how we are rediscovering its mechanics due to social isolation.

What did people eat back in the 1930’s and 1940’? How did they cook? Becky Brillon has done the research and has created a website, TheWarInMyKitchen.com, as well as a companion cookbook, Generations Cookbook. She discusses what inspired her to research foodie life in the era of Depression and wartime rationing and its impact on us today.

Socializing through video in the era of the COVID-19 lockdown has given people a new perspective on how to relate to fellow humans, in terms of what we can do online and what we can no longer do in person. My interview with tech design guru Howard Suissa talks about being human online, the future of personal technology, the future legal status of your VR avatar, and even why Blade Runner is better than Star Trek. All of this in 18 minutes.

“I know what you did” is a type of leading phrase that cuts right through to your hidden guilt and fear. It gives the accuser enormous power over you, even if they know nothing about you. It has been used as a source of power throughout history and continues to be so, especially in politics and religion. In this podcast Steve looks at its enormous influential power.

The growing COVID-19 pandemic presents us with unprecedented levels of fear and uncertainty. In this episode, Steve looks at why the phase “Keep Calm and Carry On” was used during World War II. He describes how your mind will likely react to change, and tips on how to deal with it better.

Working from home has been around for a while, and current events are making it more necessary. Now is a good time for managers to see just how good it is for their organization's future. Here are five reasons (and two bonus reasons why working from home and remote work should be encouraged, now and always.

Information no longer comes at us in alphabetical order. It swirls around us on social media, and there's a lot out there that could really help your business or career. Being able to find it is what I call part of "Digital Literacy." Join me as I explain just how to find it.

People try their best to plan their days, but then there are those unexpected activities - calls or requests from your boss or customers that throw it all out the window. But it doesn't have to be that way. Humans are hard-wired to react, but when we learn to pro-act, a calendar becomes a tool of influence, and crises need no longer happen. Here's my simple three step plan.

Thinking up passwords is a chore. Two factor authentication is complicated. And hacking and data breaches? They'll never happen to us. That's for the biggest of the big companies. Wrong on all counts. Cyberhygiene, the practice of securing passwords, accounts and devices, is straightforward and easy. It's also vital. Not just at work, but at home, too. We are all connected - like a global game of six degrees of separation, and the bad guys count on you being the weak point that will help them go wherever they want. This 10-minute episode looks at why we feel it is such a chore, and what we should all be doing right now to patch up the security holes that affect us all.

At the end of every problem, task or opportunity, there is a person waiting for something. This means that the best way to manage stress, time and actual productivity is to ensure you focus on the needs and expectations of that person, and not just the work itself. In this podcast, you will learn four essential techniques for learning how to influence people to help ensure a more productive and healthier workday.

Food and exercise. How often have you had to deal with these twin pressures – somehow in the midst of a busy day, we have to find the time and discipline to eat right and get more exercise. According to executive health and longevity expert Tim Bean, there are five key principles of effective nutrition. Get these easy tips down and you will be burning calories like an elite athlete.

Thought leaders and research companies that study the future of work state that soft skills, such as critical thinking and empathy will be vital. These techniques will contribute to lifelong learning, enhanced collaboration and even cybersecurity by ensuring people think more before doing, and who seek to connect more efficiently with the people they are communicating with. As AI and machine learning take over more of people's current work responsibilities, it will be "soft" people skills that will become central to each person's professional destiny.

Telepresence robots like the Beam and the Double are far more than novelties. People who use them describe them as "transformational" because they combine the best of remote technologies with the immediacy and human connection of face-to-face conversation. Join me for a few minutes to learn more about this next generation of personal productivity tools, and where you can see them in action.

Did you know that lifting weights can do more for your body than cardio exercise, and can even help ward off long-term illnesses like dementia? Managing your body IS rocket science, but it's also very achievable and the benefits extend in surprising directions. Listen to my interview with fitness and vitality expert Tim Bean of the Institute of Physique Management as he shares some eye opening facts about weightlifting and fitness for busy professionals.

Email is a necessary tool of day-to-day business. But its candid and immediate nature swallows up a lot of time. In this podcast I want to share with you a method for pairing your email and calendar together in a way that will make your day healthier and more productive and will not leave you having to sacrifice your evening to returning all those messages.

Project management is often thought of as something done mainly in construction and IT. But in truth it's a proven and practical way of getting things done, using people, tasks and time. Paul Gallagher is the author of a new book entitled The Amazing Me Project. He describes how using project management techniques like goal setting and collaborating with mentors helped him work through some difficult times and helped him get on track with his work and marathon running goals. He joins me on this podcast to share his experiences and to discuss how his book can help you.

People are getting locked inside a loop of surface-level urgencies and are losing the ability to connect creatively with mentors, clients, even their managers. Working days are getting longer, and the separation between work and life is eroding. This, I call, “death-in-harness.”

Cool Down takes a look at the Slow movement that is catching on in Japan and Europe, and asks whether it could possibly take root here, and indeed whether it even should. He takes the concept of “Slow” apart and rebuilds it, using terms, case studies and common sense segments that demonstrate clearly that to get further ahead faster, people do actually need to cool down.

We live in a go-go-go society, where taking breaks or signing off for the day seem like a cop-out. But the brain and body you call home operate on a set of rules far older than any technology you hold in your hands. When you learn to recognize the power of breaks, decompression, and stepping over that line between work and home life, that's when you can truly capitalize on your metabolic strengths and be the best you can be.

Why do we change clocks manually when IoT technology can handle it? Why do we have such problems integrating remote work and flextime? Why do all keyboards still use QWERTY? And why do large companies take 2 months to pay suppliers? These are all antiquated processes that we hang on to in just the same way that our calendar still pays homage to Roman gods. Maybe it’s time for a change.

I once saw someone use the expression “Go back to freelancing” as an insult. Is that what people think? That freelancing is not real work? Well, people who think this way have a surprise coming. Freelancing is the future of work, and it’s one of the most secure career paths you can choose.

Could you imagine waiting 6 months for a return message to arrive? That’s what people had to do a couple of centuries back. Now things happen at light speed, which might seem convenient, but it brings along a new burden: an ever-rising bar of expectation. How do you handle this? Should you work faster or learn to say “no?” Your future depends of building the skills to handle this rising tide. Are you ready for that?

Is modern music worse than disco or rock? That’s a personal opinion, but whether you like today’s music or not, there seems to be a direct relationship between the way today’s tunes are written, produced and marketed, and the way in which we think and react as human connected to our phones. What have we gotten ourselves into here?

Vacations – we all dream about them, but are they being put to the best use? Half of the therapeutic value of a vacation comes from planning – not just where you want to go, but planning the days leading up to departure date as well as your return to work after it’s done. If you do these right, your vacation will be doubly beneficial. Join myfor a quick twelve-minute podcast on that will deliver essential tips on planning your vacation properly.

The lack of light that we experience in winter months can do a lot of damage to health and productivity. Human beings thrive on light. So, what can you do to get through the dark half of the year and feel better? Join Steve for a quick ten-minute podcast on how to beat those winter blues.

Are you a workaholic? Do you want to be? Workaholism is not the same thing as being driven or dedicated, and it’s certainly not the same as being efficient and productive. It springs from a dark well of anger, and is an addiction, plain and simple. This episode of CoolTimeLife looks at the triple threat to productivity: workaholism, presenteeism, and the law of diminishing returns, and how becoming aware of these pitfalls will make you more successful in work and life.

Explore the bizarre relationship between driving, food, and overwork. Have you noticed, for example how frustrating it is when the other lane of traffic seems to be moving faster than yours? This frustration not only leads to road rage, it also leads to “event-to-event thinking” in every area of your life, which leads to crammed schedules, overload, and no time allowed to eat lunch. It doesn’t have to be that way. So much more can be achieved from taking a slower approach, to driving, working and eating. You will get more done when you just slow down a little.

Wouldn't it be nice if more things went your way? Can that even happen? Yes, it can, but it requires a specific type of awareness, and some easy-to-come by skills. In this episode of CoolTimeLife, I use a few memorable examples, one from one of the most famous artists of all time, and others more modern to describe how you can set the stage for a far more satisfying turn of events in your life. There's no magic involved. Not even any force. But it is surprisingly easy and consistent.

It is easy to undervalue your time. But it has great value. Every moment you spend at work is the product of years of study and practice. This has a tangible value. So why are we so ready to give it away, by waiting patiently for late meetings to start, wasting valuable time on emails, and working without a plan? This podcast discusses how to value your time and how to ensure it is never wasted. Learn how time invested in planning pays off, how to make the 80/20 rule lessen your workload while increasing productivity, how to use Twitter as a timely tool for learning, and how even the biggest, scariest projects can be taken care of, simply by understanding the value of this absolutely finite resource.

Your body is your single most valuable and practical tool for managing time and balancing life. But it is so often overlooked. Most of us are sleep deprived, we eat the wrong things, and we expect the brain and body to be consistently "on" and responsive all the time. But it doesn't have to be that way. Understanding your metabolism is key to successfully achieving your goals. This podcast is packed full of tips and concepts to help you stay energetic, productive and on track for personal success.

Being in the moment mentally can be one of your greatest advantages. The problem is, most of us live our lives in reactive mode, which greatly erodes your ability to prioritize, negotiate, influence people, and thrive. This podcast explains what happens to your brain and body when you are under stress and in reactive modem and describes a number of ways for you to take control and actually write the history of your immediate future.

Meetings are one of the greatest time wasters of all. Why? Because they place priority on the agenda, which is the wrong area of focus. This podcast highlights the most important elements that go into a successful meeting, using a powerful concept called the 55-minute meeting - something that has been a highlight of our Cool-Time presentations for years. This podcast is packed with tips on how to build and run successful meetings, using human motivation as the key point of leverage.

The Box of Time: Sounds like a science fiction movie, doesn't it? But it's not. At least not here. A box of time is a highly powerful way of influencing people and managing time, simply by managing expectations and giving people an alternative to fearing the unknown. It will allow you to to be left alone to focus, and also get people to show up when you want them to. It will give you some ideas on how to best structure your day and even lighten your load by no longer being the path of least resistance.. As a bonus, you'll even learn a bit about Bonsai trees.