The Analog Way with Jeff Sheldon

Jul 6, 2020

Jeff Sheldon, founder and designer of Ugmonk, shares his journey creating thoughtfully designed products and introduces the Analog productivity system. He discusses the unexpected success of his Kickstarter campaign and the significance of simplicity in design. Jeff explains the innovative card signal method that gamifies productivity, emphasizing the importance of prioritization. He dives into how analog tools can enhance habit formation and explores the benefits of blending digital and physical productivity methods.

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ANECDOTE

Jeff's Ugmonk Journey

Jeff Sheldon launched Ugmonk nearly 12 years ago as a creative outlet for designing products he wanted to use.
The brand grew from graphic tees to workspace items, including the desk organizer and recently, the Analog system.

ANECDOTE

Years Before Launching Analog

Jeff used analog cards and prototypes for about seven to eight years before making it a formal product.
Despite the simplicity, he doubted the product's success but was pleasantly surprised by Kickstarter results.

INSIGHT

Inspired by But Simplifying Productivity

Jeff combined concepts from Bullet Journal, GTD, and Deep Work but found Bullet Journaling too complex for himself.
He wanted a simple system that helps focus by keeping few tasks constantly visible in front of you.

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On this solo episode of the podcast, I’m doing something a little different: I’m hosting a guest. Jeff Sheldon joins me on the program to talk about simplicity, productivity, and the story behind Analog. Jeff Sheldon is the founder and designer of Ugmonk, a brand focused on creating and curating thoughtfully designed products. Jeff launched Ugmonk in 2008 as a creative outlet to design products that he wanted to wear and use. Now over a decade later, Ugmonk continues to expand its collection of well-designed objects and clothing and attract a passionate following from around the globe. Jeff and I spend a lot of time talking about his Analog venture – which is something I’ve been experimenting with for several weeks as of this recording. We also talk about design, simplicity, the importance of flexibility, and much more. I’ve been a big fan of Jeff’s work for some time and I’m glad I am able to share our conversation with you on this episode. Talking Points Jeff explains what he does… and what Ugmonk is Did Jeff expect the Kickstarter campaign for Analog to blow up like this? What made Jeff think that this product was useful for you… and that he should share it with the world? Jeff talks about the Analog “card signals” Jeff talks about his design study background and process Quote “It makes you prioritize… okay, I no longer can keep adding to my list because the hours in the day will run out before you can get to all them.” Helpful Links Analog Lore Episode 83: Overnight Success with Aaron Mahnke Episode 213: The Bullet Journal Method with Ryder Carroll Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Episode 73: Deep Work with Cal Newport Dropbox Paper Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles of Good Design Ugmonk Jeff Sheldon on Twitter | @ugmonk Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

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