Bob Gilbreath, a seasoned startup founder and co-founder of Hearty, discusses the complexities of time and mind management. He reveals that while we have more free time, decision-making overload can lead to continuous busyness. Bob introduces concepts like To-Don't Lists and strategic meeting structures to regain control of our time. He emphasizes that better managing our minds is crucial for managing time effectively, ultimately leading to more meaningful moments in our daily lives.
The modern abundance of choices can lead to decision paralysis and anxiety, highlighting the need for effective mind management strategies.
Implementing techniques such as 'to-don't' lists and strategic meeting agendas can enhance productivity and foster meaningful connections.
Deep dives
The Paradox of Choice and Decision-Making Stress
The modern era offers unprecedented freedom and decision-making options, leading to a unique paradox where abundance results in increased stress. Though we benefit from advancements that require fewer work hours to secure basic needs, the mental burden of daily decision-making has also intensified. This phenomenon, described in 'The Paradox of Choice,' reveals that the hard-coded evolutionary need for critical decision-making manifests itself in a culture rich with choices, triggering anxiety and second-guessing. Ultimately, this overload can result in decision paralysis and even clinical depression as people navigate through endless options without meaningful stakes.
Strategies for Effective Time Management
Managing one's mind is as crucial as managing time, with innovative strategies helping to reclaim meaningful moments in daily life. Techniques such as creating a 'worry later' list allow individuals to clear mental clutter, while utilizing the unconscious mind can lead to unexpected insights. Additionally, forming a 'to-don't' list helps prioritize important tasks by eliminating time-sucking distractions like low-quality media. By rethinking productivity to focus on output rather than input, individuals can cultivate a more meaningful and less stressful approach to their work schedules.
Maximizing Meetings and Building Connections
Meetings can become both productive and engaging when approached strategically, emphasizing the importance of meaningful connections. Setting clear agendas and openly addressing objectives can transform typical gatherings into valuable experiences. Scheduling office hours allows for serendipitous conversations that can lead to new opportunities, while also prioritizing personal time reinforces self-care and work-life balance. By being fully present during interactions, individuals can foster genuine relationships, enriching not only their professional lives but also their overall well-being.
"We have more free time than ever — but why does it feel like we are so busy? We have more freedom and decision making options than ever — so we've got to add new programming to our lives."
Bob Gilbreath is longtime friend of the Pod, and fellow P&G Alum - who's also a repeat startup founder with two exits. His latest post “Time Management is Mind Management” covers To-Don't Lists, Asynchronicity, Meeting Strategically and People Power. While countless books, blogs, podcasts, and software solutions aim to help us better manage our calendars, inboxes, feeds, and habits — we lack time to listen to or learn from them. And it feels like once we manage some part of our day, two more new things suck us in. Bob hit a breakthrough in the past few years when I realized a higher level of the game: Managing our minds better is critical to managing our time better. You’ll hear strategic ways to understand and choose ways of living that give you more time back and make more meaningful moments throughout your day.
Bob now serves as Co-Founder and CEO of Hearty, a people-tech company, as well as a few other interesting ventures. While at P&G, Bob worked on brands like Tide and Mr. Clean - and Mr. Clean Auto Dry, and even Fit fruit and vegetable wash. Bob authored books and shares real-life stories of his business ups-and-downs in his weekly newsletter “the Workaround” - which you can subscribe to @ beheartly.substack.com
This is a feature of an Alumni Leader’s frequently published thought leadership. Got an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode - reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode