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SPARKED

Latest episodes

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May 16, 2023 • 59min

How to Turn Many Passions Into a Joyful & Successful Career

We’re often told, the only way to succeed in work - and, in no small part - in life, is to pick one or two things, focus intensively, go all in, and say no to anything that distracts you from that path. But, is it true? Is that really the only way to be both happy and successful? Or, is there a place for a multi-passionate, diversified “portfolio of pursuits” approach to career-building that can lead not just to never having FOMO, but also to joy, meaning, and success?Turns out, the answer to that last question is yes. But, the question is how? And, the choices made and actions taken by my guest on today’s SPARKED podcast, Jason Mendelson, show just how the pieces can sometimes come together to create a near-magical puzzle of paths that let you pursue multiple passions, while still building an incredible career, and living a truly joyful and connected life.Jason is a multi-faceted creative force, true inspiration and just someone who radiates life. With an early passion for music, he thought recording, performing and composing would be his career. But an injury to his hand put an abrupt end to not just his vision and passion, but his very identity as a musician. Jason mourned the loss, but soon also realized, the space created when music took a back seat let other passions and interests bubble up, leading him first into the world of tech as an engineer, then the practice of law, then entrepreneurship, venture capital, and philanthropy with a healthy dose of overlap in all. Writing also entered the picture, and has woven in and out of nearly every stage. In fact, Jason’s latest book ‘How to Be a Lawyer, bridges the gap between law school and practice, by explaining what professors won’t tell their students in law school and what employers and clients will actually expect from them. For him, when it come to his career path, it’s never been about “one and only,” but rather “yes, and,” trusting that his passion for any given endeavor will infuse the others with the energy, joy, and even insights needed to allow all pursuits to rise, and Jason to travel a career path filled with variety, joy, and yes, success.SPARKED GUEST BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Jason Mendelson | WebsiteYOUR HOST: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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May 9, 2023 • 27min

Is AI Really Coming for Your Job?

You’ve heard about it everywhere - AI, ChatGPT. But what does AI have to do, if anything, with how you live and work and play? With the choices you get to make, and the choices that might be taken from you? With the ability to do more of what you love and less of everything else? Especially in the context of work?These are just some of the big questions and ideas I’m exploring with none other than truly visionary thinker, Kevin Kelly. Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the discourse around technology and its potential impact on society for decades. He was the founding editor of Wired magazine, has written for many of the biggest media outlets on the planet, and is a bestselling author, with an impressive array of books, including What Technology Wants and The Inevitable. His latest book, Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier is for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.As Senior Maverick at Wired and co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, Kevin is currently spearheading an ambitious project to build a clock in a mountain that will tick for 10,000 years. In addition to his writing, he hosts a daily blog and weekly podcast about cool tools, as well as a weekly newsletter, Recomendo, that curates recommendations of cool stuff.In today's episode, we dive deep into the fascinating world of emergent technologies, with a focus on AI, and get to some both exciting and unsettling, but important truths (or at least guesses), unearthing some the most groundbreaking ideas and insights that promise to redefine the very fabric of our existenceWe talk about:  the role of artificial intelligence in shaping our lives the impact AI may have on creative work and jobs While we’re all in the very early days of this conversation, with many unknowns, the possibilities are truly astonishing and the call to become knowledgeable in this space, no matter your job, organizations, or industry, has become paramount. SPARKED GUEST BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Kevin Kelly | WebsiteYOUR HOST: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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May 2, 2023 • 41min

Thriving in Mission-driven, Burnout-inducing Work Environments

Do you feel like you're constantly sacrificing your own well-being for the sake of your patients or clients? Do you struggle with burnout and feel like you have to leave your job to take care of yourself? Do you feel isolated and guilty when you try to advocate for your own well-being? You’re not alone, and as Yvonne proposes, there is another way.A deep irony about those in caring and helping professions is that often they care so much about their clients, patients and mission, the person they forget to take care of is themselves. And, at times, the very organizations, culture and leadership that holds the mission to elevate others, makes doing just that an exercise in futility.We see it time and time again, especially in helping professions and those on the frontline of healthcare and service industries, weighed down by management that is, itself, under stress, under funded, working in the paradigm of overly bureaucratic organizations, heading down a one way path to burnout, or sadly worse.In today’s Sparked Hot Take we welcome new Sparked Brainstrust member Yvonne Ator. Yvonne has seen the devastating consequences of not taking care of oneself in this industry, including burnout and sadly in some cases, suicide, which not only affects the healthcare professionals and the people closest to them but also the patients they serve. If you are sensitive to this topic, a quick heads up, she speaks to it later in the conversation, so take care as you listen or choose not to.Yvonne challenges the common belief that leaving a job is the only solution for those feeling burnt out and provides a unique approach to empower healthcare professionals to become antifragile and make positive changes in their daily work lives. Join us in this thought-provoking conversation and discover the power of self-care in healthcare. Tune in to transform your mindset and take practical steps towards self-care and well-being, so you can continue making a meaningful impact in your field.  It's time to prioritize your own well-being without sacrificing your mission.In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Yvonne Ator | WebsiteYvonne is the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, where she coaches heart-centered, mission-driven Physicians and other helping professionals who seek to make a positive impact in the world. She’s become expert in guiding professionals through the tension between being committed to a vision of impact, and the sense of inequity, disillusionment, moral injury, compassion fatigue or burnout that all too often comes with the quest to live authentically and serve to their fullest potential. YOUR HOST: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Apr 25, 2023 • 35min

How to Lead Through Uncertainty (when Your Team Still Hasn’t Recovered)

There’s this myth in the world of business that, if you’re tough enough, practiced enough, and motivated enough, you can push hard, 24-7, for months, quarters, years even and endure all manner of obstacles, stressors, adversity, circumstances and cycles without the need to ease off, step back, recover and refuel along the way. That capacity, we’re told, is somewhere between the expectation and the aspiration. It’s where the magic happens, the big triumphs, the legendary careers.Except, it’s not. It’s a total fantasy. We, as humans, don’t work like that. There is literally no domain in work and life that requires high-level performance that works like that either. And, when we hold ourselves to the impossible standard of constant, elite-level performance, especially on the back of 3 years of brutalizing upheaval, isolation, overwork, overwhelm, and burnout, it’s a recipe for personal and professional disaster. And, as leaders, it’s also a recipe for wildly-dysfunctional workplace culture, unrealistic expectations, exploitation and disintegration.So as we emerge from 3 years of turmoil and seemingly head straight into yet another season of uncertainty, how do we acknowledge the human experience in the middle of it? How we lead during these times will be mission critical in not just meeting our goals, but also preserving our humanity. That’s where we’re heading in today's Sparked Hot Take with Brainstrust member, strategic advisor, executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing, Charlie Gilkey. Charlie and I examine the reality that we're now in, where we’re being tasked to show up, often in extreme circumstances with great limitation of resources, and perform as if everything is fabulous, we’re all well-rested, chilled-out, mentally and physically on-point and ready to roll persistently at the highest levels. Charlie draws some powerful parallels between his experience as a leader in the military, building his own organization, coaching senior leaders in companies of all sizes, and other domains where elite, high-stakes performance is demanded in environments defined by high-stress and endless uncertainty. And we explore a set of powerful insights and reframes to help leaders and team members not just survive this moment, but thrive in it.So, if you're ready to learn how to manage stress, lead with compassion, and boost innovation, join us for this insightful episode. And remember, it's time to prioritize recovery time for both individual well-being and overall societal health.In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Charlie Gilkey | WebsiteCharlie is a strategic advisor and executive coach, founder of the Productive Flourishing consultancy, and author of the multi-award-winning book, Start Finishing.YOUR HOST: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships - begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark. How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Apr 18, 2023 • 42min

The Power of Pause, Play, Perspective & Planning

Have you ever felt like you're on a hamster wheel, constantly running, but not getting anywhere? It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of life and business, losing sight of the bigger picture. But what if you could hit pause and take a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the future? In this Sparked Hot Take episode, Sparked Braintrust mentor, Jadah Sellner, and I explore a powerful practice, built around an annual family retreat that integrates personal and business goals.Jadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media and the She Builds Collective, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author. In this episode, Jadah details her annual family retreat and the prompts she uses to create a thoughtful experience that integrates personal and business goals. You'll discover the ground rules for the retreat, including negotiation and decision-making processes. You'll also learn about the exercises and strategic planning involved in identifying priorities and action items. But it's not all work and no play. The retreat also includes rest and restoration, and it's the perfect opportunity to recharge for the year ahead. Jadah and her family have been practicing this retreat since 2017, and it has transformed their lives. The retreat involves reflection, celebration, and planning for the future, and it's not just for families. Jadah uses this process with pretty much all of her business clients as well, and the revelations and sense of purpose and direction are always powerful.So, if you're ready to hit pause and take a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the future, then this episode is for you. You'll learn about the process of dreaming and planning for the next six months, and how to create a "next level vision" for your life and business. And who knows, maybe you'll even be inspired to start your own annual family retreat. SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jadah Sellner | WebsiteJadah is a multi-time founder and CEO of Jadah Sellner Media, the co-creator of the Simple Green Smoothies social and business phenom, sought-after advisor to entrepreneurs, and bestselling author, including her new book, ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life’, order a copy here.AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Apr 11, 2023 • 35min

Why Success Can Sometimes Feel Like Hell

Ever notice how, the moment you step into a new level of accomplishment and visioning, it’s amazing, but it almost always comes along with a success-sized helping of struggle, fear and uncertainty that leads to suffering? Our guest today, Laura Gassner Otting calls this, "wonderhell,” that moment where you’re both celebrating and simultaneously grappling with the burden of your potential to do more, be more, achieve more. It’s both wonderful, and it’s hell.According to Laura, "Wonderhell" is an essential part of any journey that finds you striving for something more. The burden of your potential is real, maybe even unavoidable, but the suffering doesn’t have to be. The success industrial complex, which teaches us to grind harder, lean in, and achieve more to be happy, leaves us unprepared for the messy middle, filled with doubt and uncertainty. In her new book ‘Wonderhell: Why Success Doesn't Feel Like It Should...and What To Do About It’, she offers a toolkit to help people achieve their potential, with a "choose your own adventure" journey through three towns of Impostor Town, Doubtsville and Burnout City, each with five rides, to help people overcome their fears and doubts. Whether you're an entrepreneur or simply trying to achieve a personal goal, this episode offers practical tips and strategies for redefining your relationship with doubt and uncertainty and embracing wonder hell as a necessary part of the journey to success.Laura also speaks from a place of personal experience. She’s has literally spent decades riding the Wonderhell roller-coaster, and developed a powerful set of tools to help find your way through with more ease and less chaos and suffering.SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Laura Gassner Otting | Website Laura Gassner Otting is an Author, Catalyst, and Executive Coach and inspires people to push past the doubt and indecision that keep great ideas in limbo by helping audiences think bigger and accept greater challenges that reach beyond their current, limited scope of belief. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily. She served as a Presidential Appointee in the White House and founded, ran, and sold her own global search firm. Her bestselling book, Limitless, was chosen by Robin Roberts as one of Good Morning America's Favorite Books of the Year.AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Apr 4, 2023 • 37min

The Unseen Battle: How Anxiety Fuels Achievement

Are you unknowingly harnessing the power of anxiety to drive your success? In today's fast-paced, high-pressure world, it's no secret that anxiety is on the rise. But what if we told you that anxiety could be the key to unlocking your true potential? Welcome to our podcast, where we dive into the world of anxious achievers, and explore how mental health plays a crucial role in the success of leaders everywhere.In this riveting episode, we will uncover the fascinating relationship between anxiety and achievement, shattering the stigma around mental health in the world of leadership. This is where we’re heading in today’s fascinating SPARKED hot take, and we’re welcoming another expert guide, Morra Aarons-Mele.With Morra’s depth of expertise we’re uncovering the often underestimated and misunderstood elements of anxiety. We look at how embracing anxiety can fuel your ambition and drive you to new heights. Morra share’s the hidden strengths of anxious leaders and how deep empathy and awareness is transforming leadership and the way we think about success.She offers powerful strategies for channeling anxiety into productive energy and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As well as the surprising research that links high-functioning anxiety with extraordinary leadership.Don't miss this enlightening conversation with Morra Aarons-Mele as we delve into the untold stories of anxious achievers and discover a refreshing reframe for those of us who have felt our experiences with anxiety were an obstacle for our success or would be perceived as a weakness. Tune in to learn more about the misconceptions of anxiety and how to harness the power of anxiety for success in your work and life.SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Morra Aarons-Mele | Website | LinkedInMorra is the host of the top leadership podcast, The Anxious Achiever, which is also the name of her upcoming book, The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears into Your Leadership Superpower, will be published by Harvard Business Review Press in April 2023. Morra has dedicated her career to helping people rethink the relationship between their mental health and their leadership. In 2010, she founded the award-winning digital consulting firm, Women Online, which has since become a powerhouse in the world of digital campaigning. Morra's impressive career spans across working with political and social leaders, including helping Hillary Clinton log on for her first internet chat, launching digital campaigns for President Obama, Malala Yousafzai, the United Nations, the CDC, and many more.AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Mar 28, 2023 • 28min

Defying Expectations: Unraveling the Secrets of the Portfolio Life

Are you tired of the 9-to-5 grind? Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a fulfilling and sustainable portfolio career? In today's SPARKED Hot Take episode, we’re back with Joy Batra for part two of our fascinating conversation on community building as a freelancer and how to approach a portfolio or freelance career as a whole.If you missed the first part of our conversation with Joy, I encourage you to scroll back and listen as she shares a concept she calls ‘portfolios of community’ and how that can help us to understand where and how to cultivate community as a freelancer.In this episode you’ll discover surprising insights from the journey of our guest, Joy Batra, and the depth of wisdom she’s collected from the 50 freelancers she interviewed. Joy shares the three main reasons people decide to return to a traditional job and why it might be time to reframe how we look at ‘going back’ to mainstream roles and instead unpack the false dichotomy of freelancing vs. full-time work and embrace the value of a portfolio career.We discuss how freelancers can navigate the shame and judgment that comes with making unconventional career choices and how flexibility and adaptability are essential for thriving in the ever-changing world of work, which is more important than ever in a hybrid environment.Get ready to break free from conventional thinking and embrace the boundless opportunities of a portfolio career and life. Join us in this eye-opening conversation with Joy Batra, as we uncover the secrets to living and thriving in a world that is constantly evolving.SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Joy Batra | Website | LinkedInJoy Batra is founder of Quartz Consulting, a freelance consulting firm that has advised start-ups, venture capital firms, and Fortune 500 companies. She previously worked at Goldman Sachs, Gunderson Dettmer, JioSaavn, and briefly as a Bollywood actress (long story). Joy spends her days as Head of Legal at Syndicate Protocol and her free time freelancing in the arts. Joy has lived or worked in India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK. She currently splits her time between NYC and Boston. Joy holds a JD/MBA from Harvard University.AND HOSTED BY: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Mar 21, 2023 • 36min

The Art of Decision-Making: Trusting Yourself and Avoiding Decision by Committee

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here.Have you ever found yourself stuck in the endless cycle of indecision, unable to make a choice, and constantly seeking input from others? What if we told you that the key to making better decisions lies within you, and that decision by committee may not be the best approach?In this episode of SPARKED, we dive deep into the art of decision-making and explore the different types of decision-makers out there. From "mavens" who seek more information to "spontaneous" decision-makers who rely on their gut feelings, we discuss the pros and cons of each approach and provide insights into how to make better decisions.Throughout this conversation, we reveal the five most important takeaways you'll learn: There are different types of decision-makers, and each has their strengths and weaknesses. Some seek more information before making a decision, while spontaneous decision-makers go with their instincts. Understanding your own decision-making style can help you make better choices. Trusting yourself is crucial when making decisions. While it's important to seek input from others, ultimately, you are the one who knows best what's right for you. Decision by committee can be dangerous, especially when everyone involved has a stake in the outcome. It's essential to take ownership of your decisions and not rely on others to make them for you. Time can be a significant factor in decision-making, but it's essential not to rush into a choice without considering all the options. Sometimes taking a step back and allowing yourself time to think can lead to better outcomes. Finally, we discuss the dangers of absolutes in decision-making and how to balance the risk with the potential reward. By being open to possibilities and weighing the risks and benefits, you can make more informed and better decisions. So, whether you're a spontaneous decision-maker or a careful planner, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in to learn more about the art of decision-making and how to make better choices for yourself and your business.SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Karen Wright | WebsiteKaren is the founder of Parachute Executive Coaching, acclaimed executive coach, advisor to senior leaders for more than two-decades, and the author of two great books, The Accidental Alpha Woman and The Complete Executive.YOUR HOST: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.
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Mar 14, 2023 • 47min

Myth-Busting Productivity | Unlocking the Secret to More Free Time

Got a career or business question for the Brainstrust? Submit here.Question - when it comes to work, do you really care about being more productive, or is the real goal to get all the important stuff done, but in a way that actually gives you back more free time to do the things, in both work and life, that you’re genuinely passionate about and excited to do? Because, they’re not the same. Sometimes, we talk about productivity as if it’s the end-goal. It’s not. The real goal is what it gives us. Which begs a question, are all those productivity methods, tools, strategies actually working for you? Are they giving you back your life? And the free time to choose what matters most, even if it’s just taking a nap or playing, and spend more time doing just that?This is where we’re heading in today’s provocative hot take with SPARKED Braintrust regular, Jenny Blake. These Hot Take episodes are where we look at hot topics in conversation with expert guides from the SPARKED Braintrust.In today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Jenny discuss: The benefit of scheduling a ‘do not schedule’ time block on your calendar Asking what can you batch, delegate or automate? The power of A-synchronous communication tools How a rolling agenda can save you time and bring less friction to a meeting Why we need to run our own experiments on when and what works best for us Why we shouldn’t underestimate how helpful systems & processes can be ie. Canned or Guided Responses in your email for repeating conversations And, today, we’re going on a myth-busting journey, taking a bit of an ax to old school ideas of productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness, and sharing powerful insights and practical tools from her body of work designed not just to help you be more productive, but to literally create a volume of free time you never knew was possible.  Jenny also reminds us that ‘Free Time’ is not about floating through life as if on perpetual vacation. Free Time is about optionality: the ability to choose when you work, with whom, and on the projects that most excite you—on the work that you and only you can do. It is about moving from friction to flow through the power of focus and smart systems.SPARKED HOT TAKE WITH: Jenny Blake | WebsiteJenny is a podcaster, career and business strategist, and an award-winning author of three books: Life After College, the groundbreaking Pivot for navigating what’s next, and her recently published Free Time for optimizing what’s now. IN CONVERSATION WITH: Jonathan FieldsJonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive - the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissionsMore on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The WebsiteRead more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.Presented by LinkedIn.

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