A Productive Conversation

On this episode I chat with Mridu Parikh, founder of Life Is Organized and author of Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals. Mridu helps ambitious people get control of their time, energy, and habits, even when they are overwhelmed by demands and distractions. As a productivity coach, keynote speaker, and best-selling author she teaches people how to focus, overcome procrastination, and squash anxiety. I had a great time talking with Mridu about her journaling habits (that is, if she has them), her thoughts on capturing ideas and thoughts and how she does that, and we specifically dive into the seven simple actions that she describers in her book. Talking Points Mridu and I talk about why people stay in a “state of stuckness”? Does Mridu journal? If so, how does she journal? How does Mridu get people to take their energy levels into account when making to do lists and accomplishing goals? We discuss how to balance recurring simple tasks with bigger, harder tasks What are The Seven Simple Actions? How do you figure out when to ask for help and for what? This is something Mridu said no to after realizing it would be too much How does Mridu help people with the idea of writing things down consistently? Quote “Every time you think ‘I’ll remember that later,’ switch that and think ‘I won’t remember that later’.” Helpful Links Life is Organized Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Joe Rogan Experience Remember that simple isn’t the same as easy. So while Mridu revealed 7 simple actions you can take to accomplish what you need and want to do, that doesn’t mean it will be easy to do them. My advice is to start small and build from there. Layer more and more of your ambitions using this formula Mridu shared over time rather than all at once and you’ll have a better chance of accomplishing “it” going forward. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I welcome Dr. Wayne Baker as my guest. Focusing on social capital, social networks, generosity, and positive organizations, Dr. Baker has published six books and contributed to such outlets as Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive Magazine, and Sloan Management Review. A frequent guest speaker and management consultant, Dr. Baker is a cofounder and board member of Give and Take Inc., developers of the collaboration technologies based on principles in his book All You Have to Do Is Ask. Asking for help can be a real challenge – and it keep us from reaching our full potential. The conversation we have on this episode should help you get better at asking. Dr. Baker and I discuss why we need help from others to be more productive, why generosity within a company isn’t the issue when it comes to developing a culture where asking is fostered, and how leaders can use certain techniques and tools to build a habit of asking in themselves and their colleagues. Talking Points This is how Dr. Baker looks at the idea of asking in reference to his work How can company leaders help cultivate a culture of generosity and nurturing the idea of asking Dr. Baker talks about the importance of asking and its relationship to your goals This is Dr. Baker’s definition of SMART is when it comes to goal How can someone go through Dr. Baker’s criteria in a fairly quick manner and less onerous? If you struggle asking for help for any typical reason, this is what you can do to break that habit Can this kind of process be applied internally as well? What is The Law of Giving and Receiving? What techniques can leaders use to promote and foster the habit of asking in their organization? This is what The Reciprocity Ring is… and what it does Dr. Baker shares some ideas for rewards that can be put in place to help promote asking in the workplace This is what you can do to start right now to get better at identifying where you need help and how to ask for it Quote “The leader needs to be a role model of the behaviour that they want” Helpful Links All You Have to Do Is Ask: How to Master the Most Important Skill for Success The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help allyouhavetodoisask.com Todoist Karma The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Productivity Paradox I’ve always said that frameworks foster freedom. That idea definitely applies to what Dr. Baker shares in his work. The ideas of The Law of Giving and Receiving, The Reciprocity Ring, and much more allows individuals and organizations to forge and foster a culture of asking. And that’s a big win for everyone. Check out Dr. Baker’s book because it’s definitely got some great tactics and tools you can use to make asking a more integral part of your productivity process. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the program I’m joined by Zvi Band. Zvi is the cofounder and CEO of Contactually, a leading CRM platform for relationship-oriented businesses, and author of “Success is in Your Sphere.” An engineer, developer, entrepreneur, and startup advisor, Zvi has been named a Washingtonian Tech Titan four times. Zvi and I talk about the acronym he uses as his CAPITAL strategy, why you need to aggregate all of your relationships (both personal and professional) in a database, and the need for purpose and process when forging and fostering relationships. Considering that my Monthly Theme for February is Relationships this was the perfect conversation to prime me for the month ahead. I trust you’ll get a lot of value out of it as well. Talking Points Zvi shares his origin story We talk about the role of consistency when it comes to achieving success in your sphere – and the role of the calendar in that This is one of the things Zvi did to execute consistently to help himself over both the short and long term Where does someone begin aggregating their relationships? And why aggregate at all? Zvi breaks this aggregation down into manageable chunks This is why Zvi has many separate email accounts Zvi explains how to ensure you are going beyond organizing your relationships… and prioritizing them What nuances do you need to watch out for as you gain intelligence around your relationships? What does this intelligence-gathering look like? You need to keep this in mind as you forge and foster relationships How do you handle the person that connects with you with no real purpose? We talk about the importance of boundaries Why adding value is of the utmost importance in relationships and why you need to ask how you can do that on an ongoing basis How can you make all of this easier to do? This is how we can get in our own way during this process If you want to start doing what Zvi suggests today, here’s the one small action you can do starting now Quote “The important thing is that just because these are different people…doesn’t mean that the people differ or change in importance.” Helpful Links Success Is in Your Sphere: Leverage the Power of Relationships to Achieve Your Business Goals Contactually Episode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence Dunbar’s number: Why we can only maintain 150 relationships The Pomodoro Technique Derek Sivers’s Contact Page TextExpander TimeCraftingTV successisinyoursphere.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Routines & Ruts I had a great time listening to and learning from Zvi. He’s someone who has a deep understanding of relationships and knows what it takes to organize, prioritize, and add value to them. From there, he can leverage them – and they can leverage him in return. That’s a pretty productive way to keep connected. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the program I’m joined by a guest I’ve been looking to chat with for a long time. Francesco D’Alessio runs Keep Productive, a YouTube show dedicated to helping people find the most suitable productivity software for their work and life needs. From helping decision making to curbing switching, Keep Productive is passionate about helping you make long-term decisions about your software. I remember the days of keeping up with all the latest and greatest productivity news and app updates. There came a time when I decided that wasn’t going to be in my long-term plans, so I moved away from that kind of content (for the most part). Francesco, however, is another story. He loves doing exactly that: sharing all the productivity news and app-related content as possible, as evidenced by his extremely popular YouTube channel. During our discussion we get into why he enjoys producing content around apps and productivity news, how he maps out his content plan, and so much more. Talking Points Francesco shares his “productivity origin” story This is what Francesco looks for in an app that he showcases on his YouTube channel What does Francesco define as productivity news? How does he decide what to share? These are the tools that Francesco actually uses We talk about the way forward with transitioning between apps that avoid friction and promote flow This is what Francesco has used in the past and he shares why he moved away from them What about paper? We discuss Francesco’s content workflow How does Francesco deal with content that can become dated? Francesco shares THE productivity app that you should keep your eye on Quote “Tools are going to change you marginally… but it’s really the approach and the methodology that matter.” Helpful Links Keep Productive on YouTube Notion Made Simple Notion Office Hours with Mike Vardy Thomas Frank’s Notion Video Matt Ragland on YouTube Beyond The To Do List #290 – Distractions: Nir Eyal on Becoming Indestractable The Productivityist Podcast #266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Francesco on Twitter The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: The Freenoter It’s always gratifying to talk with someone as enthusiastic about productivity as me, and it’s not very often that I get to “geek out” about apps since I’ve largely moved away from creating that kind of content. That’s why I really enjoyed this conversation with Francesco. He knows his stuff and he’s a rising star in the productivity space. I can’t wait to see how the rest of his journey unfolds. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Samantha Brody. Dr. Samantha is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, Oregon. For decades in her private practice and virtual consulting business Dr. Samantha has helped thousands of people transform their lives with her innovative, personalized approach. She is the author of Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Samantha when we both spoke at Marc and Angel Chernoff’s event Think Better, Live Better. After seeing her speak, I found that there was plenty of alignment with our work and asked her to come on the show. During this conversation we talk about her book, what she means by overwhelm, the steps she believes can help you overcome overwhelm, and the idea of resolutions. There is a lot that we cover in our discussion and I’m pleased to be able to finally bring it to you after many months of trying to make it happen. Enjoy! Talking Points This is how Dr. Samantha looks at overwhelm Does Dr. Samantha believe in New Year’s Resolutions? We start to dig into the steps Dr. Samantha reveals in her book This the first step Dr. Samantha shares her current values… along with the second step How can someone stay on target with their values and the other elements Dr. Samantha shares in her work? The third step is revealed… I share a fitting story with Dr. Samantha about an obstacle that turned out to be a source of overwhelm Dr. Samantha offers feedback after hearing the story of my stressor What is “beauty way?” Does Dr. Samantha journal? Does she believe the practice is helpful? If someone was to start using what’s found in Dr. Samantha’s book, what’s the simplest first step to take? Quote “Life throws curveballs at you. That’s just… life.” Helpful Links Think Better, Live Better Overcoming Overwhelm Episode 177: The Four Tendencies with Gretchen Rubin Pocket Biases Two Weeks Notice: My First 20 Hours with The Bullet Journal Method TAKE: The Values Exercise DrSamantha.com @drsamantha on Twitter @drsamantha on Instagram The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: Life Skills That Matter This episode has been in the works for some time and I’m glad I was able to deliver it to you at the start of a new calendar year – and a new decade. While resolutions can be a bit of a trap at this time of year, Dr. Samantha offers alternatives… sound strategies that won’t just help you in the year that’s just begun. They will help you for many years to come. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Cliff Ravenscraft. For more than a decade, Cliff had been known as the Podcast Answer Man. He’s trained tens of thousands of individuals how to successfully launch an audio podcast. Today, Cliff is a business and life coach. He mentors coaches, consultants and thought leaders through the transition from their unfulfilling day job to their own responsible and profitable online business so that they can live the life of their dreams and do the work they feel most called to do in this world. This is a longer episode than usual but it is jam-packed with inspiration – which is the perfect way to wrap up one decade and starting another. Cliff’s energy is palpable throughout as he shares with me his online business story, what the transition from one business brand to another has been like, and his evolving views on productivity over the course of the years. There’s a lot to unpack and you’ll want to just sit back and absorb everything Cliff dishes out over the hour-long conversation. Talking Points What has the journey been like for Cliff in the many years he’s been an entrepreneur This is Cliff’s advice to anyone who is thinking about jumping into the online business world but wants to play it safe What did Year One of Cliff’s online business story look like? Cliff shares his burnout stories and why he experiences burnout during those times This is what happened in Cliff’s world in September 2017… and it changed EVERYTHING We talk about the transition from Podcast Answer Man to what Cliff is doing today What the people in Cliff’s life thought about him abandoning his lucrative business This is Cliff’s “mission statement” What about Cliff’s health? What changes has he made there? Cliff shares the workout routine that he committed to so that he could get his health in order We start to spend time talking about… Cliff’s views on time This is who Cliff learned from as he built his new business What does Cliff think of the idea of the “overnight success story” today? After Cliff recommended this book, I picked it up Cliff takes notes on something I said here… and runs with it! Here’s an alarming productivity tip… We start talking about planning – especially regarding Cliff’s “Free The Dream” event I share with Cliff the idea of the task-based mindset vs the time-based mindset When it all boils down to it, this is really all Cliff cares about Does Cliff have a team to help him out on an ongoing basis? We end on what Cliff did and what he would recommend you do if you’re just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey Quote “Every day is today.” Helpful Links Cliff Ravenscraft Think and Grow Rich Episode 239: Free to Focus with Michael Hyatt Social Media Marketing World SPI 256: Productivity and Frameworks with Mike Vardy from Productivityist The Prosperous Coach The Big Leap Free The Dream BradyMade Events This Changes EVERYTHING mindsetanswerman.com/free The Productivityist Podcast Pick fo the Week: Think Better, Live Better After speaking with Cliff, he sent me a quick email that let me know there were things he shared on this episode that he had never expressed before. He said he “verbally processed a few new experiences” that he had never fully processed until our conversation. The big thing he shared was the idea that he’d been experiencing a flow state pretty consistently as of our conversation but hadn’t really been able to identify it as such until that point. I hope that our conversation helps you either process some new experiences or identify some of the blind spots in your life (hopefully it helps you with both of those things)! 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I chat with Richie Norton. Riche is the award-winning, bestselling author of the book The Power of Starting Something Stupid (in 10+ languages) and Résumés Are Dead & What to Do About It. In 2019, Richie was ranked one of the world’s top 100 business coaches by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith. He is an international speaker (including TEDx & Google Startup Grind) and serial entrepreneur.  I didn’t know what to expect when speaking with Richie but I can tell you that I didn’t expect the conversation to be so personal. We talk about why he loves bringing products to life, the axiom he uses as a guiding principle for his life, and solid advice when it comes starting something stupid. Talking Points We talk about the origins of his company name What led Richie to want to bring products that they are proud of to life Richie explains the origins and the meaning behind Gavin’s Law This is far more powerful than any New Year’s Resolution These are the two songs I have on nearly every monthly playlist I assemble Richie and I start talking about whether or not it is stupid for me to make a planner These are the people that will try to keep you from doing something stupid even though you feel compelled to do it What about finishing? These are the two questions Richie asks when evaluating ideas that he may want to bring to life What’s the first thing you can do to start something stupid now? Quote “Live to Start. Start to live.“ Helpful Links Prouduct SwitchPod The Freedom Journal The Power of Starting Something Stupid How to Keep a Library of (Physical) Books The Road to Character Richie on EOFire I Got a Name by Jim Croce Beautiful Ride by John C. Reilly How to Live on 24 Hours a Day Pocket Biases Start Finishing The Messy Middle RichieNorton.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Soul and Wit Ask yourself this question if you’re afraid of starting something stupid: Will I regret it when I’m 80? If the answer is yes, then forge ahead. If not, then back away. But both Richie and I bet that more often than not you’ll want to forge ahead. You need to get out of your own way. You need to fight back against the biases that show up. You need to start something stupid a little more often. (And maybe start by looking at all of those web domains you bought.) 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I’m joined by Andrew (Drew) Tarvin. Drew is the world’s first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with 35,000+ people at 250+ organizations, including Microsoft, the FBI, and the International Association of Canine Professionals. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FastCompany, and his TEDx talk has been viewed over 4 million times. Drew and I talk about his book Humor That Works: The Missing Skill for Success and Happiness at Work. We discuss the ways you. can infuse humour into the workplace, why it’s important to bring hummer into the workplace, how you can overcome those who think adding humour to the mix is a waste of time, and more. As someone who has been immersed in humour in my previous life I was happy to have Drew on the program to talk have a comedic conversation that can take productivity to greater heights. Talking Points Drew shares why introducing humor is important at work and why fostering it is as well Is Drew’s primary interest performing comedy or is it something else? This is how Drew got started with improv What is the goal of using humour in the workplace? This is the definition of “humour that works” How to deal with a “Beatrice” at work as opposed to a “Bill” at work What is a “humour map”? How can humour be used to diffuse conflict in the workplace? What can leaders learn from stand-up comics? These are Drew’s thoughts on authenticity in the workplace This is one of the most important attribute you need in the workplace What would Drew say to the person that thinks adding humour to the mix is a waste of time 31% of people leave their workplace because of this Drew and I spend time talking about commitment Why was it important for Drew to contract the book the way he did? Drew talks about the “conversations” that he had with his editor throughout the book Quote “Many of you are likeable people… at home.“ Helpful Links Humor That Works: The Missing Skill for Success and Happiness at Work Bill Burr| Paper Tiger HumorThatWorks.com @DrewTarvin on Twitter @DrewTarvin on Instagram The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: How Did This Get Made? I’ve always believed that infusing humor in the workplace – and in life overall – is healthy and important. Being able to speak to someone who feels the same way and has taken the time to write an entire book on the subject was a real treat. I hope you enjoyed our conversation as much as I did (and, better still, I hope you had a few laughs along the way). 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode I speak with Kris Ward. Kris is the director of a marketing and branding company and it was through her work there that she learned a great deal about productivity versus being busy. Her work with other small business professionals lead to the creation of Win The Hour Win The Day. Kris Ward helps entrepreneurs grow their business so they can get more work done faster and focus on what’s really important in life – and we touch on that throughout our conversation. We discuss the aspects of what she calls the “Freedom Formula” and a slew of other productivity-related topics. There’s a lot to absorb in this episode and I’m glad that us two Canadians finally had a chance to connect in podcast form. Talking Points What does productivity mean to Kris? Kris has had several moments that have incited change in Kris’s life. Here’s one of them. Here’s another one of those moments – a very different moment at that Why winning the hour is vital to winning the day We dive deeper into the idea of the calendar being your “time bank account” This is how Kris likes to work The biases that rear their ugly heads when we try to take on some of what Kris speaks of show up. Here’s how Kris helps people deal with that Kris starts to break down the “Freedom Formula” in greater detail Kris understands the resistance towards building systems We start talking about tools Is Kris more of a morning person or a night owl? And how can she help people listen to their body clocks with her work? Kris believes this is something that we don’t talk about enough that affects our productivity This is one thing that you can do now to start winning the hour and – as a result – win the day Quote “A business is not run on memory.” Helpful Links Win The Hour Win The Day! The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right Kris Ward on Instagram Kris Ward on LinkedIn WinTheHourWinTheDay.com The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: SW945: A Walk in Japan It’s always a pleasure to speak with fellow time management experts. I’ve been following Kris on Instagram for a while now and there’s a lot of crossover in our work. I trust that you’ve heard that through our conversation on this episode. I think we brought a lot to the table and hope that you’ve garnered some solid takeaways from our discussion. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the program I speak with J.H. Bunting about the life of a writer and the making of his ambitious new book, Crowdsourcing Paris: Memoirs of a Travel Adventure. J.H. Bunting (or “Joe” as I know him) is a bestselling writer, novelist, and a dad. He leads The Write Practice community, an award-winning community of creative writers. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife Talia and three kids and enjoys coffee and corpse reviver no. 2s. Joe and I talk about the evolution of his book, the challenge of doing something different or outside of the usual path, how panic and desperation can fuel productivity, and much more. I had a great time learning about Joe’s process when building this book and I am happy to be able share our conversation with you. Talking Points Who is J.H. (Joe) Bunting? This is how he got his start What Joe discovered about the book while in Paris How important was it for Joe to take on this book – something that was different than what he’d done before Mark Twain played a role in the crafting of Joe’s book We talk about the power of patience Did every suggested challenge that Joe was asked to do while in Paris make the cut? I circle back to the idea of panic and desperation and how it can spur on productivity Does Joe believe in willpower? Joe explains how beneficial it was for his productivity while away from his usual environment Joe offers advice regarding traveling with a young family Quote “The important thing is that you’re doing the work and putting it out into the world.” Helpful Links Crowdsourcing Paris: Memoirs of a Travel Adventure World Domination Summit The Write Practice Ryan McRae’s Burn The Tavern Down The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain Episode 201: Willpower Doesn’t Work with Benjamin Hardy Episode 266: Becoming Indistractable with Nir Eyal Joe’s FREE Workation Adventure Worksheet Daddy-Daughter Day: A Workday Vlog on TimeCraftingTV The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Good Place (The Podcast) Writing a book is hard. Writing a book that falls outside of the scope of what you initially intended to write can be even harder. Joe took that on with passion and pride and the results show it. If you haven’t already picked up Joe’s book, do so now. It’s a fantastic read. 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.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices