I met Shawn Stevenson at Tropical Think Tank in February of 2017 and his talk was phenomenal. We had a few exchanges while we were there but I wanted to have him on the show to dive deeper into some of his work. Shawn is the author Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to a Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success and if you’ve been listening to my show for a while you know that I’m definitely into the idea of how sleep can affect your personal productivity. Some of the highlights from our conversation include: Why sleep is such a hot topic these days and what goes on during sleep that has such an impact on us The controversy that surrounds some of the newer research surrounding sleep (and health in general) Why getting sun and daylight on your skin is one of the most important things you can do - and why it’s harmful if you’re not taking time to do it I had a great time speaking with Shawn on this episode. I hope you enjoy it as well. RELEVANT LINKS: Sleep Smarter by Shawn Stevenson The Power of When with Dr. Michael Breus | The Productivityist Podcast The Model Health Show Shawn Stevenson | Twitter Shawn Stevenson | Instagram Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going! 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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 am joined by engineer by day, aspiring productivity hacker, and co-founder of to-do list app Vista List, Shawn Razek. Here’s the crux of Shawn’s mission: “Time is something we are all trying to make the most of and I want to do my part to help others accomplish that through coaching and creating great tools.” Some of the takeaways from our conversation include: The transition from high school to college (and then to the workforce) is often a big change. Working longer can be a sign that you're not being productive at work. Small 3-minute and 4-minute tasks add up during the course of a day.  Shawn does a short workout every day during his lunch hour. Establish your precedents and boundaries with co-workers. We often overestimate the amount of time left for projects and tasks. Relevant Links Vista List  Vista List (@Vista_List) | Twitter  Shawn Razek | Medium  Shawn Razek | LinkedIn   Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

Jeff Goins is out to prove that real artists don't have to starve. In fact, he is out to prove that they can thrive in his latest book Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age. My wife and I had the chance to spend time with Jeff at Tropical Think Tank in early 2017 and we had some fantastic conversations surrounding artistry, writing, business, family, and more. While I've hung out with Jeff at other events (including Chris Guillebeau's World Domination Summit), getting to know him better in Cebu was one of the highlights of my time there. Some of the things we discussed in this episode include the idea of how he is able to be so prolific and deliver quality at the same time, why stealing can be something an artist can do, why collaboration can be a good thing – or even the best thing – for the thriving artist, what role mindset and money have in the life of an artist, and more. Relevant Links Real Artists Don't Starve | DontStarve.com     Jeff Goins's Website | GoinsWriter.com   Why You Need to Take Personal Productivity Personally | Productivityist  @JeffGoins | Twitter  Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

For this episode, I went out and pursued hard so I can chat with Sketchnote creator, Mike Rohde. Mike is a sketchnoter, designer, illustrator, self-professed techy, author and speaker who is fond of simple yet impactful design solutions. A sample of such is the Daily Plan Bar which he created to make task management more manageable. Our discussion involves the origins of the Daily Plan Bar, how he came up with it and the other systems he uses to manage his work tasks and his home life. Specific points we’ve chatted about are: How his intention to get the most of his day, avoid distractions and just get away from the computer prompted him to maximize analog tools and create the Daily Plan bar. Whose systems influenced and were integrated to create Mike’s Daily Plan Bar. How he incorporates digital with analog, with his outlook calendar playing the master role from which he extracts the details of his daily plan bar. Dealing with too many tasks, prioritizing which ones to do in the day, how Mike reminds himself of what needs to be done or focus on. How to make a Weekly Plan Bar that integrated with the Daily Plan Bar, and how this allowed him to prioritize his tasks and see the week at a glance. Situations when a weekly plan may not be as helpful nor practical to maintain. How Bruce Lee’s principles based on martial arts may be applied to productivity and life. The length of testing Mike has done before he released the Daily Plan Bar for public consumption. What products Mike uses and how he recommends to do and utilize the Daily Plan Bar effectively. Mike’s simpler task-management and journaling practices for home and personal purposes. His stand on the analog-digital debate, the apps he uses, and how he prefers to do his task management. The World Sketchnote Day and how to be a part of it. Relevant Links The Sketchnote Handbook by Mike Rohde | Amazon The Sketchnote Workbook by Mike Rohde | Amazon Everyday Sketchnoting with Mike Rohde | The Mikes on Mic The Daily Plan Bar by Rohdesign | Medium Planner Hack The Dash/Plus System | Patrick Rhone The Best Kind of Paper Pushing | The Productivityist Podcast The Staying Power of Sketchnotes with Deborah LeFrank |The Productivityist Podcast Weekly Plan Bars | Matthew Lang Tools for Thinkers | Baron Fig Hobonichi Techo 2017 Mike Rohde's Books on Sketchnoting | Designer Mike Rohde Mike Rohde (@rohdesign) | Twitter Mike Rohde (@rohdesign) | Instagram A Showcase of Sketchnotes | Sketchnote Army Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

It was a real treat chatting with this episode's guest Toku McCree. Toku is a coach, teacher and the guy behind Unexecutive.com and Samurai Coaching Dojo. His background working with rock stars and living in a Zen monastery certainly gives off a vibe that he’s less traditional than the usual, and he uses these experience to teach entrepreneurs and leaders an out-of-the-box mindset to redefine success not as the destination but as a part of the journey to an amazing life. Our conversation focused on the the idea that obsessing over tactics could actually be ruining your business, and even your life. Some of the points Toku and I covered in our discussion includes: An obsession with productivity and strategy that he's noticed working with entrepreneurs, leaders, and CEOs. The point in an individual's growth when the focus shifts from what you’re doing to what you’re being, and how this can change everything in your life, thus creating a kind of efficiency with less friction. How he had 30 jobs before he was 30 years old, and how a cycle of getting hired, learning, getting bored and leaving a job led to a realization that he remains dissatisfied. Meeting someone in a party which eventually led him to live in a monastery for two and a half years, where he learned about happiness and fulfillment. Questions to ask yourself to enable you to run your business, or life, with greater efficiency, and without being tied to a rigid process, system, tactic or tool. How vulnerability is actually a strength than can create possibilities, and enable one to be more effective in dealing with relationships, teams, and business. Why is it important for a successful person who may be so used to relating to the world in a place of strength to show and experience vulnerability. How putting tactics in place with perfection as the goal is likened to running a tank with no weaknesses, and why this is not an ideal mentality. The significance of practicing presence by stepping back and relaxing to generate insights towards improving your business and life. Relevant Links: Unexective.com Samurai Coaching Dojo | An accelerator to practice the art of deep coaching. Picking role models that matter | Toku McCree | TEDxZurichWomen - YouTube Toku McCree (@unexecutive) | Twitter Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

My guest on this episode is fellow Canadian Corey Poirier. Corey is a keynote speaker, sales professional, entrepreneur, and the host of Conversations with Passion Radio Show where he has interviewed over 4,000 "super-achievers." A passionate speaker who wants to share with people his craft, Corey is behind the Passion Cure and The Speaking Program. It is through these avenues that he reaches out to people, coach those who are interested in developing their communication skills, and feature those who have been successful in their life’s passions. Corey and I had a similar path in our lives that took us to what we’re doing now, and that is just one of the things we chatted about in this episode. Other areas we touched on are: His journey starting with a career in sales, then shifting to stand-up comedy before finally transitioning into his passion for public speaking. Our similar background in performance arts, and things that we didn’t enjoy as much in that field. How people’s feedback propelled him into diving into passion as a speaker. What people fear when it comes to communicating and public speaking, and how to get comfortable on stage. The importance of tackling tasks and goals in small chunks that are easily achievable – whether in public speaking or productivity – until you’re ready to take on the big one. How having a buddy to practice whatever it is that you’re passionate about or want to conquer gives you higher chances of success. The structure of The Speaking Program. Questions to ask oneself to help find your true passion, and how to take that first ‘baby step’ towards living that passion. A productivity reminder to ensure that pursuing your passion is not interrupted – and becomes successful. Relevant Links: That Speaker Guy | Corey Poirier ‎Corey Poirier How People Crush Fears and Expand Comfort Zones | Corey Poirier | TEDxCanmore - YouTube Toastmasters International The Speaking Program The Passion Cure brings you the Conversations With PASSION! Radio Show Corey Poirier (@thatspeakerguy) | Twitter Weeding Your Life with Corey Poirier | Productivityist Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

Do you want to live in an apartment with a jacuzzi in Manhattan – for free? Jen Mazer did that for 10 years (and so much more) – all through the power of manifestation. Jen Mazer (a.k.a. the Queen of Manifestation) is a transformational speaker and coach, teaching people how to manifest their dreams and goals while making an impact on the world. She is the creator of the board game Sparked, and is also the author of the book Manifesting Made Easy: How to Harness the Law of Attraction to Get What You Really Want. Manifesting gave Jen the chance to experience some of the most outrageous adventures – like attending a cocktail party hosted by Martin Scorsese, getting published in the New York Times, and even paying off debt. Jen's the guest on this episode and she’ll share the power of manifestation in her life and how it can do the same for you. We chatted about her background, the law of attraction, resistance, and even touched a bit on quantum physics. Here’s a rundown of what we covered during our conversation: How she started in this niche and how her friends came up with the moniker "Queen of Manifestation". The skepticism and misconception that manifesting is solely about visualization and meditation, how productivity and action factors in, and why she isn’t a proponent of working too hard. Her metaphor on how placing an order of the food you want in a restaurant is what manifesting is like to your life. The importance of trusting your dreams as it could be foreshadowing what the universe wants for you, despite the limitations like not having time, experience, money. The idea of seeing resistance as proof of movement and change, and obstacles as opportunities to experience new things. The law of polarity, fostering awareness through what you want and don’t want, and reframing your intentions by positioning them so that they are positive and open to possibilities. Reframing task management from “have to”, to “need to” to “get to” to make each task more impactful. How her book breaks down manifesting concepts and techniques allowing anyone employ them, and the power of positivity and feeling positive inside before it even manifests. What sparked the creation of the board game she co-created with her friend and how it is able to promote happiness, gratitude, inspiration and love Simple and easy ways to start manifesting, and a story of how an affirmation she wrote years ago manifested in her life. Relevant Links Queen of Manifestation Manifesting Made Easy Strategies for Getting Clear on Your Vision | Queen of Manifestation How to Deal with Resistance | Queen of Manifestation Manifesting Made Easy by Jane Mazer | Amazon Sparked: The game with inspiration, heart & hilarity Queen of Manifestation | Facebook Jen Mazer (@JenMazer) | Twitter Jen Mazer (@jenmazer) | Instagram Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

Despite the two of us being based in Victoria, and within the same circle, I have only been able to touch base with Adam Quiney pretty recently. He is the kind of guy that I can talk to for hours, no beer needed. In his words, he is an “obsessive perfectionist and high performer” who used to work as a project manager and lawyer. He is currently working as an executive coach where he teaches people how to live a life without compromise while creating the impact they want to. On this episode, we talked about the problem with productivity, fostering relationships, books, among others. Some of the areas we also touched on includes: How personal transformations involve self-awareness, feelings of disconnection or a pain point as the trigger. The idea of the noble sacrifice brought about by caring too much or wanting to make a difference which can create disappointment, anxiety or heartbreak. The 'narrative' we were made to believe that building relationships take time contradicting the concept of efficiency, and how to practice deepening intimacy congruent to productivity. How the pursuit of productivity becomes a hindrance to our lives through too much dependence, and an anecdote on how this fixation can even ruin our relationships. Steps on fixing this challenge by slowing down, gaining awareness on what efficiency is costing us, and facing the fear of what will happen if we’re not efficient. A story highlighting the importance of taking ownership, and the role the ego plays in this conundrum. His top picks when it comes to books which helped him understand human nature, and in turn help others. The importance of balancing one’s boundaries and why he likened traversing life to riding a bike. His insights on the work-life balance vs. work-life integration debacle, and what he thinks is a more plausible concept to aim for.   Relevant Links: Evergrowth Coaching Adam Quiney (@evergrowthadam) | Twitter Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday | Amazon Shambala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida | Amazon Books by Neal Stephenson | Amazon Books by Michael Singer | Amazon Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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 episode’s guest is an amazing woman that I've been "pursuing" to get into the podcast for a while. She’s the host and producer of The Pursuit, a talk show and podcast where she interviews influencers and the who’s who of business. Kelsey Humphreys is a media entrepreneur, success coach and consultant, a motivational journalist who’s written for Entrepreneur Magazine and The Huffington Post (among others), and the author of the book Go Solo: How to Quit the Job You Hate and Start a Small Business You Love. After finding that the content available on success and entrepreneurship was not very "beginner-friendly", she made it her mission to break it down for those still doing the grind, helping people not to give up in the crucial first few years of their pursuits. (Kelsey also has a background in performance arts which could be another reason I gravitated toward her content.) Our conversation revolved around what happens on her show and her plans for it. Some of the things we talked about include: The behind-the-scenes action in producing her show, the technical issues, choosing between production quality and valuable content, and learning that perfection can hold one back from productivity. Her vision of hosting a traveling talk show and how she planned to set it apart from other podcasts and YouTube shows. The show’s humble beginnings - shooting with an action cam, getting help from volunteers, family, and friends, investing on equipment, and building Kelsey’s team. What Kelsey perceives as the "value-added experience" by interviewing people live, and why she prefers to go to the where the guests are. Her interesting experience interviewing Kathy Griffin. Pre-game rituals, her staple questions, why she prefers not to bring her notes with her during the interview, and self-reminders to keep her in control of the interviews and provide quality content for her audience. Giving up on college dreams, ticking off goals one by one, and her vision to become the “Ellen of entrepreneurship and success”. Wanting to offer something new to the audience in the area of success and entrepreneurship through the book she’s currently writing. The surreal experiences of landing interviews with Tony Robbins and Larry King. The advice Kelsey imparts for people who have been pushing down their hopes and dreams. Relevant Links: Kelsey Humphreys | Kelsey Humphreys | Success for the Rest of Us! Full Episodes Archive | The Pursuit with Kelsey Humphreys Go Solo: How to Quit the Job You Hate and Start a Small Business You Love by Kelsey Humphreys | Amazon Donald Miller | The Pursuit with Kelsey Humphreys Jeremy Cowart | The Pursuit with Kelsey Humphreys I’m Possible. | Jeremy Cowart Kathy Griffin | The Pursuit with Kelsey Humphreys Tony Robbins | The Pursuit with Kelsey Humphreys Kelsey Humphreys | Facebook Kelsey Humphreys (@KelseyHumphreys) | Twitter Thanks for tuning in! Until next time, remember to stop guessing...and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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

My guest this week is Justin Jackson. He is a dad, husband, entrepreneur, coach, the founder of Megamaker, author of Jolt, the creator of Marketing for Developers and Tiny Marketing Wins, and overall serial maker. He aims to help people through the things they create. On this episode, we discussed the processes of making and/or modifying. We delved on his systems and approaches in the different initiatives and creations he is currently working on. Other areas we touched on includes: The story of how we met, a brief background of how he has always been involved in businesses and how he transitioned from non-profit, to consultancy, and finally – going solo with his independent projects. How getting married, having children and experiencing failure, affected his plans and initiatives. The process of starting up independently, which includes conceptualizing, case studies, exploring and being a serial maker – getting involved in different things which include his podcast, softwares, plugins, e-books, courses, and even merch. How and why he decided to zero-in on writing Jolt and finishing it in the span of a month. The concept of mind gremlins, how being less self-serving enabled him get rid of these, and other takeaways that people have from his two top products – Jolt and Marketing for Developers. Conducting a survey and how its findings gave him insights when he created Tiny Marketing Wins. His process when things must be put on the backburner or let go, and how he did this with his podcast. His hybrid approach when it comes to making, modifying and refreshing the systems, tricks, and hacks supported by continuous research and learning. A sample hack he shared in writing effective landing page copy and generating leads. Relevant Links: Justin Jackson | Make some stuff MegaMaker What has Justin made? | by @mijustin Jolt | Sell more by standing out Marketing for Developers | A guide to marketing your software, apps, and digital products Tiny Marketing Wins | Weekly marketing tactics for online businesses Watch for mind gremlins | by @mijustin Focus on your own shit | by @mijustin Learning with Justin Jackson | Productivityist We all want progress | by @mijustin Justin Jackson | YouTube Justin Jackson (@mijustin) | Twitter Thanks for listening, until next time remember to stop guessing… and start going. 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. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. 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