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A Productive Conversation

Latest episodes

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Nov 21, 2016 • 33min

Picking the Low Hanging Fruit with James Sudakow

James Sudakow, author of the book Picking the Low Hanging Fruit, is this episode’s guest and we talk about the language people use in the corporate world. Every organization or group got acronyms, buzzwords, or phrases that is used on a daily basis. On this episode, James and I discuss how these can benefit organizations – but sometimes cause disconnect in communication. James also reveals some buzzwords that he thinks people should stop using by the end of the year, and how an individual can shift away from the habit of using such words. Let’s "open the kimono" on this episode and learn about: People’s intentions when they choose to use big words. How to stop this practice in organizations firmly entrenched into such kind of language. James’ list of buzzwords that people should retire from use by the end of 2016, and the most obscure phrases he’s heard. An open letter James wrote on his blog tackling the ridiculous lingo being used in the corporate world. The probability of grandiose language masking larger organizational problems. How acronyms initially intended for efficiency can quickly spiral out of control. One small thing an individual can do that can result in a shift from the practice of using these kind of words and phrases. Relevant Links: Home | James Sudakow Picking the Low Hanging Fruit: And Other Stupid Stuff We Say in the Corporate World: James Sudakow, Todd Kale: | Amazon “Re-invented” is the new corporate buzzword that gives me a headache | James Sudakow A new approach to ridding us of stupid corporate lingo | James Sudakow CH Consulting | James Sudakow Why do corporate types love acronyms so much? James Sudakow's articles | Inc.com James Sudakow (@JamesSudakow) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Nov 15, 2016 • 39min

The Power of Journaling with Zachary Sexton

The guest for this week's podcast episode is my friend Zachary Sexton, formerly of Asian Efficiency. We speak about the science and art of journaling as a productivity practice. He shares his insights on journaling, and expounds on the medium and apps he uses, the structure of his journal, and the purpose it serves him to reflect on his past and plan for the future. This episode includes narratives about: The idea that journaling is a teenage girl thing, the reason why both Zack and Mike are doing this now, and how long has Zack been journaling. How Facebook is basically public journaling and how to translate this into a private and personal log for systems improvement, habit building, and daily planning. The structure Zack and Mike follow with their respective journals. Why Zack decided on using the digital medium for journaling and his hacks to make it faster and more efficient. The practice of reviewing journals by the end of the year, and how Zack maintains accountability to ensure he is moving towards the direction and objectives he has set. Zack's tips for people contemplating to start journaling and the benefits of the practice in terms of archiving, reflecting, planning, and decision-making. Zack's journaling exercise together with his fiancée, who has always been interested in journaling but hasn’t just gotten around to doing it. Related Links 2 Experts Share Exactly How to Use a Productivity Journal (& Increase Productivity by 23%) | The Fizzle Show 099 The Simple 10-Minute Daily Activity (Backed by Science) That Could Make You More Productive Forever | Fizzle The Productivityist Small Wins Journaling Challenge | Productivityist How to Start (and Keep) a Journal that Works for You | Productivityist The Way I Journal: Sven Fechner | Day One Using Drafts to journal in Day One | Jeff Taekman's WiPPP Five Minute Journal TextExpander Snippets | Chuck Grimmett Asian Efficiency The Productivity Show | A Podcast by Asian Efficiency The Simple Guide To Managing Your Email More Effectively | Asian Efficiency Bookworm | Podcast Book Club Productive Journaling: Writing Your Way to Success With Evernote | Zachary Sexton Home | Zachary Sexton Newsletter | Zachary Sexton Zachary Sexton (@zwsexton) | Twitter Zach Sexton (@z.w.sexton) | Instagram If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Nov 7, 2016 • 44min

Paperless Productivity with Brooks Duncan

Brooks Duncan, The Paperless Guy, discusses transitioning into a paperless lifestyle, benefits of digital space, hybrid notebooks, and the launch of The Paperless Security Guide. Topics include defining paperless, keeping track of digital files, workflow systems, and digital-analog tools.
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Oct 31, 2016 • 36min

Sound Speaking with Grant Baldwin

On this episode, my guest is Grant Baldwin, who returns to The Productivityist Podcast. Grant is a speaker, blogger, podcaster, and founder of The Speaker Lab – where he helps people (specifically speakers) become more effective in their craft. We spoke about the processes in planning and delivering an effective talk. Grant expounded on the logistical needs prior to a speaking event, the mental process of writing a manuscript, and the importance of rehearsing. This is not just a podcast meant for professional speakers as we discuss points and ideas that may also be used by anyone who might have fear of speaking, or is preparing for a presentation or public speaking of any kind. In this podcast episode, you’ll learn about: The process of building talks as Grant sees it; from logistical preparation, marketing, selling, sourcing speakers, to the talk itself. How Grant constructs a talk and how having a polished template that can be tweaked with slight nuances based on the audience demographic is the most efficient way to go through this. The difference in speaking for keynotes vs. a workshop. The two questions the audience have in mind, that as a speaker, one must accomplish to answer. How rehearsing well is the key to give you liberty to go off the planned manuscript. Relevant Links: How to be a Productive Speaker with Grant Baldwin The Speaker Lab Grant Baldwin on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Oct 24, 2016 • 38min

The Power of When with Dr. Michael Breus

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with "The Sleep Doctor" and author of The Power of When, Dr. Michael Breus. We discuss the ties between chronotypes and productivity, what his chronotype is, how leveraging when you do something can impact how well you do it, and much more. I've long said that fighting your body clock is a bad idea, but I'm no scientist. Dr. Michael Breus is and this is his specialty. (And he seems to agree with me about the whole body clock thing.) I'm excited to bring this episode to you and I hope you enjoy the show! Relevant Links The Sleep Doctor | Michael J. Breus, PhD The Night Owl Action Plan | Productivityist What’s Your Chronotype? (Quiz) The Way of The Productivityist: A Manifesto |Productivityist Dr. Michael Breus (@thesleepdoctor) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Oct 19, 2016 • 39min

ProTECHtivity with Steve Dotto

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast I welcome my good friend Steve Dotto to the show. Steve's made a name for himself on two separate occasions – first as a nationally-recognized television personality in Canada and now as a globally-recognized Internet personality worldwide. Steve and I talk about his early years and how he got into what he is doing now. We talk about what the "old Steve" would have done if the tools and technology we have now were available to him back then. And it wouldn't be a conversation without Steve Dotto if we didn't dive into a little tool talk. Relevant Links Dottotech Dotto Techrospective Dotto's Data Cafe 10-1 (2001) | YouTube Social Media Camp Mari Smith dottotech - YouTube If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Oct 10, 2016 • 32min

The Making of The Productivityist Playbook

Note: This episode was recorded before the problems I had with the soft launch of The Productivityist Playbook. In this episode of the podcast I talk about the making of The Productivityist Playbook, diving into the creative and tactical processes I used – as well as mistakes made – during the creation of this product. I dive into the nuts and bolts of my schedule during the creation of The Productivityist Playbook, what mistakes I made along the way, and what you can do to avoid some of those mistakes I made. Relevant Links The Productivityist Playbook Why You Need To Take Personal Productivity Personally | Productivityist Meeting Makeover: Make Better Meetings Today | Productivityist Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Living Well Longer by Dick Van Dyke | Amazon Duolingo If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Oct 3, 2016 • 43min

Progress with Erik Fisher

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I speak with my good friend Erik Fisher in the second part of a cross-podcast conversation started on his podcast Beyond the To-Do List. We talk about overwhelm, prioritization, what productivity (and other related terms) means to us, and much more. (Note: The mention of talking to “nobody last week” during the introduction is misplaced as this episode was scheduled to be published after next week’s episode – an episode that has no guest. Last week’s episode featured Marina Darlow and you can listen to it here.) This episode is – at its core – all about process, so sit back and enjoy! Relevant Links Progress: Mike Vardy on Competition, Overwhelm and Priorities | BTTDL153 - Beyond the To Do List Beyond Productivity with Erik Fisher | The Productivityist Podcast Priorities with Erik Fisher and Steve Dotto | The Productivityist Podcast Seasons: Jeff Sieh on Seasons, Rhythms and Change | BTTDL152 - Beyond the To Do List Social Media Success Summit 2016: Largest Online Event The Sleep Doctor | Michael J. Breus, PhD Erik Fisher (@ErikJFisher) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Sep 27, 2016 • 38min

Crafting Clear Systems with Marina Darlow

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Marina Darlow. Marina is a systems’ expert, and a productivity geek. She sees her job as helping impact-driven entrepreneurs get 10–20 more productive hours a week, stop leaking money, and prevent stress-fuel breakdowns. We talk about her view and definition of a “system”, effective ways you can master your to do list, how to get out of a creative rut, and much more. (And as a Patreon supporter you’re getting even more content!) Relevant Links Vision Framework About | Vision Framework Goals vs. Systems | Scott Adams’ Blog An excruciating day, or How to wrench yourself out of a Creative Pit of Despair | Vision Framework Four effective ways to master to-do lists and what to do if you don’t like any of them | Vision Framework Marina’s App Guide Marina Darlow (@VisionFramework) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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
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Sep 20, 2016 • 42min

The Coaching Habit with Michael Bungay Stanier

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast I speak with the author of The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier. We talk about deep work, simplicity, elegance, the questions you can ask to help you get more out coaching, and much more. Relevant Links The World Domination Summit Experience | Productivityist Box of Crayons Box of Crayons Blog | Inspiration for Teams, Leaders and Organizations Michael Bungay Stanier | Box of Crayons Interview with Matt May, In Pursuit of Elegance | Box of Crayons 9 ways to “Do More Great Work” With Michael Bungay Stanier Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters by Michael Bungay Stanier | Amazon Seven questions to condition your inner coach | The Globe and Mail The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier | Amazon Get Unstuck & Get Going…on the stuff that matters by Michael Bungay Stanie | Amazon The Creative Process: Michael Bungay Stanier End Malaria by Michael Bungay Stanier | Amazon The Coaching Habit Book If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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

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