A Productive Conversation

This week on The Productivityist Podcast I zero in on Evernote with a guest who knows the ins and outs of the app. Charles Byrd will be talking Evernote with me with the goal of helping anyone get started and familiarize themselves with Evernote. He'll be giving insights, sharing tips, and offering hacks along the way. Charles lives in Northern California and worked in the Silicon Valley for tech companies for a significant time. He is now the founder of Byrd Word and hosts a 3-hour training course on productivity – specifically the uses of Evernote – and how this can save people time and, in effect, impact our lives. We talk about: How long Charles has been using Evernote, his initial reaction to the app, and how it has helped him in his career and, ultimately, his business. Where people should start when trying to adopt Evernote to help them with their productivity practices, and what the three concepts Charles teaches people when they are starting out with Evernote. Charles’s thoughts on the changes made recently by Evernote in its pricing structure, and on paying for the premium versions of apps and software. An anecdote of how useful Evernote has been in Charles’s life and how that story convinced a man to take Charles’s Evernote course. Evernote features that are not as heralded as they should be but have proven to be very useful for Charles. An overview of Charles’s Zero-to-60 with Evernote course to get people to do more in less time, and help them get up and running with the basics of Evernote quickly. Relevant Links Zero-to-60 with Evernote Byrd Word | Website Byrd Word | LinkedIn Charles Byrd | Facebook Charles Byrd | Twitter Thank you 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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

On this week’s episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I will be chatting with Wade Foster. Wade is the co-founder and CEO of the automation platform Zapier, which helps people automate their work by allowing connections between various apps. Wade and I will talk about how to get started with automation, and how to work your way through it. Listen up on this episode as we discuss: The correct pronunciation of Zapier, and the mission envisioned by Wade and his co-founder Bryan that pushed them to create Zapier. Instances where automation is more harmful than useful to productivity. How people start with simple tasks when integrating automation into their routines, and whether it starts from the workplace or at home. Keeping your automation efforts aligned amidst trial and errors by revisiting the original intent of doing so, and dealing with noise brought about by automation through Zapier. Wade’s thoughts on automation, or replication and delegation to another individual, to simplify tasks. The process from manual to automation or delegation, and how Wade tracks these to remind himself that it needs checking and paying attention to. How the Zapier team remains on top of updates, changes, and even systems issues with the numerous apps they integrate. Account security and privacy and how the Zapier team communicate these effectively to their clients/users. What people need to think about and do when considering automation. Plus, an XKDC comic that can serve as a good guide. Relevant Links The best apps. Better together. - Zapier - Zapier The Best Type of Automation - Productivityist 3 Lists to Freedom | Chris Ducker Case Study: Paul Jarvis - How to Build Your Email List as an Author | Zapier The Productivityist Podcast 60: Less Doing with Ari Meisel - Productivityist Workflow | Powerful automation made simple. xkcd: Is It Worth the Time? Wade Foster (@wadefoster) | 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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

We’re "broadcasting happiness" on this episode of The Productivityist Podcast with my guest Michelle Gielan, the bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness. Michelle was a national CBS news anchor turned happiness researcher, founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research and has a new special airing on PBS called Inspire Happiness with her husband, fellow happiness researcher Shawn Achor. On this episode she talks with me about how our attitudes affect our lives and productivity, and learn about: What the idea was and what happened for "Happy Week" when she was still working as an anchor in CBS. Her insights on the influence of the news on the brain based on research she conducted with Shawn Achor and Ariana Huffington. Transforming your relationship to email, our brains’ negativity bias, and how emailing positivity can change your day – and even make you see the world differently. The problem with Happy Monday emails. How important it is to focus on behaviour instead of the person and what are the predictors of long-term success. What things you can do to promote change with people you’re interacting with daily. The importance of words to help people get on a positive track and an experiment that shows how words affect people’s behaviour. How to create a more positive relationship with your to-do list by "recrafting" it to fuel your brain. Relevant Links michellegielan.com | Michelle Gielan Broadcasting Happiness | Website PBS Special | Inspire Happiness Broadcasting Happiness | Amazon Shawn Achor | Good Think Inc The Happy Secret to Better Work | TED talk with Shawn Achor Wake Up & Inspire Happiness Video Workshop | Website Michelle Gielan | Twitter Michelle Gielan | Facebook 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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Shawn Blanc is back on The Productivityist Podcast and on this episode we dive into the subject of creative focus. A father of three, Shawn has a passion for creative focus and productivity, regularly writing about these topics on his blog since 2007. In this episode, Shawn and I talk about his upcoming summit, the systems and tools he’s employed in both work and life, his core values, and books that he’s bought but might not have necessarily read. Some other specific subjects we tackled in this episode are: The Systems vs Tools Debate and how Shawn uses both to traverse his life. How his work values and practices relate to his family life. The concept of personal integrity and the future self, plus a simple exercise he does on The Focus Course to establish these concepts. The Blanc Media Core Values, the guidance given to him by Barrett Brooks to articulate these values, and how it ties up with his business direction. The concept of traction and how to apply this in real life...and towards reaching your goal. An article he wrote titled Learning Not to Think About It, what it meant for him, and how he does it. His reading practices, how he expounded on this in his article I Buy More Books Than I Read, and one book that has really impacted him in making choices, changes, and spending his time for the coming year. Finally, he talks about the Creative Focus Online Summit, The Focus Course and how these can help us to manage our time and other areas of our lives. Relevant Links shawnblanc.net | Shawn Blanc Blanc Media Core Values | Shawn Blanc Barrett Brooks | Website The Power of a Focused Life | The Focus Course How to Get Time For Your Projects | Shawn Blanc Learning Not to Think About It | Shawn Blanc 2 Experts Share Exactly How to Use a Productivity Journal (& Increase Productivity by 23%) | The Fizzle Show I Buy More Books Than I Read | Shawn Blanc Goodreads | 2016 Reading Challenge The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone | Amazon Shawn Blanc (@shawnblanc) | 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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

Michael E. Gerber, founder of Michael E. Gerber Companies and author of The E-Myth Book Series is my featured guest this week. He discusses the main concepts of his new book, Beyond the E-Myth. Michael is a pillar of business development and coaching going as far back as the 1970s, and his insights on systems, startups and scaling up businesses into enterprises will be central in this episode. You'll hear about decades worth of business acumen and you'll learn about: What is a company of one, and how to build and scale it up? How he started his business, his experience creating the first business development / coaching firm, and how he positioned it. The E-Myth series and its promise to fix broken businesses (which is a difficult thing to do), and how did that play a part on his decision to create Beyond the E-Myth. The concept of Old Co and New Co, the difference and transition between the two. The mindset that Michael wants entrepreneurs to have when conceptualizing their businesses. The definition and the four components of an entrepreneur, and the concept of The Dreaming Room™ to awaken the entrepreneur out of anyone. How to employ a business development program that even novices can operate. Relevant Links: Michael Gerber Companies Beyond the E-Myth Michael E. Gerber on Amazon Michael Gerber on Twitter, and Facebook 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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

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.

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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.

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 This episode is sponsored by Nexos.ai. Nexos is the all-in-one secure AI platform for enterprise—bringing workspaces, model access, and governance together under one roof. Try it free for 14 days at nexos.ai/apc today.