In this episode, I dive into an enriching conversation with the renowned Marshall Goldsmith, a giant in the field of productivity and leadership. It was only a little over a year ago that I first engaged with Marshall, but his words were so inspiring and informative that I felt compelled to revisit the conversation. Marshall's groundbreaking book, "Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts -- Becoming the Person You Want to Be," has been profoundly influential in shaping my understanding of productivity.Marshall's stature in the field is simply unparalleled. As a two-time winner of the Thinkers 50 Award for the #1 Leadership Thinker in the World, the #1 Executive Coach, and a Top Ten Business Thinker for eight years running, his insights carry incredible weight. Marshall's books, including "The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment," are highly esteemed in the leadership space. His work has been translated into 32 languages, sold over 2.5 million copies, and recognized by Amazon as among the Top 100 Leadership & Success Books Ever Written.Key Discussion Points Our identity is largely shaped by our daily habits and rituals. Rituals act as the foundation for mindfulness and personal growth. Journaling is a powerful tool for self-inquiry, especially during stressful experiences. The stories we tell ourselves influence our perception of reality. 98% of the time, the problem we think we're facing is not the actual problem; it's something deeper. Recording and reviewing our thoughts can bring clarity and awareness. Visual reminders and an accountability system are practical strategies to implement these principles. Self-accountability can be enhanced by formulating questions about our experiences and having someone read them back to us. During our conversation, Marshall shared his insights on what it means to live an "earned life" and the concept of the "satisfied" mind. We delved into the role willpower plays in our lives and how it contributes to achieving this coveted "earned life". As always, speaking with Marshall was an absolute delight, his words resonating with profound wisdom and practical advice. I trust you'll enjoy and benefit from this conversation just as much as I did.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Marshall: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube Marshall’s Book: The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment Recommended by Marshall: The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right Watch this film: American Underdog Related Conversation: Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen Related Blog Post: The Power of Bit by Bit Productivity Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast originally released in May 2018, I spoke with Marc and Angel Chernoff. Marc and Angel are the authors of the book Getting Back To Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality and Turn Your Trials Into Triumphs and this episode is being re-released to celebrate their latest effort, The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts and Reflections to Start Every Day.In this insightful episode, we delve into the importance of daily habits and rituals in shaping our identity and driving personal growth. "We are what we do on a daily basis," emphasizes the importance of daily practices and their cumulative effect on our lives.A central theme throughout our discussion is the narrative we create with our thoughts. According to Marc and Angel, these stories we tell ourselves significantly influence our perception of reality. A striking revelation from the discussion is that "98% of the time, the problem is not the problem, it's something deeper."Key Discussion Points Our identity is largely shaped by our daily habits and rituals. Rituals act as the foundation for mindfulness and personal growth. Journaling is a powerful tool for self-inquiry, especially during stressful experiences. The stories we tell ourselves influence our perception of reality. 98% of the time, the problem we think we're facing is not the actual problem; it's something deeper. Recording and reviewing our thoughts can bring clarity and awareness. Visual reminders and an accountability system are practical strategies to implement these principles. Self-accountability can be enhanced by formulating questions about our experiences and having someone read them back to us. Links Worth Exploring Connect with Marc and Angel: Website | Facebook | Instagram Marc and Angel's Latest Book: The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts and Reflections to Start Every Day Check out the book discussed on this episode: Getting Back To Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality and Turn Your Trials Into Triumphs Related Conversation: Episode 245: What Happy Successful People Do Differently with Marc and Angel Chernoff Related Blog Post: Why You Shouldn’t Spend Time Journaling In The Morning (And What You Should Do Instead) Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I'm joined by an exceptional guest, Shannon McClay. Shannon is the CEO and founder of the Financial Gym, a revolutionary financial services company breaking barriers in the realm of financial wellness. Throughout our conversation, we deep-dive into the motivating factors behind the inception of her company, exploring the challenges, prejudices, and anxieties that individuals often grapple with when handling their personal finances.We also take a journey through the origin story of the Financial Gym and uncover the secrets behind its success. Prepare for an insightful discussion filled with stories, wisdom, and actionable advice.Key Discussion Points We discuss the aphorism "time is money" and what holds true from that concept (and what doesn't) My own personal and somewhat rocky relationship with money. How someone can break through some of their biases associated with money The approach that Shannon takes people through when trying to help them become more financially fit Shannon shares her thoughts and insights on conventional financial advice/theory that doesn't really fly with her Shannon’s wisdom, drawn from her extensive experience as the founder of the Financial Gym, truly emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and its impact on all areas of our lives. As we conclude this podcast, remember Shannon's key message: managing your money should be empowering, not intimidating.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Shannon: Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Check out: The Financial Gym Listen to Shannon's podcast: Martinis and Your Money Related Conversation: Episode 374: How to Be Time Smart with Ashley Whillans Related Blog Post: Money and Time Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm joined by special guest Megan Hyatt Miller, co-author of "Mind Your Mindset: The Science that Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking." Megan is the President and CEO of Full Focus and co-host of the popular Business Accelerator podcast. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Megan shares her insights on how to improve our relationship with time, cultivate productivity, and achieve balance in our lives.Key Discussion Points Megan Hyatt Miller's background, her role at Full Focus, and her experience as a co-host on Lead to Win An introduction to "Mind Your Mindset" and the importance of mindset in personal and professional success The three "I's" and their impact on our mindset and approach to life Exploring the West Wing and its relevance to our conversation on mindset The role of reason and intuition in shaping our mindset and decision-making process Join me for this fascinating conversation with Megan Hyatt Miller as we delve into the concept of minding our mindset and discuss practical strategies to improve balance and productivity in our lives. From the three "I's" to reason and intuition, you'll find valuable insights and inspiration to help you succeed in both work and life.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Megan: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Buy Megan's book: Mind Your Mindset: The Science That Shows Success Starts with Your Thinking Listen to Michael Hyatt's appearances on the show: Episode 239 | Episode 289 Related Conversation: Episode 220: The Serving Mindset with Farnoosh Brock Related Blog Post: When (And How) The “Time Theming” Mindset Doesn’t Work Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm thrilled to have Donna McGeorge, author of "The 1-Day Refund" and a renowned productivity coach, join me for an insightful conversation about making the most of our time and working smarter. With her innovative approach, Donna challenges traditional thinking around leadership, productivity, and workplace efficacy.Key Discussion Points Donna McGeorge's background and her journey to becoming a productivity coach The concept behind "The 1-Day Refund" and how it can transform our approach to time management The importance of capacity and energy in achieving productivity and work-life balance The power of stopping and making time for things that truly matter Mutual admiration: how our views on time management and productivity align Don't miss this engaging conversation with Donna McGeorge as we dive deep into the elements of her book, discuss our shared perspectives on productivity, and explore ways to make your work work for you. Tune in to learn how to take back time and spend it wisely, so you can maximize your potential and enjoy a more balanced life.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Donna: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram Buy Donna's book: The 1 Day Refund: Take Back Time, Spend it Wisely Related Conversation: Episode 374: How to Be Time Smart with Ashley Whillans Related Blog Post: The Power of Bit by Bit Productivity Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we dive into an engaging discussion with Oscar Trimboli.Oscar is an author, the host of the award-winning podcast Deep Listening, and a keynote speaker dedicated to promoting positive change through listening. As a marketing and technology veteran, he has worked with major organizations, including Microsoft, Google, and HSBC, to transform leadership through effective listening.We cover topics such as the importance of eye contact, the nuances of communication, and even touch on my own "hometown" messaging. Oscar provides valuable insights throughout, and we're excited for you to learn from this enriching conversation. Enjoy the episode!Links Worth Exploring Connect with Oscar: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube Buy Oscar's book: How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication Related Conversation: Crafting Conscious Communications with Mary Shores Related Blog Post: 2 Quotes That Will Help You Be (Truly) Productive Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another vault episode! This week I am excited to feature my conversation with David Allen, the creator of the Getting Things Done methodology.David joins us to delve deeper into the GTD methodology and how it has evolved since its inception in 2001. While there were some technical difficulties during our conversation, this episode is still a must-listen for anyone looking to streamline their productivity.Throughout the episode, David shares some insightful thoughts on GTD, including his involvement in writing the new book, Getting Things Done for Teens, and why he believes teenagers need GTD more now than ever before. We also discussed the challenges of adapting the GTD methodology for teens and how he's changed his approach when teaching GTD over the years. David even revealed his thoughts on the most challenging aspect of GTD, which surprisingly hasn't changed since its introduction.One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was when we discussed the renaissance of analog tools and why they've made a comeback. David's insights on this topic were thought-provoking and added a new perspective on the benefits of analog tools in today's digital age. Overall, this episode provided a wealth of knowledge on the evolution of the GTD methodology and why it continues to be relevant today.Thanks for listening and be sure to tune in next time for more great conversations!Links Worth Exploring Connect with David: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Read David's book Getting Things Done for Teens Getting Things Done | The David Allen Company Related Conversation: Getting Things Done for Teens with Mike Williams Related Blog Post: The Evolution of Contexts Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I had a fantastic conversation with Richard Medcalf, the author of the book "Making Time for Strategy". He's a unique blend of a McKinsey consultant, an unorthodox pastor, and an entrepreneur, and he's the founder of X Quadrant. Richard is also a trusted advisor to exceptional CEOs and entrepreneurs, and their leadership teams.During our chat, we talked about his book, where we covered a lot of interesting topics. We started by exploring the idea of firefighting, and how it can prevent us from making time for strategy. We also delved into the phrasing we use when trying to free ourselves from obligations and the difference between obligations and commitments. It's a paradoxical situation that many of us can find ourselves in, and we had an enlightening discussion on how to navigate it.Richard's book is packed with essential insights and strategies that can help you make time for what's truly important in your life, whether that's personal or professional. We only scratched the surface during our conversation, but I encourage you to read the book for more in-depth advice.Overall, it was a great conversation, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could have talked to Richard for hours, but we distilled the essential elements from the book for our listeners. However, don't just take my word for it; listen to the episode!Links Worth Exploring Connect with Richard: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn Buy Richard's book Making Time for Strategy Visit XQuadrant.com for more resources Related Conversation: The Bullet Journal Method with Ryder Carroll Related Blog Post: Yes Before No Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of A Productive Conversation with Mike Vardy!I'm excited to have Mike Rucker joining me today, who's a fellow World Domination Summit attendee. It's funny how we haven't met in person yet, but that's just how life goes sometimes. Mike is a behavioral scientist, organizational psychologist, and a charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He's also been published in prestigious academic journals like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research.Mike's work has been featured in many well-known publications like The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Psychology Today, and Fast Company. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Today, we'll be discussing his latest book, The Fun Habit, which is a wonderful read. I love the two words in the title: fun and habit. In our conversation, we explore how pursuing joy and wonder can change your life, and how these words are interchangeable.The book's message is powerful: find delight, fix unhappy. I hope you feel the same about this episode.Links Worth Exploring Connect with Mike: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Buy Mike's book The Fun Habit Related Conversation: Off the Clock with Laura Vanderkam Related Blog Post: How to Blog Funny Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of A Productive Conversation, we had the pleasure of speaking with Erik Qualman, a best-selling author and keynote speaker who has reached over 50 million people in over 55 countries! We dive into his latest book, The Focus Project, and explore the topic of focus and how it can impact your life.We discuss the importance of focus, what you can do if you lose focus, and how fear and focus are interconnected. Did you know that Erik was voted the second most likable author in the world, just behind Harry Potter's JK Rowling? We explore the idea of likability and how it can impact your success.And that's not all, folks! We'll even get into the nitty-gritty details of Erik's iconic green glasses, the power of willpower, and even touch on the topic of Green Lantern. So, sit back, relax, and join us for an exciting conversation with Erik Qualman!Links Worth Exploring Connect with Erik: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Buy Erik's latest book The Focus Project Related Conversation: The Four Tendencies with Gretchen Rubin Related Blog Post: Being Green Thanks to all of the sponsors of this episode. You can find all of the sponsors you heard me mention on this episode on our Podcast Sponsors page.Want to support the podcast? Beyond checking out our sponsors, you can subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Click on any of the links below to make that happen.Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | StitcherYou can also click on this link to paste the podcast feed into your podcast app of choice.Thanks again for listening to A Productive Conversation. See you later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices