Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship

Optimal Living Daily | Dan W.

Episodes

Mentioned books

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Sep 9, 2025 • 8min

1805: Stop Making Excuses, Make Choices Instead by Stephen Warley of Life Skills That Matter on How to Find Accountability

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1805: Stephen Warley explores how excuses quietly sabotage progress, keeping us stuck in familiar patterns instead of moving toward the life we want. By recognizing the hidden costs of rationalizing inaction, he shows how shifting from avoidance to accountability unlocks personal growth and freedom. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lifeskillsthatmatter.com/stop-making-excuses/ Quotes to ponder: "Excuses are little lies you tell yourself to avoid change." "Every time you make an excuse, you trade a little bit of your freedom." "Excuses are a habit, not a fact." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 8, 2025 • 7min

1804: 8 Signs You're Doing Marketing Wrong by Michael Levitt of Breakfast Leadership on How to Increase Engagement

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1804: Michael Levitt outlines eight crucial signs that your marketing strategy might be failing, like inconsistent messaging, unclear target audience, or relying too heavily on vanity metrics. This article offers practical guidance to help you realign your efforts for greater impact, better engagement, and measurable results. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/8-signs-youre-doing-marketing-wrong Quotes to ponder: "You don't have a clearly defined audience, or you try to appeal to everyone." "Your messaging is inconsistent or confusing, making it hard for people to understand what you actually offer." "If you're getting likes but not leads, your marketing might be more about vanity than value." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 7, 2025 • 5min

1803: Consider the Costs (and Benefits) of Entrepreneurial Failure by Isaac Morehouse on How to Embrace Discomfort

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1803: Isaac Morehouse explores how courage, not credentials, experience, or intelligence, is the most vital ingredient for creating a meaningful life. He challenges readers to stop waiting for permission and instead embrace the discomfort that comes with charting their own path. This compelling call to action strips away excuses and empowers individuals to take control of their future. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://isaacmorehouse.com/2015/06/12/2054/ Quotes to ponder: "Courage is the stuff of life. It is the foundation of all virtue." "Everything else is a shortcut that doesn't work, a lie we tell ourselves to excuse our unwillingness to act in uncertainty." "You don't need a degree, a resume, a title, an invitation, or anyone's permission to live fully right now." Episode references: The Tuttle Twins: https://tuttletwins.com/ How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 Man's Search for Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 6, 2025 • 8min

1802: Get Powerful People to Boost Your Business: 6 Steps to A Stellar Advisory Board by Christine Comaford

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1802: Christine Comaford explains how to attract influential advisors who can accelerate business growth by offering expertise, connections, and credibility. She outlines six practical steps to build a high-impact advisory board that strengthens decision-making and opens doors to new opportunities. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://smarttribesinstitute.com/get-powerful-people-to-boost-your-business-6-steps-to-a-stellar-advisory-board/ Quotes to ponder: "An Advisory Board can help you increase your credibility, make key connections, and provide invaluable guidance." "The key is to focus on advisors who are powerful, influential, and respected in your field." "Remember, the goal is to create a mutually beneficial relationship where both parties feel valued." Episode references: Think and Grow Rich: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331 The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Good to Great: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 5, 2025 • 7min

1801: Your Company Should Do Annual Career Counseling by Karl Staib of Dig to Fly on Reducing Work Stress

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1801: Karl Staib emphasizes the value of an annual career check-in as a way to step back, reflect, and realign your professional path with your personal values and long-term goals. By asking intentional questions about what's working, what needs improvement, and what brings fulfillment, you gain clarity to make better career decisions and reduce unnecessary stress. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/annual-career-counseling/ Quotes to ponder: "An annual career check-in helps you take a step back and look at your career with fresh eyes." "You deserve a career that energizes you instead of drains you." "When you take time to reflect, you create clarity and direction for your next step." Episode references: What Color Is Your Parachute?: https://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2022/dp/198485786X Design Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Design-Your-Life-Build-Well-Lived/dp/1101875321 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 4, 2025 • 8min

1800: Distractions and the Open Office Environment by Laura Stack of The Productivity Pro on How to Protect Deep Work

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1800: Laura Stack examines how open office layouts, while designed to boost collaboration, often lead to constant interruptions that drain focus and productivity. She highlights the hidden costs of distractions, offering strategies to manage interruptions, protect deep work, and create a balance between teamwork and individual concentration. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://theproductivitypro.com/blog/2015/02/distractions-and-the-open-office-environment/ Quotes to ponder: "Studies show that it takes an average of 25 minutes to return to the original task after an interruption." "Open environments are notorious for their noise and lack of privacy, which can derail even the most focused worker." "You must set boundaries and use strategies to protect your concentration, or your productivity will suffer." Episode references: Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams: https://www.amazon.com/Peopleware-Productive-Projects-Teams-3rd/dp/0321934113 The Myth of Multitasking: How "Doing It All" Gets Nothing Done: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Multitasking-Doing-Gets-Nothing/dp/0470372257 The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress: https://www.ics.uci.edu/~gmark/chi08-mark.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 3, 2025 • 8min

1799: How Many Hours Do You Have to Work to Feel Productive AND Pursue Metrics that Matter by Cal Newport

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1799: Cal Newport explores how our sense of productivity isn't tied to the sheer number of hours we work, but to how effectively we align effort with meaningful progress. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on metrics that truly matter rather than vanity measures, offering a framework for achieving a deeper, more satisfying sense of accomplishment. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/08/21/how-many-hours-do-you-have-to-work-to-feel-productive/ & https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2015/06/16/pursue-metrics-that-matter/ Quotes to ponder: "Feeling productive is not about how many hours you work but about whether those hours create results you value." "Metrics that matter are those that align with the core of what you're trying to achieve." "When you measure the wrong things, you risk dedicating your energy to efforts that look impressive but accomplish little." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 2, 2025 • 8min

1798: You Should Throw Away Your Charts Full of Numbers: Here's Why by Ryan H Law on Shaping Money Habits

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1798: Ryan H. Law explains why financial decisions are often driven more by emotions than by numbers, showing how feelings like fear, excitement, and guilt shape money habits. By recognizing these emotional triggers, we can make wiser financial choices and align money with our true values. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ryanhlaw.com/emotions-not-numbers/ Quotes to ponder: "Money decisions are rarely about the numbers, they are about the emotions behind the numbers." "When we can recognize and name the emotions we are feeling, we can begin to make better money choices." "Financial planning is less about spreadsheets and calculators and more about understanding human behavior." Episode references: Your Money or Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766 The Psychology of Money: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness/dp/0857197681 Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Than/dp/055338371X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Sep 1, 2025 • 7min

1797: How Entrepreneurs Can Think Like Venture Capitalists by Mike Smerklo on Long-Term Value Creation

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1797: Mike Smerklo explains how entrepreneurs can strengthen their decision-making by adopting a venture capitalist's perspective. By focusing on risk assessment, portfolio thinking, and long-term value creation, founders can make more strategic choices that increase resilience and growth potential. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.mikesmerklo.com/how-entrepreneurs-can-think-like-venture-capitalists/ Quotes to ponder: "VCs have to be able to assess risk and reward with incomplete information, and make bets accordingly." "Think of your entrepreneurial career as a portfolio, some bets will pay off, others won't." "The key is to keep playing, keep learning, and keep making smart, calculated bets." Episode references: The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898 Zero to One: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296 Venture Deals: https://www.amazon.com/Venture-Deals-Smarter-Lawyer-Capitalist/dp/1119594820 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Aug 31, 2025 • 7min

1796: [Part 2] Freelancer Rates: How to Set Them and Raise Them by Sandra Kenrick with I Will Teach You To Be Rich

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1796: Sandra Kenrick explains how freelancers can confidently set their hourly rate by aligning their income goals with real expenses and market demand. Her practical approach helps eliminate the guesswork, ensuring you charge what you're truly worth while building a sustainable business. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/freelance-hourly-rate/ Quotes to ponder: "Most people pick their freelance hourly rate by pulling a number out of thin air or copying what someone else charges." "When you know your numbers, you'll never have to feel guilty or unsure about your rates again." "Your rate should reflect your value, not just the hours you work." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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