Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship

Optimal Living Daily | Dan W.

Episodes

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Oct 27, 2025 • 5min

1853: [Part 1] Should I Work Full or Part-Time as I Build My Business by Laura of Women Who Money on What to Expect as Your Business Expands

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 1853: Laura shares actionable advice for maintaining full or part-time employment while launching a business, offering a smart path to reduce financial stress and gain valuable experience. Her guidance empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to build with intention, stability, and long-term success in mind. Read along with the original article(s) here:⁠ https://womenwhomoney.com/work-full-or-part-time-while-building-business/⁠ Quotes to ponder: "Working a day job can also give you the confidence to make better business decisions because you aren't operating from a place of financial desperation." "Your paycheck provides money to pay your bills, cover healthcare costs, and contribute to your retirement account while you build your business." "You may need to give up some social time, TV, or other hobbies to free up hours to work on your business." Episode references: The Lean Startup:⁠ https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898
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Oct 26, 2025 • 7min

1852: How to Do Business with Different Personality Types by Lisa H with Dig To Fly on Building Stronger Connections in Business

Explore how recognizing different personality types can transform your business interactions. Learn how to adapt your communication to resonate with others, enhancing relationships and reducing friction. Discover the four key personality categories: creative social types, results-focused drivers, supportive team players, and analytical perfectionists. Understand how tailoring your approach can lead to more effective collaboration and success. Embrace the idea that being aware of your own behavior can deepen connections in the professional world.
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Oct 25, 2025 • 6min

1851: The Dangers of Searching for Meaningful Work: A Letter to Employers and Employees by Dr. Benjamin Ritter

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 1851: Dr. Benjamin Ritter challenges the modern obsession with "meaningful work," revealing how the search for fulfillment from employers often leads to disengagement and turnover. He argues that true meaning isn't found, it's created, through personal accountability and job crafting. Both employees and employers must shift focus: employees must own their sense of purpose, while employers should empower them to shape roles they can love. Read along with the original article(s) here:⁠ https://www.liveforyourselfconsulting.com/articles/2020/12/14/the-dangers-of-searching-for-meaningful-work-a-letter-to-employers-and-employees⁠ Quotes to ponder: "Employees are searching for meaningful work and feel that meaning is something they can find, or something an employer can give them." "The idea that your work should 'give' you meaning, as if it's responsible for how you feel, is incredibly misleading." "The only thing an employer can actually give their employees is the power to craft a job they can love from a job they have."
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Oct 24, 2025 • 7min

1850: What to Do When Employees Don't Meet Expectations AND 5 Reasons Why We Need to Develop Leaders by Amber Waugaman

Explore effective strategies for addressing employee underperformance with compassion and clear communication. Discover the importance of proactive leadership and the need to model accountability in the workplace. Learn how developing leaders is crucial for long-term success and adaptability, contributing to enhanced profitability and a thriving organizational culture. Challenge the myth that leadership is innate by understanding that it can be cultivated, ensuring companies stay competitive in rapidly changing environments.
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Oct 23, 2025 • 7min

1849: Why Do Ideas Spread? 5 Factors That Make a Difference by David Burkus with Goins Writer on Sharing Ideas that Inspire and Connect

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 1849: David Burkus explains that even the most brilliant ideas fail to spread without the right conditions. Drawing from Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation, he highlights five key factors, relative advantage, compatibility, simplicity, trialability, and observability, that determine whether creative work gains traction or fades unnoticed. Understanding these principles helps creators refine their message so audiences not only notice their ideas but also share them. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/ideas-spread/ Quotes to ponder: "Despite our oft-stated desire for more creativity, we also hold a stronger desire for certainty and structure." "Relative advantage is what most people think of when they visualize something being 'creative.'" "For your work to be seen, it has to depart from the status quo. But that departure makes many people uncomfortable." Episode references: The Art of Work: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Work-Proven-Path-Discovering/dp/0718022076 Real Artists Don't Starve: https://www.amazon.com/Real-Artists-Dont-Starve-Creativity/dp/0718086260 Diffusion of Innovations: https://www.amazon.com/Diffusion-Innovations-5th-Everett-Rogers/dp/0743222091 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 22, 2025 • 9min

1848: Release the Pressure to Unleash Your Creativity by Jay Harrington of Life and Whim on Letting Go to Find Creative Flow

Explore the journey of reclaiming creativity by letting go of self-imposed pressure. Discover how unrealistic expectations can stifle creative joy and the importance of redefining success. Hear insights on easing financial burdens to sustain new ventures and the value of effort over external validation. Learn how the internet has removed barriers for creators, encouraging everyone to embrace imperfections and start producing. This discussion highlights that true creativity flourishes in a space of freedom and purpose.
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Oct 21, 2025 • 6min

1847: Why Responding to Distractions Does Not Make You Valuable by Carl Pullein on Productivity, Focus, and True Value at 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 1847: Carl Pullein reminds us that constant responsiveness does not define our worth, what truly matters is the quality of what we create. By embracing time blocking and carving out distraction-free hours, we reclaim our ability to focus deeply, produce meaningful work, and build real value rather than merely reacting to noise. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.carlpullein.com/blog/why-responding-to-distractions-does-not-make-you-valuable/30/8/2017 Quotes to ponder: "Your value to your company and the world at large is not that you are responsive, but the work you bring to the world." "There is no value in responding to an interruption within thirty seconds." "Take a look at your calendar and find a period of time each day where you have no meetings or appointments and block that time out." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 20, 2025 • 6min

1846: How to Accurately Estimate Costs of Starting a Business by Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog on Managing Start-Up Costs with Confidence

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 1846: Kalen Bruce breaks down the complex process of estimating startup costs into a practical, strategic approach for new entrepreneurs. By categorizing expenses, leveraging online tools, and maintaining conservative projections, he shows how to build a realistic financial foundation while avoiding unnecessary debt and cultivating resilience in the face of uncertainty. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://moneyminiblog.com/business/estimate-costs-of-starting-a-business/ Quotes to ponder: "Interest rates are a dark cloud that looms over your business and the last thing you should do is ignore it." "Plan changes as the financial winds turn, and that is the name of the game if you want to succeed." "Always aim for a conservative assessment. It will help you secure what is called a financial cushion that covers up to one year of business expenses." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 19, 2025 • 6min

1845: [Part 2] 5 Common Small Business Mistakes We Made Early On With Our Online Store by Steve Chou of MyWifeQuitHerJob

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 1845: Steve Chou reveals how clinging too tightly to control and penny-pinching early on can actually stunt your business growth. From delaying hires and skimping on infrastructure to misjudging demand, his lessons show that smart investments of time, money, and trust are what truly accelerate success. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://mywifequitherjob.com/top-5-mistakes-we-made-early-on-with-our-online-store/ Quotes to ponder: "In the grand scheme of things, you can make a ton of mistakes and still be successful so don't fret the small stuff." "Your brain is the most important part of your business. The sooner you realize that your time is valuable, the sooner that your store will become successful." "By hiring someone to help out with the easy but tedious tasks, we could have spent our time on work that only we could do." Episode references: ShippingEasy: https://shippingeasy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 18, 2025 • 6min

1844: [Part 1] 5 Common Small Business Mistakes We Made Early On With Our Online Store by Steve Chou of MyWifeQuitHerJob

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 1844: Steve Chou reveals the costly lessons learned from building his first online store, emphasizing how frugality and cutting corners can hinder growth. He shares how choosing the cheapest vendors and misjudging product costs led to lost time, lower profits, and wasted effort, valuable insights for any entrepreneur aiming to scale smarter, not cheaper. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://mywifequitherjob.com/top-5-mistakes-we-made-early-on-with-our-online-store/ Quotes to ponder: "Low prices always come with a catch." "If you are getting a price quote that seems abnormally low, it usually means that the vendor is cutting corners somehow." "We easily squandered more time and money than we were saving." Episode references: The Sellers Summit: https://sellerssummit.com Bumblebee Linens: https://bumblebeelinens.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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