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Focused

Latest episodes

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Oct 2, 2018 • 1h 1min

57: Chef = Boss

This episode is all about space. Mike and David discuss the role of Mise-en-place ("Everything in its place") with a successful free agency. Also, David talks about the effect of dedicated spaces on production, Mike is thinking about leaving his co-working space, and David is plotting a sabbatical, for more "space". This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes Support Free Agents with a Relay FM Membership Work Clean: The life-changing power of mise-en-place to organize your life, work, and mind: Dan Charnas: 9781623365929: Amazon.com: Books Amazon.com: The Dreadful Objects eBook: Chris Cooper: Kindle Store Use Siri Shortcuts - Apple Support Siri Shortcuts Field Guide | MacSparky Field Guides The Omni Group OmniFocus - task management for Mac, iPad, and iPhone - The Omni Group OmniFocus Field Guide, Third Edition | MacSparky Field Guides Free Agents #42: Learning Your Creative Rhythms, with Shawn Blanc - Relay FM Free Agents 55: The Math Works - Free Agents - MPU Talk54:27 - Feedback on David sans vehicle. Free Agents #55: The Math Works - Relay FM54:27 David explains how he no longer has a car. Free Agents #53: The Value of Your Time - Relay FM Free Agents #56: Iterate in Public, with Sean McCabe - Relay FM seanwes - Business Community for Creative Professionals Mac Power Users #442: Workflows with Joe Buhlig - Relay FM Playing for Fun #7: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Relay FM The Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch™ home gaming system and Wii U™ console – Official Site Membership - Relay FM Free Agents - Relay FM Free Agents (@freeagentsfm) | Twitter Mike on the Web David on the Web Latest Free Agents topics - MPU TalkA collection of Free Agents talking about the show and sticking it to the man.
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Sep 18, 2018 • 1h 19min

56: Iterate in Public, with Sean McCabe

Sean McCabe started his free agent journey as a designer doing hand lettering, and has built a successful online business through teaching what he knows. He joins David and Mike to talk about the lessons he's learned along the way, including the power of rest and why he takes a sabbatical every 7 weeks. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Guest Starring: Sean McCabe Links and Show Notes Support Free Agents with a Relay FM Membership Overlap – Start a Business While Working a Full-Time Job 380: Recovery From Depression (Part 1) | seanwes podcast Seventh Week Sabbaticals seanwes - Business Community for Creative Professionals Sean McCabe (@seanwes) | Twitter Sean McCabe (@seanwes) | Instagram
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Sep 4, 2018 • 1h 24min

55: The Math Works

Mike and David cover a variety of Free Agent topics including getting enough sleep, staying motivated, and David makes a big decision about his transportation. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Casper: The Internet’s favourite mattress. Get $50 off select mattresses with the code ‘FREEAGENTS’. Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes The Free Agents Forum Sleep Cycle alarm clock
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Aug 21, 2018 • 1h 26min

54: I Have to Try It, with Casey Liss

Podcaster and programmer Casey Liss joins David and Mike to talk about his Free Agent journey, what caused him to take the leap, the tendency to do too much, and his desire to pull the thread which has led to him becoming an Accidental YouTuber. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Guest Starring: Casey Liss Links and Show Notes Liss is More Casey Liss | YouTube Accidental Tech Podcast Analog(ue) | Relay FM Casey Liss (@caseyliss) | Twitter Casey Liss (@caseyliss) | Instagram
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Aug 7, 2018 • 1h 12min

53: The Value of Your Time

David and Mike talk about protecting your most valuable resource and how to figure out what you shouldn’t be doing anymore. Mike gets inspired during his personal retreat and learns how to say “no.” David learns the hard way from his recent travels but has a plan for what to do differently next time. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Hover: Show the world what you’re passionate about with 10% off your first purchase Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes Unique Ability® 2.0 by Catherine Nomura, Julia Waller, Shannon Waller Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport Timing (Mac app)
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Jul 24, 2018 • 1h 1min

52: You Can't Be What You Can't See with Ann Shen

Ann Shen started her career as a grant writer and realized the ladder she was climbing was leaning against the wrong wall. She then took the courageous step of going to art school and starting over again. Since then, with a combination of skill, grit, and newfound faith in herself, she's gone a long way as a Free Agent. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Hover: Show the world what you’re passionate about with 10% off your first purchase Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Guest Starring: Ann Shen Links and Show Notes Ann Shen • Illustration & Design Ann on Twitter The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle Ann on Instagram Ann's Books The Free Agents ForumThe new Free Agents forum. Automators - Relay FM
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Jul 10, 2018 • 55min

51: Freedom Frogs

David and Mike talk about why “eating your frog” is an important Free Agent survival skill. David talks through a pivot in his approach to book publishing. Mike shares his struggles with “Imposter Syndrome” and how he overcomes it. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey The Accidental Creative by Todd Henry The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Overlap: A simple strategy for closing the gap w/ Sean McCabe (Podcast) Headspace - Meditation and Mindfulness Made Simple Calm - Meditation Techniques for Sleep and Stress Reduction Day One - A simple and elegant journal for iPhone, iPad, and Mac Mike's Reflection Workflow Herman Miller Embody Office Chair
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Jun 26, 2018 • 45min

50: Bet on Yourself

Mike Schmitz joins as the new Free Agents co-host. In this episode, we get to know Mike better, learn about his journey, and discuss the show format going forward. This episode of Free Agents is sponsored by: Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Casper: The Internet’s favorite mattress. Get $50 off select mattresses with the code ‘FREEAGENTS’. Links and Show Notes MIke's website Mike on Twitter The New Free Agents Discourse ForumAfter recording the episode, we ended up moving the Facebook group to Discourse after all. Free Agents has a room on the Mac Power Users Discourse forum. Go check it out!
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Jun 12, 2018 • 48min

49: Panting to the Finish Line

Family members with employment issues remind Jason about just how far he's come; David grapples with letting go of control and working with an assistant; and Jason hands in his resignation and participates in an "exit interview" with David. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy. Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership
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May 29, 2018 • 55min

48: Lousy With the Stink of Freedom, with Merlin Mann

Podcaster Merlin Mann joins us to discuss his long journey as an independent worker, during which he's pivoted from tech guy to productivity expert to a specializer in cult hits. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Guest Starring: Merlin Mann Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Reconcilable Differences - Relay FM Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann 5by5 | Back to Work Do By Friday 43 Folders | Time, Attention, and Creative Work

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