The Friday Habit

This episode of The Friday Habit podcast is dedicated to everyone out there who is looking for a little extra help to maintain or improve their productivity, particularly those people who find themselves thinking “Isn’t there an app out there that can help me with this one thing I need to do AND is well-designed and beautiful to stare at?!” Rest assured that Ben and Mark have got you covered.Here is Mark’s list:Spark Mail – This app for Apple and iOS allows you to combine all of your email inboxes into one, snooze emails that you aren’t ready to address yet, schedule responses, pin urgent emails to the top of your inbox, and collaborate with your team members on specific emails without bogging down your inbox.Paste – This app is like an archived copy + paste function. It allows you to scroll through your clipboard and retrieve previously copied content so you can paste it now. There is also an iPhone app, so you can integrate your computer and phone seamlessly.Overcast – A podcast curation app that compiles all of your subscribed podcasts into one place, Overcast provides you with the ability to share specific clips of episodes with people and has a smart speed function that can make episodes shorter without distorting the audio.Pixelmator Pro – If you have ever needed an app like Photoshop but you haven’t wanted to shell out the serious cash required by an Adobe subscription, Pixelmator Pro is the answer to all of your problems. Just trust us on this one.Calcbot – Essentially, this is a simple calculator with an archive function that allows you to go back to previous calculations for reference.And here is Ben’s list:Things – Things is a to-do list and project management app that Ben describes as “simple, minimal, powerful, and intentional” which allows you to schedule tasks and reminders in an environment that promotes productivity.Bear – This is an app for writing and note-taking which features tags, markdown, search, and full-screen focus functions.Mindnode – Mindnode is an app for mind mapping, which is great for brainstorming and so much more.Tempo – An email app which is currently in beta, Tempo aims to solve your email problem by batch delivering new emails into your inbox at specified times and showing you one email at a time for you to categorize or respond to.Loom – Loom allows you to record your screen or your face or both and easily share these videos with others.Your action item after this episode is to take a look at your apps and evaluate which ones are really helping you, perhaps investing in a few new apps that will help you be more productive.Links:Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/ Spark Mail: https://sparkmailapp.com/ Paste: https://pasteapp.io/ Overcast: https://overcast.fm/ Pixelmator Pro: https://www.pixelmator.com/ Calcbot: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calcbot-2/id376694347 Things: https://culturedcode.com/ Bear: https://bear.app/ Mindnode: https://mindnode.com/ Tempo: https://www.yourtempo.co/ Loom: https://www.loom.com/ Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

On this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, we are finishing up the discussion started last week about the daily rituals that Mark and Ben practice to help them be more productive while still having plenty of time with their families. Ben gets up and intentionally gives his wife some time to herself before he leaves for work, fixing her coffee, and taking care of breakfast for the kids so she can prepare for the day. Next, he usually goes for a run with his son followed by taking a cold shower and riding his electric bike or one-wheel to work. Once he gets to work, he immediately jumps into the most important task that he has set aside for himself the night before, using the pomodoro technique and/or the Portal app to help him concentrate.Mark wakes up before the rest of his family so he can have his coffee and take time to clear his head before starting his day. Next, he goes to the gym (when it is open) and spends some time in the sauna followed by heading to work on his electric bike if the weather is good. Once he gets to work, he gets to a zero inbox using the Spark mail app. This app allows you to easily categorize emails, snooze them if you want to be reminded to reply later, schedule emails to be sent later, collaborate with team members, and create and use templates. Another mail app that Ben recommends is Tempo, which is set up to make you focus on only one message at a time.Your action item after this episode is to think through your current routine and consider tweaks that you can make to jumpstart your productivity and creativity in the morning.Links:Smaggle article: http://www.smaggle.com/4-slightly-weird-morning-rituals-that-will-change-your-life/Portal app: https://portal.app/ $50 off Rad Power Bikes:https://www.talkable.com/x/xqRj0aSpark app: https://sparkmailapp.com/ Tempo app: https://www.yourtempo.co/ Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

On this episode of The Friday Habit, our topic is evening rituals for entrepreneurs with families and the idea that a great day starts the day before. Once the workday ends every day, Mark and Ben are both committed to spending intentional and focused time with their families over dinner where everyone discusses their highlights and lowlights from the day. They also try to do an activity like a walk, a game, or play outside together after dinner and read together before the kids go to bed. They believe that it is important to be present with their kids when they are young and to build strong bonds that will keep their families close even after the kids have grown.Ben finds separation from work and home by riding his electric bike home and mentally transitioning to family time on the way. Mark and Ben both set their clothes out for the next day on the night before and try to do some reflective journaling as well as preparing a to-do list and/or a priority task for the morning. They have both found that this family-focused and forward-thinking routine allows them to be meaningfully productive, focused on the things that matter most.Links:Day One app: https://dayoneapp.com/ Portal app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/portal-focus-sleep-escape/id1436994560 Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Maybe you are like Ben and Mark and you’ve found that positivity helps you have better personal and professional success in life. Or maybe you are one of those people who Mark and Ben smile at relentlessly in the elevator until you make eye contact and smile back. Either way, this episode of The Friday Habit podcast is intended to give you practical pointers for promoting positivity. When you find yourself struggling with negativity or pessimism, try these ways of improving your attitude:Identify the source – Ask yourself why you are feeling this way. If it’s helpful, you could write it down to help you trace the source better.Go for a walk – Even a 5-minute mental break that raises your heart rate has been proven to improve your mood and help you have a clearer mind.Take a short nap – Taking a 15-minute nap has a unique way of refreshing your mind and body to give you a fresh perspective on even the toughest problems.Do something creative – Do something with your hands like working with clay, painting, drawing, or making music that will give you the headspace to think.Meditate and breathe – Take a few deep breaths - with your eyes closed if you feel like it – to get centered and give your mind even a few seconds of calm.Eat healthy – Eating junk food (or not eating at all) can really bring down your attitude, so have a stash of healthy snacks nearby to give you a quick pick-me-up.Put things in perspective – Remind yourself what you have already overcome in life and in this situation and remember that things will not always be the way they are right now.Listen to upbeat music – Sometimes music can help you process things better than anything else. Check out some of the playlists linked below if you need a place to start.Hang out with positive friends – You are the sum of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Think about that. If you want to be a more positive person, surround yourself with positive people.Acknowledge the good things – Have an attitude of gratitude and keep the right perspective. A great way to do this is by working it into your morning routine.Remember that your attitude shapes your present and your future and you have the power to shape your attitude.Links:Morning Motivation playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXc5e2bJhV6puChill Covers playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DWXnscMH24yOcLobby Music playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO1pfLKkThe Enneagram: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-testConnect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com Ben:https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/Mark:https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Within the first few clicks on the websites of most organizations, you can find their mission and vision statements that they communicate to the world. But what do they communicate internally? Access.mobile International’s Todd Evenson has focused his journey as an entrepreneur and leader on the establishment of the values of the organization first, before crafting the mission and vision that are expected by consumers. Essentially, your values, mission, and vision outline the who, what, and why you are in business.The values of your business are those things that you want to consciously do and the behaviors you expect of yourself and your employees. If you were to sit down and think about the values you want to establish, a good place to start is with the values that would combat the things that make your stomach hurt. If dishonesty is a deal-breaker for you (as it should be), then set up honesty in all things as a core value, for example. Your values should be specific, aspirational, and easily understood so that you can gauge whether potential hires are a good culture fit for your organization.It is also important that you train your employees to recognize and understand the significance of these values in the midst of everyday tasks. Prioritize the values for them and train them to make decisions based on those priorities, then empower them to make decisions within that framework whether you are involved or not.Once you have been in business long enough to understand your market position and how you are meeting the needs of your consumers, now it is time to determine your mission. A mission statement starts with a belief and is typically short, clear, and answers the “why” question. This will help you craft a vision, which is the 30,000 foot view of your purpose. You could think of your vision as the impact on the world if your organization had perfect execution on a broad scale.Connect with Todd:https://www.accessmobile.io/https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-evenson-4a66008Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Ben has multiple personalities – sort of. But you likely do too: Boss You and Worker You. Boss You is the one who plans out the tasks and objectives, puts them on a to-do list, and allocates a certain amount of time for those things to be completed. Boss You is optimistic, ambitious, not very realistic, not very thorough, and doesn’t know how to prioritize things.Worker You is the one who receives the to-do list from Boss You, complete with the timing expectations and little else. Worker You is also optimistic, but skeptical of the plan that Boss You has drawn up, prone to distraction, and likely to complete the easiest things over the most important. So how should Boss You be a better boss to Worker You?Prioritize tasks – Choose 1-3 specific things that are the most important or time-sensitive for that day.Prepare – Pull up the necessary background information necessary before Worker You can get to work.Set realistic goals – Don’t expect Worker You to be able to build a whole website in an hour or edit a video in 15 minutes.Be kind to yourself – Be understanding and reasonable with Worker You. Emphasize quality over quantity.And how should Worker You be a better worker?Trust your plan – Don’t question the priorities or timelines given.Focus on execution – Reduce the potential for distractions so you can just work.Make yourself proud – Work hard and build up your self-trust.Your action item after this episode is to imagine that Boss You is creating this to-do list for someone else and think through the prioritization and research that should be done first.Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

On this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, our guest is David Hepburn of Hepburn Creative. He and his team are committed to optimizing the video platform for their clients before, during, and after the coronavirus pandemic crisis. Since the vast majority of business meetings (and many personal ones as well) have transitioned so abruptly to video, it is likely that you haven’t had the time to put much thought into how you come across to your colleagues on screen. David provides listeners of The Friday Habit with 5 simple ways to improve how people view you in meetings over video.Change your perspective – Your camera should be just below your eye level. This will allow everyone else on the call to look up to you a bit, elevating you in their minds.Adjust your room lighting – Make sure you do not sit with a window behind you, but rather in front of you. Also, try not to mix different lighting temperatures: use daylight lightbulbs if you are doing calls during the day and warm lightbulbs if you do more calls at night.Optimize your audio – Be conscious of the background noise around you and try to choose a microphone option that will isolate your voice as much as possible. Headphones with a microphone right by your mouth are probably the best for this scenario.Be mindful of your background – Try to limit the likelihood that people will be distracted by what is going on behind you. A blank wall is a great option for video calls. It is also important that you either turn off your ceiling fan or make sure that it is not on camera, as this will cause problems for your camera and connectivity.Be intentional about what you wear – Avoid wearing stripes and tight patterns. Even though the human eye can distinguish and process patterns like this, cameras are not able to translate them properly and this can be a distractor for the others on the call with you.Your action item after this episode is to come up with an immediate solution to give you the proper camera angle.Connect with David:https://hepburncreative.com/https://hepburncreative.com/#training https://www.instagram.com/hepburncreative/ Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss specific ways to come up with ideas for your business throughout the year, but particularly during this time of COVID-19 quarantine. Undoubtedly, you have noticed many businesses shifting their methodology and messaging out of necessity such as coffee shops and restaurants offering convenience and grocery items for sale to customers. If you are struggling to come up with creative solutions like this for your own business, here are 3 places to start your brainstorming:Cross-pollinating from other industries – Take a step back from your industry and survey the entire market, thinking about existing ideas and concepts that you could apply to your own business in an innovative way. There are transferrable ideas all over the place if you just take the time to think through the application for your own niche.Applying imaginary limitations to your business – We are all learning to adapt our businesses to align with the societal and governmental regulations of business operations during this time of COVID-19, but you might also benefit from putting hypothetical restrictions on yourself. For instance, if you had to limit the time or resources used to complete a project, think through what adjustments to your systems or processes would need to be made? If you were to be incapacitated for a week, what would need to be in place for your team to be able to pick up your workload and seamlessly carry on with business?Use the Friday Habit program – Get the free download from our website that will walk you through how to allocate one day a week to spend on your business instead of in your business. This method of constant improvement and evaluation is a great way to continually innovate.Your action item this week is to do the cross-pollination brainstorming exercise at the link below.Links:https://knapsackcreative.com/blog/1-simple-method-to-generate-innovative-business-ideasConnect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Our topic on this episode of The Friday Habit is using podcasting to communicate, inspire, motivate, and connect. There are nearly 1 million podcasts available to listeners at this point in 2020, and you likely subscribe to or listen to at least a few episodes per month. While it might have been complex to launch a podcast back in 2005 when Ben and Mark were both starting to dabble in the platform, technological advances in the past 15 years have drastically reduced the barriers to entry and made it almost effortless for new podcasters to launch their shows.As with most things in life, it is important to start with “why”, so if you are considering starting a podcast, here are a few things to consider:Podcasts capture your audience’s attention – Podcasting as a platform has much higher completion rates than blog posts.You can create a personalized experience for your listeners – People are drawn in by the conversational format.They help you build and maintain important network connections – As a branding strategy, having a podcast can act as lead generation and increase brand awareness.Podcasting can open up a new financial avenue – If you are able to gather enough downloads per episode, you could be eligible for sponsorships and advertising deals to generate additional income.Having a podcast positions you as a thought leader in your industry – When you add value to your listeners and share your knowledge with the world through podcasting, people will view you as an industry expert.Once you are ready to get started, there are some questions you can ask yourself to determine your show topic or idea and how to make people want to listen to it. You can also download a FREE guide that walks you through all of the logistics of launching a podcast on https://www.BrandViva.comLinks to things we talked about:Podcast Hosting Platform: https://transistor.fm/Podcast Recording Platform: https://squadcast.fm/?ref=marklabriolaiiConnect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Welcome back to the continuation of Ben and Mark’s interview with Jonathan Stark on The Friday Habit podcast. Jonathan says that it is important to determine the metrics that a client is using or looking for during discussions with them about potential projects or else you will never be successful, and they will never be satisfied. Many clients say that they want to be “thought leaders”, but they are really looking for specific outcomes that they feel like would make them thought leaders, so getting to the root of what they want is the key to your success and, in turn, theirs.When it comes to working with retainers or on a subscription model, it is important to treat each of these long-term relationships uniquely, specifying the outcomes and deliverables for each client and pricing based on the overall scope of the monthly requirements. You are not doing yourself or your client any favors by promising that you will spend a certain number of hours on them every week or every month, so be sure to price based on the value to the client rather than the time it will take. Jonathan specifically talks about the advisory retainer model where clients pay you for your initial strategy as well as variations of overseeing the projects.Jonathan sets out a detailed and straightforward narrative for shifting your mindset and that of your clients from an hourly pricing model to value-based pricing in a way that reduces the risk for the client and ensures that their project will not go over budget. He recommends that freelancers offer this value-based and risk-reduced pricing model at an 85% markup from their traditional hourly rate.He also delves into the pros and cons of productized services and the question he asks himself before agreeing to work with a client. The action item he recommends after this episode is to think about your positioning and target market and to educate yourself about value-based pricing, perhaps through his free email course.Links:https://valuepricingbootcamp.com Connect with Jonathan: https://jonathanstark.com/https://www.thebusinessofauthority.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanstark https://twitter.com/jonathanstark?lang=en Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/