Coaching for Leaders

431: Align Your Calendar to What Matters, with Nir Eyal

Listen Later
Nir Eyal: Indistractable

Nir Eyal is one of the most respected experts on the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. The MIT Technology Review has called him, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.”

He previously authored the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products* which received tremendous traction in the technology and entrepreneurial communities. Now, he’s turned his attention to how we can control our attention in a world of complexity.

His new book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life*, challenges some of the traditional misconceptions about distractions. In this conversation, Nir and I discuss the practical steps on how to align your calendar with what matters most.

Key Points
  • Being a professional is doing what you say you’re going to do.
  • Most people don’t know what they are going to do. Research shows only a third of Americans keep a daily schedule.
  • If you don’t plan your time, someone else will plan it for you.
  • Look to executive leaders for inspiration on being intentional with time.
  • Move away from the to-do list and instead begin the discipline of timeboxing your calendar.
    • Resources Mentioned
    • Resources Nir mentioned in our conversation
    • Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life* by Nir Eyal
      • Book Notes

      Download my highlights from Indistractable in PDF format (free membership required).

      Related Episodes
      • Getting Things Done, with David Allen (episode 184)
      • How to Transform Your Limitations Into Advantages, with Mark Barden (episode 207)
      • The Way to Stop Spinning Your Wheels on Planning (episode 319)
        • Discover More

        Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Coaching for LeadersBy Dave Stachowiak
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8
        • 4.8

        4.8

        1,393 ratings

        More shows like Coaching for Leaders

        View all
        The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

        The Look & Sound of Leadership

        1,169 Listeners

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

        The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

        1,340 Listeners

        Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

        Teaching in Higher Ed

        374 Listeners

        HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

        HBR IdeaCast

        139 Listeners

        Negotiate Anything by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.

        Negotiate Anything

        716 Listeners

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job

        1,034 Listeners

        Worklife with Molly Graham by TED

        Worklife with Molly Graham

        9,113 Listeners

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

        Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

        97 Listeners

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast by John Maxwell

        Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast

        380 Listeners

        Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

        Inside the Strategy Room

        171 Listeners

        No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

        No Bullsh!t Leadership

        125 Listeners

        The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

        The Anxious Achiever

        571 Listeners

        Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

        Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

        845 Listeners

        A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

        A Bit of Optimism

        2,216 Listeners

        Coaching Real Leaders by Muriel Wilkins

        Coaching Real Leaders

        674 Listeners

        HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

        HBR On Leadership

        174 Listeners