80/20 Productivity

Episode Summary

In this episode of 2-minute Tuesday, I share 3 timeless strategies to help you stay on track for your goals

Podcast Episode mentioned: https://anthonysanni.com/podcast/ep-012-implementation-intentions-goal-setting-how-to-achieve-goals

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

Setting goals—also known as goal intentions—is simply not enough! What makes the real difference? That’s what this episode is about.

Through a combination of scientific research, personal experience and common-sense practicality, I explore Implementations Intentions and how they can help you go beyond goal intention to goal attainment. See timestamps below for some of the highlights.

Hope it helps.

Some of the main points—The Vital Few (TVF) Timestamps:

What is an implementation intention and how working out and getting fit is not just about setting goals

Hacking your own goal-pursuit behaviours—Why Implementation Intentions work (12:13)

No start, no achievement—Implementation Intentions and getting started (14:05)

When life happens—Preventing derailment and overcoming temptations (17:05)

Don’t get set in your ways—do Implementation intentions help you identify approaches that are not working? (20:50)

Overcoming the ego problem and becoming a robot, in a good way (24:20)

How to create solid and effective implementation intentions—Features of a good implementation intention based on research and experience (32:13)

Frequency, proximity and Convenience (35:15)

If/Then on steroids! Using If/then in deciding in advance (37:16)

Use technology smartly (40:05)

No magic bullet—Limitations of Implementation Intentions—and how you can fill the gaps (44:00)

Notes and References

Research on Implementation Intentions

Weakness of Will: Is a Quick Fix Possible? https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-014-9416-3

Implementation intentions in the entrepreneurial process: concept, empirical findings, and research agenda https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11187-017-9971-6

Implementation Intentions: Strong Effects of Simple Plans https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-05760-004

Book on Willpower: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Dr Roy F. Baumeister

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

Work is an important part of life—but it is only a part. Use an End of Day ritual to switch off work so you can do other things in your Vital Few.

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

We are good at meeting with others, but have you considered meeting with yourself as a way to saty on track and achieve your goals?

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

Should you be lazy? The answer might surprise you.

We often hear the advice to ‘work hard’. When we have difficulties, well-meaning people advise us to bear down, buckle-up or lean in and ‘work harder’.

But in this episode, we take a closer a look at this piece of advice in the light of the 80/20 principle. Specifically, I’ll introduce or reintroduce you to Zipf’s Law of least effort and how it can help you do more by doing less.

Some of the main points—The Vital Few (TVF) Timestamps:

The nerdy stuff: What is the Law of Least Effort? (1:35)

Can laziness be a virtue and the 2 kinds of laziness (07:05)

Misunderstanding the law of least effort, the false exaltation of hard work and the primacy of the goal (12:07)

The 3 keys to applying The Law of Least Effort (18:57)

Notes and References

The Principle of Least Effort and the Zipf Distribution (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1113/1/012007 )

Additive Bias Reference: There are many references to this cognitive bias, but a good article can be found in The Scientific American here: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/our-brain-typically-overlooks-this-brilliant-problem-solving-strategy/

Ancient philosophers regarding man as a teleological being: https://www.britannica.com/topic/teleology

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

Brad King is an Organizational Change consultant who specializes in agile team evolution, change management and execution strategies. He has been trusted by companies ranging from education to energy to facilitate transformations in how work is done among specialized teams and how goals and strategies translate to concrete action that drive business growth.

I invited Brad to bring the team dimension to productivity and to pick his buzzing brain on trending topics like remote work as well as talk about some approaches to work going forward.
Listen through to the end where Brad shares his 20% that has made the biggest difference as well as an inspiring thought on personal productivity.

Highlights (TVF Timestamps)

Why being a deeply skilled individual is not enough anymore (04:00) (1:00:00)

The error of treating team knowledge work with the outdated industrial mindset (08:00)

Does environment shape behaviour in organizations? (13:00)

The Work From Home and Hybrid Work Conundrum (15:00)

An intriguing less talked about aspect of inclusion regarding women in the workforce (23:00)

80/20 Problems of teams. Is your team just a group? (28:00)

One investment that will make a HUGE difference. It’s not what you think. (38:00)

One possible reason why burnout happens (45:00)

Greater than the sum of it’s parts—a metaphor for individuals and teams (49:00)

Executive leadership’s role in facilitating effective team work (54:00) (1:07:00)

As always, Brad’s 20% (1:11:00)

Brad’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingbrad/

Official Website: https://bradleyking.ca/

Episode Summary

I have become very curious about AI or artificial intelligence—what it is, how it works, and more importantly, it's present and potential future impact on our lives and work.

That is why I was very happy when my guest today agreed to come on the show.

Kwame Asiedu is the CEO and co-founder of Braintoy—a first of it’s kind technology company who’s specialized AI-based platform makes it easier for individuals and businesses to use the power artificial intelligence (AI). As they say at Braintoy, they use AI to make AI accessible and fast!

Kwame’s decades long work with AI is extensive from academic research to technical and executive leadership in the energy and financial industry developing AI solutions of different kinds, to being a subject matter expert for institutions developing AI curriculum to of course, co-founding and heading an AI-based tech company.

We talk about why everyone should be paying attention to AI, what makes AI so powerful, how it already being used, how it may be used, how you can start engaging the AI revolution, the current limitations of AI as well as a less talked about aspect—the ethics of AI.

Highlights (TVF Timestamps)

What exactly is AI and what makes it so powerful? (0:51) (27:47)

Some of the ways AI is already affecting our lives and businesses (and how people and organizations who ignore it will be left behind) (16:51)

2 ways you can engage AI to help future-proof your career (45:57)

Artificial General Intelligence and the Limitations of AI (23:36)

How Braintoy is using AI to make AI more accessible (34:46)

Ethical AI—what it is, and why it is so important (60:05)

As always, Kwame’s 20% (71:48)

Notes and References

Learn more about topics mentioned:

Google CEO quote on AI and fire: Google CEO: AI is more influential than discovery of fire (https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/artificial-intelligence/google-ceo-ai-is-more-influential-than-discovery-of-fire.html)

Reference to Andrew Ng: You can find more about who Andrew Ng is just by Googling his name, but I found the Wikipedia page about him quite useful (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Ng). You can also check his personal website https://www.andrewng.org/

Braintoy’s AI projects and publications: https://braintoy.ai/blog/

Kwame Asiedu’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwame-asiedu-745a8a29

Braintoy: https://braintoy.ai/

80-20 productivity hacks is a series on 80 20 Productivity where Anthony Sanni presents and often unpacks actionable, science-backed productivity tools, techniques and practices that help you do more by doing less.

Episode Summary

Do you use to-do lists? If you don't, you should. They seem simple, but running under the hood is a strong engine to turbo-charge your productivity.

If you already use to-do lists, this episode with increase your confidence in using them because you will understand why and how they work as well as give you some ideas to make your to-do-listing more effective.

But what is a to-do list? Why does it work so well? And, more importantly, how do you use them correctly—especially in the 80 20 way—to boost your productivity?

All that and more on this episode of 80 20 Productivity.

Some of the main points (TVF Timestamps):

The 3 major reasons why to-do lists work so well (03:40)

How to-do lists de-clutter your brain and reduce stress and anxiety (06:29)

The vital role of writing it down (14:40)

3 ways NOT to use a to-do list—common mistakes (19:55)

Notes and References

Dr Bluma Zeigarnik (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluma_Zeigarnik )

Robert Cialdini Reference: This can be found in Cialdini’s most popular book— Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion under Principle 2: Commitment and Consistency

Dr Gail Matthews research on Goal Setting

See Research summary from Dominican University in California here Note: Opens a PDF document.
(https://www.dominican.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/gailmatthews-harvard-goals-researchsummary.pdf)

Reference to Forbes quote here (https://forbesbooks.com/the-science-behind-setting-goals-and-achieving-them/) Actual quote attributed to Dr Matthews: “My study provides empirical evidence for the effectiveness of three coaching tools: accountability, commitment, and writing down one’s goals.”

Quote: We overestimate what we can achieve in one day, but underestimate what we can achieve in one year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the source for this quote exactly. However there were many references floating around online of a similar quote from Bill Gates. This is one of those cases where the value of the idea outweighs accuracy.

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few

Episode Summary

My guest on the show today is Dr Marie Claire Bourque. Dr MC as she is called by her clients and colleagues is a clinical psychiatrist and associate professor at The University of Calgary specializing in mental and physical fitness. She is in charge of mental health and peak performance for one of Canada's top-ranked ice hockey teams - Toronto Maple Leafs, and The National Ballet of Canada - The country's foremost elite ballet company.

She is also founder of Limbus Movement—a unique workout system that incorporates physical movement with mindfulness to deliver a unique workout experience.

Dr MC is the ideal person to speak on the mental side of personal productivity and the interesting interplay between our bodies and minds. Understanding this dynamic will help boost our productivity and help do more by doing less through optimizing this mind-body relationship.

HIghlights (TVF Timestamps)

Dr MC's top recommendation to elite athletes and high-power executives (and three more throughout the rest of the show) (12:54)

Why mindfulness is so powerful and how to develop it in a practical, science-based way (15:35)

How movement and exercise makes your brain more powerful (27:35)

How your body talks to you and helps you make better decisions (45:35)

The secret sauce of what makes Limbus Movement work (33:48)

The role of values and emotions well-being, creativity and productivity (52:56)

As always, Dr MC's 20% (64:43)

Notes and References

Learn more about topics mentioned:

Respiratory nerve relationship to benefits of mindfulness and meditation - Breath of Life: The Respiratory Vagal Stimulation Model of Contemplative Activity. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6189422/)

Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) https://www.istdp.com/

Human brain Prefrontal cortex functions: There is short 2-minute video by NeuroScientifically Challenged YouTube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i47_jiCsBMs)

Dr Marie Claire Bourque

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marie-claire-bourque

Instagram: @doctor.mcb

Limbus Movement: https://www.limbusmovement.com/

Episode Summary

This episode is part 2 of 2 episodes of a deep dive into select ideas and insights from Greg McKeown's book--Effortless: Make It Easier to Do What Matters.

In it I explore key ideas and insights with an aim to making them real and practical tools for helping you do more by doing less.

Some of the main points (TVF Timestamps):

Unrecognized simplicities, not complexities are the stuff of genius (01:45)

Should you work slow and steady? (04:50)

The idea of linear Vs Residual effort (08:45)

Making residual decisions (11:15)

An approach to deepen your learning and expertise effortlessly (12:05)

The powerful principle of inversion (and why it works) (26:55)

Notes and References

Greg McKeown’s first book: Essentialism

This current book: Effortless

Anthony’s Book: The Law of The Vital Few