A Productive Conversation

After stopping the short-lived first edition of 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting, I decided to get back into the idea of producing a daily podcast in February 2019. I began producing shows in earnest following Groundhog Day 2019 (February 2nd) and kept it going for several months. In this lengthy episode, you'll hear me offer insights and ideas on the following: Why you need to make time to sit with feedback Making self-care a part of your productivity practice Embracing the concept of "mise en place" How to get your week to behave better Why theming your days saves time with your kids And that's just for starters. There are 26(!) episodes combined in this lengthy episode, so take your time with it. There's a lot that I offer so spread out your listening as you see fit. And if you like what you hear, let me know. Email me at [email protected] to tell me directly or leave this podcast a rating/review wherever you're listening to podcasts these days. Thanks for listening. See you later.

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On this episode I’m joined by Pete Mockaitis. Pete is, among plenty of other things, the founder of How to Be Awesome at Your Job and he hosts the popular podcast of the same name.

Pete is an award-winning trainer who has served clients in over 50 countries. His work has enhanced Fortune 100 corporations, high-growth startups, and major nonprofits. He’s conducted one-on-one critical thinking coaching sessions for over 700 thinkers from every Ivy League university and numerous world-class organizations such as Apple, Goldman Sachs, Google, McKinsey & Company, and the United Nations. 

There’s a lot to unpack in this episode – and it’s one that could have gone on much longer than it did. Pete and I talk about prioritization, effectiveness and how to measure it, experimenting with different tactics and tools, and more. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. I know I did!

Talking Points

Pete shares the reasons for starting his podcast

This is how Pete makes it a priority to get his podcast episodes ready for production

What are some of the tactics that Pete has put in place to make sure that stays a priority?

Pete offers up a tool that he’s found that helps him prioritize – a tool that he didn’t think would work

When it comes to The ONE Thing, Pete shares how you can break the bias of giving a credible answer to what your “one thing” is

Here is one of the things that Pete has tried that didn’t work for him as well as he’d imagined

What is The Effectiveness Ratio?

How important is it to let go of things?

Pete and I discuss why the thinks people are drawn to certain words, along with the expectations that come with those words and terms

Quote

“The critical stuff isn’t just a smidge more important but it has sixteen times the impact.“

Helpful Links

How to Be Awesome at Your Job #80: Finding and Doing the One Thing with Jay Papasan

The ONE Thing

Pocket Biases

Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 1

Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 2

Why I Stopped Doing GTD: Part 3

Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen

Understanding the Pareto Principle (The 80/20 Rule)

Breakthrough Advertising

Warren Buffett’s “2 List” Strategy: How to Maximize Your Focus and Master Your Priorities

I Will Teach You to Be Rich

Pete’s Website

Getting started with the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Imaginary Worlds

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the following bonus episode, I've combined all of the episodes from the March 2018 run of my now-concluded 3 Minutes of TimeCrafting podcast. The topics I discuss include: Using small but effective boundaries The leap forward to Daylight Savings Time and how to ward off its effects on your productivity Why Mondays might not be the best day to kick off your week Why one question I get asked a lot is a very challenging one to answer I hope you enjoy this bonus episode of the podcast. I'm going to be publishing the archives of 30 Days of TimeCrafting as bonus content over the next several weeks here as well as a bit of an experiment. If you like this episode, please consider leaving a rating and/or review in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you are listening to the show. Thanks for listening. See you later.

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On this episode of the podcast I’m joined by J. Elise Keith, co-founder of Lucid Meetings and author of Where The Action Is: The Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization. We dive into an area of our work lives that can have a direct impact on our overall productivity both individually and organizationally. That area is… meetings.

Meetings can be a real productivity killer. But they don’t need to be. I was grateful to have the opportunity to talk with Elise about her comprehensive book – which is a “must read” if you’re looking to make better meetings happen. We talked about designing meetings that matter, how to break the bias that meetings aren’t productive, and much more. Meetings are going to happen, so why not make them happen in a way that works? This discussion is just the thing to help you turn your meetings from interruptions to productivity to instrumental for purposeful productivity. Enjoy!

Talking Points

This is what Elise has to say to people who are hesitant when going into meetings because of their aversion to them

We talk about words or phrases you can use instead of the word “meeting”

What are the 16 different types of meetings and how did they make their way into the book?

How does someone get started using these different types of meetings without being overwhelmed with such a drastic change in culture?

Elise shares with me her thoughts on “holacracy” and whether or not she’s explored that in conjunction with her work

We discuss the five focus areas that Elise brings up in the book that will help you make your meetings better

This is one of the key takeaways Elise would love for you to have when reading her book

What’s one thing someone can takeaway from this podcast to make their meetings more productive?

Quote

“Every time we put a meeting on the calendar in this company or in this team, we’re going to include in the calendar why we’re meeting and what we expect to get out of it at the end.“

Helpful Links

Where The Action Is

Lucid Meetings

Resources for Having Great Meetings

Holacracy

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m excited that my friend Courtney Carver returns for this episode of the program. We focus our conversation around her book Project 333: The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More, which is a project I’ve undertaken and am still committed to several years later!

Courtney is always a delight to chat with and this episode is no exception. We delve into the core elements of Project 333, some of the things that can hold people back from taking on this challenge, how the challenge affects more than just what’s taking up space in your closet, and more. I hope after listening to this episode that you’ll pick up Courtney’s book and give Project 333 a try. It’s been working for me and I know it can work for you.

Talking Points

What is Project 333?

While it appears geared towards women, is this something men can do as well?

These are some of the benefits that Project 333 offers beyond having just a clean closet

Courtney talks about decision fatigue

What are some of the ways you can “hack” Project 333, if any?

Courtney shares an unexpected Project 333 success story

What do you do when you’ve added something new and have gone above the limit?

We discuss how receiving gifts plays a role in this project

How can someone keep the momentum of Project 333 going?

What factors does the weather play in Project 333?

Courtney discusses what to do when you’re sentimental about certain clothing items

These are some tips that Courtney uses to help someone break through the bias that they can’t do Project 333

Quote

“We’re spending our resources, our time, attention, and energy on things that we don’t care about.“

Helpful Links

Be More With Less

The Productivityist Podcast #91: The More of Less with Joshua Becker

Weed Out the Clothes You Don’t Wear with a Simple Hanger Trick

Everything You Need to Know About Project 333

Check out Courtney’s Instagram!

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Naval

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’m happy to welcome to Chris Krimitsos as the guest for this episode. Chris is a father, husband, community builder and ever-evolving innovator. He loves people and their stories and has leveraged his gifts of connecting others to build communities around entrepreneurship, podcasting, and multimedia.

Chris was profoundly affected at 16 years of age when he watched his father lose a restaurant he had bought with sweat equity and eventually put the keys in for the last time giving it back to the bank. He vowed then that he would make it his mission to help business owners the world over to avoid that terrible fate. His book, Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change is an extension of that promise and a story that can be understood by all who read it.

Talking Points

Chris shares the premise of Start Ugly and why it’s been such a powerful thing for him

Why did Chris decide to write the book as a parable of sorts?

Does starting ugly help with the ability to deal with change? If so, how?

This is the single step of the seven Chris shares in the book that he believes is a barrier for most people

Chris and I discuss the role that comfort plays when starting something ugly

What does Chris have to say to people who are worried about the risk factor and forging a path that seems uncertain?

How has Chris taken his family and personal obligations in mind when starting something ugly?

This is what Chris sees down the line for the podcasting community

Chris and I talk about how he is able to handle all of his obligations… of which there are plenty!

We talk about the importance of being nimble

What are some of the other biases that Chris has come across and realized that the book may have helped break?

Quote

“The way you’re going to start is never going to be as perfect as where you’re going to end up, so it’s always going to be an ugly start.“

Helpful Links

Chris Krimitsos

The One Minute Manager

The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea

The Productivityist Podcast #222: How to Fight a Hydra with Josh Kaufman

Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

PodFest

Adam Curry

RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio

Start Ugly: A Timeless Tale About Innovation & Change

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Good Life Project

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the program I’m joined by Grant Baldwin. Grant is the founder of The Speaker Lab, a training company that helps public speakers learn how to find and book speaking gigs. He’s also the author of the book The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform.

Through his popular podcast The Speaker Lab and flagship coaching program Booked and Paid to Speak, Grant has coached and worked with thousands of speakers. As a keynote speaker, Grant has delivered nearly one thousand presentations to over 500,000 people in 47 states and has keynoted events for audiences as large as 13,000. Grant has also been featured in national media including Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post. He now lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Sheila, and their three daughters.

I’m happy to have Grant return to the podcast to share some of the ideas and insights he presents in his new book. I look to Grant as someone who knows his stuff about being a successful speaker and there’s plenty you can learn from what he shares during our discussion.

Talking Points

What made Grant decide to take all his lessons and work from his speaking gigs and put them into a book?

This is the step that Grant thinks is overlooked too often

How does a budding speaker still come off as authentic but not too polished or over-rehearsed?

How do you keep in mind while speaking that people want you to relate to them and don’t necessarily care about your thoughts on something?

How does Grant suggest dealing with the patience aspect of getting good at speaking… and everything that comes along with that?

This is Grant’s views on slides as a tool for speaking gigs

How has Grant balanced the travelling life of a speaker with his family life?

These are the steps Grant takes when he’s building a talk

Quote

“It’s not an overnight thing… and so one of the things we tell speakers all the time is this is simple but it’s not easy.”

Helpful Links

The Successful Speaker: Five Steps for Booking Gigs, Getting Paid, and Building Your Platform

Comedian

thespeakerlab.com/book

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Three Month Vacation Podcast

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Mike Pacchione. Mike is a speaking expert who helps presenters find their voice on stage. (Hint: putting yourself in your speech, while scary, is a bit of a secret weapon for making your speech memorable.)

Mike has worked with more than 10,000 speakers from companies all over the world, including giants like Google, Nike, Microsoft, Starbucks and the NSA.

I’ve known make for several years now and I look to him whenever I’m putting a talk or presentation together. I wanted to bring him to the program to not only share with you some of his best tactics and tips that will help you present your ideas and insights well, but also to remind me of what I need to do in order to do the same. After listening to this episode you’ll be able to take Mike’s knowledge and experience and apply it to your presentations so you’ll be able to confidently deliver them in a way that leaves your audience wanting more.

Talking Points

Why is making the assumption that because you have improvisational skills that you can nail a talk a really bad idea?

How much time should someone take into consideration while making a presentation?

This is what made Mike decide that he wanted to give talks and help other people with their talks full-time

How do you balance knowing your stuff but not coming off too prepared or monotone – or looking like you dont know your stuff and are all just “show”?

Is there such a thing as too many talks?

This is how Mike is constructing his time, now that he’s running his own business and has a child

What does a typical day look like for Mike?

Some thoughtful tools and tips that Mike shares for presenters to use to their advantage

Does Mike recommend eating before going on stage?

What advice do you give people when they know they have a talk at a time during the day that isn’t ideal?

We talk about being the talk that wraps up an event or conference and what you should do if you find yourself in that slot

Here’s the one piece of advice Mike would give someone who is giving a presentation

Quote

“I always tell people they should feel like the presenter is a friend.“

Helpful Links

The Productivityist Podcast #197: Getting Back to Happy with Marc and Angel Chernoff

Time Management Ninja: 21 Rules for More Time and Less Stress in Your Life | Craig Jarrow

Pre-order my new book TimeCrafting: A Better Way to Get the Right Things Done

Amy Porterfield’s Podcast: A Week in the Life (7 Days Behind-the-Scenes with Amy)

Help for Your Upcoming Presentation (I Know You’re Nervous) | Pat Flynn

World’s Most Popular TED Speaker, Ken Robinson, Shares 5 Secrets Of Giving A Great Speech | BI

The Grinder is the year’s funniest new show | Vox (from 2015, show was cancelled far too soon)

Subscribe to TimeCraftingTV

When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing | Daniel Pink

Sterling K. Brown Explains His “No Gym” Workout | Men’s Health

StoryBrand | Donald Miller

Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad

The Productivityist Podcast #161: Overlap with Sean McCabe

Voxer

My CreativeLive Course from 2014: Time Management 101

Breakthrough Play | Gary Ware

Your Job is to Make Art – Seth Godin at ConvertKit Craft & Commerce 2017

MikeTalks.co

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Rework Podcast

The Productivityist Podcast theme song is Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I’m joined “in studio” by Adam Kreek. A two-time Olympian, Adam holds 60 international medals, including Olympic Gold, and multiple hall of fame inductions. Adam’s new book, The Responsibility Ethic, teaches us the how of self-leadership, driving personal and professional results in individuals and organizations.

Adam has a slew of additional accolades to his name, one of which is that in 2013, Adam made the first ever attempt to row unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to America, the subject of the NBC Dateline Documentary, Capsized. It was great to have Adam in the studio to talk about his new book, the idea of providence and patience, what he believes the evolution of SMART goals is, and much more.

Talking Points

How does failure and Adam’s knowledge on that play into his book?

What does Adam think responsibility means?

Adam shares with me the idea of providence

This is what Adam uses instead of SMART goals

How important is it to truly understand your values and how that ties into ethics

Adam and I talk about deciding where to spend your time and how to come to those decisions

We (finally) get to talk about patience and its role when you know that you have plenty you want to accomplish in a short timespan… like an athletic career

Quote

“You visualize the end point and you want the end point to be there now because you can see it, yet you have to put in the work.”

Helpful Links

KreekSpeak

Free Solo

Matt D’Avella | YouTube

The Responsibility Ethic | Amazon

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: Focused

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode I chat with Mridu Parikh, founder of Life Is Organized and author of Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals.

Mridu helps ambitious people get control of their time, energy, and habits, even when they are overwhelmed by demands and distractions. As a productivity coach, keynote speaker, and best-selling author she teaches people how to focus, overcome procrastination, and squash anxiety.

I had a great time talking with Mridu about her journaling habits (that is, if she has them), her thoughts on capturing ideas and thoughts and how she does that, and we specifically dive into the seven simple actions that she describers in her book.

Talking Points

Mridu and I talk about why people stay in a “state of stuckness”?

Does Mridu journal? If so, how does she journal?

How does Mridu get people to take their energy levels into account when making to do lists and accomplishing goals?

We discuss how to balance recurring simple tasks with bigger, harder tasks

What are The Seven Simple Actions?

How do you figure out when to ask for help and for what?

This is something Mridu said no to after realizing it would be too much

How does Mridu help people with the idea of writing things down consistently?

Quote

“Every time you think ‘I’ll remember that later,’ switch that and think ‘I won’t remember that later’.”

Helpful Links

Life is Organized

Episode 203: The Evolution of Getting Things Done with David Allen

Accomplish It: 7 Simple Actions to Get the Right Things Done and Achieve Your Goals

The Productivityist Podcast Pick of the Week: The Joe Rogan Experience

Remember that simple isn’t the same as easy. So while Mridu revealed 7 simple actions you can take to accomplish what you need and want to do, that doesn’t mean it will be easy to do them. My advice is to start small and build from there. Layer more and more of your ambitions using this formula Mridu shared over time rather than all at once and you’ll have a better chance of accomplishing “it” going forward.

Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page.

And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices