Asian Efficiency

Asian Efficiency

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Asian Efficiency episodes

  • The Productivity Stack: Apps and Tools We Actually Use Every Day (TPS614)

    Discover the real-world productivity stack the Asian Efficiency team relies on daily. We move beyond the hype to explore how tools should support your systems, not create overhead. Learn our criteria for choosing apps by role, when simple tools beat complex ones, and our specific recommendations for capture, task management, calendars, and automation. Whether you're looking to audit your setup or simplify your workflow, this episode provides concrete examples of what works, what we abandoned, and how to build a stack that supports your time, energy, and attention.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that's right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs.

    For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

    Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS.

    Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

    Listen to this episode (MP3)

    Cheat Sheet
    • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29]
    • The first category of apps about to be replaced by your AI chat window [7:17]
    • The hidden feature that decides which apps survive the AI era [10:44]
    • The boring task an Atlassian button quietly killed for Brooks [14:26]
    • Brooks’s surprising “central hub” for everything he does — and it isn’t his task manager [20:52]
    • Why Thanh ditched his task app for a spreadsheet (and let agents work the board) [25:37]
    • The beautiful little app Thanh thinks AI is about to eat [30:55]
    • The password manager trick that lets AI agents log in for you [35:48]
    • The “tried and true” apps still earning their place after the AI takeover [37:32]
    • The drag-and-drop trick that ended Brooks’s AppleScript problem for good [45:12]
    • Why Codex might be a quietly great choice for desktop automation [47:43]
    • The apps we’d build tomorrow if we had a free weekend [50:39]
    • Inside the “mission control” dashboard Thanh built to fire off agents with one click [51:57]
    • Links
      • HomeServe
      • Claude
      • Keeper
      • Upwork
      • 25X Productivity Coaching
      • Mike Vardy
      • Wispr Flow
      • Elgato Stream Deck Pedal
      • Granola
      • MyFitnessPal
      • Lose It
      • OmniFocus
      • Todoist
      • Lindy
      • Atlassian Rovo
      • Obsidian
      • Fantastical
      • Airtable
      • OpenClaw
      • Hermes Agent
      • Evernote
      • Soulver
      • OpenAI Realtime
      • Day One
      • TextExpander
      • Spotify
      • Tailscale
      • NordVPN
      • Jump Desktop
      • HomeControl Menu for HomeKit
      • Elgato Stream Deck
      • Keyboard Maestro
      • Setapp
      • Bartender
      • Dropzone
      • OpenAI Codex
      • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

        56 min
      • The Three Investments That Compound Like Crazy

        How is it that some people seem to keep getting more valuable, more connected, and more successful — almost effortlessly — while others work just as hard and stay stuck? The answer isn’t talent or luck. It’s three specific investments that quietly compound in the background, and most people never deliberately make them.

        In this encore episode, we break down the exact strategy used to build Asian Efficiency from the ground up — stacking high-leverage skills, building a network that opens doors you didn’t even know existed, and using coaching to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Simple, actionable, and less than 10 minutes. Your future self will thank you.

        Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

        Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.



        Links
        • Upwork
        • 25X Productivity Coaching
        • Asian Efficiency
        • Gary Vaynerchuk
        • Michael Dell
        • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

          10 min
        • Ultradian Rhythms: How 90-Minute Focus Blocks Changed Everything (TPS613)

          Ever feel like your focus just disappears after an hour of work? It’s not laziness—it’s biology. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of ultradian rhythms and why the popular “90-minute focus block” is both powerful and often misunderstood. We’ll separate productivity mythology from real biology, showing you how to identify your own peak windows, use deliberate recovery breaks, and adapt these blocks to fit your real life. Stop fighting your brain and start working with your natural energy cycles.

          Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

          Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps

          Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

          Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

          Cheat Sheet
          • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:31]
          • The sneaky way busyness tricks you into thinking you had a productive day [5:54]
          • Why counting tasks done is one of the most dangerous productivity habits [9:01]
          • The token leaderboard problem — and why short-term metrics always backfire [16:48]
          • The 90-minute mini-cycle your body runs all day (and what it means for your work) [19:29]
          • How to actually build a 90-minute focus block that fits your real life [24:25]
          • Are you leaving focus on the table with the Pomodoro Technique? [28:21]
          • What a real break looks like — and how to stay productive when life keeps interrupting [36:58]
          • The one thing to track this week that could change how you structure your entire day [40:24]
          • Links
            • Shopify
            • Masterclass
            • Upwork
            • 25X Productivity Coaching
            • Forest – focus timer app
            • Anker laptop power bank
            • Baseus USB-C retractable cable
            • Nick Gray
            • The Power of Full Engagement – Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz
            • Oura Ring
            • WHOOP
            • Andrew Huberman – Huberman Lab
            • Pomodoro Technique
            • What to Make of a Life – Jim Collins
            • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

              42 min
            • The Truth About Your Productivity Stack: Systems Over Tools

              Stop chasing the perfect app. I am sharing the real world productivity stack we use at Asian Efficiency and why your system matters more than the software. Learn how to choose tools by role, reduce friction with voice capture, and build your stack incrementally to support your time, energy, and attention without creating unnecessary overhead.

              Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

              Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com — promo code: tps



              Links
              • DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off
              • 25X Productivity Coaching
              • Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time w/ Oliver Burkeman (TPS468)
              • Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
              • TEA Framework
              • Asian Efficiency
              • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                10 min
              • Time to Parent: Julie Morgenstern on Raising a Human While Being One (TPS612)

                How do you stay productive, present, and sane while raising kids who seem to change the rules on you every few years? Julie Morgenstern — New York Times bestselling author of Time to Parent — has spent 30 years helping people answer exactly that question, and she brings a refreshingly framework-driven approach to one of life's messiest juggling acts.

                In this encore episode, Julie walks us through her PART and SELF frameworks — two interlocking systems that clarify what parents actually owe their kids, and what they owe themselves. You'll learn why kids don't need big blocks of your time (just consistent, undivided attention in short bursts), how to stop the chore wars with a simple index card exercise, and why it's never too late to hit reset — whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers.

                Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS.

                Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

                For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.

                Get the right life insurance for you and save more than 50% on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS.

                Cheat Sheet
                • Why the productivity advice you know probably doesn't work for parents [1:06]
                • The half of parenting productivity nobody talks about [7:47]
                • The job description parenting never gave you (the PART framework) [10:56]
                • Why neglecting sleep and exercise doesn't just hurt you — it hurts your kids too [14:03]
                • The mindset shift that makes family time feel productive again [23:35]
                • Five anchor points that could make your whole family week run smoother [36:31]
                • The index card exercise that ends the “I do everything” argument for good [42:08]
                • Links
                  • DripDrop — 20% off with promo code TPS
                  • Mint Mobile
                  • Claude
                  • SelectQuote
                  • 25X Productivity Coaching
                  • Time to Parent by Julie Morgenstern
                  • Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
                  • Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
                  • Julie Morgenstern's website
                  • Time to Parent book page
                  • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                    56 min
                  • The Procrastination Equation: A 4-Step Fix for Task Delay

                    Procrastination isn't about laziness—it's about emotion regulation. Discover the Procrastination Equation and the 4-step fix to boost your confidence, increase task value, and design an environment that beats impulsiveness. Learn how to stop delaying and start doing with these practical psychological tweaks and behavioral design tactics.

                    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                    Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

                    Links
                    • Upwork
                    • 25X Productivity Coaching
                    • Asian Efficiency
                    • The Procrastination Equation – Piers Steel
                    • Atomic Habits – James Clear
                    • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                      12 min
                    • The Procrastination Equation: Why You Delay and the 4-Step Fix (TPS611)

                      Ever wonder why some tasks feel impossible to start, even when they only take 10 minutes? In this episode, you'll learn why procrastination is actually about emotion regulation, not laziness, and how to diagnose your own delay patterns using four key variables: expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and delay. We provide a practical 4-step fix to increase your confidence, reconnect with your purpose, and build an environment that makes focus easier than distraction.

                      Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                      Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

                      Get the right life insurance for you and save more than 50% on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS.

                      Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

                      Cheat Sheet
                      • Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:25]
                      • The real reason you can't start that task (hint: it's not laziness) [4:33]
                      • How watching someone else succeed can unlock your own confidence [9:42]
                      • The “I'll just” trick that makes any task feel ridiculously easy to start [19:46]
                      • Why you'll never procrastinate on something that truly matters to you [21:20]
                      • The sprint mindset that made Brooks's personal velocity skyrocket [28:22]
                      • What your 30 open browser tabs are really costing you [33:54]
                      • Links
                        • Shopify
                        • SelectQuote
                        • Upwork
                        • 25X Productivity Coaching
                        • The Procrastination Equation by Piers Steel
                        • The Code Book by Simon Singh
                        • Vitamix Wet Blade Replacement
                        • How to Change by Katy Milkman
                        • Claude
                        • The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran
                        • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                          43 min
                        • The 80-10-10 Rule: How to Actually Delegate to AI

                          Stop adding more tools and start reclaiming your time. In this episode, I break down my actual AI workflow for planning and decision-making. You'll learn the 80-10-10 rule for delegation and how to turn AI into your personal execution system so you can finally focus on the work that actually matters.

                          Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                          Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that's right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs.

                          Links
                          • HomeServe
                          • 25X Productivity Coaching
                          • ChatGPT
                          • Claude
                          • Anthropic
                          • Gemini
                          • Claude Cowork
                          • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                            12 min
                          • How I Use AI to Save 10+ Hours Every Week (My Actual Workflow) (TPS610)

                            Discover how to reclaim 10+ hours every week by turning AI into your personal execution system. In this episode, we break down a simple, real-world workflow that uses AI to handle planning, decision-making, and repetitive tasks—without adding more tools or complexity. Learn how to automate context-gathering, research, and follow-ups so you can stop digging through your inbox and start focusing on the high-value work that actually matters.

                            Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                            Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

                            Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that's right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs.

                            Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tps.



                            Cheat Sheet
                            • Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:46]
                            • The shift that changes everything: when AI stops advising and starts executing [5:53]
                            • Why the Mac Mini is sold out everywhere (and what it unlocks for your workflow) [9:32]
                            • The uncomfortable test for whether you're actually using AI or just playing with it [14:07]
                            • The $1 morning briefing that replaces your executive assistant [22:27]
                            • How to stop your AI from reminding you about things you've already handled [28:39]
                            • Three things a digital chief of staff does that you probably didn't know were possible [37:29]
                            • Thanh's personal rule for what AI can do without checking with him first [46:54]
                            • Four AIs coded and argued for five straight days while Thanh watched a paddle tournament [50:36]
                            • Links
                              • MasterClass
                              • HomeServe
                              • Claude
                              • 25X Productivity Coaching
                              • Lindy
                              • Perplexity Computer
                              • Wispr Flow
                              • What’s Possible with AI in 2026: From Flashy Demos to Quiet Leverage (TPS600)
                              • Obsidian
                              • Brave Search
                              • Otter
                              • Granola
                              • Mac Studio
                              • Hermes Agent
                              • OpenAI Codex
                              • Qwen 3.5
                              • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                                59 min
                              • How to Use AI for Massive Everyday Productivity Gains

                                Discover how to turn AI from a novelty into a productivity powerhouse. Thanh Pham shares practical tips on using integrated writing tools, automating meetings with bots, and leveraging AI agents to transform your workflow. Learn why the real magic happens in implementation and how to start with just one tweak this week.

                                Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                                DripDrop — Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com with promo code tps.

                                Links
                                • DripDrop — use promo code tps for 20% off your first order
                                • 25X Productivity Coaching
                                • Claude
                                • Claude for Chrome
                                • Lindy
                                • Otter
                                • Calendly
                                • OpenClaw
                                • Manus
                                • If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

                                  12 min

                                About Asian Efficiency

                                From the publisher's feed

                                Asian Efficiency is the leading website on time management and productivity. Learn how to be efficient, get things done (GTD), and stay motivated.