Asian Efficiency

Asian Efficiency

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Asian Efficiency episodes

  • Tips for Strategic Planning: Frameworks and Tactics for 2026 (TPS599)

    Strategic planning isn't just a “box to check”—it's the foundation of your growth.

    In this episode, we dive into the essential tips and techniques for effective strategic planning in 2026. We explore mental frameworks like Mind Mapping and Zettelkasten, tactical execution through purposeful meetings, and how to leverage AI as a strategic partner. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a leader, these actionable insights will help you move from incremental thinking to bold vision.

    Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

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

    Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership.

    Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Cheat Sheet:

    Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

    • The one mouse feature you didn’t know you needed (until now) [00:27]
    • Why most “strategic planning” feels broken — and what this episode does differently [01:44]
    • Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:40]
    • The most common strategy mistake smart people keep repeating [04:32]
    • How great strategies often come down to just a few variables [08:47]
    • Using AI to think faster — without outsourcing your brain [11:27]
    • Why the best strategy insights rarely come from the boardroom [19:47]
    • What leaders learn when they actually do the work themselves [23:07]
    • Where human intuition still beats AI (and how to combine both) [28:07]
    • Turning a solid plan into real execution that actually sticks [35:13]
    • Links:
      • Gusto
      • Claude
      • Masterclass
      • 25X Productivity Coaching
      • Logitech MX Master 4 Ergonomic Wireless Mouse
      • Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish
      • How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking by Sönke Ahrens
      • Mindnode
      • XMind
      • The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Revised and Updated: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
      • Productivity Academy
      • The Productivity Show on Youtube
      • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
      • Become a member of TPS+
      • Take the Productivity Quiz
      • 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
      • Copy & Paste Strategy: How to Accelerate Change by Borrowing What Works (TPS598)

        In this episode, we dive into Katy Milkman’s “Copy & Paste” strategy—a powerful shortcut for behavior change. Instead of reinventing the wheel, learn how to identify “close match” role models and deliberately imitate their specific tactics. We explore the research showing why copying beats planning, share real-world examples from exercise to automation, and give you a 6-step framework to start borrowing success today.

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

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

        Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

        Cheat Sheet:

        Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

        • The “Claude bug” hits hard — and suddenly you’re automating everything (including your sleep away) [00:56].
        • The copy-and-paste move that can save you weeks… if you stop doing it the hard way first [02:35].
        • Top 3 Productivity Resources [03:58].
        • A wild AI workflow: your Instapaper becomes a daily personal podcast with action items baked in [06:14].
        • Why “who already solved this?” beats “how do I do this?” almost every time [08:40].
        • The shortcut to finding the right person to learn from — without wasting money or time [16:29].
        • The dark side of copying: when “same steps” still leads to a total fail (and why) [22:30].
        • Links:
          • 25X Productivity Coaching
          • Claude Cowork
          • Remotion
          • Openclaw (aka “Clawdbot”)
          • Fresh Start Effect: Use Psychology to Boost Your Productivity (TPS594)
          • How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman
          • ElevenLabs
          • Forest App
          • App Store 2025 Top iPhone Apps in the U.S.
          • Instapaper
          • Clarity.fm
          • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
          • How To Draw an Owl
          • Productivity Academy
          • The Productivity Show on Youtube
          • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
          • Become a member of TPS+
          • Take the Productivity Quiz
          • 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
          • Stop Sabotaging Your Focus: Deep Work Mistakes to Avoid

            Deep work isn't just about willpower… it's about strategy. In this episode, I'm breaking down the common mistakes that kill your focus, from poor energy management to environment design that works against you. Learn how to align your tasks with your natural rhythms and set realistic expectations so you can finally get the important things done.

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

            Links:

            Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

            • DripDrop
            • 25X Productivity Coaching
            • 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
            • Evolution, Not Revolution: How to Supercharge Your Existing Routines (TPS597)

              Stop trying to build new habits from scratch. In this episode, we explore why upgrading your current routines is the secret to sustainable productivity. We dive into the science of the 1% rule, habit stacking, and energy management. Learn how to identify what’s already working and apply small, strategic tweaks (like the “Never Miss Twice” rule) to get massive results without the burnout.

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

              Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY.

              Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

              Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

              Cheat Sheet:

              Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

              • Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:07].
              • Why “build on what you already do” can beat a full reset—and how to spot the easiest upgrades [05:06].
              • Habit stacking in real life: the tiny pairing that makes a habit finally stick [05:46].
              • The “start messy, then iterate” story that turns a good intention into an automatic routine [18:55].
              • Friction is the hidden lever: remove it to do more, add it to do less (with surprisingly simple examples) [21:53].
              • A quick habit audit you can do when things feel off—without overhauling your whole system [28:44].
              • How to supercharge what’s already working (and the one-tweak mindset that compounds fast) [36:57].
              • Links:
                • DripDrop
                • Mint Mobile
                • Gusto
                • 25X Productivity Coaching
                • Claude
                • Plaud Notepin
                • Defining Style: The Book of Interior Design by Joan Barzilay Freund
                • Remotion
                • Productivity Academy
                • The Productivity Show on Youtube
                • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
                • Become a member of TPS+
                • Take the Productivity Quiz
                • 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!

                  45 min
                • Stop Living at Work: Boundaries That Actually Work

                  When does your workday actually end—and who gets to decide? In a hybrid world where home and office blur together, it’s easy to feel like you’re always “on,” answering one last email at night and checking Slack before your feet hit the floor in the morning. That constant low-level pull can quietly drain your energy, focus, and enjoyment of work, even when flexibility was supposed to make life better.

                  This episode breaks down a simple but powerful shift that helps you reclaim your time without sacrificing performance. You’ll learn how setting clear, intentional boundaries around your work hours can reduce stress, restore separation between work and life, and make you more effective when you are working. If hybrid work has started to feel like work without an off switch, this conversation will help you put one back in place.

                  Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

                  Links:

                  Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                  • Gusto
                  • 25X Productivity Coaching
                  • 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!

                    9 min
                  • From Ideas to Execution: A Creative Workflow w/ Jeffrey Madoff (TPS596)

                    How do some people consistently turn raw ideas into real, finished work—while others stay stuck waiting for inspiration to strike? In this encore conversation, Thanh sits down with legendary creative entrepreneur and Parsons professor Jeffrey Madoff to unpack the mindset and structure behind sustainable creativity. From building a fashion company at 22 to producing campaigns for Ralph Lauren and Tiffany, Jeffrey shares how curiosity—not talent alone—has fueled every chapter of his career.

                    You’ll hear why creativity is less about magic and more about systems, how organizing principles help tame chaos, and why delegation is the secret weapon behind high-level creative output. Whether you’re a founder, maker, or someone with big ideas you haven’t yet shipped, this episode reveals the practical workflow that turns vision into execution—and makes a living from it.

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

                    Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

                    Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

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

                    Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                    Cheat Sheet:

                    Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                    • From Madison storefronts to global campaigns—meet the mind behind the work, Jeffrey Madoff. [01:19]
                    • The surprisingly simple tools Jeffrey relies on to keep creative chaos under control. [01:59]
                    • How a spontaneous leap into fashion launched a career that later pivoted into film and storytelling. [05:56]
                    • A refreshing definition of creativity that expands far beyond artists and into everyday builders. [16:52]
                    • Why waiting for inspiration is a trap—and what actually moves creative projects forward. [23:28]
                    • The organizing principles and delegation strategies that make big creative visions executable. [35:14]
                    • How to price your ideas, validate them in the real world, and prove they’re worth paying for. [42:10]
                    • Links:
                      • Shopify
                      • Gusto
                      • Notion
                      • DripDrop
                      • 25X Productivity Coaching
                      • Madoff Productions
                      • A Creative Career
                      • Google Tasks (in Gmail)
                      • Trello
                      • YouTube
                      • Parsons School of Design
                      • Book- Creative Careers: Making a Living With Your Ideas
                      • Instagram
                      • LinkedIn
                      • Productivity Academy
                      • The Productivity Show on Youtube
                      • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
                      • Become a member of TPS+
                      • Take the Productivity Quiz
                      • 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!

                        54 min
                      • Productivity Systems: Why Systems Beat Goals Every Time

                        Why do goals fail while systems succeed? This productivity systems episode reveals how small structural changes create consistent progress without relying on motivation or willpower. Learn the “never skip twice” rule, build habit stacks that stick, and start creating the engine that powers your productivity every single day.

                        Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

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

                        Links:

                        Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                        • Notion Agent
                        • 25X Productivity Coaching
                        • 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
                        • Systems Thinking for Productivity: Why Goals Fail & Systems Win (TPS595)

                          Tired of the goal-chasing treadmill? This systems thinking episode reveals why goals often lead to “pre-success failure” and how building daily productivity systems creates lasting results. Learn to decompose complex tasks, create feedback loops, and make structural changes that transform your efficiency and build the ultimate form of consistency.

                          Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

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

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

                          Cheat Sheet:

                          Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                          • How did we get ourselves into this situation?! [00:29]
                          • Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:30]
                          • Why traditional goal-setting might actually be holding you back [04:25]
                          • The hidden mechanics behind systems that actually work [13:34]
                          • How Thanh uses AI to turn reflection into a real-time feedback loop [28:49]
                          • The real reason most systems fail—and how to make yours stick [32:09]
                          • Links:
                            • DripDrop (promo code tps)
                            • Notion Agent
                            • 25X Productivity Coaching
                            • Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows
                            • The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Eliyahu Goldratt
                            • The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (Cassie Phillips poem)
                            • The Diary of a CEO with Daniel Priestly
                            • Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Secrets of High Performance
                            • Productivity Academy
                            • The Productivity Show on Youtube
                            • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
                            • Become a member of TPS+
                            • Take the Productivity Quiz
                            • 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!

                              39 min
                            • Weekly Planning System: Manage Multiple Roles & Priorities

                              Struggling to balance multiple roles at work and home? This weekly planning episode shares practical time management strategies to help you stay on top of everything without feeling overwhelmed. Discover how to free up mental space, make time for deep work, and build flexibility into your schedule so you can thrive in all your responsibilities and reclaim your weekends.

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

                              Links:

                              Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                              • DripDrop
                              • 25X Productivity Coaching
                              • 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
                              • Fresh Start Effect: Use Psychology to Boost Your Productivity (TPS594)

                                Why do New Year's resolutions fail by February? The answer lies in the psychology of fresh starts. In this productivity episode, we explore Katy Milkman's research on the “Fresh Start Effect” and how psychological clean slates—like Mondays, birthdays, or a new notebook—can reset your identity and boost motivation.

                                We explore how psychological clean slates—like Mondays, birthdays, or even a new notebook—can reset your identity and boost motivation. However, fresh starts have a hidden downside: they can actually derail high performers. We’ll show you how to strategically time your resets and use environmental changes to unlock new behaviors without losing your hard-earned momentum.

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

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

                                Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

                                Cheat Sheet:

                                Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

                                • Top 3 Productivity Resources
                                • Why certain moments in your life make change *dramatically* easier—and how to spot them [05:18].
                                • When a “fresh start” can actually backfire and slow you down [23:10].
                                • How to engineer your own fresh start—without waiting for January 1st [27:47].
                                • Links:
                                  • Shopify
                                  • DripDrop
                                  • 25X Productivity Coaching
                                  • How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Katy Milkman
                                  • Logitech G915 X Lightspeed Keyboard
                                  • Glocusent Book Light
                                  • How to Stop Worrying and Start Living — Dale Carnegie
                                  • Productivity Academy
                                  • The Productivity Show on Youtube
                                  • The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
                                  • Become a member of TPS+
                                  • Take the Productivity Quiz
                                  • 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!

                                    36 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.