Coffee Powered Systems

Episode 024. This is a simple way to just get started with managing your tasks and just having them all in one sheet. If you are overwhelmed with the notion of automation and dumping your entire workflow into a task manager, I just want you to start, and stop putting it off because you “haven’t chosen one” yet.

Action this week - If you are still struggling to begin because you are using the excuse of not having an app, I want you to either create a task sheet, or use my free version and start your first weekly overview.

Discussed In This Episode:

• Why you don't need a full-blown task manager to be productive
• Why not having a task manager app is not an excuse to not do anything
• Step-by-step what you’ll put in your Google sheet
• How to use this task list for delegation

Mentioned in this episode:

• Free Sheets download: https://www.mirandamerten.com/task-list

Other helpful links:

• Free Productivity Power Pack
• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/24

Episode 023. Today, I’m talking about Storrito which is an app to create and schedule Instagram Stories comfortably from your desktop pc.

Great for you if: 

• You like scheduling and batching social media
• You don’t want to have notifications to post (Storrito posts automatically)
• Like doing IG on desktop vs your phone

You can use the editor to add stickers, create animation, tag accounts and add hashtags just like on your Instagram app.

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/23

Mentioned in this episode:

• Storrito

Other helpful links:

• Free Productivity Power Pack
• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Over the years, I've been well aware of my issues with consistency (or really, lack of it). From posting on social media, to daily routines, I find myself having to actively engage in self-discipline and awareness in order to follow through and build new habits. In this episode, I give you a 7-step method for what to do when you also recognize your issues with consistency, and how to create better habits around it.

• Why denial is our biggest enemy when it comes to consistency
• Why knowing your why and your working style is crucial in understanding your self-discipline
• How using habit-forming triggers can help with consistency
• Why rewarding yourself is important
• The 7 steps to daily self-discipline

Mentioned in this episode:

• Eat That Frog
• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
• The Kaizen Method
• Strict Workflow
• Procrastinator by benrowe.info
• Block Site – Website Blocker for Chrome™
• YouTube Blocker by michaeljhsiu.com 
• Not Now YouTube by oasisweng

Other Helpful links:

• Episode 21: Stay Focused and Plant a Tree with Forest and Flora [Tip Tuesday]
• Free Productivity Power Pack (Includes my Spotify productivity playlist)
• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

"Forest team partners with a real-tree-planting organization, Trees for the Future, to plant real trees on Earth. When our users spend virtual coins they earn in Forest on planting real trees, Forest team donates to our partner and creates planting orders."

Forest is an app that helps you stay focused on the important things in life. It's a simple concept - start a productive focus session, plant a tree, your tree will grow while you focus on your work, if you leave the app, your tree withers. If you really like collecting awards and achievements this could work for you! Bonus: Use the coins earned from your productivity sessions to plant up to 5 real trees with Tree for the Future.

Also, from the creators of Forest, they have Flora. It's like focus with friends - take it up a notch by focusing with a group. If anyone leaves the app, the tree dies. Flora also has a real money incentive - pledge money to stay focused, if you fail, you pay the actual money to charity to plant a real tree.

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/21

Mentioned in this episode:

• Forest App
• Flora

Other Helpful links:

• Free Productivity Power Pack
• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Episode 020. All this month I’ve been talking about systems and processes, and as we wrap up July, and before I move into time management and helping you create working systems, I want to really hammer home the fact that the basics need to be in place before you succeed with your proper workflows. Are you getting distracted by shiny new tools and the next big thing, and essentially harming your productivity? In this episode, I talk about the things you need to watch out for so you don't get sucked into a time-sucking rabbit hole.

• How I still fall prey to shiny objects
• Why productivity tools can actually lead to an avoidance of work
• How the latest tool only enhances what's already there (if your unproductive, you'll just be more unproductive)
• The big thing I want you to do with your current task management system
• Tools vs. skills
• “There’s an app for that” but why you don't always need it
• Fear of better options - what is it and why you need to try and avoid it
• My biggest tip for you to just keep moving forward

Other Helpful links:

• Free Productivity Power Pack
• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/20

Send a voice message:

https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Episode 019. Ever wonder how people make those cool video waveforms that you see when scrolling through social media? It's not hard and it's definitely not some crazy tech savvy secret sauce. Learn some of the tools that people are using to create those cool visuals. It's as simple as uploading your audio, graphic image, and adding your chosen waveform. The correct sizes for social are supplied for you and it couldn't be easier.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Headliner
• AudioCado

Other Helpful links:

• Website
• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send me a message! https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Episode 018. What's your digital recovery plan? I’m betting you don’t have one, but I hope I’m wrong. This is a juicy episode, and really important, so save this one so you can reference it later. When things go wrong with your digital systems, what are you going to do? We pay for health insurance, life insurance and many others, so why not be prepared with your digital insurance? Don’t be afraid to pay for services that protect your digital assets.

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/18

• What is a digital recovery plan?
• What will you do if PayPal locks your account?
• What happens if your website crashes or is hacked?
• Accidentally delete your email contacts?
• What will you do if the apps on your phone don't work?
• Password manager loses all the files?
• What if your project manager app crashes?
• Why you might want to have an IT partner

Mentioned in this episode:

Crashplan, Cloud Backup Software

Carbonite, Backup and Recovery

MalCare, Firewall and Malware Protection

Sucuri, Website Security

Hosting Checker

Who Is Hosting This

Jetpack

Other helpful links:

Free Productivity Power Pack

Website

Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Episode 017. Have you been searching for a project management app and still haven't found the one that's perfect for you? I know I've brought you a few to check out, and here is another one that you might want to take a look at. Of course, if you've found the one for you, go with it, but if you're still looking, try Zenkit.

Why am I loving Zenkit?

• Multiple views: List, Kanban, Table, Wiki, Calendar
• You can connect everything within the Zenkit Universe so they can all work together, or connect to 3rd party apps like Google Drive
• 1-click data import from Trello, Asana, Wunderlist
• iOs and Android apps as well as desktop apps
• Works well alone or with a team
• Product roadmap, upcoming include Slack integration + Google Suite integration
• Personal version is free forever 
• If you have a team or want some of the premium features, it’s $9/user/month

Check it out and let me know if you are using it!

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/17

Mentioned in this episode:

mirandamerten.com/zenkit

Other helpful links:

Free Productivity Power Pack

Website

Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems

Episode 016: What stage of productivity are you in? Why does that even matter? It matters because once you know the answer to this question, you can be more focused and energized about learning the correct things based on where you currently are. If you are in stage 1, you don't need to focus on building a team yet or upgrading your current systems. This episode lays out what you might be experiencing during each stage and what you should be focusing on so you can be more efficient and avoid "shiny object syndrome". 

• Stage 1 - Understand [03:47]
• Stage 2 - Learn and evaluate [05:06]
• Stage 3 - Create + commit [10:25]
• Stage 4 - Delegate [16:12]
• Stage 5 - Master + refine [18:50]
• Your plan of action this week [24:30]

For the transcript and full show notes: https://www.mirandamerten.com/16

Mentioned in this episode:

• Free Productivity Power Pack
• Episode 12: Understanding Goal Hierarchy To Properly Use A Task Manager
• Episode 14: Surprise! You Might Already Be Using The GTD Method For Productivity

Related blog posts:

• What Every Home-based Business Owner Needs to Know About Shiny Object Syndrome
• Increase Your Productivity with Time Blocking + A Free 12 Week Planner

Other Helpful links:

• Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Episode 015: Being productive on a daily basis isn’t just some pipe dream. We can all get there, but we need a little focus, motivation and help. Grab this productivity power pack to get ideas of how you can be more productive throughout your day, and get you in the right mindset for success.

https://www.mirandamerten.com/power-pack

Included in this power pack:

• The 5-Step Personal Productivity Framework
• Giant List Of Productivity Book Recommendations
• Habits You Can Start Today To Help Increase Your Personal Productivity
• Automate! 15 Tasks You Can Automate Today To Reduce Overwhelm
• Delegate! Tasks To Hand Off Today To Increase Your Personal Productivity
• 12 Week Planner PDF Download
• The Personal Productivity Playlist: Tunes To Tune Out Distraction and Get You In The Productivity Zone

For the transcript and full show notes:

https://www.mirandamerten.com/15

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.mirandamerten.com/power-pack

Other helpful links:

Website

Instagram (@mirandamerten)

Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/CoffeePoweredSystems