Focused

By RelayBusiness Careers

Focused episodes

November 09, 2021138: Hyper-Scheduling Revisited
Mike and David return to the subject of hyper-scheduling after they've both been at it a few years. What works? What doesn't? And how did Mike's experiment go where he stopped blocking time?
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. David's Focused Webinar MacSparky Hyper-Scheduling Posts Focused #71: Hyper-Scheduling Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day Focused #78: Changing Defaults with John Zeratsky - Relay FM GoodNotes | Best Note-Taking App for iPad Building My Bullet-Journal-Based Hybrid Productivity System – The Sweet Setup Focused #107: The Bullet Journal Method, with Ryder Carroll - Relay FM Flexibits | Fantastical | The calendar and tasks app you won't be able to live without. Analog – Ugmonk Clairefontaine Triomphe Notepads & Envelopes | JetPens Amazon.com : Clairefontaine "Triomphe" Stationery Tablet, Blank, A4 (8.25" x 11.75") : Writing Paper : Office Products Amazon.com : Rhodia Webnotebook, A5, Dot - Orange : Drawing Pads And Books : Office Products Sorted³ – Hyper-schedule your entire day in one place Amazon.com: Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time eBook : Vaden, Rory: Kindle Store Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave: Holiday, Ryan: 9780593191675: Amazon.com: Books
1 hr 35 min
October 27, 2021137: Managing Busy
Mike and David return to the insidious problem of "busy". Mike and David are not beyond getting caught in this trap and share some ideas about how to avoid it.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
Setapp: More than 200 powerful apps for your Mac. Try it free for a week.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. (1) The FOCUSED Calendar – NeuYear.net Fear-Setting: The Most Valuable Exercise I Do Every Month – The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss Personal Retreat Handbook | Faith-Based Productivity Journaling Workflow for Appending to Daily Notes with QuickAdd (VIDEO) – The Sweet Setup Journaling Using Daily Questions in Obsidian – The Sweet Setup About Page Focused #134: Finding Space with Sean McCabe - Relay FM Focused #135: Don't Eat the Frog, with Jesse J. Anderson - Relay FM Focused #136: Social Focus, with Taylor Jacobson - Relay FM Obsidian Triggers: Marshall Goldsmith Courage Is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave: Holiday, Ryan
1 hr 22 min
October 12, 2021136: Social Focus, with Taylor Jacobson
Taylor Jacobson joins us to talk about groundedness, vulnerability, and accountability on his journey to founding Focusmate.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Novo: Powerfully simple business banking. Sign up for free.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Guest Starring:
Taylor Jacobson
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focusmate The 2022 FOCUSED Calendar Focused #78: Changing Defaults with John Zeratsky Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky | Amazon Focused #119: Productivity & Meditation, with Chris Bailey The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey | Amazon Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi | Amazon Taylor Jacobson | LinkedIn Taylor Jacobson (@TaylorJacobson) | Twitter
1 hr 23 min
September 28, 2021135: Don't Eat the Frog, with Jesse J. Anderson
Jesse Anderson joins us to talk about self-awareness and the struggles with being productive while battling ADHD.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Novo: Powerfully simple business banking. Sign up for free.
Privacy: Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
Guest Starring:
Jesse Anderson
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Don't Eat the Frog First! | Jesse J. Anderson Why Is It So Hard to Do Something That Should Be Easy? | YouTube Kourosh Dini | Mind, Music, and Productivity The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg | Amazon Due: The Superfast Reminder App for iPhone & iPad Make Time by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky | Amazon DSM-5 William Dodson, M.D. | ADDitude Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell M.D & John J. Ratey M.D. | Amazon Jesse J. Anderson Refocus: A Practical Guide to ADHD @jessejanderson | Twitter @jessejanderson | TikTok @jessejanderson | Instagram Time Timer | Amazon
1 hr 21 min
September 14, 2021134: Finding Space with Sean McCabe
Sean McCabe comes back to report in on what happened when his year-long sabbatical smacked into a pandemic and how he keeps his focus while winding up a new business.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
Guest Starring:
Sean McCabe
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. seanwes - Business Community for Creative Professionals Daily Content Machine | seanwes Craft and Commerce 2020 - Email Marketing Conference for Creators by ConvertKit SwitchBot Bot - The Iconic Button Presser – SwitchBot Global Weekend Sabbatical – sabbatical.blog Ulysses The all-new Things. Your to-do list for Mac & iOS RescueTime Automatic Mac Time Tracker – Start/Stop Timers Optional – Timing Motion: Manage calendars, meetings, & tasks in one app Free Online Appointment Scheduling Software - Calendly Save Time Blog - Quick Tips for Doing Things Faster on Apple Devices
1 hr 36 min
August 31, 2021133: Success & Failure
David & Mike do an audit of their productivity workflows and share what's working (and what isn't).
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
Gabi: Get a better insurance. It’s totally free to check and there’s no obligation. Click this link to get started.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. David's Apple Mail webinar Relay FM for St. Jude 2021 ScreenFlow Ferrite Recording Studio Deep Work by Cal Newport | Amazon Focused #118: Tasks and Habits The Best Habit App | The Sweet Setup Streaks DLR Field Guide | YouTube Bookworm The Intentional Family Focused #101: Taking a Sabbatical, with Sean McCabe - Relay FM Hell Yeah or No | Derek Sivers The Best Time Tracking App | The Sweet Setup Timery for Toggl Timing Obsidian Todoist Obsidian & Todoist Plugin | Jamie Brynes tq Obsidian plugin
1 hr 19 min
August 17, 2021132: Willpower and Your Environment
Is willpower enough to plow through? In this episode, Mike and David look into that question.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Willpower Doesn't Work Great Mental Models V1 The Extended Mind 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Haruki Murakami: Daily Routine - Balance The Grind | Conversations On Work, Life & Balance Happy creativity: Listening to happy music facilitates divergent thinking The Art of Gathering Creativity Inc. Environment Design: How to Improve Without Thinking Indistractable
1 hr 14 min
August 03, 2021131: Liminal Thinking
We're all a lot less objective than we give ourselves credit for. David & Mike attempt to figure out why by considering limiting beliefs, learning loops, and the slippery slope of self-sealing logic.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Discourse: Modern forum software for your community. Get 50% off your first 2 months.
Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray | Amazon Bookworm #124: Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy | Amazon Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon | Amazon Mindset by Carol Dweck | Amazon Getting Things Done by David Allen | Amazon Die Empty by Todd Henry | Amazon The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen | Amazon MacSparky You are Now Less Dumb by David McRaney | Amazon Think Again by Adam Grant | Amazon
1 hr 24 min
July 20, 2021130: Toxic Productivity
At what point does your quest for productivity and efficiency become toxic? It's a good question and an easy trap. Mike and David have a few ideas.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Literati: A bestselling book subscription service that offers curated book clubs for all readers. Start your trial today.
Links and Show Notes: Credits
The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Sign up for Deep Focus Cal Newport: How to Become a Straight A Student TikTok, pink stationery, and crowded planners: Gen Z’s toxic productivity - Vox
So the goal, it seems, isn’t necessarily to be productive, but rather to look productive.
The Rise and Fall of Getting Things Done | The New Yorker Inbox Zero - YouTube How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler Thirty Lessons for Living Ikigei Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt Important and Urgent — MacSparky
1 hr 20 min
July 06, 2021129: No One Wants to Work With a Jerk, with Colleen Wainwright
Gmail ninja Colleen Wainwright joins us to talk about delegating work to others, the evolution of the attention economy, and working out of email without going crazy.
This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
HPE Tech Talk: HPE news, tech Insights and world-class innovations. Listen now.
Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
Guest Starring:
Colleen Wainwright
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Mac Power Users #72: Workflows with Colleen Wainwright A World Without Email by Cal Newport | Amazon DragApp Notion Jira Airtable Focused #127: Focusing a Team, with Ken Case TextExpander MailSuite Digital Body Language by Erica Dhawan | Amazon Communicatrix
1 hr 21 min

About Focused

From the publisher's feed

David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk…