How I Work

Do you hate email? Are you sick of being a slave to your inbox? Are you like the "average" knowledge worker and check your email or chat messages every six minutes? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, I think you will love today's show. 

Cal Newport is a Computer Science Professor at Georgetown University and also the bestselling author of Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and most recently, A World Without Email. And Cal has been thinking a lot about how to overcome what he calls the "hyperactive hive mind".

In this chat, we talk about practical strategies to dramatically reduce the amount of unscheduled communication (i.e. email) you receive, both as an individual, but also as an entire organisation.

Connect with Cal at calnewport.com

Grab a copy of A World Without Email: https://www.calnewport.com/books/a-world-without-email/

Listen to the Deep Questions podcast: https://www.calnewport.com/podcast/

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co 

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 

A great piece of advice can be life-changing. It can set you on a whole new trajectory, land you a new job, or even prompt you to make a big career change.

Group Managing Director of Coca-Cola Amatil, and self-described overachiever Alison Watkins shares how to make sure the advice you receive is right for you. 

Global leader in innovation Scott D Anthony wants you to flirt with possible career moves through advice and curiosity. 

Organisational psychologist Adam Grant outlines the benefits of scheduling a regular life check-up for yourself.

Wendy Stops, non-executive director on the board of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, shares the best piece of advice she’s ever been given. 

While good advice is helpful, it’s also worth noting that there is plenty of bad advice going around. For Kendra Banks, Managing Director of SEEK, this came in the form of parenting and career advice.

Listen to the full interviews:

Alison Watkins - https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/coca-cola-amatils-group-managing-director-alison-watkins-on-why-doing-great-work-isnt-enough-to-get-ahead-in-your-career/

Scott D Anthony - https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/scott-d-anthony-on-how-he-removed-70-of-recurring-meetings-from-his-diary-balancing-manager-time-with-maker-time-and-his-go-to-locations-for-doing-focused-work/

Adam Grant - https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/why-adam-grant-wants-you-to-schedule-a-regular-life-check-up/

Wendy Stops - https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/commbank-board-director-wendy-stops-on-the-biggest-challenges-of-sitting-on-high-profile-boards/

Kendra Banks - https://www.amantha.com/podcasts/managing-director-of-seek-kendra-banks-on-how-her-leadership-team-make-their-most-important-decisions/

Subscribe to my new podcast How To Date in Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co

Visit https://www.amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hate networking but know you need to get better at it? 

Career entrepreneur Emma Isaacs has built her professional network of people - including Richard Brandson, Nicole Kidman, and Arianna Huffington - from the ground up. She bought her first business at the age of 18 and has never looked back. 

Today Business Chicks is a global social networking group with over 44,000 members, hosting events across Australia and the US. Emma now runs her company from the US, where she lives with her family, including six children under 11. 

Connect with Emma - https://www.emmaisaacs.com/, https://businesschicks.com/

Winging It - Why Action Beats Planning Every Time - https://www.emmaisaacs.com/winging-it 

Emma’s next book on time management called, The Right Hustle, comes out in August 2021. 

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co 

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I place a huge value on my health. It’s my number one priority. 

 If you’re not healthy, chances are you’re less productive.

Using these tools helps me incorporate physical activity into my day, understand my health patterns so I know where I can make improvements, and trains my brain. 

I use the Apple Smart Rope to count reps when I’m skipping. The rope connects to an app on my phone and lets me know when I have reached my goal. 

Smart Rope: https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/HL6M2ZM/A/tangram-factory-smart-rope-led-jump-rope-medium 

I use the Whoop band to optimise the way I recover, train, and sleep. It features daily reporting on mobile and desktop apps. 

Whoop: https://www.whoop.com/

I use the Apple Watch with pedometer++ app to count my steps throughout the day: 

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/pedometer/id712286167

I can now walk and work on my computer with the Walkingpad Pro Treadmill and Ergodesk Automatic Standing Desk (1500mm): 

https://www.lifespanfitness.com.au/products/walkingpad%E2%84%A2-pro-treadmill-with-ergodesk-automatic-standing-desk-1500mm

I love being mentally active with these great puzzles from Magic Puzzle: 

https://www.magicpuzzlecompany.com/ 

Check out Lady Startup Stories: Michelle Battersby: https://omny.fm/shows/lady-startup/sunroom

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you left your job, could your company go on without you?

Booktopia’s CEO Tony Nash believes a company should be more robust than the people working for it. When someone walks into his office to resign, they don’t get the reaction they expect. Instead of alarm, Tony feels excitement when someone decides it’s time to move on. 

Before starting Booktopia in 2004, Tony ran his own online recruitment company, Best People International, and still enjoys the process of recruitment, even from the top. 

Despite running Australia’s largest online bookstore, Tony’s a confessed non-reader. He’s only recently been diagnosed with ADHD, which explains why he prefers audio books. It’s also made clear for him why his relationship with his executive assistant is so important - she keeps him organised and on track. 

Connect with Tony - www.booktopia.com.au 

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co 

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to my home office. 

Since Inventium officially became a remote-first organisation, I’ve been making improvements to my set up with the help of my dad, who’s very tech savvy.

By using a semi-professional camera as a webcam, I get amazing clear images for online meetings and presentations. I can control the lighting and make sure I look great, without lights shining in my eyes. 

I’ve turned my office into a mini-recording studio for podcast and presentation recordings. I’ve even started to exercise while I work. 

My set-up includes:  

Computer - iMac 27"

Monitor - Dell 27" 4k

Camera - Canon XA20

I turn my video camera into a webcam with - Elgato Cam Link 4K

Microphone - Shure KSM8 dynamic

I connect my mic to my computer with - Focusrite Scarlett2 2i2

Recording - Sound Devices MixPre-6

Lighting - Elgato Key Light Air x 2

Controller - Elgato Stream Deck

Teleprompter - Glide Gear TMP100 

Camera Monitor - LILLIPUT A11 10.1 inch 3G-SDI VGA Monitor

Treadmill desk - Lifespan Fitness Walkingpad Pro Treadmill

Check out Lady Startup Stories: Hannah and Rachel Vasicek: https://omny.fm/shows/lady-startup/francesca

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're anything like me, your inbox is cluttered with e-newsletters that you don't read. But there are a handful I actually look forward to reading. One of them is called Recomendo, co-written by Wired co-founder Kevin Kelly. As you would expect from someone who founded arguably the most influential tech magazine on the planet, Kevin epitomises the phrase "finger on the pulse".

I interviewed Kevin last year and he has kindly offered to come back on again. If you're interested in Kevin's favourite apps, websites, e-newsletters and predictions for the next big thing, we cover all that and more in this chat.

Articles and e-newsletters:

• KK's 1000 true fans article: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/
• Recomendo e-newsletter: https://www.recomendo.com/
• Tim Ferriss Five Bullet Friday: https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-1/
• David Perell - Monday Musings: https://davidperell.substack.com/p/monday-musings-21119
• Austin Kleon: https://austinkleon.com/newsletter/
• The Browser: https://thebrowser.com/

Apps:

• Seek: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/seek-by-inaturalist/id1353224144
• Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/

Websites:

• Art Breeder: https://www.artbreeder.com/
• Sci Hub: https://sci-hub.se/

Learning resources:

• Journal Clubs on Youtube
• Two Minute papers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbfYPyITQ-7l4upoX8nvctg

Twitter

• Noah Smith: https://twitter.com/Noahpinion
• Tyler Cohen: https://twitter.com/briantylercohen

Connect with Kevin: kk.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevin2kelly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevin2kelly/?hl=en

Vanishing Asia on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kk-org/vanishing-asia

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co 

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode producer: Jenna Koda

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want to nail engaging virtual meetings?

Make presentations feel more like they do in real life. The mmhmm app helps you to configure your screen for more effective presentations. By appearing next to your slides instead of being replaced by them, you’ll enhance human connection and communicate more naturally. 

Increase interaction with your audience with fun polls and live voting. The Slido app integrates seamlessly with Google Slides and even displays live results - adding that little something extra to your presentations.  

Green screen your way into better virtual backgrounds for that super clean and professional look. You’ll be surprised what a difference this simple screen can make. 

Have better video meetings with these three tools:

mmhmm - https://www.mmhmm.app/hvs 

Slido - https://www.sli.do/

Green screen - https://amzn.to/3dRglmM

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co  

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have a meeting with Cameron McIntyre there are a few things about him that might surprise you. 

The first one is he will remember your name and the second is that he’s always present, prepared, and not easily shaken. 

But how does he manage to do this? 

What is his trick for recalling names in a meeting full of people he’s never met before? 

Cameron shares his hacks for always being composed, never sending an email you may regret, and making a good impression. 

Cameron’s favourite books:

Leading Change – John Kotter

The 4th Industrial Revolution – Klaus Schwab

Good to Great – Jim Collins

The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell

Get in touch with Cameron at [email protected]

Connect with Cameron on Twitter and on Linkedin

Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at [email protected]

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co  

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production support from Deadset Studios

Episode producer: Jenna Koda

Sound engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want to improve your writing?

Writing is one of the fundamental ways we persuade people to take up our ideas, meet with us, or buy the thing we are selling. 

Want a snappier headline or to make sure you are communicating to the right audience. Want to find those pesky grammatical errors before you send your email? What if you see a nice font you like, but don’t know how to find out which one it is?

Text analyser Hemingway, writing assistant Grammarly, headline improver CoSchedule and font finder MyFonts are four writing tools I couldn’t work without. 

Become a better writer with these four easy-to-use writing tools: 

Hemingway App: https://hemingwayapp.com/    

Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/ 

CoSchedule (Headline Analyser): https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer 

MyFonts: https://myfonts.com/whatthefont 

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.