“Email is like trying to save money, but every day walking through the mall.”

Jesse Mecham is the founder of You Need a Budget, or YNAB, an app that helps you gain control of your money. Until just a few weeks ago, Jesse was also the CEO of YNAB, a company with more than a hundred employees. He has also written a book and he hosts a podcast, both of which are also titled You Need a Budget. Oh, and did I mention that Jesse has seven kids?

I was keen to speak with Jesse not only because I used YNAB for years and heartily recommend it, but also because Jesse has a very thoughtful approach to his productivity. There’s a lot of parallels between budgeting and task management and we really get into that in this episode.

Jesse and I discuss:

• How adding structure can help you feel free (when it comes to budgeting as well as to time management)
• Creating a work culture that emphasizes outcomes rather than “butts in seats”
• How Jesse used Things 3 to support the writing of his book

And much more. Enjoy the show!

Find Jesse and YNAB:

• Try YNAB for free for 34 days (no credit card required)
• You Need a Budget podcast
• Jesse’s book, You Need a Budget
• YNAB on TikTok
• YNAB on Twitter

Also mentioned:

• Cal Newport’s Deep Work
• Nassim Taleb’s Antifragile