Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

John Jantsch on Self-Reliance: How to Build Resilience, Perseverance, and Perspective (Shortcast)


Listen Later

In this Shortcast edition, John Jantsch, author of The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur, draws wisdom from great American writers like Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, and William Wells Brown to explore three essential traits for thriving in life and business: perseverance, perspective, and resilience. Rather than chasing productivity hacks, John invites us to dig deeper—into reflection, discomfort, and slow growth.

In this Shortcast, we explore:

  • Perseverance Through Practice: Inspired by Thoreau, John explains why repeated effort—like walking a mountain trail—is not wasted energy but the very process that builds mastery and meaning.
  • The Danger of Indestructible Contentment: Borrowing from Twain, John challenges the idea of being too comfortable, encouraging us to embrace discomfort as a path to perspective and growth.
  • Redefining Resilience: With a reading from William Wells Brown, John reframes procrastination not as laziness, but as strategic patience born of experience—knowing when to act, and when to wait.
  • Growth Beyond Hustle: John reminds us that true self-reliance isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about trusting yourself, honoring the process, and staying open to what life is teaching you through repetition and challenge.


This episode is a refreshing reset—a deeper look at what it really takes to keep going, stay grounded, and lead with presence.

Find more ⁠Shortcasts like this one on Blinkist here⁠

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and LifeBy Erik Fisher

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

826 ratings


More shows like Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

View all
Modern Mentor by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Modern Mentor

689 Listeners

Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,462 Listeners

The 5 AM Miracle: Healthy Productivity for High Achievers by Jeff Sanders

The 5 AM Miracle: Healthy Productivity for High Achievers

731 Listeners

The Productive Woman by Laura McClellan

The Productive Woman

477 Listeners

Organize 365 Podcast by Lisa Woodruff

Organize 365 Podcast

1,309 Listeners

The Productivity Show by Asian Efficiency

The Productivity Show

510 Listeners

Getting Things Done by GTD®

Getting Things Done

455 Listeners

How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1,027 Listeners

It's The ADHD-Friendly Show | Personal Growth, Well-being and Productivity for Distractible Minds by Caren Magill

It's The ADHD-Friendly Show | Personal Growth, Well-being and Productivity for Distractible Minds

101 Listeners

This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers by Laurie Palau

This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers

273 Listeners

The Modern Manager by Mamie Kanfer Stewart

The Modern Manager

185 Listeners

It's About Time | Time Management & Productivity for Work Life & Balance by Anna Dearmon Kornick

It's About Time | Time Management & Productivity for Work Life & Balance

228 Listeners

Best Laid Plans by Sarah Hart-Unger

Best Laid Plans

785 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

652 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

152 Listeners