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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2164:

Leo Babauta reports from two weeks into a travel experiment in which he deliberately left his work undone so he would have to do it on the road. He describes four things that kept him working: refusing to give himself a choice, using a public challenge for accountability, having people who expect the work, and finishing early so the rest of the day is free of it. He closes with the observation that fitting his normal workload into a short window while traveling suggests how much time he wastes at home.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/roadwork/

Quotes to ponder:

"Work is something I'm going to do, non-negotiable, just like I'm going to do the basic duties of being a parent, without question."

"I have to be on task, be sharp, get it done, and then I have the luxury of not thinking about work for the rest of the day."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2163:

Brian Tracy takes apart two ideas most salespeople are taught early: that selling is a numbers game, and that rejection is an unavoidable cost of the work. He argues the numbers game was invented to make constant rejection feel normal, and that in a low-trust market the quality and depth of a conversation matters far more than the volume of calls. Rejection, in his view, is usually triggered by how a seller communicates, which means it can be diffused rather than endured.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.briantracy.com/blog/sales-success/the-2-biggest-myths-in-selling-today/

Quotes to ponder:

"It's about how good you are at creating trust."

"Why do you accept that rejection is just something you have to accept in selling?"

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2162:

Lisa Jeffs explains why a coaching culture belongs in every workplace, not just in the onboarding of new hires. She walks through five effects coaching has on an organization: sharper performance, stronger soft skills, higher employee engagement, teams that solve their own problems, and managers who lead by empowering people rather than presiding over them. The through line is that coaching raises productivity by building people up rather than by pushing them harder.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lisajeffs.com/why-coaching-is-important-in-the-workplace/

Quotes to ponder:

"Coaching not only improves productivity, but also helps employees improve their skills, competencies, and even make your office happier."

"Coaching helps empower your team to find solutions for themselves."

"The effectiveness of a leader is limited by how good their teams are."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2161:

Sara Stanizai explains how to tell impostor syndrome apart from ordinary self-doubt: the defining feature is chronic doubt held by someone who is in fact wholly qualified. She traces the pattern back to early cycles of praise and criticism, describes how it compounds with anxiety and shame at work, and points to self-awareness and outside help as the way through.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2019/8/26/feeling-like-a-fraud-how-to-identify-impostor-syndrome

Quotes to ponder:

"Impostor syndrome is the personal belief that you may not be as qualified or successful as others may perceive you to be."

"The most common symptom of impostor syndrome is chronic self-doubt."

"People with impostor syndrome also tend to overlook or cheapen their accomplishments."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2160:

Joe Wilner explains what meaningful work actually requires, starting with the question of what someone would pay to do if money were irrelevant. He argues that respected colleagues, an honest inventory of talents and values, and a self-written job description matter more to career fulfillment than salary, and that hitting an impasse is a signal for professional growth rather than a failure.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/how-to-find-career-fulfillment/

Quotes to ponder:

"Recognize that money does not provide enduring career satisfaction."

"Enjoy the process more than the proceeds."

"Working with people we respect and appreciate is essential for career fulfillment."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2159:

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner explains how to land a first freelance client without a track record to point to. She recommends running a blog that doubles as a live portfolio, creating sample work, taking selective low-pay or free projects that genuinely build credibility, and then networking in the places clients already gather - a practical on-ramp to self-employment and side hustles.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2015/03/how-to-find-freelance-work-with-no-work-experience.html

Quotes to ponder:

"The truth is, you need experience in order to gain experience and this applies to freelancers as well."

"In the beginning, you should be more focused on getting your name out there, gaining valuable experience, and building your portfolio."

"The worst thing that can happen is someone will say no."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2158:

Nir Eyal explains why treating flow as a precondition for good work leaves most professionals stuck. He points out how narrow the conditions for flow actually are, then offers play - adding constraints and looking for the mystery in a task - as a more dependable set of productivity habits for the days the zone never arrives.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/the-pursuit-of-flow-is-overrated/

Quotes to ponder:

"The good news is, we don't need to wait for flow to accomplish what we need to."

"That's why we can't make flow a precondition to getting things done."

"Reimagining difficult work as play is empowering."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2157:

Michael Levitt shares a practical framework for onboarding new employees, starting with defining exactly what the process needs to cover. He recommends handling paperwork before day one, using a learning management system for training, building in a tour and introductions, and scheduling a follow-up after the first week. Better onboarding, he argues, creates a better experience for the new hire, their manager, and the wider team.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/onboard-new-employees-more-effectively-with-these-tips

Quotes to ponder:

"Employee onboarding doesn't end on the first day."

"You don't need to wait until your employee's first day to get started with onboarding."

"Better onboarding helps to create a better employee experience."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2156:

Stephen Warley explains why energy, not time, is the real constraint on productivity, since most people get only three to four sharply focused hours a day. He walks through how purpose fuels energy, how habits reduce the decisions that drain it, and why monotasking conserves more of it than multitasking. The takeaway is to organize work around peak performance periods rather than around a to-do list.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lifeskillsthatmatter.com/manage-your-energy-not-your-time/

Quotes to ponder:

"Time might be a constant, but your available energy isn't."

"I have less energy than I have time every day!"

"Energy management is about developing a core set of habits around your most important work."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free.

Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home.

Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com

Episode 2155:

Dr. Jenny Brockis explains why the biggest threat to workplace productivity is not distraction but lack of sleep. She points out that most people need seven to eight hours, that no one can train themselves to need less, and that chronic sleep debt shows up at work as poorer decisions, weaker memory, and more mistakes. Her recommendation for anyone serious about performance is to treat good sleep habits as the first step rather than the last.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drjennybrockis.com/2017/2/20/our-biggest-performance-killer-is-hidden-in-plain-sight/

Quotes to ponder:

"We are human, not machines."

"You cannot train yourself to do with less sleep."

"Sleep is a physiological and psychological necessity."

Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices