In this episode of Storytellers: Journeys, host Bernadette Hill sits down with Helena Weiss-Duman—efficiency expert, community builder, and thoughtful voice in intentional living.

Helena believes personal efficiency isn’t about doing more — it’s about designing systems that honor your strengths, reduce friction, and help you show up as your best self. Together, Bernadette and Helena explore the human side of streamlining workflows, identifying your “zone of genius,” and gathering people in ways that foster collaboration and meaningful change.

This conversation is warm, practical, and deeply relatable — especially for women navigating motherhood, leadership, creativity, and the emotional clutter that holds us back from clarity.

Key takeaways:

• Why efficiency doesn’t mean overcomplication

• Identifying your “Zone of Genius” early for career success

• The art and impact of gathering people effectively

• How to create personal efficiency systems that truly work

• The unexpected emotional side of simplifying your life

Connect with the Guest — Helena Weiss-Duman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenaweissduman/

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Priya Parker – https://www.priyaparker.com

David Allen (GTD) – https://gettingthingsdone.com

Greg McKeown (Essentialism) – https://gregmckeown.com

Tiago Forte (Building a Second Brain) – https://fortelabs.com

James Clear (Atomic Habits) – https://jamesclear.com

Cal Newport (Deep Work) – https://calnewport.com

Tools:

OmniFocus (task management)

FocusMate (virtual co-working)

Podcasts Referenced:

Asian Efficiency

The Lazy Genius

Best of Both Worlds

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LinkedIn – Bernadette Hill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettehill/

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Website / Community (Circle): https://circle.so/c/savagesimplicity

Keywords: personal efficiency, women and productivity, community building, intentional gathering, simplicity systems, workflow design, zone of genius, bernadette hill podcast, storytellers