The Productivityist Podcast: Ideas And Tools For Personal Productivity | Time Management | Goals | Habits | Working Better

I wanted to talk to someone who knows communication and email to talk about that subject. So Phil Simon joined me once again to talk about email – and in particular, the new kid on the block, HEY. Relevant Links Episode 308: Talking Slack with Phil Simon Episode 324: Let’s Zoom with Phil Simon HEY ‘The world’s greatest email app’ is a privacy nightmare | The Next Web Check out Front – my main email app Listen to Andrew Warner talk about HEY with Jason Fried Second-Order Thinking | FS.blog PhilSimon.com Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices.

Phil Simon returns to the program to talk about a service that more people have started using in 2020… some whether they wanted to or not: Zoom. Phil’s made a recent appearance on this podcast talking about his book Slack for Dummies. Now he’s back to share some of his knowledge and insights on another service – as well as another book he’s written Zoom for Dummies. We spend this episode talking about the rise of Zoom use, what Phil’s first experience with Zoom was like, and some of the things Phil really likes about Zoom. If you’re new to Zoom and want to go from comfortable to confident with it, then this episode is well worth your time and attention. Talking Points Why does Phil think Zoom replaced Skype in many ways? This was what Phil’s initial experience with Zoom was like Phil talks about what Zoom brings to the table with webinars What is a tip for people who want to get more out of Zoom? Quote “Zoom is focused on user experience and focused on simplicity.“ Helpful Links Zoom for Dummies Epi

Benjamin Spall returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 196 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I’m joined once again by Laura Vanderkam, a fellow productivity specialist. Laura is the author of several books, including The New Corner Office: How the Most Successful People Work from Home. I wanted to talk about productivity with someone who speaks my language, and Laura certainly fits that bill. She’s penned a book that is designed to help people not only survive working from home… it’s a book that will help people thrive while working from home. We talk about what it’s like to be thrust into a “work from home” situation, why right now might just be the best time to take on that monumental project, and much more. This episode is well worth your time… I know you’ll enjoy our conversation!   Talking Points Laura explains why she chose to write this book right now What led Laura to writing this book? Why does Laura advise you manage by task rather than time? How important does Laura thinks self-care in the work environment is during times like these? Laura shares insights on how she

I’ve had an “on again, off again” relationship with apps during my career as a productivity strategist. Right now, it’s back on again. I share some of my insights on apps during this episode. You’ll hear what apps I’m currently using (and why I’m using them), what I look for in an app of any sort, and why going “”all in” with an app can be a recipe for productivity problems. I’ve got several relevant links to apps below so as you’re listening feel free to check out what I’m using and start to sate your appetite for apps starting today! Relevant Links Focus on The App Within Todoist TimeHero Drafts Woven Day One Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the

Vicki McLeod joins me on this episode of the program. Vicki McLeod is a writer, author, coach, consultant and an award-winning entrepreneur. She is an advocate for mindful business, everyday happiness and living a life rich with meaning. She’s here to talk about her book You and The Internet of Things. Vicki is the author of several books beyond You and the Internet of Things, A practical guide to understanding and integrating the IoT into your daily life (Self-Counsel Press 2020). She’s also penned #Untrending, A Field Guide to Social Media That Matters, How to Post, Tweet, and Like Your Way to a More Meaningful Life (First Choice 2016) and coauthor of Digital Legacy Plan, A Guide to the Personal and Practical Elements of Your Digital Life Before You Die (Self-Counsel Press 2019) and writes a biweekly newspaper column on the intersection of digital and analog life. I’ve been friends with Vick for years and wanted to have her share with you some of the concepts around IoT (The Internet of Things), how IoT can

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity." I couldn’t agree more. So I decided to share my thoughts on my quest for it on this episode. Relevant Links Simplicity Day | DaysOfTheYear.com Simplicity is Subjective | Me @ Medium Episode 317: The Analog Way with Jeff Sheldon Analog Joe Episode 175: Soulful Simplicity with Courtney Carver Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for this episode is Marta Zaraska. Marta is a Polish-Canadian science journalist published in the Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, the Atlantic, Discover, and more. She’s the author of the book Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100. Marta reached out to me just before Growing Young‘s release date and after having a chance to check out what the book was all about I knew I wanted to talk to her about it for this program. And talk about the book we did! We talked about why she wrote the book, how challenging it was to write, some of the surprises she came across during the writing process, and more. I had a wonderful time chatting with Marta and I know you’ll get a lot out of listening to our conversation. Talking Points What inspired Marta to write this book? Marta explains why she thinks people focus more on their health when trying to live longer This is something that Marta tried and noticed it was helping her a lot as she worked towar

On this solo episode of the podcast, I’m doing something a little different: I’m hosting a guest. Jeff Sheldon joins me on the program to talk about simplicity, productivity, and the story behind Analog. Jeff Sheldon is the founder and designer of Ugmonk, a brand focused on creating and curating thoughtfully designed products. Jeff launched Ugmonk in 2008 as a creative outlet to design products that he wanted to wear and use. Now over a decade later, Ugmonk continues to expand its collection of well-designed objects and clothing and attract a passionate following from around the globe. Jeff and I spend a lot of time talking about his Analog venture – which is something I’ve been experimenting with for several weeks as of this recording. We also talk about design, simplicity, the importance of flexibility, and much more. I’ve been a big fan of Jeff’s work for some time and I’m glad I am able to share our conversation with you on this episode. Talking Points Jeff explains what he does… and what Ugmonk is Did

My guest this time around is Jill McAbe. Jill is a business coach, high-performance expert and Amazon best-selling author of It’s Go Time: The ALL-IN System For Unstoppable Success in Business and Life. After seven gruelling years as celebrated restaurateur, 10+ years as a growth consultant to entrepreneurs, and a car accident that nearly took her life, Jill realized she couldn’t spend another minute on a business that wasn’t perfect for her in every way. At 48, Jill turned her business development skills on herself to build a business aligned with her purpose and that fits her life. She now teaches people like herself (misfits who sell their talent and crave lifestyle freedom) how they can do the same. Jill is a Top Teacher on the global career-skills platform, Skillshare. Her official residence is in Toronto, Canada; however, her dream business allows her to work from anywhere. Jill and I spend time talking about what “go time” is, her insights on willpower (and whether or not they align with mine), and muc

I took a Clarity Day this week. Not sure what a Clarity Day is? I explain its value on this episode… as well as how I know it’s going to help me with my productivity and prioritization moving forward. Want to take a Clarity Day for yourself? Here’s how. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, I’m joined by Jonathan Levi. Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur, published author, and podcaster born and raised in Silicon Valley. Jonathan is the face of such products and brands as the award-winning SuperHuman Academy Podcast; the bestselling “Become a SuperLearner” series; and, most recently, his new venture, SuperHuman Academy. Jonathan’s media products have been enjoyed by over 250,000 people in 205 countries and territories. During our conversation, we talk about the perils of overdoing optimization, how to avoid information overload, why planning matters, and Jonathan’s exploits into speed reading. There’s a lot to unpack in this episode… I hope you enjoy it. Talking Points Jonathan tells us a bit about himself and his origin story. How does Jonathan turn off the desire to want to optimize everything all the time? Jonathan talks about the filtration aspect of information overload This is what Jonathan thinks about planning and plans Jonathan and I talk about “speed reading” Quo

Three big days that happen over a three-week period are incredibly meaningful to me: World Productivity Day, Father’s Day, and my birthday. I share my thoughts on all of them in this episode. Relevant Links World Productivity Day How to Be Productive in These Strange Times with Mike Vardy How to Fix Your 2020 Vision Board Why You Need A Clarity Day (And How To Make It Happen) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the podcast delves into the concept of curation with the author of Curating Your Life, guest Gail Golden. Gail Golden, MBA, Ph.D., is the Principal of Gail Golden Consulting, LLC. As a psychologist and consultant for over twenty-five years, she has developed deep expertise in helping businesses to build better leaders. Her experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, and consultant to senior leaders of both Fortune 1000 and non-profit organizations informs her approach to executive selection and development. We focus on the idea of curation – something we are both keen on – and also discuss mediocrity, her thoughts on managing time, her views on comfort, and more. Talking Points How does curating your life allow you to have more balance? Gail offers her take on mediocrity How do you know when it is time to re-evaluate and change what your priority is? Gail talks about her views on wanting to escape the comfort zone What is one simple action someone can take to start this process after

KC Procter returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 206 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for this episode of the program is digital strategist, renowned speaker, and good friend Bosco Anthony. When we decided to have this conversation initially, we had a different set of topics in mind. But based on the current climate of the world when we recorded this episode – early June 2020 – the discussion went in a different direction. Bosco Anthony is an International Speaker, Storyteller and Digital Strategist with a background in corporate leadership and business operations. His experience in the corporate sector provides wisdom on operational maturity, business growth, digital strategy, performance efficiencies, and design thinking ideology. Bosco spends much time on research trends and is an idea rebel at heart. Bosco is recognized for his executive mentorship, entrepreneurial spirit and passion for operational maturity. Bosco thrives in a collaborative playground and is known for being an influence to the business and digital community having spoken at TEDx Stanley Park on fuelling life with

Judy Machado-Duque returns to the podcast to share three more things. Check out his original appearance on Episode 205 of the podcast. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Simon joins me on this episode to talk about his book, Slack for Dummies. If you’ve ever wanted to get more out of Slack then you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. Phil is a sought-after speaker and recognized authority on technology, trends, communication, and management. He advises companies on how to optimize their use of technology has written nine books, most recently Slack For Dummies. His contributions have appeared in Harvard Business Review, CNN,& Inc., The New York Times, Wired, NBC, CNBC, Wired, The Huffington Post, FoxNews, abcnews.com, forbes.com, BusinessWeek, and many other high-profile media outlets. Whenever Phil and I have the opportunity to connect, we have a great discussion. This episode is no exception. We spend plenty of time “talking Slack,” including why Phil decided to write an entire book about it, the most creative use cases he discovered while writing the book, and more. If you’ve been dipping your toe into Slack, then this episode will help you warm up to the idea of no

On this episode of the podcast, I’ve decided to share with you the most productive thing I’ve done today. And it’s been a long time coming. I’m taking imperfect action with this episode. I know that I’ve got plenty to learn and a lot of listening to do. But I wanted to start somewhere. This episode is that. There are no show notes for this episode. I’d like for you to give all 22 minutes a listen and then if you’d like to email me to talk about this episode, I’m at askmike@productivityist.com. Feel free to reach out. Thanks. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. Also don't forget to check out all of our podcast sponsors found on our podcast sponsors page. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using. Learn more about your

I’m beyond thrilled to bring you this episode of the podcast featuring guest Keith Ferrazzi. Keith is the author of the best-selling book Never Eat Alone and our conversation centers around his latest book – a book I had the pleasure of devouring in advance – Leading Without Authority: How the New Power of Co-Elevation Can Break Down Silos, Transform Teams, and Reinvent Collaboration. Keith’s mission is simple: transform teams to help them transform the world. (I said simple.. not easy.) Beyond his work as an author of #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who’s Got Your Back and Never Eat Alone, Keith is the founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a management consulting and team coaching company that works with many of the world’s biggest corporations. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Keith rose to become the youngest CMO of a Fortune 500 company during his career at Deloitte, and later became CMO of Starwood Hotels. He is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fortune and I