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

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Marina Darlow. Marina is a systems’ expert, and a productivity geek. She sees her job as helping impact-driven entrepreneurs get 10–20 more productive hours a week, stop leaking money, and prevent stress-fuel breakdowns. We talk about her view and definition of a “system”, effective ways you can master your to do list, how to get out of a creative rut, and much more. (And as a Patreon supporter you’re getting even more content!) Relevant Links Vision Framework About | Vision Framework Goals vs. Systems | Scott Adams’ Blog An excruciating day, or How to wrench yourself out of a Creative Pit of Despair | Vision Framework Four effective ways to master to-do lists and what to do if you don’t like any of them | Vision Framework Marina’s App Guide Marina Darlow (@VisionFramework) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will hel

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast I speak with the author of The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier. We talk about deep work, simplicity, elegance, the questions you can ask to help you get more out coaching, and much more. Relevant Links The World Domination Summit Experience | Productivityist Box of Crayons Box of Crayons Blog | Inspiration for Teams, Leaders and Organizations Michael Bungay Stanier | Box of Crayons Interview with Matt May, In Pursuit of Elegance | Box of Crayons 9 ways to “Do More Great Work” With Michael Bungay Stanier Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters by Michael Bungay Stanier | Amazon Seven questions to condition your inner coach | The Globe and Mail The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier | Amazon Get Unstuck & Get Going…on the stuff that matters by Michael Bungay Stanie | Amazon The Creative Process: Michael Bungay Stanier End Malaria by Michael Bungay Stan

This episode I'm joined by Craig Ballantyne of Early to Rise. Craig is the creator of The Perfect Day Formula and during our discussion we chat about his thoughts on Stoicism, how the mind is the real gateway (or barrier) to establishing better days, how he handles email, and the rule he crafted that has gotten shared all over the web (and received its share of praise and criticism in the process). I had an absolute blast chatting with Craig on this episode as we dive deep into our thoughts on being an early riser vs. being a night owl. Relevant Links Early to Rise - Health, Wealth, and a Life Well Lived BrettTerpstra.com The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday | Amazon The 3 C’s of the Perfect Day | Early To Rise Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Sharon Lebell | Amazon Is the 10–3–2–1–0 method REALLY the secret to a good night’s sleep? | Daily Mail Online Craig Ballantyne’s Morning Routine | My Morning Routi

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I speak with Dai Manuel. Dai is the author of The Whole Life Fitness Manifesto and during this episode we talk about the relationship between health, wellness, and productivity and what his book and work does to promote making the most of this relationship. Relevant Links Going One Year No Beer with Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns | The Productivityist Podcast The Whole Life Fitness Manifesto 10% Happier by Dan Harris | Amazon How to Use The Tough Mudder Pledge to Succeed in Everyday Life | Productivityist Dai Manuel’s Blog about How to Live a Functionally Fit Life The Moose is Loose Weekly Digest | Dai Manuel Dai Manuel (@daimanuel) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out S

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Kim Ades. Kim is the founder of Frame of Mind Coaching and we spend time talking about coaching – her philosophy behind the practice, what she focuses on with her clients, and more. We also dive into mindfulness and focus along the way, as those are aspects of her work that I spends time on in my own work. (Kim is also from Toronto – and it's always a treat for me to chat with a fellow Canadian!) There are plenty of takeaways in this episode so sit back, capture notes along the way, and enjoy! Relevant Links Frame of Mind Kim’s Frame of Mind JournalEngine Kim Ades, M.B.A. « Frame of Mind Kim Ades - Part 1 - PEP 181 | Performance Enhancing Podcast Kim Ades - Part 2 - PEP 182 | Performance Enhancing Podcast Kim Ades (@kimades) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Lee Caraher. Lee’s a CEO, an author, and an acclaimed communication strategist known for her practical solutions to big problems. We talk about the difference between millennials and other generations in terms of work habits and how to manage them. We also dive into other productivity practices such as handling email after hours and one of my favourite topics..setting boundaries.   Relevant Links Blog | Lee Caraher Books | Lee Caraher 5 Tips for Handling After-hours Email | Lee Caraher Productivity Tools | Lee Caraher LeeCaraher (@LeeCaraher) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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 whe

On this episode of the podcast I speak with Brian Scudamore, the founder and CEO of O2E Brands. O2E Brands is the banner company for 1–800-GOT-JUNK?, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, You Move Me, and Shack Shine. Starting with one truck and a great idea, Brian grew 1–800-GOT-JUNK? into one of North America’s most successful companies and he’s poised to do the same with his three newest ventures. We talk about how he built his brand, do a deeper dive into a tactic he calls “going dark” that boosts his productivity, how he works at keeping things uncluttered (fitting considering the company he founded), and other strategies he employs to stay on top his game. Relevant Links O2E Brands 1–800-GOT-JUNK? Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg You Move Me Wow 1 Day Painting Shack Shine Brian Scudamore | LinkedIn Brian Scudamore (@BrianScudamore) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier an

In this episode of the podcast, I not only talk with Andy Ramage and Ruari Fairbairns of One Year No Beer but I also take on one of their challenges. That's right. As of recording this episode I went alcohol-free for 90 days. I dive into that challenge a bit more in an upcoming bonus episode (exclusive to Patreon supporters) but also a little bit in this one. Other than me taking on one of the challenges offered through One Year No Beer I talk to the founders of the movement about why they started it, what the future holds for it, when to start a alcohol-free challenge, and how going alcohol-free can impact your productivity. This is definitely an interesting episode of the podcast as I've not gone down this path before, so I hope you enjoy it! Relevant Links OneYearNoBeer // The Ultimate Social Challenge | OYNB Don’t give up alcohol tomorrow - make it happen today | OYNB Why Dry Jan could be bad for you | OYNB Your Guide to Start Meditating - OYNB How To Stop Drinking – A Little Taster | OYNB Booze Fr

On this episode of the podcast I’m joined by Rashelle Isip of The Order Expert. Rashelle is a consultant, author, and founder of TheOrderExpert.com, a blog featuring organization, time management and productivity tips, ideas and inspiration to help people lead more balanced lives. She is author of “The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management” and “How to Plan a Great Event in 60 Days.” We talk about a wide variety of topics relating to order and productivity, including the importance of saying no, the idea of journaling, simple ways you can stay on track, and more. For Patreon supporters, we even dive into Rashelle’s thoughts on focus. Relevant Links The Order Expert - Organizing Blog & Organizing Tips About | The Order Expert Why Saying ‘No’ is Important | The Order Expert Books | The Order Expert How to Organize a Notebook or Journal | The Order Expert Blog – Baron Fig 5 Smart Ways to Stay on Schedule | Time Management Ninja The Order Expert’s Guide to Time Management | The Order Expert How to

On this episode of the podcast, I chat with my friend Srinivas Rao. Srini is the author of the book Unmistakable: Why Only is Better Than Best and the founder and CEO of Unmistakable Creative. We talk about his book (which I’ve dog-eared to death) and going down the path of becoming unmistakable. We discuss mastery, habits, systems, goals, in depth. I really enjoyed this discussion and know there are pearls of wisdom strewn throughout that won’t just help you with your productivity. They will also help you forge your own path to unmistakability. Relevant Links Unmistakable Creative Being Unmistakable with Srinivas Rao | The Productivityist Podcast Mastery by Robert Greene | Amazon Todd Herman Mars Dorian Paul Jarvis Chris Milk | TED.com The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau | Amazon If Everyone Becomes a Non-Conformist, Won’t We All Be Conforming? : The Art of Non-Conformity Baron Fig | Notebooks for Thinkers Pre-Order Unmistakable | Bonuses Srinivas Rao (@UnmistakableCEO) | Twitter If

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I speak with Stephan Spencer. Stephan is a man of many talents and projects, including hosting The Optimized Geek and writing the book The Art of SEO. The focus of our conversation is on optimization. And I’m not just talking about search engine optimization (although as a Patreon supporter you will hear about his fascination with that subject matter). We dive into optimizing oneself, deliberate practice, Tony Robbins, the power of automation, and balancing learning with execution. (Stephan also offers something special for listeners of the podcast, so listen for that!) Relevant Links SEO Expert, Author, Professional Speaker | Stephan Spencer Optimized Geek | About Platinum Partnership | Tony Robbins Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World | Cal Newport Optimized Geek | Podcast Unleash The Power Within | Tony Robbins Marketing Speak | Podcast Stephan Spencer (@sspencer) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I’d apprecia

On this episode of the podcast, I chat with Avrum Nadigel. He is an author and relationship therapist. He co-produces "It’s the anxiety, stupid!” - a podcast about relationship angst, and draws a comic about intimacy called “Ball and Change”. His new book, Learning to Commit (The Workbook): Becoming Your Best Self to Find Your Best Match, will be published by Self-Counsel Press in November 2016. We talk about his move away from GTD (Getting Things Done) and back to a higher level of thinking and workflow (a la Stephen Covey), the things that drive him nuts that productivity authors and users, and dive into his biggest fear. Relevant Links Avrum Nadigel | Official Website Why I’ve Left GTD Behind: Part One | Productivityis Why I’ve Left GTD Behind: Part Two | Productivityist Why I’ve Left GTD Behind: Part Three | Productivityist Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey Getting Things Done | Official Website Back to Work 261: The Illusion of Ease The Covey Community Daylite by Marketci

On this, the 100th episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I chat with producer John Poelstra about the evolution of the podcast since it started nearly two years ago. We talk about the changes that we have made (and the big change that we didn’t make), the process we use to make each episode happen and why it has worked so well for us, and reveal some of our favourite episodes and thoughts about the journey we’ve had over the past 100 episodes. Relevant Links Roman Mars | Makes Radio Be More Successful: The Top 10 Productivity Podcasts for 2016 | Inc.com Greetings and Salutations (The First Episode of The Productivityist Podcast) Unmistakable: Why Only Is Better Than Best by Srinivas Rao | Amazon TabLinks - BrettTerpstra.com Trello Hacking corporate with Nick Snapp | The Productivityist Podcast: Patreon Edition MeisterTask Deep Work with Cal Newport | The Productivityist Podcast Relentless Sales Success with Chris Johnson | The Productivityist Podcast The Art of the Side Hustle with Nick Loper |

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Michael Dolan. Michael is an executive coach who helps leaders get out of their own way by enabling them to develop and maintain higher levels of productivity, self-awareness and effectiveness so that they can create a bigger impact and experience greater satisfaction in their work and life. Based on his 15-years of management experience, Michael understands the intense personal and organizational demands that successful executives must meet on a daily basis. We talk about his journey as an executive coach, his views on David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, how he uses the Enneagram in his work, and more. Relevant Links Truly Productive Leadership What is the Enneagram? Getting Things Done by David Allen | Amazon Headspace Muse: The Brain Sensing Headband | Amazon The Productivityist Podcast 73: Cal Newport The Productivityist Podcast 66: A Doer Who Likes To Be with Michael Townsend Williams Truly Productive | Facebook Michael Dolan, PCC (

On this episode, I speak with Dave Nevogt. Dave is the co-founder of Hubstaff and we chat about what it’s like to pivot from one entrepreneurial venture to another and how he is especially adept at eliminating distractions and dealing with disruptions. Priority plays a role in how Dave handles his tasks and he shares how he keeps himself moving on the right path along the way. We also dive into what he does to help infuse some of his own strategic way of dealing with distractions and disruptions within Hubstaff. Dave also shares his thoughts on striking a balance between quantitative and qualitative productivity. Relevant Links DaveNevogt.com Hubstaff The Definitive Guide to Building a Remote Team | Hubstaff Everything we’ve learned to grow our time tracking startup | Hubstaff Hubstaff (@hubstaff) | Twitter Dave Nevogt (@dnevogt) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier a

On this episode, I speak with Nick Snapp, the host of The Make It Snappy Productivity Show and a productivity strategist who specializes on helping people “hack” Corporate. Nick’s story is rooted in finding creative ways to “hack” Corporate, escape the office, and still achieve exceptional performance ratings. We talk about the challenges he (and I) have faced translating Corporate skills to personal productivity as entrepreneurs. We also dive into what can help you drive long-term successful outcomes, how we focus on family through our processes, setting boundaries, and more. Relevant Links The Make it Snappy Productivity Show Episode 73: Cal Newport | The Productivityist Podcast Start with Why by Simon Sinek | Amazon The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington | Amazon The One Email You Must Send Before You Go on Vacation | Productivityist RescueTime ‎Steve Chandler Audio Programs Nick Snapp (@thesnappyshow) | Twitter Productivity on Purpose (P.O.P.) Facebook Group If you enjoy Th

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Jordan Bower. We talk about the power of story, his approach to storytelling, and much more (including a mention of one of my favourite storytellers, Steven Pressfield). Jordan is a strategic storyteller now based in my hometown of Victoria. We had a chance to meet up for the first time at Social Media Camp and had a great face-to-face conversation and I was excited to carry that over to the podcast. (He also has a fascinating story to tell of his own and he shares elements of it in this episode.) Relevant Links Jordan Bower: Strategic Storytelling & Corporate Intimacy Expert About Jordan Bower Brush with death made Jordan Bower get serious about photos | Toronto Star Storytelling Approach | Jordan Bower Rolf Potts’ Vagabonding Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer | Amazon Rohdesign | Mike Rohde Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off | TED.com Writing Wednesdays: The Hero’s Journey in Real Life | Steven Pressfield Jordan Bower (@jordan__bower) | Twitter

In this episode, I speak with Derek Flanzraich, the founder/CEO of Greatist. We talk about the idea of planning, time chunking, and many other things that allow us to push our intentions forward (and allow him to embody the term “greatist”). This is definitely more of a conversation than an interview, as Derek and I exchange ideas and thoughts on making choices, being productive, and how we make sure we allocate attention to push our intentions forward. So if you’re looking for a straight up interview, you won’t find it here. I’m looking forward to having Derek back on again in the not-too-distant future as we have a lot more to talk about! Relevant Links Greatist I Got Six-Pack Abs in Six Weeks. Here’s How I Feel One Year Later | Greatist How Long Does it Take to Get Six Pack Abs? | Guy Standard More Than Marketing, Millennials Are the Economic Future | Inc.com How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life by Scott Adams | Amazon The More of Less with Joshua Becker |

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, I'm featuring the Productivity Powerhouse Panel Blab that Steve Dotto (DottoTech) and Erik Fisher (Beyond The To Do List) did with me on the topic of priorities. This episode is a little longer than usual – these panel discussions last an hour – and the audio quality will be different because it is ripped from the Blab we did. You’ll hear Steve challenge me about how I use time theming and the three of us dive deep into how we deal with prioritization every day. If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. 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 fo

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Ben Fanning. Ben is a “burnout specialist,” the author of The Quit Alternative, and someone I’ve had the pleasure of seeing regularly at the World Domination Summit in Portland. Ben and I spend time discussing how to create to-do lists that work and really dive into how he helps people stave off overwhelm and burnout. Relevant Links Ben Fanning | The Burnout Specialist Three Steps to Create a To-Do List that Actually Works | The Burnout Specialist The QUIT Alternative by Ben Fanning | Amazon The Time We Have | Productivityist World Domination Summit Ben Fanning (@BenFanning1) | Twitter If you enjoy The Productivityist Podcast I'd appreciate a rating and review in iTunes or your podcasting platform of choice. It helps people find the show easier and will help me make improvements on the show by seeing what you have to say. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode, ple