Beyond The To-do List

Chris Bailey turned down lucrative job offers to pursue a lifelong dream—to spend a year performing a deep dive experiment into the pursuit of productivity, a subject he had been enamored with since he was a teenager. Erik and Chris talked about his first book The Productivity Project during the last episode he appeared on. Chris is back to talk about his new book Hyperfocus: How to Be More Productive in a World of Distraction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Blanc is the founder of The Sweet Setup, a site that recommends the best apps for your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Shawn and his team are incredibly prolific in their reviews and recommendations of mac and iOS apps, but also create great training courses for those apps including: Unlock 1Password All The Things Day One In Depth Learn Ulysses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Askinosie left a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer to start a bean to bar chocolate factory and never looked back. Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch, award winning chocolate factory located in Springfield, Missouri, sourcing 100% of their beans directly from farmers. Shawn’s book, recently released, co-written with his daughter Lawren is Meaningful Work: The Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul. In this episode Shawn and Erik cal about Shawn’s story, the steps to find your personal vocation and how to apply your vocation to your current position. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Goins is a full-time writer who lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife and kids. He has authored five books: Real Artists Don’t Starve, The Art of Work, The In-Between, Wrecked, and You Are a Writer. This is Jeff’s 6th time on this show! In this episode, Jeff and Erik talk about the creative process, how there is more to writing than just typing, know what part of the creative process you are in and how a finished product is more important than a perfect process.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Srinivas Rao is the creator and host of The Unmistakeable Creative Podcast where he has conducted over 700 interviews with thought leaders and people from all walks of life. He has also written multiple books including the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Art of Being Unmistakable. His new book is An Audience of One: Reclaiming Creativity for Its Own Sake. In this episode we talk about what it takes to create lifelong creative practices, and why creating them for an audience of one is more fulfilling. Mentioned in this episode: So Good They Can’t Ignore You Perennial Seller The Unmistakeable Creative Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Newport is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, and the author most recently of Deep Work, a book which argues that focus is the new I.Q. in the modern workplace, and So Good They Can’t Ignore You, a book which debunks the long-held belief that “follow your passion” is good advice. In addition to studying the theoretical foundations of our digital age as a professor, Newport also writes about the impact of these technologies on the world of work. Mentioned in this episode: Lead Yourself First Digital Minimalism: On Living Better with Less Technology So Good They Can’t Ignore You Deep Work   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Dionne is an NASM (National Academy of Sport Medicine) Certified Personal Trainer, also holding advanced specialist certifications in Corrective Exercise and Performance Enhancement. Rob is a lifestyle and fitness expert based out of Los Angeles. He specializes in helping busy people and entrepreneurs get out from behind their desks and carve out time to create a better quality of life for themselves and their family. He is on a mission is to provide you with the best information out there. Rob is also the host of the Open Sky Fitness Podcast. In this episode, Erik and Rob discuss the psychological shift needed to make lasting change and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Allen is the originator of GTD. GTD is the shorthand brand for “Getting Things Done“. GTD enables greater performance, capacity, and innovation. It alleviates the feeling of overwhelm—instilling focus, clarity, and confidence. This is David’s third appearance on the show. You can hear his previous episodes here: Getting Things Done: David Allen shares GTD obstacles and secrets – BTTDL016 GTD: David Allen on how “creative types” can get things done with #GTD – BTTDL086 In this conversation, David discusses the new GTD book: Getting Things Done for Teens. Make sure to check out this conversation between David and the coauthors of the book on the official GTD Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Sieh is the host of the Many Pinterest Tips podcast where he is always adding testosterone, one pin at a time. In this episode, Jeff and Erik talk about the book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less. In this conversation they talk about how rest and work are partners, rest is necessary, and ways we can hack rest to become more creative and focused. Jef has been on the show twice before, which you can find here: Time: Jeff Sieh on Einstein Time, The Zone of Genius and The Big Leap – BTTDL197 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Warley has been been self-employed for the last 17 years. He is obsessed with researching and experimenting with alternative ways of working. He is passionate about helping people work on their terms and in alignment with what makes them uniquely productive. In this conversation Stephen talks with Erik about working by yourself, working for yourself, the future of work, remote work, co-working spaces and self awareness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Kolko is a Partner at Modernist Studio , and the Founder of the Austin Center for Design. Jon is the author of six books. One of his most recent is Creative Clarity: A Practical Guide for Bringing Creative Thinking Into Your Company. In this conversation Jon and Erik discuss: Giving your team the space to produce amazing work; and build a unique form of trust in your company culture The process of critique, conflict, and ideation Implementing creativity in a strategic manner across your company Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benjamin Spall is a writer and the founding editor of the website My Morning Routine, with co-founder Michael Xander. Their book of the same name is out now: My Morning Routine – How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired. In this episode Benjamin and Erik discuss creating a morning routine that works for you, how an evening routine helps with a morning routine and some of the most common components successful people include in their routines.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelli Wood is the Provost of altMBA, an online leadership and management workshop founded in 2015 by bestselling author Seth Godin. The altMBA uses digital tools like Slack, Discourse and Zoom to engage more than 100 students in an intense four-week process. In 2018, students from 45+ countries worldwide participated, with more students being added each session. As graduate of the first class of the altMBA, Kelli now hires and trains coaches and is the human at the center of each class. Before the altMBA, she worked in advertising and founded the astonishing Little Big Words company, an imaginative stationery and gift company. In this episode Kelli and Erik talk about the power of quitting, the true definition of failure and having the self awareness to know the difference. Mentioned in this episode: Seth Godin – TedX Talk Andy Dunn – The Risk Not Taken   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allen Gannett is the founder and CEO of TrackMaven, a marketing insights platform whose clients have included Microsoft, Marriott, Saks Fifth Avenue, Home Depot, Aetna, Honda, and GE. He has been on the “30 Under 30” lists for both Inc. and Forbes. He is a contributor for Fast Company where he writes on the intersection of technology and human nature. Allen’s latest book is The Creative Curve, which overturns the mythology around creative genius, and reveals the science and secrets behind achieving breakout commercial success in any field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Plotkin is the Founder of Technology for Mindfulness, a leading blog and Top 40 iTunes podcast on science, technology, and mindfulness. In his Tap Into Mindfulness program, he teaches people how to be less distracted by their smartphones and how to retake control over their time to be more focused, productive, and creative. In this episode Robert and Erik discuss using mindfulness to be more focused and less distracted by technology, and how to use technology instead of being used by it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Vanderkam is the author of several time management and productivity books, including Off the Clock, I Know How She Does It, What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast, and 168 Hours. Her work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune. She is the co-host, with Sarah Hart-Unger, of the podcast Best of Both Worlds. She lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and four children, and blogs at LauraVanderkam.com. In this episode Laura talks with Erik about her new book: Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done which explores, through more than 900 time diaries collected on a single March day, why some busy people feel relaxed about time, while others do not. You can listen to Laura’s previous appearances here: What Successful People Do: before breakfast, at work, and on the weekend with Laura Vanderkam – BTTDL043 Having it all: Laura Vanderkam on success in career, family and self investment – BTTDL104 Learn more

Mike Vardy is a writer, speaker and podcaster on productivity. His main site is Productivityist.com. He’s given talks on productivity and technology, as well as several featured keynotes and workshops related to time, task, project, and goal management. In this episode, Mike and Erik talk about how to stay productive when you get sick, having frameworks to support changes as they come, theming days, and working in modes.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Gerber is CEO of The Community Company, an organization that builds and manages community-driven programs for media companies and global brands. He is the founder of YEC, an invitation-only organization comprised of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs, and Forbes Councils, a collective of invitation-only organizations for world-class executives. Scott’s new book is ‘Superconnector: Stop Networking and Start Building Business Relationships that Matter’. The book is about abandoning the networking-for-networking’s-sake mentality in favor of a more powerful and effective approach to creating and enhancing connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lauren Zander is a life coach, university lecturer, and public speaker. As Co-Founder and Chairman of Handel Group, an international corporate consulting and private coaching company, she has coached countless private clients: professors, politicians, award-winning artists, and Fortune 500 CEOs. Lauren’s new book is Maybe It’s You: Cut the Crap. Face Your Fears. Love Your Life. In this episode Erik and Lauren talk about identifying excuses, facing the truth and defeating self-sabotage. Mentioned in this episode: Maybe It’s You: Cut the Crap. Face Your Fears. Love Your Life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Rosenthal is an American television writer and producer who is best known as the creator, writer, and executive producer for the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. In Phil’s new show ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ he travels around the world sampling food and tradition with friends and a sense of humor. Mentioned in this episode: You’re Lucky You’re Funny Exporting Raymond I’ll Have What Phil’s Having Somebody Feed Phil Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices