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

On today’s podcast episode, I spend time with Kevin Kruse once again. Kevin is the Founder and CEO of LEADx (leadx.org), an AI startup that created “Coach Amanda”, the world’s first executive coach built with IBM Watson. LEADx has the mission to spark the next 100 million leaders around the world. Kruse is also a New York Times bestselling author, host of the LEADx Leadership Podcast, and previous winner of Inc 500 awards for fast growth and Best Place to Work awards for company culture. Kevin Kruse knows two things about leadership that most people do not believe. First, leadership is a superpower. Second, almost everything we’ve been taught about leadership is wrong. In Great Leaders Have No Rules, New York Times bestselling author and successful entrepreneur Kevin Kruse debunks popular wisdom with ten contrarian principles for better, faster, easier leadership. Talking Points On great leaders having no rules Leading your time vs. managing your time On the “open door policy” as a productivity killer Ho

On today’s podcast episode, I spend time with Clayton Morris. Clayton Morris is a former FOX News Anchor who left the #1 cable news show in the world after achieving financial freedom through his real estate company, Morris Invest. He now devotes himself to helping others buy their first rental property, build passive income, and achieve financial freedom. Anything, both good and bad can happen to anyone at anytime. In this episode, Clayton and I discussed the importance of building passive income and achieving financial freedom. From being a FOX News Anchor and after some epic failures he’s learned how to build a meaningful life with work-life balance. Talking Points How to be a bulldog with your productivity? On work environment On books and reading Ryan Holiday’s “one shelf idea” On creating or finding things to remind you of why you are doing what you are doing Making a shift from being an anchorman On creating a financial parachute or soft landing spot On 401K and retirement Diving in the world

This time around on the podcast, I spend time with John Lamerton. John is a self-described “lazy entrepreneur” and investor. He balances running an ambitious lifestyle business with raising two young children. A former “hustler”, he now earns more money “working” 20 to 25 hours a week than he used to pulling all nighters and “grinding” for 100+ hours per week. Most of us have this notion that working hard means working long hours. On this episode, we discussed John’s book which is For Small Businesses: Simple, Practical Tools and Tactics to Help Your Small Business Grow. We also discussed how to work smart by only working 20-25 hours a week and achieving success for your business instead of “hustling” for 100 hours work week. John now mentors his fellow ambitious business owners and teaching them how to design their businesses around his style. Talking Points Introducing John Lamerton’s For Small Businesses: Simple, Practical Tools and Tactics to Help Your Small Business Grow book What is the definition of

I haven’t talked to Carl Honoré for some time so it was a real treat when he joined me on this episode of The Productivityist Podcast. Carl is the author of such books as “In Praise of Slow” and “The Slow Fix”, and his TEDx Talk on slowness has been viewed 2.7 million times. His latest book “Bolder: Making the Most of our Longer Lives”, tackles aging and the stigma around it. While most of society either tries to reverse time or fears growing old, Carl and I embrace the concept of aging. On this episode, we discuss how the idea of aging is evolving, why slowing down is good, and why retirement age is the perfect time to work towards creative pursuits and self-improvement in this “Golden Age of Aging”. Talking Points A decades’ worth of catching up with Carl Carl’s hockey game epiphany about aging and the cult of youth Moving away from the life path straitjacket and towards defining one’s life via values and tastes Riding the gray wave: A take on aging, retirement, and focusing on what matters Embracing

On today’s episode, I spent time again with Marc and Angel Chernoff. Marc and Angel Chernoff are New York Times bestselling authors, professional coaches, full-time students of life, admirers of the human spirit, and have been recognized by Forbes as having “one of the most popular personal development blogs.” Through their blog, books, course and coaching, they’ve spent the past decade writing about and teaching proven strategies for finding lasting happiness, success, love, and peace. Lauren and I talked about introspection, fears, making and keeping promises (and Hugh Jackman!). She practically gave me a coaching session on this episode and this conversation ought to prepare you the next time you have a setback. Talking Points Getting on our own way: An anecdote on taking on too much Overcoming the new human experience filled with what’s wrong and fear The relativity of success Working on spiritual, emotional, and physical integrity Beginning at the end and small things that bring macro results I am

Dale Halaway is the guest on this episode of the podcast. He has been influencing the lives and careers of thousands for almost forty years and is a leader in the movement for awakening and change. Dale and I talked about a whole bunch of topics that can really help with our personal development: ego, resistance, change, letting go of things that no longer serve us, and this thing called “transcovery” – to be honest, I wish we had more time to talk! Talking Points Dale’s beginnings, his career fast track, and the opportunities that followed Overcoming his speech impediment and the role of ego in letting go and change The Transcovery Process: Its spontaneous development and his eureka moment Recognizing and handling change when it comes knocking on our door Unconscious Resistance: Its roots and manifestations How our body can reveal our fears and resistance Slowing down to open up the greater version of ourselves and get what we deserve Deep-seated control issues that hinder productivity The benefits

I’m excited to be joined by Mary Shores this week, the bestselling author of Conscious Communications: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Harnessing the Power of Your Words to Change Your Mind, Your Choices, and Your Life. Mary is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Through her work, she provides pragmatic solutions for people who are “freaking out”. With an extensive knowledge of neuroscience and human behaviour added to her repertoire, she guides businesses and individuals to defeat the “freak out” and create their ideal life. The topics Mary and I discussed had a ton of significance regarding our choices and perception and how they shape our current situations. Talking Points How Tony Robbins impacted Mary’s work and changed her life Developing communications strategies for debt collection calls Reframing: Changing perspectives after personal tragedy and trauma A serendipitous encounter with Chazz Palminteri back in 1993 for the movie A Bronx Tale The Power of Words: How your words help shape your life and

On this episode, Cal Newport joins me to talk about his latest book, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. He is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and is a self-professed blogging nerd. He is also the author of six books, focusing on topics related to professional productivity, personal satisfaction and the intersection of technology and society. My guest this time around is Cal Newport. Cal is a friend of mine and I’ve always loved chatting with him. This episode is no exception. We dived into a lot, talking about how I tend to share cool things on Facebook, the concept of “keeping things in boxes”, and being more intentional with birthday notifications – all in the name of what Cal has dubbed “Digital Minimalism.” Talking Points More of less is more: The rise of minimalism in the physical and digital world Gaining meaning back into your life through less digital presence Lifestyle philosophy over lifehacks, tips and tricks Keeping boxes packed and installing

On this episode of The Productivityist Podcast, Joey Cofone, the co-founder and CEO of Baron Fig, joins the show. Baron Fig is a company that started as a Kickstarter project which has evolved into a brand that designs and offers inspiring products to thinkers such as writers, illustrators, and entrepreneurs around the world. I just talked with James Clear on the previous episode, and now Joey Cofone is here! I’ve been wanting to chat with Joey for a while and on this episode, I finally got the chance. I had a great time discussing a range of topics from my well-documented affinity for Baron Fig, their collaboration with James Clear, what it’s like to create physical products, and how he builds a team that’s crafting these products. Talking Points Point, don’t plan: How to set goals, let them go, and keeping impostor syndrome and comparison at bay  The Beginnings of Baron Fig: From a notebook idea at a Thai restaurant to selling nearly 10,000 notebooks in 30 days and now taking over my life  Creating a de

This week on the podcast, I speak with James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones. James is an expert on habit formation who offers not only theories backed by science, but also practical strategies that will help you achieve powerful, atomic-level results. On this episode, James and I had a really productive discussion on a range of topics from the journey of putting the book together, how alarm clocks fail me (or I fail alarm clocks), turning off the internet router at 10 PM to keeping the beer at the back of the fridge and Crossfit. Talking Points Designing and Defining Atomic Habits: Two main lenses to look the book through  The two-minute rule in scaling down a habit and actually making it stick Importance of slowing down and awareness for effective behavioral change  Having a variety of small things organized toward the same goal  Solutions for setting up efficient timing  Strategies for building good seasonal habits  Tools to make ha

On this episode, I speak with my good friend and author of Company of One, Paul Jarvis. I’ve known Paul for years and am elated to finally have him appear on the show to talk about staying small and how to build a company of one. My discussion with Paul nearly mimics the kind of thing we do every few weeks when we get together for coffee. I’ve admired how Paul goes about his work and we explore those elements during our conversation. Some of the things we talk about are how ego plays a role in building a business, how the “company of one” that Paul built happened accidentally at first, how you can implement the “company of one” mindset in business that are larger, and how to scale through automation in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you in the process. Relevant Links Company of One by Paul Jarvis | Amazon How talking to Seth Godin on the phone changed my life and business by Jeff Goins | Ladders Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday | Amazon Beyond The E-Myth with Michael Gerber | The Productivityist Podcast T

On this episode of the show, my guest is Steve Glaveski. Steve is an entrepreneur, author, and podcast host whose mission is to unlock the latent potential of organizations and their people so that they can create more impact for humanity and ultimately to lead more fulfilling lives. Our conversation focuses primarily on his book Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work That Matters, as we explore the ideas and insights he peppered throughout its pages. We spoke about what one needs to have in mind before leaping from employee to entrepreneur, the importance of keeping a level head throughout an entrepreneurial journey (especially when you have a big spike in sales or performance that might not be sustainable), how to deal with the tough questions you need to ask and the answers that may come with those questions, and much more. Relevant Links Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work That Matters by Steve Glaveski | Amazon The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live An

My guest for this episode is Dr. Bryan E. Robinson, author of the book #CHILL: Turn Off Your Job and Turn on Your Life. He is a licensed psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He currently has a blog on Psychology Today called “The Right Mindset.” He has been interviewed by Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among countless other magazines. During our discussion I asked Bryan about why this was the book that he needed to write now. He also reveals an easy to remember acronym that can help you slow down in a deliberate fashion and what the concept of #CHILL means. Beyond that we talk about the specific structure of the book, how he suggests readers approach the book, why being curious is so important, and more. Relevant Links #CHILL: Turn Off Your Job and Turn on Your Life by Bryan E. Robinson | Amazon Creative Quest by Questlove | Amazon Elizabeth Gilbert | The TED Interview Bryan E. Robinson | Website Dr. Bryan E. Robinson – @brth

On this episode of the show, I speak with Joe Ferraro. Joe is the man behind The One Percent Better Project and is a teacher and podcast host who helps to dissect the mindset, language, and behavior of daily improvement across the worlds of business, communication, and education. During our conversation, we talk about the power of working towards getting one percent better, how making one change in your world can lead to so much more change that you’d never expect, where Joe starts with people when trying to help make a change, why embracing change that is unconventional can lead to great success, and much more. Relevant Links The One Percent Better Project One Percent Better: The Podcast TimeCraftingTV VidIQ The NOW Year Calendar | NeuYear & Productivityist (SAVE 20% with promo code FRESHSTART)      Green Lantern and Philosophy: No Evil Shall Escape This Book | Amazon Creative Quest by Questlove | Amazon Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom |

I’m joined this time around by Josh Kaufman, the author of three bestselling books – including his latest effort How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be. Josh’s research focuses on business, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition, productivity, creativity, applied psychology, and practical wisdom and he’s someone I’ve wanted to have on the show for a long time. Josh and I carry on a conversation that revolves around the differences between How to Fight a Hydra and his previous books, the power of story (particularly fables and parables), why I never thought of Josh as a productivity expert yet he describes himself as such, and much more. Relevant Links How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be | Amazon The Legend of Bagger Vance by Steven Pressfield | Amazon Josh Kaufman’s Website I had a fantastic time chatting with Josh and I hope you enjoyed our conversation as well. If you did

On this episode, after years of crossing paths both online and offline, I speak with Farnoosh Brock. Farnoosh went from electrical engineer and rising leader at corporate to business coach and entrepreneur. She shows businesses the mindset of serving over selling to build deep trust and sustainable profit. She is the author of several books, including the one we focus on during our conversation, The Serving Mindset. Farnoosh and I have a lively discussion around changing your mindset when it comes to selling your services – something that I offer through my coaching practices. We dive into a variety of elements of this, but the core of our conversation revolves around how The Serving Mindset is helpful in making one not just more successful but also more efficient in one’s business. Relevant Links Prolific Living | Farnoosh Brock The Serving Mindset: Stop Selling and Grow Your Business by Farnoosh Brock | Amazon The Coaching Habit with Michael Bungay Stanier | The Productivityist Podcast The NOW Year Ca

On this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by Brett Pinegar. Brett is the founder of the X Group, where he helps individuals and teams multiply their effectiveness by adopting the techniques and mindsets great leaders use. Brett is a three-time tech CEO, a trail runner, and most importantly, a dad to five great kids. During our conversation, Brett and I spoke about how to lead with excellence daily, how an aspect of our mind can sabotage our pursuit of excellence, and how to adopt a mindset of excellence. We also discussed the power of routines and reveal a condition that Brett struggles with that could have hindered his mindset – but he refused to let it define him. (And that’s just for starters.) Relevant Links Brett Pinegar’s Website Avoid Perfection – Embrace Excellence by Brett Pinegar X Notes – Living and Leading with Excellence by Brett Pinegar Brett Pinegar on Twitter I enjoyed my time chatting with Brett and I hope you did as well. If so, do me a favour and leave a rating and review wherever y

Scott Amyx joins me on this episode of the podcast. Scott is the author of Strive: How Doing the Things Most Uncomfortable Leads to Success, which has been endorsed by Tony Robbins, Forbes, Singularity University, Tribeca Film Festival and other influencers. Relevant Links About Scott Amyx Books by Scott Amyx Scott Amyx Redefines The Roadmap To Success With Six Simple Steps | Forbes Bitcoiners Take New York, but Wall Street Resists The Lure | MoneyBeat @ Wall Street Journal STRIVE: How Doing the Things Most Uncomfortable Leads to Success  | Amazon Scott’s Website Scott Amyx | Twitter I haven’t explored this area so much in the past – perhaps because I’ve found it uncomfortable – so having this conversation with Scott was quite refreshing. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please share this episode and make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing to the show. Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice. If you enjoyed the episode

I welcome Jennifer Dawn, creator of the Best Planner Ever, to the podcast this time around. Jennifer is a serial entrepreneur who has grown two multi-million dollar businesses and serves high-achieving entrepreneurs through private business coaching helping to take their companies further, faster. Since I’ve got a “mild” obsession with paper planners I wanted to talk with Jennifer about what went into building the Best Planner Ever. We discuss how it got its name, the elements that are unique to the planner, and why she thinks it’s important to bring what’s important to you into the planner that you use and how you can do that. Best Planner Ever Jennifer Dawn Coaching Jennifer and I could have kept going for much longer but there’ll (hopefully) be another time for that. Right now it’s time for you to check out her planner (linked above) and check out The Productivityist Playbook as well. You can get The Productivityist Podcast at a discounted price by clicking here. Want to discover some of the books ment

On this episode of the show, I speak with New York Times best-selling author Dan Schawbel. Dan is the author of Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation and the host of the 5 Questions with Dan Schawbel podcast. He’s also Partner and Research Director at Future Workplace, and the Founder of both Millennial Branding and WorkplaceTrends.com. Dan and I have a history back when I was the Managing Editor of Lifehack and while we’ve never spoken prior to this episode, we were able to jump into a lively conversation about using technology as a bridge to more human conversations rather than making it a barrier, how technology can also help deepen relationships, the importance of getting out to events and gatherings that push your comfort zones, and more. Relevant Links Back to Human: How Great Leaders Create Connection in the Age of Isolation | Dan Schawbel The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains | Nicholas Carr How our 269 billion emails a day have made us miserab