Able Business Radio: Small Business | Automation | Systems

Stephen Warley is a self-employment expert. He came on to discuss the 4 major trends that are causing work to change and what you can do to prepare for them. This is a must listen to episode for all the new or soon to be solo-professionals out there. Enjoy! In this episode we cover: How automation will change a majority of jobs by 2030.  What the half-life of skills means and how it will affect your career. Why it's not a good time to be in middle management. How you can make it big in business by going small with your market. Quotables: "I believe the future of work is all about self-management." "Automation will lift productivity and economic growth, but millions of people will need to upgrade their skills." Links and resources mention: Get Apprenticeship  How Work Is Changing Building Your Community ABR #2 Life Skills That Matter Podcast The Big Leap Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. The Million Dollar One Person Business The 100k Freelancing Podcast When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing The Likable Expert Advantage w/ Michael Katz ABR #48 The World Is Flat Case Study: No revenue to $200,000+ in less than 2 years! Free 12 week self-employment self-assessment course Connect with Zack and Stephen: Stephen's Twitter: @stephenwarley Stephen's Website: lifeskillsthatmatter.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/53

In previous careers, Nathan has been a designer, author, and blogger. After learning the power of email marketing he gave up a successful blogging career to build ConvertKit. He's come on the show to let us know how you can start using email for your service based business. In this episode we cover: Why starting an email newsletter isn't a priority when starting out. What email you should write first to get more clients for your business. When you should consider writing your first automated email series. Where to find your first newsletter subscribers. How to demonstrate your expertise through teaching everything you know. Quotables: "Email marketing is just a method to push out something useful to people who want it." "We have written, video and audio as ways of conveying a message." "With email, the expectation is that you either read, archive delete or reply to every single message. So people engage with it." "I wanted to make sure people had all the information they needed to decide whether or not to buy [my book], before they had the opportunity to buy." "It really helps with the marketing to be able to narrow down what you do and who you do it for." "If I had to start over as a freelancer, I'd get really specific on what I want to and an industry you do it for. I'd find that specificity by looking at what's in demand and what I like doing." "First write a case study. Second, I'd send an email on my philosophy or principles used. Anything that makes me different. Then maybe once a month I'd write about a project I was working on." Links and resources mention: The Craft + Commerce Conference ProductHunt Article on Nathan's Commit App iBooks Author Wordpress TextExpander Case Study Example Webcomics mentioned: The Oatmeal The Cooper Review Anything You Want by Derek Sivers ConvertKit Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. - Email marketing made easy. See demo here. Connect with Zack and Nathan: Nathan's Twitter: @nathanbarry Nathan's Website: nathanbarry.com and convertkit.com Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/52

Does a majority of your new business come from referrals? Do you often wish you had a bit more control over when and where your next client will come from? Then today's show is for you. My guest, Patrick Ewers, is Silicon Valley’s top relationship management expert. Patrick and his team at Mind Maven train business leaders to reach their full potential by ensuring they hear about more of the right opportunities. Startup founders hire him to uncover venture funds or their next big hire. You and I can use his actionable insights generate more of the opportunities we want in our business. (Hint: More referrals!) Patrick's opportunity finding tactics are simple, effective and easy to implement. In this episode we cover: The 5 best emails to send when you don't know what to say. How to make sure every interaction you have with your network is meaningful, relevant and valuable. Why it's important to walk into every meeting knowing how you might help. The massive benefits that come from creating positive mico-experiences. The 'one email a day habit' that will generate more breakthrough opportunities. How timing and mindshare lead to opportunities. (But you can only control mindshare, that is, the ability of people to think of you when an opportunity arises.) Quotables: "The quality of your life is directly proportional to the quality of your relationships." "If you want to make a friend ask a favor." - Benjamin Franklin "Don't ask people if they need help. Offer help when you see opportunities." "Professional challenges change every 6 months. Passions never die." "Making introductions is easy to suggest but hard to implement." "Positive Alacrity is the skill of creating micro-experiences that cause an emotional uplifting in others." "We get the best opportunities from people we know and trust. That's just a fact in my view." "Referrals are a process. The better we understand that process the better we can manipulate it." "Never, ever say, "How can I help you?" It's the worst thing you can do for a relationship." "Change is a skill. You need to invest in improving it if you want to reach your full potential." The Forgetting Curve Img Source: Mindmaven Links and resources mention: Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath Patrick's Bonus Resources: mindmaven.com/able Contactually (affiliate link) – Strengthen your professional relationships and grow your business by following up with the right people at the right time. Accompany - Networking tool that helps you become the first to know and the first to respond to relevant people in your network. Connect with Zack and Patrick: Patrick's Twitter: @patrickewers Patrick's LinkedIn: /in/Patrick Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: /in/ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes (and Contactually tour mentioned in the outro) can be found at zacharysexton.com/51

Follow-up is important for sales, marketing and the growth of your business. You need to follow up with your: leads clients potential joint venture partners and more. Even if you are a solo professional, business is a team effort. But it is easy to let your follow up activity slip down the to-do list. Unless you are careful, more urgent tasks or more entertaining distractions can botch the best intentions. Fortunately, seasoned entrepreneur Meredeth Bell came on the podcast to share her strategy for making the important but not urgent follow-up process a little bit easier. In this episode we cover: Why prioritizing your follow-up will pay off in the long run. How to make following up a fun game (vs a dreaded chore). What types of follow-up you need to do to grow your business. Video Trailer: Links and resources mention: Meredith's video on LinkedHelper app The Power of Listening ABR #14 Connect with Zack and Meredith: Meredith's LinkedIn – Meredith Bell Meredith's Twitter – @meredithmbell Meredith's Website – Strong For Performance Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/50

Jennifer Bourn is an award-winning website designer. She also runs her own small business. At the beginning of 2011, her web design business ate up all of her time. 100+ hour work weeks were the norm. Travel (her passion) was impossible. Stress was high. Important tasks were falling through the cracks. Then, during her annual business retreat, she created a simple system to help onboard her new customers. Instead of repeating herself, she sent a series of automated emails that: set expectations outlined the project requested specific information sent useful tips and pretty much delighted all of her customers. Her automated email onboarding system worked so well, she added it to other parts of her business. In 1 year Jennifer was able to year cut her 100+ hour work week, filled with admin and email, to a 30-hour work week where she can focus on the thing she does best... design beautiful websites. I love this story so much. Listen in to find out exactly how Jennifer managed to: save time increase profits provide a better service by creating simple client management systems for her web design company. These automations worked when she played, didn't need to be managed and never let any step slip through the cracks. Enjoy! In this episode we cover: Specific automation tools. How to scale without hiring. What you need to do before creating your first system. Why systems can give you the confidence to raise your rates. Where to find time to create your systems. Quotables: "I was surprised by the amount of information I had to repeat to my clients." "You can't delegate crap unless you have a system for people to follow. Otherwise, you are just setting everyone up for failure." "Systems will boost profitability in your business." "The larger clients you get, the less automation the appreciate [but we still use the same systems, just took out the automation]." "You have to work on your business, not in your business." "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -  Maya Angelou Links and resources mention: Zapier - Connect apps and automate workflows. It's like the duct tape of the internet. MailChimp - Email marketing automation. AgileCRM - Contact management and sales automation. Ryan Clover - Zack's amazing web developer. TextExpander – Expand custom keyboard shortcuts into frequently-used text and pictures. TextExpander podcast #010 Emyth - famous book on small business systems Emyth podcast #012 Work The System MemberPress - membership plugin for WordPress AffiliateWP - affiliate program plugin for WordPress Chris Lema - smart WordPress developer Profitable Project Plan (aff link) - Jennifer's full system and training in a 12-week starting January 23, 2018 Client Captivation Webinar - Thursday, January 18, 2018, at 12:00 pm Pacific Time Relationship Engine – A private Facebook community to help service-based entrepreneurs get more clients. – zacharysexton.com/relationship Connect with Zack and Jennifer: Jennifer's Twitter: @jenniferbourn Jennifer LinkedIn: /in/jenniferbourn Jennifer Website: jenniferbourn.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: /in/zacharysexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/49

Michael Katz is a likable marketing expert for solo professionals. He came on the podcast to show you how you can get more and better clients by positioning yourself as a likable [fill-in-your-service] expert. No marketing budget? No problem! After listening to this episode, you'll know how to attract all the clients you need with word-of-mouth marketing. Like exercise, all it takes to see results is: finding a routine you don't hate the commitment to show up every day If you've been struggling to stand out from the crowd and find the clients you can't wait to work with, this episode is a must listen. Enjoy! Video Teaser: In this episode we cover: Why being a subject matter expert is not enough. How to attract more of the right clients by adding personal stories to your marketing. What percentage of your time should be spent on marketing. 3 criteria for being a likable expert (and getting hired as a solo professional): People need to believe you are capable and see you as an expert. People need to like you, feel comfortable with you, value your point of view. People need to remember you, understand what you do and think of you first when a problem arises. Quotables: "Raising your likability is an easy and practical way to gain more clients." "The mindset of content is education. The mindset of networking is making friends." "If you connect with enough people. And you are helpful to people. It does come back to you." "You need to be as authentic as possible because you are trying to attract the people you click with and push away the people you don't." "Nobody comes to your blog or talk to hear your stories. But the stories are what stick with them." "Your audience isn't your peers. It's the people who will hire you." "Personal stories are a competitive advantage to small business owners. Verizon can't tell you what they did over the weekend." "Success comes from showing up every day." Links and resources mention: ConvertKit - Email marketing made easy. It has the power of Infusionsoft, but easier to use than MailChimp. See demo here. Michael's Likable Bonus - michaelkatz.com/ableradio How To Generate More Revenue w/ Contactually Podcast #041 Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers by Seth Godin Contactually - Strengthen your professional relationships and grow your business by following up with the right people at the right time. See demo here. Relationship Engine - A private Facebook community to help service-based entrepreneurs get more clients. - zacharysexton.com/relationship Connect with Zack and Michael: Michael's LinkedIn: /in/MichaelJKatz Michael's Twitter: @MichaelJKatz Michael's Website: bluepenguindevelopment.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: /in/ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/48

John Corcoran is an expert at strategically managing the relationships that make a difference in your business. He believes sharing: your connections free, helpful content (podcasts, blog posts, videos) are the two best way to grow a network of people who want to support you and your venture. Service-based entrepreneurs listen up, this might be the best marketing advice you've heard all year! This podcast will show you how to start helping others in a way that will also drive your own success. In this episode we cover: How to do an 80/20 analysis of your network. Why tracking your lead sources is vital for effective networking. (Hint: Ask all prospects, "How did you hear about me?") How to use interviews as a way to connect with high-level mentors, partners and clients. How to get Rob Lowe to play you on TV. Quotables: "It's good to be helpful. You never know what might come of it." "If you can’t get $600 out of your CRM [in a year], you are just not using it." Links and resources mention: Rise25.com Love Is The Killer App by Tim Sanders Smart Business Revolution podcast Video Interview w/ Michael E Gerber ABR #12 Why Most Small Businesses Fail and What To Do About It w/ Michael E Gerber Contactually (affiliate link) -  Strengthen your professional relationships and grow your business by following up with the right people at the right time. ABR #41 How To Generate More Revenue w/ Contactually ABR #13 How To Go Paperless w/ Brooks Duncan Ryan Clover - website creator for service-based entrepreneurs. Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant Asana + Slack (to stay out of email!) Connect with Zack and John: John's LinkedIn: /in/Corcoran John's Twitter: @johncorcoran John's Website: smartbusinessrevolution.com John's Podcast: smartbusinessrevolution.com/category/podcasts/ Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: /in/ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Episode Bonus Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/47

Learning from past actions is one of the most effective ways to make improvements to your personal and business productivity. Today productivity strategist Mike Vardy is on the podcast to give you a simple game plan to review your year. By listening, you'll get some fun strategies to help you: celebrate your successes learn from your mistakes move forward with more purpose Enjoy! In this episode we cover: How to use your calendar to kick-start your annual review. Why breaking your annual review into 4 separate 'seasonal' journaling sessions will give you the most accurate snapshot of the year. Examples of quantitative and qualitative data you can take from your past to help you become more effective in the future. Vardy Quotables: "We don't tend to look back enough when we are trying to move forward." "The holiday season is like being on a plane ride for two weeks. You've got fewer expectations at work. You can use that extra time to reflect and plan." "Productivity is about intention AND attention." "Look back at the minutes to make better moments." "There is no stupid part of a system if it works." "The best app you can focus on is the app within." "Frameworks foster freedom." Quotes Mentioned: "Pain + Reflection = Progress" - Ray Dalio "Mistakes are opportunities for improvement." - Sam Carpenter "In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable." - Dwight Eisenhower Links and Resources Mentioned: ABR #42 How To Choose Your Next Big Goal Mike Vardy's Now Year Course Zack's Productive Journaling Article Principles by Ray Dalio Work The System by Sam Carpenter Confirmation Bias - the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. ABR #5 Capture Everything, Regret Nothing ABR #28 How To Never Forget Anything ABR #17 Guided Mind Sweep The F-ing Meeting to talk about food, finances and family. Getting Things Done by David Allen NeuYear Calendar The Now Year Calendar The Personal MBA Free Todo List Help Connect with Zack and Mike: Mike's Twitter: @mikevardy Mike's Website: productivityist.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/46

What would a perfect year look like for you? Mentally? Physically? Spiritually? With your finances? Devin Ambron put on a workshop this December to help Austin entrepreneurs build, plan and live their best year. We go over some of the strategies he used to help attendees kick butt in 2018. Including: reflecting on the past understanding the present looking toward the future One exercise that will help you understand your past, present and future is discovering your productivity personality type. Devin's 4-part framework helped me understand why I love lists and reminders but have a hard time scheduling work for a specific time. If you've ever felt like traditional time management books don't work for you, you'll definitely want to tune in. We cut right into the conversation. Enjoy! In this episode we cover: 4 Productivity personality types and tips for succeeding with all of them. Why most time management books don't work. (Hint: They are only written for 1 personality type.) How advice from the ADHD literature can help you keep your focus. Quotables: "Productivity advice only works for calendar worshipers. They live and die by the calendar." "I build beautiful plans... and then don't execute them." "Authenticity and flexibility don't get enough love." Links and resources mention: Getting Things Done by David Allen How to Choose Your Next Big Goal w/ The Wheel of Live - ABR042 Link to wheel of life image and article The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey Work The System by Sam Carpenter HBR Guide To Being More Productive HBR Guide To Getting The Right Work Done HBR Guide To Guide To Managing Stress Strengths Finder 2.0 Kolbe DISC Myers-Briggs DISC Personalities w/ Mads Singers - ABR020 Color Coding Your Week w/ Kendra Wright -ABR019 Zack's Clean Slate Group Coaching Principles by Ray Dalio Wait But Why on Artificial Intelligence The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die If Then Then That (IFTTT) Image of Wheel of Life 4 Productivity Personality Types Connect with Zack and Devin: Guest Twitter: @dambron Guest Website: devinambron.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/45  

Humans are creatures of habit. If we do something one way on Wednesday, odds are we’ll do that same thing the same way on Thursday. Sometimes that helps us. Think about those who exercise regularly and can’t imagine otherwise. Other times, not so much. Think about those who arrive home each night and unthinkingly switch on the TV. So how do habits come to be? And how can we change them? This podcast is the third and final episode of this goal setting, clarifying and doing series. It's all about how to take consistent action on your goals using the power of habits. In this episode we cover: 3 ingredients needed to create, break or replace a habit. How to know if a habit is formed. 4 habit forming personality types. Quotables: "The best plans in the world don't mean much if you don't follow through." Links and resources mention: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Better Than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits by Gretchen Ruben  MyFitnessPal Podcast 42: How To Choose Your Next Big Goal Podcast 43: Getting Clear and Creating "Bulletproof" Goals New year resolution article referenced for this episode. Connect with Zack: Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/44

Goals have an impact beyond the obvious. Specific goals are connected to more important life goals. These higher goals reflect your most important ideas. The specific goal of losing 20 pounds, for example, may be an element of a more important life goal of being healthy or attractive to your (potential) romantic partner. For the goal you selected from the Wheel of Life exercise, consider the following questions: Questions To Answer: Use these questions as prompts for a 5-minute free writing exercise about your goal. Do you truly believe that pursuing this goal is important? Would you feel ashamed, guilty or anxious if you didn’t? Do you want to achieve this goal personally, or are you doing it to please someone else? Is the pursuit of this goal enjoyable, stimulating or satisfying? Is this goal part of a deeply felt personal dream? How would success in this area change the way you see yourself? How would other parts of you personal life change as a consequence of achieving your goal? How would this affect the way that others perceive you? What broader beneficial social impact might your success have? What are some potential obstacles to achieving your goal? What are ways you can overcome the environmental, social or personal obstacles to achieving your goal? Understanding the personal connection and implications of achieving your goal will help you take the actions that align with where you ultimately want to take your life. Writing works because it will help you recall the reasons why working towards your goals in more important than the other, easier alternatives. Links and resources mention: How to Choose Your Next Big Goal – ABR042 Jordan Peterson's Self Authoring Program Connect with Zack: Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/43

In this episode we cover: How to make a new year's resolution that lasts How to prioritize your goals to make the most positive change Quotables: "You can anything, but you can't do everything." Links and resources mention: YNAB - You Need A Budget How to use the wheel of life: Print out the above wheel of life image: wheel_of_life.png Grab a pen. Rate each of the areas by marking one of the ten rings in the section based on how well you feel like you are doing in that area of life. 1 means not satisfied. Terrible. Couldn’t be worse. You weigh 500 pounds. You have a hoarder house. You’ve got $50,000 in credit card debt. 10 is highly satisfied. You just ran the Boston marathon. You’re financially free. [3] You married the woman of your dreams. Once you’ve made your marks, take your pen and connect all the lines: You can also shade in the sections: Pick the 1 or 2 areas you ranked the lowest. Take a walk and brainstorm ways you can make improvements to it. Find one improvement you can commit to making. Connect with Zack: Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/42

New, repeat and referral business all come from one place. Your relationships. Contactually CEO Zvi Band comes on the podcast to show us how to take the heavy lifting out of reaching out to and following up with your important business relationships. In this episode we cover: How to use a game to sort and 'bucket' your contacts. How to use Contactually to: remind you to follow up with important contacts create personalized email templates make an introduction efficiently keep up with your contact's social media tag contacts based on location and personal interests schedule emails to go out on a future date keep personal notes on contacts The power of a $10 basketball and doggie bowties. What to say when reaching out to your network. How many relationships you can realistically expect to keep track of. The one thing that separates the most successful and least successful Contactually users. Quotables: "The best businesses in the world are built off of authentic relationships with their clients and partners." - Zvi Band "80-90% of my revenue has come from Contactually follow up reminders and nudges to reach out to my network." - Zachary Sexton Links and resources mention: Real Relationships Podcast Crossing the Chasm Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers by Geoffrey A. Moore Alfred - productivity application for Mac OS X, which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords and text expansion. Contactually (affiliate link) - Strengthen your professional relationships and grow your business by following up with the right people at the right time. Connect with Zack and Zvi: Guest Twitter: @skeevis Guest Website: zviband.com Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/41 or zacharysexton.com/contactually

My good friend Stephen Warley and I discuss how to create a community to support your life and business goals. We recorded this episode just shy of a year ago and his words ring even more true today after my first year of self-employment. By listening, you will learn: How to build a community that wants to support you. The three type of people you need in your community. What a reverse mentor is and how they can help you succeed in business Quotables: "Don't network. Make friends." Links and resources mentioned: 10 Life Skills That Matter article Tell your story Purge your life Practice self-awareness Build a community Self-direct your learning Align your habits Reframe your mindset Plan your actions Embrace discomfort Manager your energy Free Life Skill Challenge Series Stephen's Seth Godin Interview 1Password Podcast Connect with Zack and Stephen: Stephen's Website: lifeskillsthatmatter.com Stephen's Podcast: lifeskillsthatmatter.com/podcast Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/how-to-build-community

Imagine this scenario. You sit down at your desk with a cup of coffee. Open up your computer to a blank desktop screen. You move your cursor to the bottom doc where your most used applications live. Click on the colorful, beachball looking Chrome icon. Your browser fires up, and all of this happens instantly: Google Chrome welcome you back by name. A beautiful new wallpaper, the time and local weather appear on your open tab. Chrome asks you to what your main focus is so you can stay on track. Your projects, resources, and calendar are one click away. You are also one keyboard shortcut away from automatically logging into any needed websites. This episode of Able Business Radio shows you how to optimize your online work environment with Google Chrome. In this episode we cover: Why the Chrome browser is almost 4x as popular as the closest competitor. How to optimize your work environment to maximize your willpower and decisions making juice. Where to start when customizing your Chrome account. Quotables: "Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love – is the sum of what you focus on.” Links and resources mention: Momentum App PARA method ABR podcast w/ Tiago Forte The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal 1Password ABR Podcast 1 Password App LastPass App Trello Chrome Extension Other recommended Trello Chrome Extensions YNAB (You Need A Budget) Evernote Web Clipper Other Read It Later Apps Instapaper Pocket Loom Video Record Video Speed Controler MeetEdgar John Nemo LinkedIn ABR podcast  Deep Work by Cal Newport Video Overview Apps Mentioned In Podcast Focus Facebook Newsfeed Eradicator Block Site Effective Communication and Email Grammarly - spell and grammar check your writing Assitant.to - schedule meetings on the fly Boomerang - Schedule an email to be sent later. Easy email reminders. Calendly - create schedule links with predetermined time slots and questions Bonus (not mentioned on air) Extensions and Tools Checker Plus For Google Calendar Hemingway App Zack's Google Chrome Tool/Bookmark Bark Momentum App How to hide extensions from your "upper right-hand corner thingy" Connect with Zack: Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Zack's LinkedIn: @ZacharySexton Leave iTunes Review: zacharysexton.com/review Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/40

Lisette Sutherland helps people work from anywhere online. She came on the podcast to talk about some of the challenges and opportunities of working in virtual teams. In this episode we cover: Why you should invest in rocking internet and good headphones. The best way to start every meeting (especially for introverts). When you should turn the video on in virtual meetings. (Hint: Always) The benefit of recording ALL of your team's meetings. How to use post-it notes to keep people engaged. When to put ideas into a virtual parking lot. How to make all meetings optional. Where to build personal time into the meeting. Quotables: "If you are spending the first 10 minutes getting the tech set up [for an online meeting] you are doing something wrong." "Nobody wants to come to your webinar." Links and resources mention: Jim Benson Personal Kanban Interview Trello App Zack's Butler For Trello Review Hack Zack's Free 8 Part Kanban Training Zoom (referral link) Blue Jeans Web App To Make Scheduling a Meeting Easy  Best Video Conferencing App Article: Skype vs Hangouts vs GoToMeeting vs Zoom vs Join.me vs Appear.in Doghead Virtual Meeting Simulations Loom Icebreaker Ideas ELMO and other Collaboration Supercards Principles by Ray Dalio Lesette's Favorite Tools For Remote Teams Productive Book and Tool Revenue Growth Habit Sleep With Me Podcast Free Live Training Webinar Date: Thursday, November, 2 2017 Webinar Time: 6:00 pm EST Webinar Title: 4 Simple Tips To End Overwhelm and Beat Burnout Webinar Registration Link: zacharysexton.com/trello-training Connect with Zack and Lisette: Lisette's Twitter: @lightling Lisette's Website: collaborationsuperpowers.com Collaboration Superpowers Facebook Page: facebook.com/collaborationsuperpowers Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/39

Is your email inbox count in the 3, 4 or 5 digit range? This podcast will give you the exact step-by-step process for getting that number down to zero in 2 hours or less. Roll up your sleeves, we are going to work on your inbox! In this episode we cover: How to make email a less addictive. What you need to do to get out of email inbox H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. Set up your @Action, @Read, @Waiting folders. Filter by date. Archive anything older than a month. Sort remaining emails into your @Action, @Read, @Waiting folders. Process those email folders to zero. Key differences between Outlook and Gmail. Ninja Email Processing: Quotables: "You get the email you deserve."- @mattcowdroy Links and resources mention: Matt's Building A Second Brain Podcast Episode https://zacharysexton.com/productivity-ninja/ Zack's Email Workflow Podcast https://zacharysexton.com/emailworkflow/ Sanebox vs Unroll.me Podcast and Video https://zacharysexton.com/unrollme-safe/ How To Bulk Archive In Gmail Video: https://youtu.be/ESfFUq5ww3g Wunderlist https://www.wunderlist.com/ Trello https://trello.com/ Free Trello Training https://zacharysexton.com/trello-training Getting Your Inbox Back To Zero Training (offer expired) The Four Hour Work Week Connect with Zack and Matt Cowdroy: Guest Twitter: @mattcowdroy Guest Email: matt@thinkproductive.com.au (Note: Email Matt to get the Back To Zero Training for free!) Guest Website: thinkproductive.com.au Zack's Twitter: @zwsexton Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/38.

If you’re like me, you probably set up a LinkedIn account at some point during your career, then promptly forgot about it. That's about to change. My guest John Nemo will have you looking at the professional networking site with a fresh set of eyes. Eyes with dollar signs in them. Coaches, consultants, small business owners and sales professionals listen up, what you learn in this episode has the potential to earn you thousands in increased sales. Enjoy! In this episode we cover: How to set up a LinkedIn profile that gets your target customers interested in your products and services. How to generate nonstop clients and revenue with LinkedIn messenger. Step 1: Set up a client facing profile. Step 2: Use LinkedIn search to find your ideal leads. Step 3: Engage and sell to prospects via 1-on-1 conversations in LinkedIn messenger. What parts of LinkedIn can be ignored. Quotables: "Talk to someone about themselves and they'll listen for hours." - Dale Carnegie "The riches are in the niches." "You got a problem, I'll solve it. Now check out my moves while my DJ revolves it" - Vanilla Ice "LinkedIn is the world's biggest search engine for sales leads." - John Nemo "Your clients and customers don't care about you. They care about themselves! Morning, noon and after supper. If you can solve their problems, they'll pay attention." - John Nemo "A confused prospect never buys." "Get people off the rented land (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) and bring them to your house (website, email list)." Links and resources mention: Free Copy of John's Book How To Create A Killer LinkedIn Profile LinkedIn Riches Webinar (affiliate) Create Your Work Dashboard In Trello Webinar Alternative Content Platforms Medium Reddit Quora How To Win Friends and Influence People LinMail Pro How to guide on Linkedin Lead Generation LinkedIn Messaging Magic Connect with John and Zack: John's Twitter John's Website John's LinkedIn Zack's Twitter Zack's LinkedIn Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/37

Matt Cowdroy and fellow Clean Slate members have a discussion on the effects a mindfulness practice can have on your personal productivity and stress levels. In this episode we cover: Why separate "boss time" and "worker time" How mindfulness training can help you become more productive. Strategies for dealing with the stress of the "never-ending to-do list" Quotables: "Mindfulness is a willingness to turn towards our experience." "When your mind is wandering, and you bring it back- you're strengthening the muscle." Links and resources mention: Clean Slate Group Coaching How To Be A Productivity Ninja Meditation Apps: Calm Headspace Insight Timer Connect with Matt and Zack: Matt's Website: thinkproductive.com.au Matt's Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattcowdroy Zack's Twitter: https://twitter.com/zwsexton Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/36  

Josh Fonger is a business systems specialist that came on to tell us the how, why and when of setting up business processes that will allow you to make more money while working less. In this episode we cover: Finding and documenting systems and that will help scale your business. How to exercise strategic restraint to get more out of your time. What to prioritize to grow your business faster. Quotables: "Work begets work." Links and resources mention: Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less Good To Great Connect with Josh Fonger: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wts_josh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshfonger/ Website: http://www.workthesystem.com/josh-fonger/ Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/35

I Googled the word 'entrepreneurial' to make sure I spelled the word correctly for the podcast shownotes. (Hint: I didn't.) Google thought I would like to know the definition of 'entrepreneurial.' It gave me the following as my first search result: Entrepreneurial - adjective - characterized by the taking of financial risks in the hope of profit. Entrepreneurship is by definition risky. Or is it? The question of riskiness depends on how you think about risk. If you choose to have a job, you have one steady income stream. That income stream is called your paycheck. Steady seems less risky. But what happens if you are let go from that job? 100% of your income goes away is what happens. And that's the situation my guest Dorie Clark found herself in. She's had one income stream. That income stream went away at a less than opportune time (seriously... could not have been a worse date). It's now been many years since her fateful 'no mo money' day. Dorie has spent the time growing her skills, experimenting with technology, making mistakes, seizing opportunities, sharing her message and working hard to create a business and brand that has a variety of income sources she can rely on. The diversity she has baked into her business gives her more stability (and higher pay) than many traditional jobs. She came on the Able Business Radio to talk about her journey from being laid off to freelancer to business owner. We also cover: In this episode we cover: 5 different income sources you can explore. How to discover problems people will pay you to answer. What (and when) to charge for your products and services. Strategies to build your brand (and what the hell a brand even is). Quotables: "Once you've tested it and piloted it, you can really go big." "Your price should be fear, plus ten percent." "Information solves a lot of problems." Links and resources mention: Reinventing You by Dorie Clark Stand Out by Dorie Clark Entrepreneurial You by Dorie Clark (Pre-Order Before Oct 3, 2017, to get discounted price) The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber TripIt App Connect with Zack and Dorie Zachary Sexton on Twitter Dorie Clark on Twitter Dorie Clark's Website  Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/34

In this episode we cover: 7 tips to get lasting results from a conference: Go solo Don't "punk out" and go to all the events Listen more than you speak Choose workshops that scare or excite you Take time to connect deeper with fewer people Especially people you wouldn't normally meet Brain dump on the way home Connect with Our Guests: Becca Courtice - @thehappyevercrafter Justin Steinfelder - thedilettante.org Rob Caraway - hey.robcaraway.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/33

Lesley Pyle is the founder and owner of HireMyMom.com, a website connecting entrepreneurs with virtual, talented help. She began her work-at-home journey in 1995 with the launch of her first website HBWM.com - Home-Based Working Moms. In this episode we cover: Job posting tips Benefits of hiring remote Benefits of hiring domestic Tools and resources to make remote work easy Resources mentioned: Like, Love and Follow: The Entreprenista's Guide to Social Media OneNote Hootsuite Connect with Lesley: Twitter: @hiremymom Facebook: @hiremymom Instagram: @hiremymom Pinterest: @hiremymom Website: hiremymom.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/32

Top Ten Evernote A ha's Use the desktop app. Use the desktop app for organizing Use the phone app for capturing or finding Forward email directly to your Evernote (especially for taxes) Configure the Sidebar to maximize data navigation Use “Multiple Select” to create a Table of Contents multiple select video Use Stacks to declutter your “Digital Desk” Organize Evernote Stacks with PARA. https://zacharysexton.com/knowledgemanagement/ Zack's Evernote PARA video Change default notebook to .inbox. Use Contol + ⌘ + M to quickly move notes Use Note Links Continually improve notes through progressive summarization. Links and resources mention: Stacey's Top Evernote A-Ha Moments blog post Evernote: A-Ha Quick Start Guide Free Webinar: September 14 Connect with Stacey and Zack: Stacey Harmon on Twitter Zachary Sexton on Twitter Stacey Harmon's Homepage Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/31

Is there a business idea that you've held onto for a bit too long? Maybe you've got some relationships that are holding you back from bigger things? Or perhaps there are there a few physical items that need to be taken out of your office for good? Professional Organizer Kathy Vines is here to teach us the strategies and mindset needed to overcome: purposeless practicality sunk costs fear of the future and other mental pitfalls that will get in the way of growing your business. In this episode we cover: How to strategically prune your tools. The difference between status quo and purposeful ownership. Quotables: "Escalation of commitment to a failing course of action." Links and resources mention: Getting Things Done by David Allen Mind Sweep Podcast The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Personal Workbook Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most Clever Girl's Guide to Living with Less: Break Free from Your Stuff, Even When Your Head and Heart Get in the Way Clean Slate Starting Sept 11  Only 3 Spots Left! Connect with Kathy: Twitter: twitter.com/CleverGirlOrg Facebook: facebook.com/clevergirlorganizing Instagram: instagram.com/clevergirlorganizing Website: clevergirlorganizing.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/30  

Zack and Kendra jam on a Facebook Live answering questions from Kendra's Rebel Challenge group. In this episode we cover: How to be productive if strict schedules make you itch. What to do when you are overcommitted. Quotables: "Don't use your calendar as a tyrant. Use it as an advisor." - Dr. Jordan B Peterson Links and resources mention: Kendra's website. Able Business Radio Episode 19  Kendra's Rebel Challenge Facebook Group -  community + weekly comfort zone challenges Full Facebook Live Conversation Zack's Twitter Clean Slate Group Coaching - start this fall with a game plan! Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/29  

  Have you ever been at a party, conversations are flowing, then, out of nowhere, a genius idea pops into your head?! Maybe it’s: a solution to a problem you’ve been working on the perfect gift for your sister-in-law’s upcoming birthday an email you need to send an important client If you’ve been having drinks, it’s probably a fool-proof million-dollar business idea

Have you been mulling over the idea of outsourcing your work? Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) might be a great way to free up your time at an affordable rate. Four hour work week, here we come! In this episode we cover: Why the Philippines is the most popular country for outsourcing work. How building a relationship helps you get the most out of the VA. What work has the highest ROI for virtual assistants. The #1 thing to look for when making your first hire. How being yourself is the best management style. Quotables: “For a lot of entrepreneurs- tools are shiny objects." "If you try to do things that don't match your personality, you will fail." "Tools don't matter. It's the process." “The essence of being successful is having great systems.” “The kind of work that is most effective initiatives to get done by a virtual assistant is a repeatable process.” "The best managers you will find are the people who know and get to understand themselves, particularly their strengths and weaknesses, and utilize their strength to be the best manager they can be with whatever they have.” Links and resources mention: First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham Trello | Screencast-o-matic | Skype or Slack | Google Drive TextExpander Podcast DISC Podcast Upwork | Fiverr TransferWise Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith 12 questions happy employees should be able to answer yes to: Do I know what is expected of me at work? Do I have the materials & equipment I need to do my work right? At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? In the last 7 days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? Does my supervisor or someone at work seem to care about me as a person? Is there someone at work who encourages my development? At work, do my opinions seem to count? Does the purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important? Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work? Do I have a best friend at work? In the last six months, have I talked to someone about my progress? At work, have I had opportunities to learn and grow? The higher the employee is on the pyramid, the greater commitment and fulfillment at work. Connect with Mads: Website: AristoSourcing.com Skype: madssingers LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/madssingers Email: mads@madssingers.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/27  

Stacey Harmon is here to show us how to get our settings right so we can organize, and quickly access our entire Evernote archive in seconds. In this episode we cover: How to use Evernote to digitize and centralize your information. How to email notes to Evernote. Why getting the right settings makes it less stressful to get all of your information in order. Current Webinar Details: Webinar Date: Thursday, August 3, 2017 Webinar Time: 5:00 pm Central Time Webinar Title: The Insider Secrets for Organizing Your Life and Boosting Your Productivity with Evernote Webinar Registration Link: zacharysexton.com/learn-evernote Links and Resources mentioned: Scannable App Text Expander Skitch Download Evernote Desktop App Zack's Twitter & Stacey's Twitter Naming Conventions w/ Evernote Article Radical Productivity With Evernote Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Keyboard shortcuts ⌘ + J to jump to new notebook Control + ⌘ + M to move notebooks Screenshots Changing sync settings: Changing the sidebar options: Connect with Stacey: Stacey's Twitter Stacey's Website Radical Productivity With Evernote Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. - Complete course on how to maximize Evernote as a productivity tool. (Affiliate Link i.e. I get some monies if you buy Stacey's course.) Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure.    

In this episode, we cover the "sins" of reading, strategies to overcome these sins, and other strategies to rev up your reading speed. Sins/Normal Human Habits of Slow Readers Daydreaming: Happens when you read slower than you think Good Daydreaming: Applying your reading (bridge of knowledge) Bad Daydreaming: Thinking about other things *The Fix* Practice Mono-focusing (Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises) Regression: Going back over words you’ve already read Your eyes are not tracking equally from left-to-right *The Fix* Using your hands or a card while you read Place your left finger at the beginning of the line, and your right finger at the end of the line to train your peripheral vision. Sub-Vocalization: When you talk in your head Benefits: when you’re trying to savor text like poetry or trying to commit something to memory like Bible verses. However, it slows your reading down to talking speed (about 150 words per minute) Saving Reading to the End of the Day *The Fix* Read when you’re awake Reading in Bed The body relaxes in beds, couches, and sofas *The Fix* Control your environment (sit upright, at a desk/table, with your phone off, with classical music playlists) Quotables: “Everbody has these 5 gears. Most of us are stuck in first and second gear because we haven’t learned.” “Being able to know when to go faster, when not to go faster, and how to do it is what I call the active, mindful and conscious strategies.” “The difference between someone who is successful in their career and someone who is not is often based on how much they can read for professional development. So the more you can get through, the better off you are.” “You’re trying to change the conversation that your eyes and brain have been having for a long time.” “The hardest thing about learning how to read faster is being able to temporarily let go of comprehension.” Links and resources mention: Abby’s Speed Reading Podcast Abby’s Speed Reading Course (Affiliate Link) Pocketcast Overcast Connect with Abby: Twitter: @speedreadr Website: revitupreading.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/26  

In this episode we cover: The 5 (and a half) commandments of an Organized Office Time yourself (organize like a 5-year-old) 1.5 - Strike when the iron is hot!     -Organize when you are motivated     -In ABR Episode 21 - Zack and Jim Benson talk about how "Personal Kanban" can help you be prepared to maximize your motivation. Group Like with Like Break out anything with action from everything else Keep your active projects visible Create smart to-do piles Declare your office a No ________ Zone Quotables: “We can make your office more beautiful- but I’m more concerned how to make it functional." Links and resources mention: Getting Things Done by David Allen Sexy Evernote Settings w/Stacy Harmon Radical Productivity – Evernote PowerUsers Course by Stacy Harmon Tools You'll Need  Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill TheInspiredOffice.com Connect with Kacy: Kacy Paide wants to live in a world where, regardless of square footage or budget, everyone lives inside a perfect balance of simplicity and beauty.  A Professional Organizer since 2001, she has helped nearly 600 people find what they need, when they need it, freeing them to live fuller lives both in and out of the office. TheInspiredOffice.com Instagram Facebook Pinterest YouTube Channel Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/25  

Susan Lannis has been in business for over 30 years. She is a professional organizer working with highly gifted individuals to help them get their genius out to the world. In this episode we cover: Finding clarity on: What you really want. How much time you want to spend on it. How much money you need to make. Three critical areas of a business that must be managed and balanced to be successful How to narrow down your marketing strategies The keys to being successful in business without burnout. Six things every business owner should do every quarter to stay excited Quotables: “I have this odd combination of loving being responsible and loving being lazy. The only way to reconcile these two qualities in me was to figure out the simplest, fastest, easiest way to meet the responsibility so I could have the freedom of the time.” “Know what makes you different and keep making yourself different in as many ways as you can.” “Happiness is purposeful effort towards a meaningful goal.” “Nobody starts a business because they love paperwork.” “Find a way to take time away from your business to rethink the whole thing every five to seven years.” Links and resources mention: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber Quarterly Assessment of Success Traits Zack's Live July 14th Kanban Training Connect with Susan: Twitter: @TimeLiberator LinkedIn: SusanLannis Website: TimeLiberation.com Free Training This Week! This short Kanban training (25 mins) was created to show you how to get more control over your work and all the demands on your time. The control comes from Kanban’s unique ability to make your work visible. The free training streams live at two times this Friday, July 14, 2017. See Recorded Training + Enroll In a Free Kanban Course Here. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/24

Tiago Forte is a wealth of knowledge. He draws on his background in design and technology to help knowledge workers apply design thinking to day-to-day productivity challenges. In this episode, Tiago and I discuss the PARA method to organizing your reference material. In this episode we cover:  What Evernote is and why to use it instead of other note-taking apps. Evernote is a database Evernote has been around long enough to have strong, foundational capabilities. PARA File Organization Structure Projects - Any and all those things that need to get done within the next few weeks or months that require more than one action step to complete. Areas - Ongoing aspects of your life that you are committed to meeting performance standards of. Resources - Ongoing interests Archives - Any other category that is no longer active Progressive Summarization 5% of your notes are more valuable than the rest Wander and explore Every time you touch a note, improve it and make it slightly more discoverable for your future self Summarize it - emphasize the most important, relevant information Summarize the summarizations You can scale the amount of attention that you pay- according to how relevant the source is to your projects Quotables: "When you have everything at your fingertips- you can start to see connections between things that would not be apparent if your information was stuck in files. " "Evernote is one of the more personal apps…..It’s your own thinking, your own ideas, your own brainstorms, your musings, your journal entries, your work in progress. All the messiness you don’t necessarily show the world, you keep in an app like this." "Define projects much smaller than you are used to” “Once each little piece has its own value, you can put them together in different structures.” “In one glance, at the 5th or 6th level of summarization, you can get the gist of en entire book in one instance.” "Using a system in every place that you have files eliminates the cognitive burden of switching from one organizing scheme to another." Links and resources mention: Article on PARA method TextExpander and Writing Automation with Greg Scown TextExpander Sexy Evernote Settings with Stacy Harmon Radical Productivity - Evernote PowerUsers Course by Stacy Harmon James Clear - Book Summaries Finite and Infinite Games by James Carse Things Zack's Kanban training Connect with Tiago: fortelabs.co Twitter LinkedIn Clarity FM buildingasecondbrain.com Free Training Next Week! This short Kanban training (25 mins) was created to show you how to get more control over your work and all the demands on your time. The control comes from Kanban’s unique ability to make your work visible. The free training streams live at two times this Friday, July 14. See Recorded Training + Enroll In a Free Kanban Course Here. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/23

Ruoyon Xu is a Social Media Strategist, Speaker and Founder of C3Nami.  Her team empowers local business owners to connect and build relationships with their audience through social media. In this episode we cover: How to create a "real" relationship with your audience and grow your business through social media C3Nami's strategy for creating successful social media campaigns. Clarity Creativity Collaboration How to choose the right social media for your goals. Quotables: "If you want to be comfortable communicating who you are online, take criticism as constructive feedback, instead of taking it personally." Links and resources mention: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown Buffer Connect with Ruoyon Xu: Twitter: @C3Nami Website: http://c3nami.com/ Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/22

Jim Benson shows you how to understand your work on a much deeper level. Why? So you can do the best thing at any given time. Sounds difficult, right? It's not. Jim's methodology (Personal Kanban) is highly visual — you can see at a glance what needs to get done, what you’re working on, what your priorities are, and what you’ve accomplished. Personal Kanban has two rules: Visualize your work. Limit your work in progress. These rules (and some Post-It notes) will help you understand your work. And that understanding is the key to controlling it. Listen in and enjoy! Orange = Leverage, Grey = Grow & Serve Community, Yellow = Expand Skills, Blue = Admin In this episode we cover: Why people should operate at less than 60% capacity. How to visualize your work in a way that will make prioritization easy. What is a rosy retrospective and how to avoid it. When and how to review your done pile. Quotables: "Every task is a relationship. The more things we start, the more people will interrupt us." "We all have a lot of undiscovered us. So we need a place to put the ideas that we explore. Because if we don't explore. And we just do the tasks. We're kind of becoming machines." "As soon as you are able to define a repetitive process, you should try to get someone else to do it. Because as solopreneurs, we make money off of our ideas. We don't make money off of production." "We don't just outsource things, we pick collaborators." "The tool should match what you're trying to get."   "You want the (Kanban) board to tell you something you don't already know." Links and resources mention: Personal Kanban: Mapping Work | Navigating Life by Jim Benson  Episode 4 of Able Business Radio Organizing Your Life w/ Trello (where we discuss Agile) Getting Things Done by David Allen Patrick Lencioni Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis Post It Notes Video of Interview Free Kanban Training Connect with Jim: Twitter: Personal: https://twitter.com/ourfounder Business: https://twitter.com/personalkanban Website: modusinstitute.com personalkanban.com Discount Code on Courses: PRODBIZ Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/21

Mads Singers is an outsourcing specialist.  He believes that people are the single most important element of management, and is focused on helping leaders effectively get the most out of their team. In this episode we cover: What the DiSC Personality Profile is, and how it can be helpful for your team. Dominance Influence Steadiness Conscientiousness How to use DiSC to understand and communicate with your employees, peers, and customers better. Identifying DiSC personalities in others so that you can adapt accordingly. The strengths and weaknesses of the DiSC personalities. Quotables: "The way you can see what type of personality people are are in their natural behaviors." "If that is how they speak- that is how they prefer to be spoken to." "Communication is not what you say, it is what the other person hears." Links and resources mention: The DiSC Personality Test Character Compass Connect with Mads: Twitter: @madssingers LinkedIn: @madssingers Website: madssingers.com Email: mads@madssingers.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/20

Kendra is a location independent entrepreneur, who runs a 6-figure business from a Macbook pro. She's come on to share how she uses Google Calendar and the happy sh*t sandwich technique to get all of her most important work done while her creative juices are flowing. In this episode we cover: Having the "most important meeting of the week" with yourself to schedule your work and fun. Creating balance in your calendar. Micro-commitments to tackle looming tasks. How taking care of yourself allows you the freedom to be more generous. Quotables: "I want to kick ass at business and life and I don't accept most people's opinion that you need to choose one or the other." "Productivity serves not only you- but the people you really care about." Links and resources mention: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Deep Work  Getting Things Done The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Calendly How to Fail at Nearly Everything and Still Win Big Weekly Planning Video Walk-Through Connect with Kendra: Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Website  Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/19  

Ricardo Palomares is a speaker/coach/author/explorer/filmmaker helping dreamers bet on themselves to achieve what seems impossible and become powerful, mindful leaders. Zack talks to Ricardo about taking massive, focused actions in the areas that give you the most action. In this episode we cover: Ricardo's recent project titled Pedal South- where four storytellers cycled 18,000 miles, from Alaska to Argentina, documenting the diverse cultures and landscapes along the way. Strategies for dealing with negative experiences and emotions as an individual or a team. 4 questions to Ricardo uses to find direction and focus: What is the most direct way to get where I want to go? What is the most simple was to get where I want to go? What is the fastest way to get where I want to go? What is the most sustainable way to get where I want to go? Quotables: "It doesn't really matter if you have a positive or negative thought- you have to take positive action with it." "In business and in life, there is no Google Maps." "The main thing that we can do as a team or organization is to make decisions by taking the ego out of the equation." "The more we understand the world, the more understand ourselves. The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand the world. More understanding leads to more compassion and we need more compassion in this world." "It's easy to spend too much time thinking and not enough time doing." Links and resources mention: Ricardo's Book: Chronicles of a Journey (only $.99 until the end of June) The ONE Thing Facebook News Feed Eradicator  Connect with Ricardo: Instagram  Facebook  Website ricardopal.com  Email: info(at)ricardopal.com Pedal South Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/18  

This podcast is designed to get all the would, could, should, ought to's: out of your head off your psyche written down in black and white so you can have a visual snapshot of all your obligations. It's the first step overcommitted folks need to take to slow down and make fewer better commitments. In this episode we cover: Why a mind sweep is an important first step to personal productivity. 100+ triggers to prompt you to think about all the of your current obligations. What to do with the huge list of stuff you've written down. Links and Resources Mentioned: How Zack Reviews His Trello Board Quotables: "Does the dog need dog food? The cat need cat food? The fish need fish food?" - Zachary Sexton Connect with Zack: Twitter: @zwsexton Website: zacharysexton.com/hire-me Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/17  

Courtney Carver is the author and photographer behind the website Be More With Less. In this episode we talk about how embracing minimalism helped Courtney transition from feeling overworked, overstressed, and overwhelmed to a healthier, happier version of herself. In this episode we cover: How to listen to your personal cues to process information and respond more intentionally. Step 1 - Start noticing. Step 2 - Keep noticing and respond in a way that honors the fact that you were paying attention. Creating a sustainable morning routine. What decision fatigue is and how to fight it. Quotables: "It doesn't matter where you start- especially if you know that you're in it for the long haul." "One of the reasons I'm excited to share my wake up call, is so other people might be able to avoid theirs." "Even though you don't think you've gotten a wake up call- you probably have." "Just the simple act of noticing before things get out of control can save you so much time, energy, and heartache." "Routine is a very powerful antidote to decision fatigue." "The people who struggle in an area make the best teachers." Links and resources mention: Habit Stacking by James Clear Project 333- Minimalist Fashion Challenge A Simple Year Connect with Courtney Carver: @bemorewithless Facebook Be More with Less Courtney Carver Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/16  

A few Able Business Radio listeners wrote in with concerns about privacy issues with Unroll.me. Here's what I've found: 1. If you are not the customer, you are the product. 2. They recently sold anonymous data to Uber.  3. A paid alternative is SaneBox. 4. Unroll.me disclosed the fact that they sell your meta data in the user agreement. We may share personal information we collect with our parent company, other affiliated companies, and trusted business partners. We also will share personal information with service providers that perform services on our behalf. Our non-affiliated business partners and service providers are not authorized by us to use or disclose the information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or comply with legal requirements. Shout out to Joe Chapman and Matt Cowdroy for bringing this up. July 2017 update: Sanebox vs Unroll.me 6 differences I see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU7DlmJHw14 zacharysexton.com/unrollme-safe

This week, Zack goes solo to help you with tackle email overwhelm to effectively respond to the people you need to respond to. In this episode we cover: How to control the flow of emails Strategies to reduce the flow of emails Why you should stop checking your email (and what to do instead) Is this email actionable? NO A date that needs to go on your calendar? Put it on your calendar. Interesting information? Archive it and use search to find in the future. Irrelevant information? Delete it. Reference material you need to save? Download it straight into your organized reference system.* YES Will it take less than five minutes to take action? Do it now! Do you need to respond? Do it now!  Will it take more than 5 minutes? Defer it Say No Delegate Visual Email Workflow: Quotables: "Processing email is a way of making decisions on the front end with every email that comes in as soon as you open it." Links and resources mention: How to bulk archive in Gmail: https://youtu.be/ESfFUq5ww3g Email Hacks Email Game Boomerang Unroll.me Follow-up unroll.me episode: https://zacharysexton.com/unrollme-safe/ Task Managers Asana Todoist Trello Reference Managers Evernote Dropbox GSuite by Google Schedulers Calendly ScheduleOnce Acuity Other TextExpander Connect with Zachary Sexton Email - coach@zacharysexton.com Twitter - @zwsexton Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/15  

For the past 30 years Meredith Bell has helped people become better leaders by showing them how to be more effective communicators. In this episode we cover: The five questions you can ask to: foster independence of team and family members develop deeper relationships analyze and move on from negative situations reflect and learn from experiences Specific strategies for being a deeper listener. How to let go of the past so you can focus on your goals. Quotables: "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has actually taken place." - George Bernard Shaw "A good leader has to learn how to ask questions and to listen in order to help the person come up with their own solutions." "Trying to re-do the past is a fruitless exercise." "One of the greatest needs of every human being is to feel understood. Being willing to give your full attention to another person is one of the most powerful gifts that you can give them." Links and resources mention: Meredith's Life Skills That Matter interview The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran "Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding." Five questions to ask after you know what hits the fan: What happened? How did you feel about it? Why did it happen that way? What were the consequences? What will you do next time? Zack's Weekly Learnings Connect with Meredith Bell: LinkedIn - Meredith Bell Twitter - @meredithmbell Website - Strong For Performance Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/14  

You want to take your paper and turn it into electronic documents. You also want to be able to find those electronic documents when you need them. And it would be nice if those electronic documents are backed up and secure. How do you do that? In this jam-packed episode, paperless expert Brooks Duncan shows us the three-part system needed to get your paperless system going. Brooks also shares the software and hardware you will need to find success with your paperless goals. In this episode we cover: Reasons why you may want to reduce the amount of paper in your life. How to choose a scanner that fits your needs. How to start going paperless. (hint: avoid scanning boxes of old paper first) Best way to organize your digital documents once they are scanned. Costs and benefits of batch scanning. Why you should name files and documents for 'future you.' What you need to do to protect your digital life. Quotables: When going paperless, my goal was to get rid of the paper I didn't need. Now my goal is to be able to access my information quickly.Click To Tweet Links and resources mention: Courtney Carver, minimalist at bemorewithless.com It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh Collect Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD by Susan Pinsky Smart Phone App Scanners: Scannable (iPhone only) Scanbot (iPhone and Android) Portable Two Sided Scanners: Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i - A personal scanner that works on both Mac and Windows. It scans 12 pages per minute and can hold 10 sheets of paper at once. Doxie Go Home Office Scanner: Fujitsu xi500 - A desktop scanner that works on both Mac and Windows and has wireless scanning capabilities. It scans 25 pages per minute and can hold 50 sheets of paper at once. Organize Software: Hazel File Juggler  DropIt TextExpander $10 Going Paperless With Hazel Webinar Brett Kelly, name for future self. Zachary's Google Drive File Structure Protect Off site Backup: CrashPlan Backblaze External HardDrive: Time Machine (Built-in Mac software) File History (Built-in Windows software) Seagate (Brook's recommended external HardDrive) Cloud Backup: Dropbox Google Drive Box Evernote OneNote Encrypt Your Computer's HardDrive: FileVault 2 (Mac) Bitlocker (Windows native app) Veracrypt (Windows open source) Veracrypt vs Bitlocker Connect with Brooks: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/documentsnap/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooksduncan Website: http://www.documentsnap.com/ Free going paperless cheat sheet over at DocumentSnap.com. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/13

Micheal E Gerber is the author of the mega-bestseller “The E-Myth Revisited” and 28 other business coaching books. Michael has been teaching small business owners how to be more effective for the past 40 years. This interview is no exception. In this episode we cover: How small businesses are failing the same way they failed in 1977. What 4 parts are needed for an entrepreneur mindset. The first system every entrepreneur needs to create. How to turn a: job into a practice practice into a business business into an enterprise Quotables: People are as resistant to order and organization today as they were in 1977.Click To Tweet We don't create anything by living in hope. We create something by living intentionally.Click To Tweet Most people only do one or two things well. And they do everything else badly.Click To Tweet Links and Resources Mentioned: The E Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Beyond the E Myth The Evolution of an Enterprise: From a Company of One to a Company of 1,000! Video of Interview Connect with Micheal E Gerber: beyondemyth.com gerber@michealegerber.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/12

Michael Motta is a professor of political science that studies path dependency. Path dependency is a way of stepping back and looking at how the choices you make today will play out in the long run. In this episode we cover: What decisions restrict future options. How to find balance between 'too loose' and 'too tight' in your personal productivity system. How to stack goals for synergy. When to check in with yourself to avoid drift on your goals. Quotables: If you are not working toward your own goals, you are working to someone else's.Click To Tweet Links and resources mention: Getting Things Done by David Allen 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Stacey Harmon's Evernote Course The One Thing The book Zack's interview w/ Jay Papasan Essentialism The Book on Disciplined Pursuit of Less Zack's interview w/ Greg McKeown Deep Work by Cal Newport Better Than Before by Gretchen Ruben The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday Michael's book: How to Be a Long Term Person in a Short Term World Connect with Michael Motta: Medium: https://medium.com/@mjmottajr/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjmottajr Website: http://www.mjmottajr.com/   Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Sticher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. For the shownotes visit: zacharysexton.com/11  

Greg Scown is the co-founder of Smile Software. Smile specializes in making productivity tools that save time and make your digital life easier. Greg came on Able Business Radio to talk about Smile's popular writing automation tool TextExpander. TextExpander is one of my favorite applications. The software has transformed how accurately and fast I am able to communicate in writing. It does this by allowing me to save common: phrases symbols links images email responses file naming conventions and more into a knowledge base. I then pull on that knowledge base by typing in keyboard shortcuts (that I create). In this episode, you'll learn: What TextExpander is and how to get started. What type of programs TextExpander works in. (hint: everywhere) How to take advantage of thinking you've already done. How to iterate and create amazing, repeatable customer support responses. The difference between the standalone app and the subscription service. How to keep your TextExpander snippets up to date. Quotables: By creating a shared knowledge base, everyone is as good as the best answer.Click To Tweet Links and resources mention:  Predecessors to TextExpander: Type It 4 Me Spell Catcher Typinator Breevy (Current Windows Competitor) Trello PDFpen Automattic Popclip Mac Power User Podcast Getting Started with TextExpander Video Tutorials Buy TextExpander Full Disclosure: I earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Connect with Greg: Twitter: @macgreg Website: smilesoftware.com codecookread.com Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/10 Here are 16 more tools that are (almost) as cool as TextExpander:

Matt Cowdroy is in the happiness business. He uses productivity and mindfulness as tools to help people manage their attention at work so they can be more present, accomplish more, and stress less.

People love Evernote for its ability to store reference files like recipes and notes. But sometimes Evernote can turn into a black hole of "stuff." Luckily, Stacey Harmon is here to show us how to get our settings right so you can organize and quickly access your entire Evernote archive in seconds. In this episode we cover: How to use Evernote to digitize and centralize your information. How to email notes to Evernote. Why getting the right settings makes it less stressful to get all of your information in order. Links and Resources mention: Scannable App Text Expander Skitch Download Evernote Desktop App Zack's Twitter & Stacey's Twitter Naming Conventions w/ Evernote Article Keyboard shortcuts ⌘ + J to jump to new notebook Control + ⌘ + M to move notebooks Screenshots Changing sync settings: Changing the sidebar options: Connect with Stacey: Stacey's Twitter Stacey's Website Radical Productivity - Complete course on how to maximize Evernote as a productivity tool. ( July 17, 2017 Changed to an affiliate link i.e. I get some monies if you buy Stacey's course.) Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/8  

In this episode you'll learn: How to overcome afternoon brain fog. Why movement is necessary for creativity. Simple ways to add movement into the day. What are telomeres and why you don't want short ones. How staying in the “zone” too long will cause burn out. When making your office less efficient is a good thing. Zack's Quotables: "I was treating my body like a Ford Pinto. Now I treat it like a Ferrari." "8 hours is a half day in my industry. I needed quick ways to get fitness in." "Look at your health as a game of chess." Links and resources mention: GO FAR: Goals, Obstacles, Focus, Act, Review  P90x Break time tracker app Life skills that matter Zack Sexton's favorite FIP podcasts episodes: David Allen https://fitnessinpost.com/101/ Greg McKeown https://fitnessinpost.com/81/ Mark Sissons https://fitnessinpost.com/36/ Tony Horton https://fitnessinpost.com/17/ Atlantic time blocking article 52 mins on 17 mins off Shawn Stevenson “How to Sleep Smarter” Connect with Zack Arnold: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FitnessInPost Website: https://fitnessinpost.com/ https://optimizeyourself.me Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/7

Jackie Vecchio is a writer and coach who helps women take care of themselves and their own happiness. She does this by helping her clients fill their own cup first, so they are ultimately able to give more to the world. In this episode of Able Business Radio, Jackie and Zack talk about 6 baby steps you can take to give yourself more time for what matters most. Links and resources mention: Jackie's free 5 day making time challenge at createhappy.net/makingtimechallenge. Connect with Jackie: Website: createhappy.net Facebook: facebook.com/createhappyblog Instagram: @createhappy   Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Overcast, PocketCast or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show gain exposure. The shownotes can be found at zacharysexton.com/6