Connect the Dots is a show about how different topics converge to form a new idea. We start from the perspective of productivity or creativity and how they intersect. But one of the things that has proven most fascinating to me over the years is how many other topics and disciplines impact creative and productive work. Like how much is productivity impacted by the improvement of physical health? How does creativity increase when you learn from new sources of inspiration? It's these questions that form the heart of Connect the Dots.
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Ryan Holiday's Notecard System Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten How Note-Taking Improves Creativity Developing Ideas Sparks Comparing Note-Taking Apps How I Use Notes in Content Creation Note-Taking from Capture to Communication Watch my YouTube videos on QUICK Notes Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten How Note-Taking Improves Creativity Developing Ideas Sparks Comparing Note-Taking Apps How I Use Notes in Content Creation Watch my YouTube videos on QUICK Notes Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten How Note-Taking Improves Creativity Developing Ideas Sparks Comparing Note-Taking Apps Watch my YouTube videos on QUICK Notes Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten How Note-Taking Improves Creativity Developing Ideas Sparks Watch my YouTube videos on QUICK Notes Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten How Note-Taking Improves Creativity & Capture Strategies Watch my YouTube videos on QUICK Notes Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Never Start from Scratch Again Origins of "Smart" Note-Taking & Zettelkasten Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application.Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application.Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email courseWatch me in training at Artista in Nashville, TN
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application.Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get $20 off my course The Most Productive Week Ever
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application.Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course 22 Books for 2022 - Bird by Bird The Gap of Life Changing Work Never Start from Scratch: The Magic of Smart Notes
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application.Listen to E33 - A Poker Player's Advice for Goal SelectionThank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
My name is Matt Ragland and in each episode I share a short lesson about how to be more focused and productive. I draw these lessons from personal experience, work with clients, modern psychology and real-world application. Thank you for listening and if you enjoy the Daily Dot please share it with a friend and rate + review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Get my FREE 5 day productivity email course
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Related✍️ The Gap (E36)
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Check out CTD11 - How Note-Taking Improves Creativity
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.
Last day to sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.comConnect with me on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland02:43 - The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life03:40 - Courage is Calling04:47 - Bird by Bird05:53 - The Hero Within07:01 - Awareness08:20 - How to Take Smart Notes09:06 - Loving What Is10:30 - The War of Art11:31 - The World Ending Fire13:36 - Rooted15:07 - Bullet Journal Method16:00 - Devotions16:43 - Almanack of Naval Ravikant17:34 - You are a Badass at Making Money18:37 - Thinking In Bets19:44 - Black Buck20:51 - Greenlights22:27 - Psychology of Money24:01 - Callings25:18 - Thinking Better26:30 - Atomic Habits27:45 - Radical Candor
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland. New Year's Habit episode 5 Common Questions about the Productivity Power-Up Atomic Habits by James Clear The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Book recommendation: Thinking in Bets by Annie DukeLearn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Listen to the GAP Method episode "Winning the First Week of 2022".Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist.If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.This lesson comes from chapter 4 of the book The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life. In this episode I also mentioned the book Tiny Habits. Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Watch QMWD on my YouTube channelLearn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Watch the Flywheel on my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehgen7gXoxI&t=471sLearn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
A short daily idea, a daily dot, if you will, to help you connect the dots in your own life. Let's see how this goes. I might delete them all in 10 days. Listen while they exist. If you like this, better let me know on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland.Learn more and sign up for my 4 week course at http://productivitypowerup.com
Episode highlights (following WRAP Method)01:34 - Thanks to the Super Fans04:58 - Wins for 202109:35 - Starting therapy11:56 - Results of my 2021 Goals19:35 - Reporter vs Judge25:28 - Alignment of Work/Self27:38 - My $35 month (and more therapy)34:04 - Pivots for 202236:39 - Themes & Intentions for 2022 Listen to the WRAP explanation in episode 24 Check out this episode on YouTube Say hey on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland Sign up for my email newsletter
Check out this episode on YouTube Say hey on Twitter or Instagram @mattragland Sign up for my email newsletter
Watch the YouTube version of this podcastConnect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my productivity newsletter at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Related: 10 Tips for Creators, ep. 18 Read more about the Hourglass Effect Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Related: 10 Tips for Creators, ep. 18 Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Listen to the first 8 week cycle show Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Read more about GAP and WARP at DailyProductivity.BlogConnect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
One of the 10 productivity frameworks that has changed my life is the PARA framework created by my friend Tiago Forte (article link). It's not even just about work; you can have all these different applications for literally any part of your life, and it really has been huge for me in terms of keeping things calm and organized in my work and in my life. So let me tell you what PARA stands for.PARA stands for Projects, Areas, Research, and Archives.The first one P is for Projects and Projects are things that have a very definitive end date, deadline, or just specific outcomes; it's not something that's open-ended. When this is done, it's done. Examples could be things like each episode of Connect the Dots, because once I have it planned, I have it filmed, I have it edited, and then it's published, that specific Project is complete.Now the next phase of this is Areas of Responsibility and Areas are things that are open-ended. They don't have a definitive end date. They're something that you are committed to, you're working on, or is an ongoing part of your life.This is a big difference and a big distinction in PARA and it's a really important one to understand. You can still have something that is very similar in nature, or maybe exactly the same, but the way that you treat it will distinguish it between a Project and an Area of Responsibility.The R is for Research. Now, even though it's third in the order of PARA, many projects will begin as Research.And finally, the other A is for Archive. It's rather simple. Once something is no longer a Project, it's not an Area of Responsibility, you're not doing active Research on it, then it just moves into Archive. If something ever happens where you're bringing the thing you archived back into existence as a Project or a new Area of Responsibility, you just go into your Archive and you pull it back out.Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Watch this episode on YouTubeConnect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Receive my daily productivity emails at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Links from the show Noah's YouTube channel OkDork.com Noah on Twitter AppSumo.com - listeners get an extra 10% off their first purchase! Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Sign up for Daily Productivity Tips at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
One of the most impactful books I read in 2020 was "How to Take Smart Notes". This type of permanent or durable note taking was a total game-changer for my reading and creative output. I set a public goal of 90 smart notes in 90 days as 2020 came to a close... and created 100 smart notes! In this episode I explain how to take smart notes, organization strategies, how I use smart note taking to supercharge my content creation, and why I use notecards as the first note (instead of Roam or Notion). This type of note-taking is based on the Zettelkasten system of Niklas Luhmann. See the complete Note-Taking playlist on YouTube for more visual examples! Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
The 10 Rep Rule is going to be one the core "philosophies" I'll be known for - just you wait. I've seen over and over in my own life and in other creators there's a different type of "10x Rule" at play. Here it is in the most basic form: 10 reps to get a feel 100 reps to build momentum 1000 reps to mastery Our minds don't do a great job distinguishing between the beginning, (long) middle, and mountain-top achievements in life-changing work. We normally quit something after a few tries based on how we feel, not the results. Then it's hard to stick with something we like even through the long middle. Gladwell's 10,000 hours to mastery feels like something that can only be achieved by child prodigies - who has that kind of time?!There's a simple path to follow to the mountain-top of mastery. Trying a new thing 10 times gives you enough quantitative data to pair with your qualitative feelings about if you want to continue. By the time you've done it 100 times there's real momentum and it's a strong habit. Do it 1,000 times and you're well on your way to mastery. Resources MKBHD and Building Mastery Momentum Needs 100 Reps Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training Sign up for Daily Productivity Tips at MattRagland.com/Daily More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
A few years I ago I started testing 8 week cycles for my side hustle (YouTube, courses, etc). The idea is to focus on a specific project or goal for 6 weeks then take 1 week to buffer and 1 week to rest. It went moderately well as a YouTube schedule, but I was still working full-time at ConvertKit. Could I really take a full week off so early in my new company? Listen in and find out! Apologies for being a day late! Had trouble with the upload all weekend
10 Productivity Frameworks The Bullet Journal (1:30) + CTD episode QMWD Goal-Setting (3:41) + CTD episode Outcome vs System Goals (5:09) + YouTube video Time Tracking (6:52) + YouTube video Calendar Blocking (8:39) + YouTube video Attention Allocation (10:39) + YouTube video PARA Framework (13:20) + Tiago's article Start Small (16:31) + YouTube video Startup & Shutdown Routines (19:25) QUICK Notes (20:31) + YouTube video Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
In this (shorter) episode I talk about how I finally started meditation, taking cold showers, and making more time for reading and notes. These helpful habits make an outsized impact in my life and work, but I struggled to make them a priority. I know all about building good habits, but couldn't make these stick. Doing so took a bit more than simple knowledge, I needed a structure and motivation. Here's how!p.s. sorry about the rustling sound in the podcast - it was my jacket Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Understanding how and what you spend your time on is critical for improving productivity and focus. In this episode I share two key frameworks that helped me spend the right amount of time on different areas and types of work. Resources Eric Schmidt talking about 70-20-10 on the Tim Ferriss Show (37 minutes in) 70-20-10 rule breakdown Jim Collins talking about 50-30-20 on the Tim Ferriss Show (search for 50, 30, 20 in the transcript) Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
Happy New Year! This episode of Connect the Dots is all about how you can build healthy habits and systems. But in case you're not listening to this on the first Monday of 2021, January 4th, there is a lot to help you build better habits, create a healthier environment and design the life that you care about. Thanks for listening and check out the show on YouTube! Resources from the episode My Simple 3 Step Habit Loop on YouTube James Clear's Habit Guide Atomic Habits book Scott Adams Goals vs Systems Charles Duhigg - The Power of HabitHow Habits Work BJ Fogg - Tiny HabitsStart Tiny Connect the Dots on YouTube + Free Training Check out the Connect the Dots YouTube channel Watch the best clips from Connect the Dots Get the 3 Keys of Productivity worksheet & training More ways to connect YouTube - youtube.com/mattragland Instagram - instagram.com/mattragland Twitter - twitter.com/mattragland
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