Not As Advertised

With a lot of apps out on the market for self-improvement or stress-management, how do you know if they’re effective or, even, backed up with scientific evidence? Today we dive into how you can examine if the app you’re trying out is effective and backed up by science.

Working from home has its pros and cons: you don't have to commute, plus you can work from the comfort of your own home. But, you're also working from home, meaning there's no physical separation between you and the office. Plus, all those Slack messages and emails? We talk about the pros and cons of working from home, and offer practical tips to make the work from home experience more of a positive one.

There are those who shine under the limelight and those who crumble under the pressure. That made us question, “do you actually thrive under pressure?” What makes the two kinds of people different? How can you perform at a high level for a prolonged period of time?  On this episode of the Not as Advertised Podcast, we explore those questions, the topics of work pressure, the Yerkes-Dodson Law and share some tips on self-care.

The WHO speculates that work-related depression and anxiety cost the US $1 trillion in lost productivity in 2019. A lot of that is due to burnout which occurs due to built-up stress. So “work hard and you’ll succeed” really true? Is it as advertised?  On this (first!) episode of the Not as Advertised Podcast, we explore the topic of hard work, its consequences and share some tips on self-care based on scientific literature.

Raphael & Ethan announces the new show - Not As Advertised - an investigative series focused on validating the ideas that dominate the personal development and productivity space.    The goal of the show is to ask - "What if the idea or product was not as advertised?"    Through scientific research and data analysis, this show will help you design a personal productivity system that actually works. Visit www.mytechne.io (https://www.mytechne.io/) for more information! 

The founding team gets together to discuss what we learned in 2019 and where we are headed in 2020.    Hint: We are building a product that enables busy people to be productive in a systematic and sustainable manner.    Want to be an early beta user? Join our mailing list at http://www.mytechne.io/technology  Episode Highlights  (07:30) Stay consistent with your system (17:30) Self-care is productivity  (28:10) Our biggest take-away in 2019  (32:55) What does this mean for our Product?

In this episode I chat with Drew Dudley about Day One Leadership, a practical process to help you live a life you are proud of. Episode Highlights  (5:50) How to do what you love AND manage your health (13:55) Ordinary vs extraordinary days (20:58) Dealing with suicide of a loved one (23:55) Day One of weight loss, sobriety and mental health  (33:54) The 6 Day One Questions Connect with Drew Dudley:  Website: www.drewdudley.com (http://www.drewdudley.com/)   Instagram: @dayonedrew (https://www.instagram.com/dayonedrew/) Twitter: @dayonedrew (https://twitter.com/DayOneDrew)   Past Talks: https://www.drewdudley.com/about-drew

On Halloween Day, there's tons of spooky things out and about, but sometimes, the creepiest things can be inside you - I'm talking about bacteria and microbes inside your gut. It turns out these cells not only outnumber your own cells, but they also affect how we sleep and maybe even how the lack of sleep are related to the diversity of these cells. Tune in to hear about the newest study, and how we break it down!

You might not know it, but everyone's in a relationship - of some sort. It can be work-related, personal, or even to objects. I'm not talking about romantic relationships - purely relationships you have with someone or some thing. While we've talked about associations before, we haven't explored how they and relationships can affect your self-esteem and as a by-product, your productivity. Tune in and see how this all ties in together!

Hobbies can be hard to upkeep; you have to invest a lot of time, and sometimes it might not be as fun as you initially might've thought. But what if I told you that having a serious hobby can actually help you be more productive? That knitting class seems a bit more attractive now hey? Join me today in learning why this might be so!

We have different ways to pursue goals: some of us like to play by the rules, some push the boundaries here and there to get a win. A theory developed by a psychology professor at Columbia University proposes that there's two ways we pursue goals; today, we're going to talk about the one that risk-averse people take.

We have different ways to pursue goals: some of us like to play by the rules, some push the boundaries here and there to get a win. A theory developed by a psychology professor at Columbia University proposes that there's two ways we pursue goals; today, we're going to talk about the one that risk-takers typically take.

In this episode I chat with Pauleanna Reid about how she optimizes her time, relationships and mindset to succeed in her 9 to 5 and multiple side hustles. System Highlight: 5 Before 8 Checklist Episode Highlights (05:13) 5 before 8 routine (07:45) Time management is life management (13:40) Love your 9 to 5 (21:27) Lessons from chess Connect with Pauleanna Reid: Website:https://pauleannareid.com/ Instagram: @pauleannareid (https://www.instagram.com/pauleannareid/) Twitter: @PauleannaR (https://twitter.com/PauleannaR) Facebook: @PauleannaReid (https://www.facebook.com/PauleannaReid/) YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/MissReidTV SoundCloud:https://soundcloud.com/pauleannareid

We get feedback in various ways; it can be negative, positive or constructive. While positive feedback is the best kind to get in terms of how we feel, is that the best for us and for our work? We delve into the realm of criticism and how each type of feedback can help us (or not) perform better and learn from our shortcomings.

Self-reflection is an underrated part of productivity. Without it, we can often fail to see where we're failing, which is arguably more important than seeing where we're succeeding in. Not only can failure teach us what we can improve on, it can also show us how our methods can be improved and better optimized. So today we're breaking down a 6-step method to implement self-reflection and reiteration into your exisitng workflow.

Fear of missing out - FOMO - is prevalent in our day-to-day lives, from possibly missing out on a deal or an exclusive, time-sensitive event. It's extremely common to feel FOMO, but it can also happen when we're trying to be productive and maximize our time. So today, we're gonna try and break down FOMO with science and see why it feel it so often and what it's driven by!

Feedback loops are everywhere - be it learning, cause and effect - it's a core concept for everyone. What if I told you feedback loops are core to every person, starting from within your own brain? From how neurons learn and stay connected to our own habits and behaviours, they're driven through reinforcement and feedback loops. That's what we're breaking down today - let's get into it.

In this episode I chat with Luki Danukarjanto about how he prioritizes family, health and entrepreneurship. This episode is perfect for anyone who wears a lot of different hats, and in particular, anyone looking to turn their side-hustle into a full-time business. Episode Highlights  [08:35] Leaving a 12 year career in management consulting [13:30] Compounding benefits of non-negotiables [21:40] Flavour of the month system Connect with Luki Danukarjanto:  Website: https://focusinspired.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukidanu/ Instagram: @lukidanu (https://www.instagram.com/lukidanu/) YouTube: Focus Inspired (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMYBp3ALFsolJxcxh26XukQ) Books & Media:  Angela Duckworth: Grit - https://amzn.to/2WVoocA TEDx Angela Duckworth: Grit - The power of passion and perseverance - http://bit.ly/2WVa2Zz Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth - https://amzn.to/2x5louz Luki Danukarjanto: Stuff I Wish I Knew Earlier - https://amzn.to/2FAqIuX

Music is everywhere - playing on radios, your phone, on the streets and it can sometimes be really great, but distracting too. Maybe you've had an experience where music just made you work so much better - is that just a one time thing, or is that a real phenomenon that science can uncover? Let's sound out this connection in this episode - let's break it down.

Do you ever feel like your mood's gone off its rocker, going back and forth, or it just stays far too long and overstays its welcome? Mood regulation can be really hard to do sometimes - even impossible at points. While moods might seem similar to emotions, they aren't exactly - there's a key difference. We break down why moods are different than emotions, and a system to judge and see how something affects your mood. Show Notes: www.mytechne.io/bts29

Diets are a huge trend, with juice cleanses, fasting and keto diets becoming the next new thing. While diets are cool, the fundamentals of our nutrition is that we need to balance our nutrients, key ones being sugars and fats. We'll break down what those sugars and fats are, how they affect your health and offer a few personal tips on how to maintain a diet that's beneficial for you.

Frustration's a really frequent emotion we encounter, sometimes even on a daily basis. It doesn't even seem useful, but our brains process it anyways. Why does it happen? Where does it happen in our brains?  That's what we're breaking down today - let's get into it.

In this episode I chat with Beckie Thain-Blonk about her systems for entrepreneurship, health and high performance. Episode Highlights [05:15] High Performance Planner (by Brendon Burchard) [12:20] Theme your days [20:50] The benefits of coaching [26:10] Applying systems to improve nutrition and fitness Connect with Beckie Thain-Blonk: Website:http://www.helloprosper.com Twitter: @bthainblonk (https://twitter.com/bthainblonk) Instagram: @beckie_thainblonk (https://www.instagram.com/beckie_thainblonk/) Facebook: @beckie.thain (https://www.facebook.com/beckie.thain)   Instagram: @helloprosper (https://www.instagram.com/helloprosper/) Twitter: @helloprosper (https://twitter.com/helloprosper) Facebook: @helloprosper (https://www.facebook.com/helloprosper/) Concepts: 7 Levels of Personal, Group and Organizational Effectiveness -http://bit.ly/2F8pmXO Introverts: Manage Your Energy by Colour Coding Your Calendar -http://bit.ly/2RdMGIL   Books & Media: Dr. Caroline Leaf: Think, Learn, Succeed -https://amzn.to/2ID1NHO   People: Brendon Burchard -http://bit.ly/2Ziv694   Others: High Performance Planner -http://bit.ly/2IKu1jY Losing It! Weight Loss That Fits -http://bit.ly/2wR0C1L

Exercise has lots of health benefits, such as cardivascular and mental health - but how about our brain health? Turns out, exercise, through a hormone known as irisin, can improve our cognitive and mental abilities. We'll go through the various types of memories, how they work, and how exercise improves our "brain" health.

Everyone's experienced anxiety - but what makes it so hard to deal with? How is anxiety different than fear? Is there even a difference between the two? Finally, how does anxiety affect our work? That's our topic for today - let's break it down.

Information is an incredibly rewarding thing to gain, thus the saying, knowledge is power. There is also too much information out there, some of it not as useful while some are incredibly so. What makes information so valuable and rewarding, and how does our brain process it? That's our episode for today.

Over-planning is a dangerous thing to do and can cause what's known as decision paralysis; we simply can't make a decision. While planning is a core component of our daily lives, over-planning only makes it harder to decide what course of action to take. We'll be breaking down why over-planning happens, and suggest a few tips to overcome and fight over-planning.

Have you wondered what time we're the most productive in the day? Or how sleep, or the lack thereof, affects our productivity? We get into the details behind the circadian rhythm and sleep, and how that can affect our stress and levels of productivity throughout the day.

In this episode I chat with Kim Parnell about her systems to kick start her mornings, practice discipline and improve sleep so that she can start and end each day with success. Episode Highlights [06:15] Strategies for better sleep [11:53] Morning routine [16:37] Building discipline with cold showers [24:30] Designing her life   [28:18] Balance self accountability and compassion Connect with Kim Parnell: Website:http://kimbigk.com/ Facebook: @kim.parnell.56 (https://www.facebook.com/kim.parnell.56) Twitter: @kimbigk (https://twitter.com/KimBigK) Instagram: @kimbigk (https://www.instagram.com/kimbigk/) Concepts: The Complete Guide for Beating Procrastination -http://bit.ly/2XBzkbx Wim Hof - Benefits of Cold Showers -http://bit.ly/2MDaXt4   Books & Media: Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman: The Daily Stoic -https://amzn.to/2KL4xFo Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People -https://amzn.to/2K6GEZD   People: Jocko Willink -http://bit.ly/2XB0381   Others: James Clear: Habit Stacking -http://bit.ly/2XFyvhj Break the System Episode 4: Sleep Deprivation -https://apple.co/2R3ITxf Break the System Episode 2: Procrastination -https://apple.co/2Zl7fpt

Have you ever wondered what the ideal time is for tackling harder tasks? Or maybe how much of your work day you spend being productive? We get into the nitty-gritty of the data of how much time you spend being productive on a daily basis, and how you can make the most of it. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Today, we celebrate our 20th episode with a group Q & A session, asking questions regarding motivation and stress among others! If you like this kind of content, let us know by reaching out to us on Instagram or other social media at mytechne.io, or visit our website at www.mytechne.io.

What's the cost to multitasking? It's known as switch costs. Whether it's the time or energy required, they start to build up throughout the day and make you tired and fatigue your brain. Today, we talk about the cost associated with multitasking, and how to minimize that cost in your daily life.

We make associations unconsciously or consciously, and often don't realize that they could be affecting us negatively.  How does our brain make those associations? What's the psychology behind it? Today, we talk about the psychology behind making associations, and how use associations either at work or home to your advantage.

In this episode I chat with Daniel about his systems to manage time, people and space. Daniel is the Founder & Creative of Now Creative Group, Founder of Access Innovation, podcaster, speaker, mentor and community builder.   As a designer and business operator, Daniel has to regularly juggle between his creative work and administrative work to keep the business going. In order to do this, he uses a combination of digital tools, virtual assistants and physical spaces to stay focused, organized and inspired.   Episode Highlights [06:25] Tools to manage his business, not-for-profit and other priorities [12:38] Strategic calendar management and batching similar activities [22:08] Importance of delegation [27:00] Can't do it now? Defer it  [31:50] Creating space for inspiration & productivity Connect with Daniel Francavilla: Website:http://danielfrancavilla.com/ Facebook: @danielfrancavilla (https://www.facebook.com/danielfrancavilla) Instagram: @danielfrancavilla (https://www.instagram.com/danielfrancavilla/) Twitter: @francavilla (https://twitter.com/Francavilla)   Now Creative Group:https://www.nowcreativegroup.com/ Access Charity:http://www.accessinnovation.ca/ Books & Media: John Wood: Leaving Microsoft to Change the World -https://amzn.to/2wGuDBb Gary Vaynerchuk: #AskGaryVee -https://amzn.to/2wCDunu Paul Graham: Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule -https://bit.ly/1hy2lKz   Others: Soho Innovation Lab -http://bit.ly/2Zd5CtZ Uplevel Solutions: Virtual Assistant Services -http://bit.ly/313wUoa

Perfection feels like it should be the gold standard, but is often unattainable. Should we strive for perfection, or is failing okay sometimes? In today's episode, we talk about perfectionism, how your brain processes it and a few tips to help combat phone addiction. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Taking breaks might seem counterproductive, but is it really? How do you then, take an “effective break” and how does it help your productivity? In today's episode, we talk about why taking breaks can actually be beneficial to your productivity, instead of being a guilty pleasure. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Phone addiction is a real problem to our productivity. How do you develop it, and what can you do to minimize your phone usage? Today, we talk about what phone addiction is, and a few tips to help combat phone addiction. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Guilty is a normal human emotion and a normal part in life. How does that guilt affect productivity? Today, we talk about guilt, how we create this sense of guilt and let it affect our productivity. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Post-recording discussion between Daniel, Raphael and Jo about health & fitness data, habit trackers and side-hustles.  This is an experiment and we are looking for feedback!  Connect with us at:  Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Website: http://www.mytechne.io Email: raphael@mytechne.io (mailto:raphael@mytechne.io)  

Can we determine if nature or nurture is more important in determining personality traits? How do those traits affect our productivity? Today, we talk about the nurture side of the argument, and whether the environment and people we have around us have a role in determining our productivity. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

In this episode I chat with Daniel about the processes and apps that he uses to optimize his sleep, diet and exercise. We also talk about his side hustle, Measured Growth CPA, and how he is building up this business alongside his full time job. Daniel Breez is a Finance Manager & Health Enthusiast. Episode Highlights [06:15] Systems for sleep, diet and exercise [12:45] How to deal with the 'off' days [14:30] Social accountability [17:30] Delaying gratification [23:11] Pursuing your passion   Connect with Daniel Breez: Website: https://measuredgrowthcpa.com/ Facebook: @daniel.breez (https://www.facebook.com/daniel.breez) Instagram: @danielbreez (https://www.instagram.com/danielbreez/) LinkedIn: Daniel Breez (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-breez-cpa-ca-4ab80125/)   Concepts: Habit Stacking - http://bit.ly/2XFyvhj   Books & Media: Carol Dweck: Mindset - https://amzn.to/2CpsL36   Others: Coach.me App - http://bit.ly/2IDRyFA Apple Shortcuts Feature - https://apple.co/2ISKtQz Kino body - http://bit.ly/2IP0OWF    

Can we determine if nature or nurture is more important in determining personality traits? How do those traits affect our productivity? Today, we talk about the nature side of the argument, and whether genetics has a role in determining our productivity. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

What exactly is impostor syndrome? Is it just you that feels it, or does everyone feel it? In today's episode, we talk about what impostor syndrome is, why you might feel it and some tips to help you fight it off when it comes. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

What makes us fall for fake news? Is there a type of person more likely to believe in fake news? In today's episode, we break off from our normal topics and talk about what makes us susceptible to fake news. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Here's a short sample of my recording on the Millennial Minimalists podcast, hosted by Kelly Foss and Lauren Morley.  The Millennial Minimalists podcast is all about how to live a simpler, more intentional life.  In this episode, we talk about how I apply the principles of minimalism in the context of my productivity and entrepreneurial journey.  Be sure to connect with them on social media @millennialminimalists  As always, let me know what you think! Happy to chat more about my productivity systems & what we are up to at myTechne. Find me at http://www.mytechne.io or @mytechne.io on social media!

What exactly is attention? How do we stay attentive on focused? In today's episode, we talk about the processes behind attention and a couple of tips to help you stay attentive. Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Here's a sample of the recording I did on the Ideas Into Action podcast, hosted by good friend and past guest, Hamza Khan.  Ideas Into Action podcast reverse engineers the careers of established high performers. In this episode, we talk about fear, entrepreneurship and productivity.  Learn more at http://hamzakhan.ca/podcast   As always, let me know what you think! Happy to chat more about career strategy, my high performance habits, and all things tech and productivity related! Find me at http://www.mytechne.io or @mytechne.io on social media!    

How does our brain process motivation? What helps us stay motivated? Motivation is not always a constant factor - find out how you can help yourself stay on track and motivated on today's episode of Break the System! Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

In this episode, I chat with Kelly Foss about her bullet journal system and how she takes a minimalist approach to manage her smartphone and social media. Kelly reached a point in her life where she felt lost. As a first step towards her personal development journey, she began de-cluttering her life, both physically, mentally and virtually. Over the last few years, she developed the systems that allows her to live intentionally, and simply. Now she is on a mission to share her lessons and teach others how to adopt a minimalist lifestyle.   System Highlight: Bullet journal   Episode Highlights [06:05] What is minimalism & why does it matter for busy people? [09:13] The minimalist smart phone [11:45] Productivity & the bullet journal   Connect with Kelly:  Website: https://www.klfoss.com/ Facebook: @cwkellyfoss (https://www.facebook.com/cwkellyfoss) Twitter: @cwkellyfoss (https://twitter.com/CWKellyFoss) Instagram: @cwkellyfoss (https://www.instagram.com/cwkellyfoss/) Podcast: The Millennial Minimalists Facebook: @millennialminimalists (https://www.facebook.com/millennialminimalists) Instagram: @millennialminimalists (https://www.instagram.com/millennialminimalists/)

How do you decide on your actions? Today we'll talk about how decisions are made in the brain, and what factors go into your decision-making! What drives you, and what influences them? Let us know what helps you make your important decisions! Website: www.mytechne.io Instagram / Facebook: @mytechne.io Twitter: @mytechne_io

Here's a sample of my recording on the Accounted For podcast, a show about career jumps and what actually happens beyond our LinkedIn profiles In this episode, I talk about: How I jumped from accounting to strategy consulting to tech start-ups How I started The Canvas Series podcast and how that ties into the larger mission of myTechne Learn more about Daniel and his work at https://www.oldmandan.com (https://www.oldmandan.com/) For the full episode, jump to www.oldmandan.com/podcast/rwong (http://www.oldmandan.com/podcasts/rwong) As always, let me know what you think! Happy to chat more about career strategy and all things consulting and tech related. Find me at http://www.mytechne.io or @mytechne.io on social media!