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Got a burning creative project? Face your finitude, says this productivity expert, by learning to number your days. Everyone is pressed for time, and in a never-ending quest to conquer their schedules. It's why productivity tips and hacks are big business these days.But underneath our productivity problem is a reality no one wants to face: the fact that we're all going to die, argues self-described “recovering” productivity expert Oliver Burkeman, and the author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. The average human life is about 80 years, or some 4000 weeks, and the sooner we come to grips with the ultimate deadline, the better off we'll be, argues Burkeman.In this interview with Life & Faith, Oliver explains how “mortality” emerged as a theme for his 2021 book, how the solace of “deep time” – as experienced during times of flow, prayer, meditation, and hiking – connects us with our humanity, how AI might change the game for human creativity, and how he, as someone more drawn to Eastern religion, makes sense of our yearning for more time, for more than one life.The shadow of Christianity – with its promise of transcendence, eternity, and being situated in an unfolding story that stretches before and after our earthly lives – looms over the conversation.Explore Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for MortalsOliver Burkeman's Meditations for Mortals: A Four Week Guide to Doing What CountsOliver Burkeman's website
Worrying can take up so much of our time, especially when most of what we worry about never actually happens. This worrying uses up time that could be better spent on the things that truly count, but how can we reduce this and actually free up that time? Oliver Burkeman is a New York Times bestselling author of books such as ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’ and ‘Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts’. Oliver is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. Oliver shares:
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your to‑do list? This episode is truly the best productivity advice you'll ever receive because it's built on a foundation of self-compassion. It's Oliver Burkeman exposes why mainstream time management hacks fail and how accepting your human finitude liberates you to be meaningfully productive.You will learn how to...redefine productivity beyond endless to‑do listsditch hustle culture, but still do what matters mostapproach time management with self-acceptance and self-compassionunlock mental shifts that free you from perfectionism, anxiety, and overwhelmcare about the world's problems without succumbing to paralyzing despairRemember: One day, you will die with an unfinished to-do list. No amount of productivity hacks will avoid that. Let this truth liberate you to focus on what truly matters and approach your workload with self-acceptance, self-compassion, and self-love.OLIVER BURKEMAN is the acclaimed author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. His earlier works include The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and HELP! How to Become Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done. For years, he penned the Guardian column “This Column Will Change Your Life,” and his writing has been featured in the Observer, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Psychologies magazine, and New Philosopher. A former Brooklyn resident, Oliver now lives with his wife and son in England's North York Moors.Sign up for Oliver's newsletter, The Imperfectionist Please get yourself copies of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals!!And if you enjoyed this episode, screenshot it and share it on social media! Make sure to tag @maryspodcastMentioned In This Episode...Productivity for Self-Lovers, Ep. 125 on Mary's Cup of Tea PodcastElizabeth Gilbert's book Eat, Pray, LoveElizabeth Gilbert's book, CommittedResonance: A Sociology of Our Relationship to the World by Hartmut RosaNew York Times article on NoveltySlow Productivity by Cal NewportAre We Still Empathic if We Don't Take Action?
Main Topic: Anti-Hustle Culture with guests Rachel May and Emily Golden, book coaches and editors at Golden May Editing, and podcast hosts of the Story Magic podcast. Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): revamped website Emily: ARC just came in "Crimson Tide: Up in Molten Lights", 20K in to new book; Rachel: revising third book is slower than planned. (Erick): Preorder up for Shadow Signals , front and back matter done What are you reading? Valerie: How To Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon (Lyn Slater) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King), The Autopsy: Best Weird Stories of Michael Shea, (Daniel Clowes) Patience Rachel: Cassie Mint's new book, Wild Peak; the stack is waiting Emily: Assistant to the Villain (Hannah Nicole Maehrer) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: • Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Main Topic): Years ago, in the days before COVID, they met on Twitter through the #WritingCommunity hashtag. As fantasy writers, they immediately hit it off through beta reading each other's work, which evolved into critique partnering, and then a mutual fascination with writing craft. They became obsessed with learning a) how stories worked, and b) how writers' mindsets could help or harm their progress. Together they dove head first into book coaching and editing training, which ultimately resulted in Golden May. Please welcome Rachel and Emily. Value is based in what you produce = hustle culture Pitfalls of hunger to create and make an impact on world. Make money, make a lot, make it fast Sustainable success comes from the opposite place Mindset is more important, untangle perfectionism and hustle culture Generational/societal = capitalism ranked over all; "You are only valuable and worthy if you make money." You can't rest because ... If you do more, you make more money. We aren't machines. Burnout. Less effective. Care for yourself so you CAN work. Mindset breeds shame is what drives the hustle culture . Anti-hustle is about separating mindset from the "norm." What did you do to separate and feel worthy? 1. Come down to earth: what are the stakes? Writing is not life/death situation. If I don't ..., then I'm not worthy and I'm gonna die. (Start reframe it) 2. Awareness. Hustle culture. Learn the opposite. (Amy McNee - We Need Your Art) Ask where these thoughts are coming from? Follow the threads. Reparenting inner child. Catch the thoughts in the moment. What's my programming? 1st thought: programming, 2nd thought: what I really believe. Talking to coworkers and family about "letting them down." 3. Join a community interested in anti-hustle. Reframe daily. 4. Devon Price "Laziness Does Not Exist", "Burnout" (Nagaski sisters) 5. Affirmations 6. What is your brain trying to tell you? Rest is a learned thing. The Power of Ritual (Casper ter Kuile) We all rest differently. The tenants of anti-hustle culture: Worth is not tied to our output. Your success isn't determined by someone else's standards. Body and Brain deserve rest. "I don't have time to learn how to rest." Learned how to be productive in your body. tenaciouswriting.com goldenmayediting.com Story magic podcast IG @tenaciouswriting And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
How can we embrace the limitations of time and the certainty of death and create real fulfillment that thrives on an honest assessment of our human predicament? These are the questions at the heart of this episode. Ethan welcomes back bestselling author and journalist Oliver Burkeman for a discussion of finitude, death, limitations, productivity, and dueling concepts of the meaning of meditation. Oliver Burkeman is the author of Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts, and the bestselling Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, is now available. Oliver wrote a long-running weekly column on psychology for The Guardian, "This Column Will Change Your Life," and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher. Learn more about him at oliverburkeman.com, and subscribe to his regular newsletter, The Imperfectionist. Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! The Meditation Group starts up again on May 15th, and a special podcast/meditation on “Intuition” will be released to paid subscribers this Friday, May 2nd. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (Apple, Spotify,Ethan's Website, etc). Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor Dharma Moon, including the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training program beginning June 13th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download.
Main Topic: Elements of a Nonfiction Book (Starts at 16:55) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): learning IG Stories from @tidalbaymedia (Kat), updated passport, new Chiro, monthly reflection, carport, now buy print (Erick): Preorder up for Shadow Signals , ARCS out in the morning, back/front matter to write, re-release Witness accounts with new fresh content, experiment with going Wide on the print What are you reading? Valerie: How To Be Old: Lessons in Living Boldly from the Accidental Icon (Lyn Slater) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King),
Why did Charles Darwin, Virginia Woolf, and Henri Poincaré all follow the same four-hour rule? In this episode, bestselling author Oliver Burkeman returns to explain why three to four hours of focused work might be the secret to productivity and peace. Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d You'll learn: The 3–4 hour rule: why it worked for Darwin, Trollope, and Dickens and still works today. How to tackle overwhelming tasks with a simple mental trick called “just go to the shed.” Why keeping a “done list” might be more motivating than a to-do list (feat. Marie Curie). How inboxes, perfectionism, and productivity guilt trap us in modern-day Sisyphus cycles. The two-part system Oliver uses to stay focused, without feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of life. --- Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ Oliver's book Four Thousand Weeks: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks Oliver's book Meditation for Mortals: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals --- Sources: Burkeman, O. (2021). Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Burkeman, O. (2024). Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Acclaimed author and journalist Oliver Burkeman has captivated readers with his refreshing insights on how to embrace the finiteness of existence and find meaning in the everyday. Author of the bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and formerly a columnist for the Guardian, Burkeman challenges conventional productivity advice, offering a more realistic perspective on how to live well. In April 2025 Burkeman came to the Intelligence Squared stage, where he was in conversation with Financial Times Columnist Tim Harford, to discuss Meditation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts – the sequel to Four Thousand Weeks. Together, they explored how letting go of the relentless pursuit of productivity and accepting our imperfections can lead to a more fulfilling life. ----- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Acclaimed author and journalist Oliver Burkeman has captivated readers with his refreshing insights on how to embrace the finiteness of existence and find meaning in the everyday. Author of the bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and formerly a columnist for the Guardian, Burkeman challenges conventional productivity advice, offering a more realistic perspective on how to live well. In April 2025 Burkeman came to the Intelligence Squared stage, where he was in conversation with Financial Times Columnist Tim Harford, to discuss Meditation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts – the sequel to Four Thousand Weeks. Together, they explored how letting go of the relentless pursuit of productivity and accepting our imperfections can lead to a more fulfilling life. ------ This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Main Topic: 3 arcs in every book (begins at 15:31) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): writing How to Write a Novel (ask ChatGPT for new title), homework from the business coach, thinking about content creation and refining my book coaching offer; back pain (Erick): Trunk "shopping" for summer work = Witness accounts. Book a retreat for world-building. Preorder up for Shadow Signals (cover from Miblart) What are you reading? Valerie: The Stars and Their Light (Olivia Hawker) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mr. Mercedes (Stephen King), Somna (gn) (Becky Cloonan) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: • Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Main Topic): The Three Narrative Arcs (Bill Kenower) The Physical Arc (Story arc, plot, what happens in the book) Character/Emotional arc (how the character changes) Intentional Arc (Thematic arc) Narrative arc (how the story is told) If problems with character (flat, 2 dimensional, "Just didn't connect with them"): Add inner dialogue for tension and character motivation; Make sure your emotional arc is solid. (Character + Flaw + Death of Flaw at end = Character/Emotional Arc) And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor
Adrienne is looking back at some of her favourite Power Hour episodes from years gone by!Oliver Burkeman worked for many years at The Guardian, where he wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, “This Column Will Change Your Life.” His books include the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. Oliver's new book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts is described as "A map for a liberating journey toward a more meaningful life―a journey that begins where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we'd like to be". It's available no in stores and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oliver Burkeman will be known to many of our listeners as the best-selling author of “Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management for Mortals”. His new book 'Meditations for Mortals' has left an impression on Ray and the author joins the programme from London.
Could staring at a painting for three hours make you more productive? In this episode, I try a strange experiment inspired by bestselling author Oliver Burkeman. Based on lessons from his book Four Thousand Weeks, I stare at Picasso's Guernica for three hours. No phone, no distractions, just a notepad and mic. Did I go mad? Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d You'll learn: Why investing time and effort can increase our appreciation (feat. the Mauritian ritual study). How control impacts happiness, health, and even longevity (feat. nursing home experiment). Why AI and “life-optimising” tools often leave us feeling more stressed, not less. The power of patience (and how to cultivate it in a hyper-distracted world). What happens when you do nothing for three hours… ---- Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.kit.com/d4e55ac69d Watch the 3-hour time lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKup2BuN38 Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ Oliver's book Four Thousand Weeks: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks Oliver's book Meditation for Mortals: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals --- Sources: Burkeman, O. (2021). Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Burkeman, O. (2024). Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Langer, E. J., & Rodin, J. (1976). The effects of choice and enhanced personal responsibility for the aged: A field experiment in an institutional setting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34(2), 191–198. Xygalatas, D., Mitkidis, P., Fischer, R., Reddish, P., Skewes, J., Geertz, A. W., Roepstorff, A., & Bulbulia, J. (2013). Extreme rituals promote prosociality. Psychological Science, 24(8), 1602–1605.
Main Topic: The Confidence Paradox with guest Angus Nelson Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie): writing, gardening, homework from the business coach Angus: daughter just moved to Portugal a block away (Erick) Writing new novella. Great client meetings. Preorder up for Shadow Signals (cover from Miblart) What are you reading? Valerie: Shadow Signals (Erick Mertz) The Stars and Their Light (Olivia Hawker) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Houses of the Unholy (gn) Tender is the Flesh (horror) (Agustina Bazterrica) (Angus:) The Art of Possibility (Rosemund Zander and Benjamin Zander) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: automated email sequences Tidbit #2: Notes App (writing) Angus's tips: use AI to write; helped me see perspectives I couldn't see. Prompt it to be a bestselling NY Times editor. What would you say about this passage? (Jeff Goins was his book coach.) Segment 3 (Main Topic): Confidence Paradox Waiting for something. If I was only more ... confident. What if I just believe in myself? The book will write you. Rising to a different level. Let your power be seen. Stories we tell ourselves. 1. Inputs: What are you listening to? (News, sports, agitation, layoffs) We are in failure mode, scarcity mindset, all the time. Affects how I see myself. Living by default vs. intentionally decoupling self from negative stimuli. 2. Change the environment. Give yourself the permission to be the self I want to be. Letting go. What are you holding on to from the past? TODAY = The Only Day Actually Yours Go from limitation to possibility. We tell ourselves changing will take a long time and be really hard. But that's just a story. "It doesn't matter." What matters is I choose to be this. 10x is easier than 2x (Book rec by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy) Burnout based on story: not worthy, don't have what it takes. Need for external validation. Self love/ self grace (Reset days, cheat days, every phase of growth requires altering mindset) 5-8 weeks for transformations 3 month sprints alter the narrative, upgrade iOS in brain. Methodology: Experience the feeling you want to become. Powerful motherfucker. Culture of perpetual failure. Embodiment: Just Be Free. Let me do me. Angusnelson.com Free mini course: Message him the word "Activated" and he'll send it to you. And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) taxes are done, (Erick) taxes are done! Preorder up for Shadow Signals (cover from Miblart) What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) Broken Open (Martha Gies) Shadow Signals (Erick Mertz) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: (Claytemple Media podcast; (Laird Barron) The Imago Sequence and Other Stories Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: ChatGPT for not-writing ways; (tape defect 2 second warble) Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Listen to people talking as an exercise Great first lines (Oh, that where this fits..) What I want to say is: My name used to be: For learning a new skill: Free writing/journaling/morning pages And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Angus Nelson on burnout and confidence Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Main Topic: Starting a Ghostwriting Business Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) got my cover back!, started working with a business coach again, had a great time teaching at Wordcrafters in Eugene, client work (Erick) writing, client work, interviewing, What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) Broken Open (Martha Gies) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: The Woman in the Dunes (Kobo Abe) (anime horror) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Process as client vs starting own business Finished manuscript according to client requirements with no credit. Beginning is client approaches you, defines the project, educate client about your service, get the vibe from first contact/discovery call, talk money early on, decide on price, sign contract, pay on benchmarks: signed contract, outline, completed project. "Do you feel like you could talk to me about ...?" Provide referrals from other clients instead of work samples. Roughly $1/word. Where does my own writing fit into this? (First question to ask self if considering starting a ghost writing biz.) Have to say yes early on to establish yourself. Even jobs you don't want to do. Mindset: How do you write something that you don't want to write? State your boundaries early on. Voice: recorded conversations helps with knowing how to write. Listen to the person talk. Explain there is going to be a translation. Does it feel like you when you read it? Might not be your exact words. Manuscript based on agreed upon outline, but you'll find 25% that you'll want to change. Network, mentor, website, sub-contracting is a great way to start. Figure out what your ghost genre is. Probably not yours. Harder to treat as a product, because you HAVE to be efficient. Learning the business as you go and juggle process. Find resources/communities, join them with skepticism. A lot of people on forums bring a bunch of b.s. Learn to read between the lines. Skills: flexible and confident (more of self than of writing) And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
In this energizing episode of Build A Vibrant Culture, host Nicole Greer sits down with virtual assistant guru and author Melissa Smith to demystify the world of virtual assistants (VAs). Whether you're an overwhelmed entrepreneur, a high-performing exec, or someone just tired of doing it all, Melissa offers empowering advice on how the right VA can give you time back, increase your energy, and even save your sanity. From the myths of delegation to the magic of friction-free productivity, Melissa breaks it all down with warmth and wisdom. Plus, she shares exactly how to find, hire, and build a lasting relationship with your ideal VA. (Spoiler: You don't need another “you”—you need your complementary opposite.) She's the author of Hire the Right Virtual Assistant and Become a Successful Virtual Assistant, and she's got the receipts—20+ years of experience, a top 10 inspiring woman in business, and a 98% VA match success rate.Highlights from this episode:[00:02:46] You don't need to be a pro delegator to hire a VA—just have a clear vision. “If you can share your vision, expectations, and walk through things once, the right VA will take it from there.”[00:06:01] Your productivity problem is actually an energy problem. Tasks that drain your energy are stealing your momentum. A VA can handle the friction points—like sending newsletters or booking meetings—so you stay in your zone of genius.[00:34:50] You need someone who complements you. The perfect VA isn't a clone of you. They're someone who loves what you loathe and thrives where you stall. That's the magic of a powerful partnership.Melissa's books:Hire the Right Virtual AssistantBecome a Successful Virtual Assistant FREE COMPLIMENTARY WORKBOOK: https://thepva.com/complimentary-workbook/Connect with Melissa:Website: https://thepva.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissasmiththepva/Email: melissa@thepva.comAlso mentioned in this episode:Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for MortalsUnique Ability® 2.0: Discovery - Define Your Best Self The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't Listen today at vibrantculture.com/podcast or your favorite podcast platform!Please leave us a 5-star review and drop a love note for Melissa in the comments! Learn more about Nicole Greer, the Vibrant Coach: https://www.vibrantculture.com/
Main Topic: Autoficiton: Letting Go at Launch Time with guest H.H. Rune (main topic starts at 16:06) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) Unlock the Heart of Your Memoir (Wordcrafters) (Erick) What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) The Girl from the Grand Hotel (Camille Aubray) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong The Voice of Knowledge (Don Miguel Ruiz), Spiritual Growth (Sanaya Roman); Psychic Witch (Mat Auryn) Erick: Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): (starts at 16:06) H.H. Rune's series blends fiction along with parts of her own life into a literary social experiment of a set of traveling books that are sent out to strangers with a mission of finding their way back to her. Her first two books in the Extraordinary Life Seeker series- Find Me, Book One- She believed in the Kindness of Strangers and Find Me, Book Two- She'd find out what she was made of- are available now. To further accentuate her request that her readers pass along the books as part of the story, her Limited Edition-Trackable versions have been spotted all over the U.S. as well as Canada, England, Ireland and Iceland. Find Me, Book Three will be out early 2025. Notes from my conversation with H: No names in book (use Mr. Fun). Not a character assassination. Instead, my responses to lessons learned from my experiences. 20 limited editions of each novel. Send to friends and they dispersed them. Sent also to Booktalkers and did a Goodreads giveaway. QR code in front of book sends them to fill out google form, "tracking" the book's location in the world, and--ideally--getting them to post a picture. Software mapped out the Google form responses. Considers her work Autofiction. Upcoming events for H: May: Reading at White Oak Books in Vancouver, WA. July: Signing at Northwest Book Fair (19 Officer's Row Vancouver WA) Just started using Skylight Social with handle: @hhrune.bsky.social Website: hhrune.com And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan (Find Passion Planner discount codes here.) Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Bromance: How Dumb & Dumber and When Harry Met Sally are the Same Screenplay (21:42) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): Unlocking the Hearth of Your Memoir (Wordcrafters) Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy (last weekend on Anderson Island) (Erick) Spring Break, busy, marketing, When can I slot in phone calls?, less writing What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) The Girl from the Grand Hotel (Camille Aubray) (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Stephen Brust's The Book of Jhereg (Vlad Taltos) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: simplyscripts.com to read screenplays (not the bound screenplays in bookstores); Drew's Script-o-Rama; Scott Myers' Go Into the Story (Read scripts you've watched before and ones you haven't.) Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Romcom 90-100 pages Same beats in every story (might take longer to reach the beat.) Buddy comedies and romantic comedies reach beats at the same time. 1) Characters always odd couple. (Internal push/pull.) Emotional bonding early on. D&Dumber (Harry and Lloyd) WHMS (Harry and Sally) 2) Meet Cute (sparks the long term relationship/Will they survive as friends? Will they/Won't they tension at beginning of the movie--by page 5 (within 5-8 minutes) when the theme of the story is stated. 3) Page 12 is where story diverges and real problem starts. 12-25 emotional bonding is depicted. Quirky side characters introduced (opposite of main characters). 4) Page 25 is start of Act II. (25-30 central theme is tested. Page 30-55 Fun and Games, tested in fun ways (with minimal risk) 5) Midpoint (something happens and fun and games has more risk, stakes are different). Now antics are pointed towards each other. (Pages 55-70) 6) Page 75 (the dark night of the soul sequence starts here) characters hit rock bottom, how do the characters deal with it. 7) Ending (emotional payoff and repair what's broken). And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Guest H.H. Rune on Letting Your Story Go Out into the World.
What if the key to building a thriving law firm wasn't just legal expertise, but mastering the art of influence? In this episode of Great Practice, Great Life, Doug Burnetti, founding attorney of Burnetti P.A., shares how the book How to Win Friends and Influence People shaped his success in law and leadership. Doug shares how skills like empathy, active listening, and servant leadership are essential in any field. He discusses how attorneys can strengthen client relationships and build high-performing teams by implementing those values. Inspired by Dale Carnegie's wisdom, he explains why treating others with respect, showing genuine interest, and embracing humility lead to a more fulfilling and profitable legal career. Steve and Doug also talk about the power of authentic communication in law firm management, the importance of admitting mistakes to build trust, and legal legend Gerry Spence's storytelling approach to connecting with clients, judges, and juries. Doug goes into strategies for balancing professional success and personal well-being, emphasizing gratitude, leadership growth, and stress reduction. If you're looking to improve client satisfaction, strengthen your leadership skills, and build a more fulfilling legal career, this episode is packed with actionable insights. In this episode, you will hear: Doug Burnetti on the impact of servant leadership and self-help principles on his law practice Insights from Dale Carnegie's “How to Win Friends and Influence People” The importance of empathy, active listening, and authentic communication in legal practice Exploration of Gerry Spence's storytelling techniques to enhance client relationships The role of gratitude and continuous self-improvement in balancing professional and personal well-being Tips for effective leadership, including admitting mistakes and fostering trust within teams Strategies for improving client service and building strong interpersonal relationships Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie: www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 Episode 108: Breakthrough Growth: How Empathetic Leadership Drives Success with Doug Burnetti: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/breakthrough-growth-how-empathetic-leadership-drives-success-with-doug-burnetti Burnetti, P.A.: www.burnetti.com Doug Burnetti bio: www.burnetti.com/attorneys/doug-burnetti Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122 Contact us to learn more about the Trial Lawyer's Great Practice, Great Life Program: atticusadvantage.com/contact-us Atticus Law Firm Coaching: atticusadvantage.com/coaching If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.
Main Topic: 5 Rules of Screen-Writing (starts at 18:23) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) movement (getting back into it); client work; work/life balance nonexistent (talked with Ali) Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy "Using strategic principles, core values, and your desired feelings as a guide, you can create goals that feel good to pursue. Aligned Embodied Action is an intuitive and authentic way to approach goal-setting and strategic planning. Join life coach and author Valerie Ihsan for this experiential, full-day workshop packed with hands-on exercises, practical tips, valuable resources, and live coaching opportunities. By the end of the day, you'll walk away with a personalized action plan—clear, aligned, and ready to implement—so you can take your next steps with confidence." Use this link to register for the workshop: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/L9cSGN (Erick) finishing client work, tabled own work for the moment, revamped Patreon (join Erick's mailing list to vote on the new series name) What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult (Lane Moore) • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mort Terry Pratchett; Tsuge graphic novel (The Man Without Talent; ... Flowers) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Graphite pencil (type of mechanical pencil) Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Simple medium portraying sound and describing action. Slug line (interior, office, morning) Action (Erick sits at his computer, talking into a microphone, recording a podcast.) Character (ERICK: dialogue) Action (Erick removes his earbuds, the meeting ends) ** 3 kinds of screenplays On Spec: rough draft/outline Producer changes it to Shooting screenplay (adds relevance and his "stamp" on it, adds over-shoulder camera angle, etc) Production draft (cuts, fades) ** 1- only write what you can see or is relevant to action. (No thoughts.) 2 - never direct on the page of a spec script. (The art is to plant the seed of what you want.) 3 - one page = one minute of screen time (approximate); no action or dialogue no longer than 3 lines 4 - arrive late and leave early; start a beat before the action and end on motion 5 - All rules can be broken. (Big sin directing on the the page.) And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Marco Gamboa "Using Stories Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) decluttering, pitching conferences, starting new projects Aligned Author: A Workshop in Intuitive Planning and Strategy "Using strategic principles, core values, and your desired feelings as a guide, you can create goals that feel good to pursue. Aligned Embodied Action is an intuitive and authentic way to approach goal-setting and strategic planning. Join life coach and author Valerie Ihsan for this experiential, full-day workshop packed with hands-on exercises, practical tips, valuable resources, and live coaching opportunities. By the end of the day, you'll walk away with a personalized action plan—clear, aligned, and ready to implement—so you can take your next steps with confidence." Use this link to register for the workshop: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/L9cSGN (Erick) client work, reorganizing my life around ghost-writing, new clients and project management coming up, process re-structuring. What are you reading? Valerie: In the Dream House (Carmen Maria Machado) You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult (Lane Moore) • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Mort Terry Pratchett Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: comfortable chair for your office Tidbit #2: Human Design chart; It'll validate so much about yourself! Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Writing communities look different from one to another. There's: Writing friends, Critique group, Service Trade Friends, Organizations, Conferences, Writing groups, Colleagues you can chat with at meetings that understand the writing life (don't discount this!). I'm a writer. We all have something in common. Stay in contact Do I want to make this MY community? Like-mindedness. Compatibility, flexibility, fits my value system. And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Resources: "How to write an eavesdropping scene" on Erick's blog Reading Critique Group for Writers FB Group (Jennie Komp's group) 3 Bird View FB page (Jennie Komp's business page) Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice or building a website. Contact Valerie for author coaching. Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Balance meditation app. Story Rubric version 1.1 and podcast episode. Three Story Method worksheet Book Recs for writing/creativity/business: Fast-Draft Your Memoir (Rachael Herron) Thinking in Pictures (John Sayles) Poemcrazy (Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge) The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri) On Writing (Stephen King) A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders) Save the Cat! (Blake Snyder) Writing in Restaurants (David Mamet) Notable Mention: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks), Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles (Tim Grahl); Story Hypothesis (J.P. Rindfleisch IX); Three Story Method (J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon); The Anatomy of a Best Seller (Sacha Black)
Chris shares his expertise on how empathy transforms leadership and organisations. Describing five pillars of empathy, including judgement and active listening, Chris describes case studies and how colleagues created better results having received experience-based empathy training. Chris explains how empathy can break down organisational silos by shifting employees from functional to customer-centric mindsets. Emphasising the importance of authenticity and emotional intelligence, Chris discusses HR's role in empowering employees and creating connected, empathetic work environments. Chris shares how immersive empathy training develops emotional intelligence, helping organisations to unlock human potential through everyday acts of appreciation. This episode is sponsored by CGA Empathy Lab® If you want a happier, more confident workforce, to reduce absenteeism and workplace anxiety and put an end to situations that may result in conflict, you should experience the CGA Empathy Lab®. By teaching employees the power of empathy, they can enjoy better conversations and create better experiences, not only for themselves but for other employees and customers, ultimately driving business purpose and performance. There's no better way to experience the world through the eyes of others and learn how to make every moment matter. CGA Empathy Lab® - Winner of the ‘People, Skills, and Diversity Award' for the Rail Industry. How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People We're an amazing community of cutting-edge HR Changemakers. Together, we share experiences, tools and clear, actionable ideas. Ideas that will help you solve the challenges you face today and will inspire you with brilliant opportunities to push boundaries and positively impact people in your organisation - and beyond. And what's even better, is every penny of our profit empowers vulnerable children to be safe, loved and learning. Together, we uplift people.
Brian champions human-first, tech-enabled strategies to navigate complexity. By taking a commercial and forward-thinking approach, Brian demonstrates how HR has the power to drive meaningful change, including in times of rapid change and uncertainty. Brian shares how Teneo is harnessing GenAI, for example transforming a people survey, cutting analysis time from six weeks to six days. This rapid approach not only boosts leadership effectiveness but also strengthens trust, transparency, and confidence across the organisation. Passionate about opportunity and inclusion, Brian reflects on his journey from a rural town in Ohio to a global HR leader. Guided by the mantra “don't fix, create,” he emphasises HR's role in helping people chart their unique career paths and in empowering leaders to see potential in others. How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People We're an amazing community of cutting-edge HR Changemakers. Together, we share experiences, tools and clear, actionable ideas. Ideas that will help you solve the challenges you face today and will inspire you with brilliant opportunities to push boundaries and positively impact people in your organisation - and beyond. And what's even better, is every penny of our profit empowers vulnerable children to be safe, loved and learning. Together, we uplift people.
Main Topic: Favorite Writing Craft Books (starts at 13:02) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): (Valerie) decluttering, pitching conferences, catching up with emails! (Erick) client work, reorganizing my life around ghost-writing What are you reading? Valerie: Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila; The Turn of the Key (Ruth Ware) • (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: The Boy from the Woods (Harlan Coben); looking for cozy fantasy next Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Moon Lists: Questions and Rituals for Self-Reflection, a Guided Journal by Leigh Patterson Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Starts at 13:02. Fast-Draft Your Memoir (Rachael Herron) Thinking in Pictures (John Sayles) Poemcrazy (Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge) The Art of Dramatic Writing (Lajos Egri) On Writing (Stephen King) A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (George Saunders) Save the Cat! (Blake Snyder) Writing in Restaurants (David Mamet) Notable Mention: Story Engineering (Larry Brooks), Running Down a Dream: Your Road Map to Winning Creative Battles (Tim Grahl); Story Hypothesis (J.P. Rindfleisch IX); Three Story Method (J.Thorn and Zach Bohannon); The Anatomy of a Best Seller (Sacha Black) And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Main Topic: How to Revive Old Project (What About That Trunk Novel?) (at 23:36) Up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code VALERIE20 at checkout You can claim it at: https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance PATREON: Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in our work offline and here in the podcast. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan for books, writing instruction, coaching, and planning. Go to Patreon.com/strangeairstories for short stories in the paranormal mystery genre. Segment 1 (Announcements/Author Updates): back from Costa Rica; setting a challenge to do something towards the Costa Rica move every day for 30 days. (Valerie) reengage Patreon, looking at old short stories and rewriting them (Erick) What are you reading? Valerie: Start Thinking Rich by Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila (Not ready to give up on them, but struggling to finish them:) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman; The Year of the Puppy (Alexandra Horowitz) ; The Teller of Small Fortunes Julie Leong Erick: Thirty-Three Cecils (Everett De Morier) Segment 2 (Resources/Tips/Tidbits): Tidbit #1: Finding good music to write with/to. Tidbit #2: Segment 3 (Mindset-Craft-Biz Check): Segment 4 (Main Topic): Why did this go in the trunk in the first place? Stay aware of what's in the trunk. Pull out the story and re-read it. Remember what I liked about it. Start the rewrite process. What I don't like about it. Dog walk to think. Reinvigorate it. Don't open the trunk without intention of finishing it. Not a failed manuscript; it's an unrealized idea. And don't forget: Get 48% off the Magic Mind : https://magicmind.com/VALERIE20 and use Valerie20 at checkout. #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Next episode: Find Us: Valerie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/valerieihsan Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Patreons: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan https://patreon.com/strangeairmysteries Tools: Passion Planner: https://passionplanner.rfrl.co/e86j8 (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE184 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link)
Kaylee explores how HR leaders are shaping the future of work through health, wellbeing, and cultural transformation, highlighting the need for agile benefits to support a multigenerational workforce. Kaylee shares the vision behind AXA XL's ‘Authentic' You program, which fosters psychological safety through transparency, vulnerability, and personal accountability. Kaylee explains how the company's culture roadmap integrates inclusion, belonging, and purpose into every stage of the employee experience, ensuring cultural transformation is embedded in everyday actions. Passionate about HR's role in driving meaningful change, Kaylee calls for greater attention to HR professionals' own wellbeing, encouraging you to “put on your own oxygen mask first” so you can be at your best for others. How HR Leaders Change the World is brought to you by Uplifting People We're an amazing community of cutting-edge HR Changemakers. Together, we share experiences, tools and clear, actionable ideas. Ideas that will help you solve the challenges you face today and will inspire you with brilliant opportunities to push boundaries and positively impact people in your organisation - and beyond. And what's even better, is every penny of our profit empowers vulnerable children to be safe, loved and learning. Together, we uplift people.
There's only so much you can do in a week – or, according to Oliver Burkeman, in the roughly 4,000 weeks the average human lives. Oliver is a journalist and author of the books Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Meditations for Mortals, and the newsletter “The Imperfectionist.” Chris and Oliver discuss the paradox of why change can only occur once we accept that we might not be able to change. Oliver also shares how life's mishaps can become our most treasured memories and why sharing your imperfections is an act of generosity.For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oliver Burkeman, bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks and Meditations for Mortals, on the power of embracing imperfection in both life and creativity, how to overcome distractions that hinder our creative flow, and the tools that can help us thrive in an imperfect world. *ABOUT OLIVER BURKEMAN Oliver Burkeman worked for many years at The Guardian, where he wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, “This Column Will Change Your Life.” His books include the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. His latest book is Meditations for Mortals.*RESOURCES & LINKS
Patience is more than just waiting—it is a profound skill that allows us to navigate life's uncertainties, challenges, and complexities with grace and persistence. In a world that glorifies speed and productivity, embracing patience can transform how we approach our goals, relationships, and creative pursuits. Drawing on Oliver Burkeman's book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, this episode explores how patience can help us lead richer, more meaningful lives. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why problems and uncertainty are an inevitable—and beautiful—part of life - How small, consistent daily actions can lead to extraordinary outcomes - Why originality lies on the far side of unoriginality and the persistence required to get there - How to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth Visit Tatjana Lucia's Website Follow Tatjana Lucia's Instagram Follow the Self Health podcast on Instagram Connect with Tatjana on LinkedIn Follow Tatjana Lucia on Facebook Follow The Self Health Podcast on Tiktok
In an effort to make time for ourselves, many of us fall back on using To Do lists and time blocking. But often these strategies can end up with the same result: getting lost in chasing productivity. So how do we make time for the things that truly count? Oliver Burkeman is a New York Times bestselling author of books such as ‘Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals’ and ‘Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts’. Oliver is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. If there is anyone who truly understands the philosophy and psychology of time management and happiness, it’s Oliver. Oliver shares:
In this episode of Making Good Book Club, Charelle and I chat about Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. Spoiler alert: it's not your typical productivity book. Instead of a list of time-saving hacks, Burkeman offers a radical reframe on how we think about time, productivity, and our short human lifespan (about 4,000 weeks on average).We discuss key takeaways, like why you'll never clear your to-do list, the importance of embracing imperfection, and how hobbies (just for fun!) can transform your life. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to “do it all,” this conversation is for you.MAKING GOOD SHOW NOTES:https://makinggoodpodcast.com/280CONNECT WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM:https://instagram.com/laurentildenGET 100 MARKETING PROMPTS (free!):https://makinggoodpodcast.com/100prompts
Marketing scientist Carl Driesener joins the show for a mini-masterclass on brand growth based on research insights from the Ehrenberg Bass Institute, where he is an associate professor. He and Itir cover how brand equity should be measured through consumer research and category entry points, the benefits of the "pick any" method for measuring brand image, why brand loyalty is often overstated, and the real source of brand growth. The discussion covers topics like pricing power, mental and physical availability in marketing, and the importance of maintaining presence in both digital and physical retail environments. By the end, some marketing myths will be busted, and closely held assumptions challenged! Carl Driesener has been at the Ehrenberg-Bass institute for over 15 years. He manages the Institute's in-house tracking capabilities project and has conducted significant brand equity tracker and bespoke market research projects for a wide range of industries including packaged goods, financial services, IT and telecommunications, real estate, primary production suppliers, government departments, education and research, and grocery products. His earlier research compared three different methods for measuring brand image and he has published in this area in the International Journal of Market Research. He has driven the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute's commercial activities in the area of understanding the competitive set through NBD-Dirichlet and Duplication of Purchase analysis. Carl's core areas of research expertise include buyer behavior, market modeling, and internet research. He has published in the Journal of Advertising Research, Marketing Intelligence and Planning, Journal of Business Research and the Journal of Brand Management. Carl recommends the coffee at West Oak Deli in Adelaide (https://www.instagram.com/westoakhotel/?hl=en). His suggested books are How Brands Grow by Byron Sharp and Daniel May (https://www.amazon.com/How-Brands-Grow-What-Marketers/dp/1511383933) and Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals (https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thousand-Weeks-Management-Mortals/dp/0374159122). Connect with Carl on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcarldriesener?originalSubdomain=au If you have any questions about brands and marketing, connect with Itir Eraslan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itireraslan/
I like to begin each year with an episode about something I'm working through more personally. And at the end of last year, the thing I needed to work through was a pretty bad case of burnout.So I picked up Oliver Burkeman's latest book, “Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.” Burkeman's big idea, which he also explores in his best seller “Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals,” is that the desire to be more productive, to squeeze out the most from each day, to try to feel on top of our lives, is ultimately insatiable. He argues that addressing burnout requires a shift in outlook — accepting that our time and energy are finite, and that there will always be something more to do. In other words: What if you began with a deeper appreciation of your own limits? How, then, would you live?Burkeman's book is structured as 28 short essays on this question. In this conversation, I ask him to walk me through some of them. We discuss what burnout is; what it means to accept your limitations and let go of control; the messages children absorb about productivity and work; navigating the overwhelm of information and news; and more.This episode contains strong language.Mentioned:“How Millennials Became The Burnout Generation” by Anne Helen PetersenRest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang“Stop. Breathe. We Can't Keep Working Like This.” with Cal Newport on “The Ezra Klein Show”“The Man Who Knew Too Little” by Sam DolnickBook Recommendations:The Uncontrollability of the World by Hartmut RosaFully Alive by Elizabeth OldfieldDeath by Joan TollifsonThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Kristin Lin. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Mary Marge Locker. Mixing by Isaac Jones, with Efim Shapiro and Aman Sahota. Our supervising editor is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Rollin Hu, Elias Isquith and Jack McCordick. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
HAPPY… Nevermind. New Year, Same B*tch. Scratch that: New Year, Better B*tch. For her first episode of 2025, Kim unpacks her tried-and-true “10 Things Every Girl Needs” list—from the basics, like a brain, to the more esoteric, like a vision for your life that's independent of anyone and everyone. Something about 2024 brought out the jealousy in a lot of HOs—but trust Kim to deliver a right-on-time NEWSFLASH: Jealousy is the sister of desire. So that girl you think you hate? You actually want to skin her and wear her like fur. Welcome to the year of FOCUS. And if you're listening to this episode as a form of procrastination, stop. Kim's biggest takeaway? You only have about 4,000 weeks to live—use them wisely.Four Thousand Weeks - Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman - HEREPaul Graham's Essay "When To Do What You Love" - HERESubmit Your Confessions - HERELET'S BE FRIENDS...STEP 1 : Give us a 5-STAR reviewSTEP 2: Follow RLBG on Instagram - HERESTEP 3: Join the RLBG Community for access to exclusive events & LIVE girl talks - HERESTEP 4: Follow the International Pop Star "SlimKim" on TikTok & Instagram
Does life ever feel like an endless to-do list? Like if you could just wake up tomorrow with a little more discipline, you’d finally master your schedule, achieve balance, and feel… enough? On today's episode, Oliver Burkeman (bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals) and Kate unravel some of the beautiful lies we cling to about time and control, the fantasy of hyper-efficiency, and what it might look like to embrace the limits that make us who we are. In this conversation, Kate and Oliver discuss: Some of the most common self-help myths that stand in our way Why the relentless pursuit of self-improvement often leaves us feeling empty, anxious, and overwhelmed. How embracing our limits can lead to more contentment This is a conversation about limits—not as something to overcome, but as a doorway to something richer, deeper, and (dare I say) more human. Sign up for our “Try January” Newsletter today, weekly prompts for a gentler New Year: katebowler.com/newsletter If you liked this episode, you’ll also love: Katie Couric on The Courage to Try (and Wisdom to Know When to Let Go) Susan David on Toxic Positivity Samantha Irby on Doing My Best (Life Now) Elizabeth Gilbert on Why Your Creativity Matters Watch clips from this conversation, read the full transcript, and access discussion questions by clicking here or visiting katebowler.com/podcasts. Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, or X (formerly known as Twitter)—@katecbowler. Links to social pages and more available at linktr.ee/katecbowler.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kimberlyn and Leilani share some of the things they've enjoyed while recording one hundred episodes of Witchy Wit .Their check-ins: Kimberlyn develops a deeper understanding of another side of ‘pretty privilege;' Leilani feels deeply about endings and the cyclical nature of life.Mentioned in the episode: Episodes: 34 Music and the Body; 42 Witchy Ethics and Politics, part 2 Oliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals; Mark Nepo, Adrift.Get exclusive content and support us on Patreon:http://www.patreon.com/WitchyWit Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/WitchyWitPodcast Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/Witchy_Wit Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3azUkFVlECTlTZQVX5jl1X?si=8WufnXueQrugGDIYWbgc3A Apple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/witchy-wit/id1533482466 Pandora:https://pandora.app.link/nNsuNrSKneb Google Podcast:Witchy Wit (google.com)
A new year holds promise for a new you. But writer Oliver Burkeman says you shouldn't strive for perfection. Instead, in his latest book, “Meditations for Mortals,” Burkeman encourages readers to embrace imperfection, let some goals slide, and do less. His approach has been called “liberating and humane.” We talk to Burkeman about how to thrive and despite our mortal failings. Guests: Oliver Burkeman, author, "Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts".; Burkeman is the author of the best selling book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals"
My annual “Best Books of the Year” episode with Carla Jean Whitley is always such a highlight for me (and I know for all of you)! Below are her picks for 2024. Enjoy! The Best Books She's Read This Year: Nonfiction — Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman (also adding in Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals for good measure, as well) Heartbreak is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music by Rob Sheffield Memoirs — Just Like Glass: A Family Memoir by Amy Wight Chapman Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley Fiction — The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Sandwich by Catherine Newman The Best Books She's Reread This Year: Looking for Alaska by John Green The Giver by Lois Lowry We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman Tom Lake by Ann Patchett The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl The Books She Is Anticipating for 2025: Mothers and Other Fictional Characters: A Memoir in Essays by Nicole Graev Lipson (coming March 4, 2025) The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (coming April 22, 2025) The Living Mountain: A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland by Nan Shepherd (coming March 18, 2025) The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue: A Story of Climate and Hope on One American Street by Mike Tidwell (coming March 25, 2025) Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green (coming March 18, 2025) Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (coming May 13, 2025)
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
Life can feel so overwhelming sometimes, especially with the nonstop pace of the modern world. But what if you learned to embrace the messiness that comes with life and concentrated more on what really matters to you rather than attempting to control everything? Building on the themes from his previous bestseller, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Michael is joined by returning guest Oliver Burkeman to break down his new book, Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. Oliver and Michael dig into key ideas, such as the limits of control, the traps of overachievement and information overload, and how to face life challenges with a proactive, value-driven mindset. You'll love Oliver's powerful metaphors, like navigating a kayak instead of steering a superyacht, which really brings home the beauty of going with life's flow while staying grounded and intentional. This is an incredible resource that offers daily insights designed to inspire action, so join us for this empowering conversation and start your journey of embracing imperfection and living a more meaningful life. Listen and Learn: Oliver's philosophy behind 'Meditations for Mortals' The Evolution from 4,000 Weeks to Meditations for Mortals Embracing the concept of imperfectionism by being finite, taking action, letting go and showing up Embracing life's chaos with the kayak vs. superyacht metaphor The insecure overachiever and learning to break free from productivity guilt Dealing with the overflow of information and discerning what truly deserves your attention The paradox of life's endless problems and the freedom found in embracing them How to apply imperfectionism in your daily life Balancing empathy with boundaries and why other people's problems aren't yours to solve Resources: Oliver's books: Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Oliver's Website: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Connect with Oliver on X: @oliverburkeman About Oliver Burkeman Oliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks and The Antidote, and for many years wrote a popular weekly column on psychology for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life'. His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher. Related Episodes 242. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management with Oliver Burkeman 257. The Gift of Being Ordinary with Ron Siegel 321. Imposter No More with Jill Stoddard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Topics covered in this episode: Loop targets asyncstdlib Bagels: TUI Expense Tracker rloop: An AsyncIO event loop implemented in Rust Extras Joke Watch on YouTube About the show Sponsored by us! Support our work through: Our courses at Talk Python Training The Complete pytest Course Patreon Supporters Connect with the hosts Michael: @mkennedy@fosstodon.org / @mkennedy.codes (bsky) Brian: @brianokken@fosstodon.org / @brianokken.bsky.social Show: @pythonbytes@fosstodon.org / @pythonbytes.fm (bsky) Join us on YouTube at pythonbytes.fm/live to be part of the audience. Usually Monday at 10am PT. Older video versions available there too. Finally, if you want an artisanal, hand-crafted digest of every week of the show notes in email form? Add your name and email to our friends of the show list, we'll never share it. Brian #1: Loop targets Ned Batchelder I don't think I would have covered this had it not been the surprising opposition to Ned's code. Here's the snippet: params = { "query": QUERY, "page_size": 100, } *# Get page=0, page=1, page=2, ...* **for** params["page"] in itertools.count(): data = requests.get(SEARCH_URL, params).json() **if** not data["results"]: **break** ... Ned is utilizing the assignment in the for loop to use the value of count() and store it into the params["page"]. The article includes another version with a temp variable page_num, which I think the naysayers would prefer. But frankly, I think both are fine. Why not put the value right where you want it? Michael #2: asyncstdlib The asyncstdlib library re-implements functions and classes of the Python standard library to make them compatible with async callables, iterables and context managers. It is fully agnostic to async event loops and seamlessly works with asyncio, third-party libraries such as trio, as well as any custom async event loop. Full set of async versions of advantageous standard library helpers, such as zip, map, enumerate, functools.reduce, itertools.tee, itertools.groupby and many others. Safe handling of async iterators to ensure prompt cleanup, as well as various helpers to simplify safely using custom async iterators. Small but powerful toolset to seamlessly integrate existing sync code into async programs and libraries. Brian #3: Bagels: TUI Expense Tracker Jax Tam “Bagels expense tracker is a TUI application where you can track and analyse your money flow, with convenience oriented features and a complete interface. Why an expense tracker in the terminal? I found it easier to build a habit and keep an accurate track of my expenses if I do it at the end of the day, instead of on the go. So why not in the terminal where it's fast, and I can keep all my data locally?” Who hasn't wanted to write their own expense tracker? This implementation is fun for lots of reasons It's still new and pretty small, so forking it for your own uses should be easy Built on textual is fun install instructions based on uv tool seems to be the new normal: uv tool install --python 3.13 bagels test suite started pretty useful as is, actually Nice that it includes a roadmap of future goals Would be a fun project to help out with for anyone looking for anyone looking for a shiny new codebase to contribute to. Michael #4: rloop: An AsyncIO event loop implemented in Rust An AsyncIO event loop implemented in Rust From Giovanni Barillari, Creator of Granian RLoop is an AsyncIO event loop implemented in Rust on top of the mio crate. Disclaimer: This is a work in progress and definitely not ready for production usage. Run asyncio.set_event_loop_policy(rloop.EventLoopPolicy()) and done. Similar to uvloop. Extras Brian: I'm currently listening to Four Thousand Weeks - Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman for the second time. Highly recommend. Development Advent Calendars for 2024 - Adrian Roselli Black Friday at PythonTest.com Michael: Docker cluster monitor Compare engagement across Mastodon / Bsky / Twitter https://bsky.app/profile/pythonbytes.fm/post/3lbseqgr5m22z https://fosstodon.org/@pythonbytes/113545509565796190 https://x.com/pythonbytes/status/1861166179236319288 Back on #277 we talked about StrEnum. Got a nice chance to use it this weekend. Maybe Finance Go sponsor a bunch of projects on GitHub Black Friday at Talk Python Joke: CTRL + X onion
Episode SummaryI review a unique and refreshing productivity book by Oliver Burkeman, "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.".Show Notes Pagejeffsanders.com/560.Go Premium!Exclusive bonus episodes, 100% ad-free, full back catalog, and more!Free 7-Day Trial of 5 AM Miracle Premium.Perks from Our SponsorsBiOptimizers → Check out BiOptimizers and use my code 5AM for a great deal: bioptimizers.com.Learn More About The 5 AM MiracleThe 5 AM Miracle Podcast.Free Productivity Resources + Email Updates!Join The 5 AM Club!.The 5 AM Miracle BookAudiobook, Paperback, and Kindle.Connect on Social MediaFacebook Group • Instagram • LinkedIn • Twitter.About Jeff SandersRead Jeff's Bio.Questions?Contact Jeff.© 5 AM Miracle Media, LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
My guest for today is Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and Meditations for Mortals. We look into the paradox of productivity, exploring why our relentless pursuit of doing more doesn't necessarily lead to a happier or more fulfilling life. Oliver shares insights on how letting go of the impossible quest to "get it all done" can open the door to genuine fulfilment and peace of mind. By embracing self-compassion and seeing imperfection as a strength, we uncover how personally redefining success can transform our approach to life. Oliver offers practical strategies to help us shift our focus from constant busyness to making more meaningful choices with our finite time. Oliver Burkeman's Website: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Books:https://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortals https://www.oliverburkeman.com/fourthousandweeks***Thank you to my wonderful sponsors! EXHALE COFFEE | Ridiculously healthy coffee works well for me. https://exhalecoffee.com/pages/sarahUse code FREETRIALSARAH for your free trial.Squarespace | A website makes it real. http://squarespace.com/LiveWell Get a free trial and use code LIVEWELL for 10% off your first website or domain purchase. ***If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:Nicole Vignola: The 7-Step Process to Rewire Your Brain https://youtu.be/JHn8z3w6AFQEllen Langer: The Mind Can Slow Down an Aging Body https://youtu.be/VGpNMy1VxsYUnleash Your Success Potential: Empower Yourself With Focus & Productivity Expert Shane Parrish https://youtu.be/T32AJw4TvVI***Let's be friends!
What if I told you that, when it comes to managing your time and your life, you were never going to get it together — and that was okay? Continuing the thread from our last conversation with Kendra Adachi, today on the show we have the incomparable Oliver Burkeman, who wrote the book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts, which came out October 8. Literally from the opening page of the book — page one of the introduction, which is called “The Imperfect Life” — Oliver had me hooked with the words “This is a book about how the world opens up once you realize you're never going to sort your life out.” The hard truth? There will always be too much to do. We will never win the unwinnable battle of conquering our time. But the good news? We will be okay, and Oliver's book teaches us how. We will, in his words, never reach the end of the trouble-free phase. Our culture has a productivity and busyness obsession, and it all comes down to grasping for control in an uncontrollable world. The book is broken up into bite size chunks — daily offerings over four weeks. Those four weeks are Week 1: Being Finite; Week 2: Taking Action; Week 3: Letting Go; and Week 4: Showing Up. Today on the show Oliver talks to us about why he decided to organize the book this way and teaches us about a concept called strategic underachievement and what he calls JOMO, which is the JOY of missing out, as opposed to FOMO, the fear of missing out. We talk about embracing “imperfectionism” and why people pleasers may struggle with this more; a major fallacy about time that Oliver thinks we've gotten terribly wrong; and so much more. Oliver is also the author of 2021's Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, the title of which roughly represents the length of a human life. Oliver wrote the weekly column “This Column Will Change Your Life” for The Guardian from 2006 to 2020 and, in addition to Meditations for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks, is the author of two other books, HELP!: How to Be Slightly Happier and Get a Bit More Done and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. You're going to love him. If you're looking to be liberated from your to do list, explore a more meaningful life, and take a four week “retreat of the mind” (unless you're like me and gobble his book up in one sitting), take a listen. Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts by Oliver Burkeman
We live in a culture that constantly tells us to push harder, achieve more, and stay on top of everything. But this relentless striving often keeps us from the fulfillment we seek. Many of us face anxiety, procrastination, and burnout as we struggle to accept that the key to a more meaningful life lies in embracing our limitations rather than fighting against them.This week, I'm honored to welcome Oliver Burkeman, bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, as our special guest. Oliver's work challenges the conventional approach to productivity, urging us to face our inherent human limitations and embrace the concept of finitude. His insights offer a refreshing perspective on how to live with greater intention, focusing on what truly matters rather than constantly striving for control.In his new book Meditation for Mortals, Oliver goes even deeper into the themes of time, control, and human limitation, offering a counterintuitive yet liberating approach to living well in a finite world. His philosophy encourages us to accept our limits and let go of the need to constantly “do it all.”In this episode, Oliver walks us through the journey of moving from understanding the constraints of time to taking meaningful action. We dive deep into the concept of finitude—our finite time, energy, and capacity—and explore how surrendering to life's limitations and letting go of the need for control can lead to a more purposeful, fulfilling life.Tune in to learn how embracing our limitations can lead to profound freedom, allowing us to live fully within those boundaries and create a life of intentionality, meaning, and true presence.Topics CoveredEmbracing the concept of finitude and human limitationsHow to let go of control and live more intentionallyThe connection between productivity and surrenderOliver's journey from Four Thousand Weeks to Meditation for MortalsThe role of mindfulness in taking meaningful actionWhy hustle culture leads to burnout and dissatisfactionPractical strategies for accepting our finite natureThe paradox of letting go and achieving moreOvercoming procrastination and anxiety by facing our limitsHow to align daily actions with what truly mattersTranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.Oliver's Bio & ResourcesOliver Burkeman's books include the forthcoming Meditations for Mortals, about embracing limitation and getting around to what counts, along with the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. For many years he wrote a popular column for the Guardian, 'This Column Will Change Your Life'. In his email newsletter 'The Imperfectionist', he writes about productivity, mortality, the power of limits and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction.Website: oliverburkeman.comNew book: Meditation for Mortals Book: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals Explore Zen HabitsZen Habits BlogFearless Living Academy
Welcome back to Alchemy for Authors! In this week's episode, I chat with bestselling author and Plot Dude, Troy Lambert. Troy shares his own recent experiences with pivoting and gives advice on how to utilise pivoting to create a sustainable author career. Some of the other topics we discuss include: · Why writing is the easiest job in the world to quit. · The importance of work-life balance and rest for sustainability. · Why writing for a living is not a job but a lifestyle. · Why the people you surround yourself with matter. · The importance of being you! Visit Troy's website here: https://troylambertwrites.com/ Visit the Plot Geek Academy here: https://theplotacademy.com/ Follow Troy on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/authortroy Follow Troy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/authortroy/ Listen to Troy's previous interviews on Alchemy for Authors here: Episode 52: Making a Living as an Author with Troy Lambert Episode 47: Plotting with Plottr with Troy Lambert Other resources mentioned in this episode: · Visit Claire Taylor's website to learn more about the Enneagram for authors: https://www.ffs.media/author-services-all · Visit Becca Syme's website to learn more about CliftonStrengths for authors: https://betterfasteracademy.com/ · Grab a copy of the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman here: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books · Between: A Gothic Novella by Jo Buer. Purchase the eBook direct from me and use the coupon code ALCHEMY to receive 50% off until October 31st 2024. Go to https://payhip.com/b/mckaF · Rest Easy Resort by Jo Buer. Buy direct from me for a special discounted price at the checkout. Go to https://payhip.com/b/v6Uu (No code is needed – the discounted price will show up automatically when checking out.) If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, rate and review. You can also support the show by buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jobuer. Your support helps me keep this podcast going and is greatly appreciated. If you have a question you would like answered on the show, or a topic suggestion for a future episode, leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AlchemyForAuthors Follow me on Instagram: @alchemyforauthors and @jobuerauthor. Follow me on Facebook: @alchemyforauthors and @jobuerauthor. Join the Alchemy for Authors Facebook Group here. Join my Alchemy for Authors newsletter and download your FREE copy of Manifestation for Authors here. If you enjoy Gothic Suspense, you can join my reader's newsletter and download a FREE copy of my short story collection, Between the Shadows, here. You can find all my books at https://jobuer.com or visit https://Books2Read.com/JoBuer for links to your favourite store. Visit my website for the full transcript of this episode: https://jobuer.com/alchemy-for-authors/
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
Are you in the midst of a midlife transition, grappling with big questions about purpose, change, and self-discovery? For this week's episode, cohost Debbie Sorensen celebrates her 50th birthday with a discussion on the transformative period of midlife with her friend, Dr. Meg McKelvie. A period rich with psychological shifts, existential questions, and challenges in finding deeper meaning, they get into acceptance and commitment therapy, emotional, psychical and cognitive changes, ways to overcome people-pleasing habits, and much much more. With practical exercises and writing practices, this episode is a gift to anyone navigating midlife transitions and relationships, offering insight, reflection, and a path toward deeper understanding and fulfilling connections. We hope you enjoy this heartfelt and poignant conversation! Listen and Learn: Opportunities that midlife brings for deeper understanding and transformation Confronting body changes and the aging process How your relationships can become deeper in midlife; letting go of surface-level bonds and embracing genuine honesty and shared experiences The myth of the midlife crisis and how, contrary to what stereotypes lead us to believe, it frequently involves a sharp internal existential shift rather than a dramatic upheaval Living with unanswered questions and learning to sit with the discomfort of uncertainty Ways you can cultivate a personal space that nurtures self-reflection and self-sufficiency The lessons that regret can teach us The value of sitting with challenging emotions such as anger and grief, and how these feelings can provide critical insights into your life The difference between body neutrality and body positivity and how stepping back from the internal debate about your body can lead to a more peaceful relationship with yourself Resources: Meg's website: https://www.drmegmckelvie.com/ LInk to the “Soul-Searching Questions” handout on Meg's website and Debbie's website. More writing resources from Meg and Debbie: Meg's writing workshops: https://www.drmegmckelvie.com/workshopsgroups Debbie's Instagram for journaling prompts: https://www.instagram.com/drdebbiesorensen/ Debbie's Guided Journaling substack: https://guidedjournaling.substack.com/ 345. Writing for Personal Growth with Maureen Murdock A Substack essay Debbie wrote on her 50th birthday A commentary on the Surgeon General's recent advisory on parental stress, by co-hosts Debbie and Emily, and former co-host Yael Schonburn! Books mentioned in the episode: Finding Meaning In the Second Half of Life: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781592402076 The Heroine's Journey: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781611808308 Related episodes: 199. Belonging From the Inside Out with Meg McKelvie 345. Writing for Personal Growth with Maureen Murdock 315. Hot & Bothered: Menopause with Jancee Dunn 291. Finding Freedom From Regret with Robert Leahy 257. The Gift of Being Ordinary with Ron Siegel 242. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management with Oliver Burkeman 351. You Only Die Once with Jodi Wellman 274. Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood with Satya Doyle Byock 138. Exploring Existence and Purpose: Existentialism with Robyn Walser 116. Building a Meaningful, Values-based Life with Jenna LeJeune 285. What Do You Want Out of Life? Values Fulfillment Theory with Valerie Tiberius Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oliver Burkeman worked for many years at The Guardian, where he wrote a popular weekly column on psychology, “This Column Will Change Your Life.” His books include the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking. Oliver's new book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts is described as "A map for a liberating journey toward a more meaningful life―a journey that begins where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we'd like to be". It's available no in stores and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We'd love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here. Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, author and former “productivity geek.” His bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals outlines a saner approach to managing your time in a world of never-ending demands and distractions. On this week's episode of Everyday Better, Oliver explains why all of the tools and techniques meant to save us time and maximize our productivity ultimately make us feel more stressed and short on time. Oliver argues that the only time management technique that works involves recognizing that you'll never feel on top of things. Once you accept that, you can actually start crossing things off of your to-do list – and he has strategies for how to do that as well. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Oliver Burkeman on LinkedIn. To learn more about how to actually get stuff done, pre-order Oliver's new book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.
Oliver Burkeman is the New York Times' bestselling author of The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and the new book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Topics: - You likely saw the latest stats from the CDC saying the average human lifespan is down 1.5 years. This is not encouraging. What are your thoughts on this? - Given how little time we have left, what are your time management tips for us to make the best use? - How can people learn to prioritize to make for more effective time management? - What are the three-or-four-hours rules for getting creative work done? - Where does social media fall in the spectrum of priorities and distraction? - What is the Attention Economy? - What is the Efficiency Trap? - What is the Productivity Trap? - What is happiness? - Why are people so fixated on being happy? Website: www.OliverBurkeman.com