Podcasts about Productivity

Theologian and church planter Dom Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how to reach a very difficult culture.  He talks about the lack of theological training churches are facing, why we're probably not ready for real revival, and how to reach people most people think are unreachable.

This week's episode Kenzie sits down with food creator Krissy Downey to talk about her experience working for Martha Stewart, getting a job at The Today Show, working with Ina Garten, working in food, culinary school, needlepoint and more. Hope you enjoy!!

Start the day with connection and good cheerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode SummaryI discuss how to break the addiction to news, social media, and anything that detracts from your mental health..Show Notes Pagejeffsanders.com/606a.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 SponsorsStuff → Get 50% off your first year with code MIRACLEClickUp → Use my code MIRACLE to get 15% off all AI add ons.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 MediaLinkedIn • Facebook Group • Instagram.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.

Be an ORIGINAL. Copying what your competition is doing just leads to being second best. I encourage you to measure your success less by how many followers you have, how much money you own and how much power you possess and more by the freedom, joy, great health, love and beauty that fills your days.My latest book “The Wealth Money Can't Buy” is full of fresh ideas and original tools that I'm absolutely certain will cause quantum leaps in your positivity, productivity, wellness, and happiness. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookXYouTube

In this episode of Accelerate Your Business Growth, Diane Helbig speaks with productivity strategist Sarah Ohanesian about the myths surrounding productivity, the hidden costs of busy work, and the importance of aligning teams for greater impact. They discuss how the pandemic has blurred the lines between work and home life, leading to burnout and a culture of busyness. Sarah emphasizes the need for clarity and communication within teams to ensure everyone understands their roles and the importance of their work. The conversation concludes with practical advice for leaders on how to foster a productive and engaged workforce. Sarah is a keynote speaker and productivity strategist who helps leaders and teams stop drowning in busywork and focus on what really drives impact. A former CMO and co-founder of Super Productive, Sarah brings a neuro-inclusive approach to building smarter systems, clearer workflows, and stronger alignment. Her talks and trainings leave audiences energized, equipped, and ready to turn small wins into unstoppable momentum. If you are a small business owner or salesperson who struggles with getting the sales results you are looking for, get your copy of Succeed Without Selling today. Learn the importance of Always Be Curious. Accelerate Your Business Growth is proud to be included on the list of the 45 Best Business Growth Podcasts. We are also honored to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 10 Growth Hacking Podcasts, Top 25 Evergreen Podcasts and Top 50 Business Growth Podcasts on the web. Each episode of this podcast provides insights and education around topics that are important to you as a business owner or leader. The content comes from people who are experts in their fields and who are interested in helping you be more successful. Whether it's sales challenges, leadership issues, hiring and talent struggles, marketing, seo, branding, time management, customer service, communication, podcasting, social media, cashflow, or publishing, the best and the brightest join the host, Diane Helbig, for a casual conversation. Discover programs, webinars, services, books, and other podcasts you can tap into for fresh ideas. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode and visit Helbig Enterprises to explore the many ways Diane can help you improve your business outcomes and results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textYour results are not random. They are being shaped long before you start working. In this episode, we challenge a hidden belief about productivity, safety, and success that quietly controls focus, self-worth, and decision-making. We connect psychology, emotional healing, and data-driven personal development to show why your environment matters more than motivation and how small shifts can change how you think, feel, and perform.This conversation is for anyone doing the work but still feeling stuck, drained, or off-track. Redesign the space around you and watch what finally moves. Episode Reference:Impact of Workplace Design on Employee Well-Being and ProductivityLearn more about:Books For Babes – GoFundMe donation linkhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/books-for-babes-annual-fundraiser-2025Join our “Evolve Group Coaching” program: https://evolveventurestech.com/evolve-group-coaching/Here are the related episodes, each one builds on today's conversation:#378 | The Differences in Boundaries You NEED to Know - https://apple.co/4hs4Y39 #353 | Why We Are Afraid to Learn - https://apple.co/44ANeiJ Evolve Together Experiences:

Possibly the longest shownotes in history thanks to Gemini 3 Pro. Bless the swamp from which this AI slop emerged and enjoy the episode. Or just read this, I suppose. The title sucks terribly. Do better, Gemmo! Show Notes with Time‑Shifted Timestamps(All timestamps below have been shifted forward by 25 seconds to allow for theme music, as requested.)00:00 – Welcome, Cricket and the Pink Ball at the Gabba00:00:25 – Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) opens episode 137 of The Two Jacks and notes they're recording just after midday on 4 December.00:00:36 – Quick chat about the looming day–night Test at the Gabba and the prospect it could finish very quickly.00:00:44 – Hong Kong Jack explains why dusk session timings in Hong Kong line up perfectly with “Asahi o'clock”.00:01:07 – The Jacks wonder which pink ball is in use – Duke or Kookaburra – and what that means for Mitchell Starc and the batters.00:01:30 – They flag that full cricket chat will come later in the episode.Tai Po Fire, Mourning and Accountability in Hong Kong00:01:53 – Jack the Insider pivots from sport to tragedy: an update on the Tai Po (Typo) fire in Hong Kong, now with 159 dead, from ages 1 to 97.00:02:07 – Hong Kong Jack describes the government‑ordered three‑day citywide mourning period, mass flower layings, official ceremonies and a three‑minute silence.00:02:35 – Discussion of schools cancelling Christmas parties and staff functions in solidarity; a sense the tragedy is being taken seriously across society.00:02:55 – Hong Kong Jack outlines the judge‑led inquiry: not only into the Tai Po fire's causes, but also systemic issues in building management and renovation contracts on large estates, with hints of corruption.00:03:30 – Evidence emerging that the green construction cloth lacked proper fire retardant and that flammable materials were used to seal lift wells, helping the fire move inside.00:04:23 – Bodies, including one man, found in stairwells and lobbies; Hong Kong Jack cautions against jumping to conclusions before investigators reconstruct the fire.00:04:53 – Arrest tally climbs to around 12, mostly consultants/contractors involved in management and renovations rather than labourers.00:05:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes large numbers of displaced residents in hotels and temporary accommodation and outlines generous government payments to families of foreign domestic workers killed (about HKD 800,000 per family).00:06:05 – A harrowing vignette: a Javanese truck driver receives a final phone call from his wife, trapped with her employers' baby, seeking forgiveness because there is no escape.00:06:35 – The Jacks reflect on the horror of the story and promise to revisit the inquiry as more facts emerge.Australia's Under‑16 Social Media Restrictions & VPNs00:06:50 – Jack the Insider turns to domestic Australian politics: the under‑16 social media restrictions about to kick in.00:07:05 – He notes overwhelming parental support (around 80%) but says the government is now “hosing down expectations” and reframing the policy as a long‑term “cultural change” effort.00:07:30 – Platforms not yet on the restricted list – Roblox and Discord – are flagged as problematic globally for child sexual exploitation, illustrating rollout gaps.00:08:05 – They discuss technical enforcement: existing account age data, length of time on a platform and the likelihood that some adults will be wrongly flagged but quickly reinstated.00:08:35 – Jack the Insider explains the government's theory of cultural change: a generation that grows up never having had TikTok or Instagram under 16 “won't know what they're missing”.00:09:00 – Hong Kong Jack compares Australia to mainland China's efforts to control the internet and points out China still can't stamp out VPN usage, predicting similar Australian difficulties.00:09:25 – Jack the Insider clarifies that VPNs are not illegal in Australia; about 27% of connected Australians already use one, probably now closer to a third.00:09:55 – He strongly recommends everyone use a VPN for privacy and location masking, and warns that good VPNs now explicitly advise not to choose Australia as an exit node because of the new regime.00:11:00 – They note that Malaysia and several European countries (Denmark, Spain, France and EU initiatives) are eyeing similar under‑age social media restrictions, with large fines (Australia's up to about AUD 50 million or 1% of turnover).00:12:20 – Meta is already scanning and booting under‑age users, but teenagers are sharing tips on evading age checks. Jack the Insider describes various age‑verification methods: selfie‑based AI checks, account age, and Roblox's move to ban under‑15s.00:13:45 – Anecdote about Macau security doing ID checks: Hong Kong Jack's son is checked for being over 21, while Jack's own age makes ID unnecessary—an amusing generational moment.00:14:55 – The Jacks agree the policy is unlikely to stop kids having TikTok accounts but might “nudge” behaviour toward less screen time.00:16:00 – Jack the Insider stresses the real dangers of the internet—particularly organised child sexual exploitation rings like the notorious “764” network—and questions whether blunt prohibition can solve these issues.Bruce Lehrmann, Appeals and Costs00:18:22 – They move to the Bruce Lehrmann defamation saga: his appeal has failed and he's likely millions of dollars in debt.00:18:45 – Discussion of the prospect of a High Court appeal, the low likelihood of leave being granted, and the sense that further appeals are “good money after bad”.00:19:22 – Jack the Insider notes outstanding criminal charges against Lehrmann in Toowoomba relating to an alleged statutory rape, and outlines the allegation about removing a condom after earlier consensual sex.00:20:07 – They discuss the probable difficulty of prosecuting that case, and then pivot to the practical question: who is funding Lehrmann's ongoing legal adventures?00:20:35 – Hong Kong Jack explains why some lawyers or firms may take on such cases for profile, despite poor prospects of payment, and they canvass talk of crowdfunding efforts.00:21:07 – The Jacks agree Lehrmann should have left the public stage after the criminal trial was discontinued; now, bankruptcy in 2026 looks likely.00:21:58 – Limited sympathy for Channel 10 or Lisa Wilkinson; more sympathy reserved for Brittany Higgins and Fiona Brown, who are seen as exceptions in an otherwise “pretty ordinary” cast.NACC, Commissioner Brereton and Conflicts of Interest00:23:24 – The Jacks turn to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) and Commissioner Paul Brereton's side work for Defence.00:24:03 – Hong Kong Jack recounts Senate Estimates footage where officials first claimed Brereton's Defence consulting work occurred outside NACC hours, then later admitted more than ten instances (possibly close to 20) during NACC office time.00:25:25 – Discussion of conflict‑of‑interest: the Commissioner maintaining a paid Defence relationship while heading the body that may need to investigate Defence.00:25:57 – The Jacks question the tenability of his position, especially given the NACC's opaque nature, its minimal public reporting obligations and a salary around AUD 800k–900k plus expenses.The Struggling Australian and Global Economy, Productivity and ANZ00:26:20 – Jack the Insider outlines Australia's sluggish economy: inflation remains sticky, GDP growth is flat, and government spending is driving much of the growth.00:27:00 – They discuss a small, tentative rise in productivity (around 0.2% for the quarter) and the Treasurer's caution that productivity figures are volatile.00:27:57 – Hong Kong Jack stresses that historically, economies escape malaise through productivity‑driven growth; there is no easy alternative, in Australia or globally.00:28:23 – Broader global picture: the US isn't in outright recession but is crawling; Europe is sluggish; Poland is a rare bright spot but rapid growth brings its own risks.ANZ and Post‑Royal Commission Failures00:28:54 – Focus shifts to ANZ's continuing governance and compliance failures after the Banking Royal Commission.00:29:30 – Jack the Insider shares a personal story about dealing with ANZ's deceased estates department following his mother and stepfather's deaths and the difficulty in releasing funds to pay for funerals.00:30:20 – Justice Jonathan Beach's scathing remarks: ANZ is still mishandling deceased estates, charging fees and interest to dead customers, despite years of warnings.00:31:34 – They recall Royal Commission revelations about “fees for no service” and charging the dead, plus ANZ's recent exclusion from certain Commonwealth bond business due to rorting.00:32:12 – The Jacks see this as a clear culture problem: five years on, the basics still aren't fixed, suggesting inadequate investment in compliance and little genuine reform.UK Justice Backlog and Curtailing Jury Trials00:33:05 – The conversation moves to the UK's proposal to restrict jury trials for offences likely to attract less than a two‑year sentence.00:33:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes the English historical attachment to jury trials dating back to Magna Carta, and that defendants have long had the right to opt for a jury if imprisonment is possible.00:34:38 – Justice Minister David Lammy, once a fierce critic of similar Tory proposals, is now advancing the idea himself, creating a political shambles.00:35:02 – They weigh up pros and cons of judge‑only trials for complex financial crimes, where juries may struggle to follow long, technical evidence.00:36:10 – Jack the Insider points out that even judges can find such cases difficult, but there is at least some expertise advantage.00:36:22 – They revisit the Southport riots and harsh sentences for people inciting attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, arguing that common‑sense community judgment via juries may be better in such politically charged cases.00:37:26 – Ultimately, they doubt the reforms will meaningfully reduce the UK's huge court backlog and see it as another noisy but ineffective response.Ethics in Politics, Misleading Voters and the “Ethics Czar” Problem00:39:21 – Discussion moves to the UK budget, alleged “black holes” and whether the Chancellor misled voters about a AUD 22 billion‑equivalent gap.00:40:14 – They examine calls for the Prime Minister's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to rule on ministerial truthfulness, and Hong Kong Jack's discomfort with handing moral judgment to “anointed officials”.00:40:51 – The Jacks argue accountability should rest with Parliament and ultimately voters, not appointed ethics czars, whether in the Johnson era or now.00:41:36 – In Australia, Tony Burke's handling of “ISIS brides” returning to Australia is cited: he asked officials to leave a meeting so he could talk politically with constituents. The Jacks see this as legitimate hard‑headed politics in a very complex area rather than an ethical scandal.00:43:03 – Jack the Insider defends the principle that Australian citizenship must mean something, especially for children of ISIS‑linked families; stripping citizenship or abandoning citizens overseas can be a dangerous precedent.00:44:08 – Anecdotes segue into a broader reflection: politicians have always misled voters to some extent. They quote stories about Huey Long and Graham Richardson's defence of political lying.00:45:24 – They swap observations about “tells” when leaders like Malcolm Turnbull or Julia Gillard were lying; Scott Morrison, they say, had no visible tell at all.00:46:22 – Cabinet solidarity is framed as institutionally sanctioned lying: ministers must publicly back decisions they privately opposed, and yet the system requires that to function.Ukraine War, Peace Efforts and Putin's Rhetoric00:46:42 – The Jacks discuss reports of draft peace deals between Ukraine, the US and Russia that Moscow rejected over wording and guarantees.00:47:17 – Jack the Insider describes a gaunt Foreign Ministry spokesman, not Sergey Lavrov, delivering Russia's objections, sparking rumours about Lavrov's status.00:47:56 – Putin goes on TV to reassure Russians they're winning, threatens destruction of Europe if conflict escalates and claims territorial gains Russia doesn't actually hold.00:48:17 – Hong Kong Jack argues European fantasies of imposing a “strategic defeat” on Russia are unrealistic; retaking all occupied regions and Crimea would exact unbearable costs in lives and money.00:49:33 – The Jacks infer that Putin will eventually need to “sell” a negotiated deal as a victory to his own public; his current bluster is partly domestic theatre.00:49:50 – They note some odd, Trump‑like US talk of structuring peace as a “business deal” with economic incentives for Russia, which they find an odd fit for a brutal territorial war.Trump's Polling Collapse, Economic Credibility and 202600:50:13 – Attention turns to Donald Trump's polling in his second term: his net approval is negative across all major polls, in some cases approaching minus 20.00:51:04 – Jack the Insider highlights Trump's recent promises of USD 2,000 cheques to every American plus no income tax—claims they see as fantastical and electorally risky when voters inevitably ask “where's my money?”.00:51:39 – They compare Trump's denial of inflation and cost‑of‑living pressures to Biden's earlier mistakes in minimising pain; telling people “everything's cheaper now” when their lived experience contradicts that is politically fatal.00:52:34 – Hong Kong Jack notes history shows that insisting things are fine when voters know they aren't only accelerates your polling collapse.00:53:02 – They briefly touch on a special election in Tennessee: a safe Trump district where the Republican margin has shrunk. They caution against over‑reading the result but note softening support.00:54:14 – CNN's Harry Enten is quoted: this has been Trump's worst ten‑day polling run of the second term, with net approval among independents plunging to about minus 43 and a negative 34 on inflation.00:55:15 – They speculate about what this means for the 2026 midterms: Trump won't be on the ballot but will loom large. A future Republican president, they note, might still face governing without a Congressional majority.Disability, Elite Colleges and the Accommodation Arms Race00:56:07 – The Jacks discuss Derek Thompson's forthcoming Atlantic piece on surging disability registrations at elite US colleges: more than 20% at Brown and Harvard, 34% at Amherst and 38% at Stanford.00:57:10 – Hong Kong Jack explains how disability status yields exam and assessment advantages: extra time, flexible deadlines, better housing, etc., and why wealthy students are more likely to secure diagnoses.00:57:48 – They cite intake breakdowns at one college: small numbers for visual/hearing disabilities, larger numbers for autism, neurological conditions and especially psychological or emotional disabilities—suggesting a big shift in what counts as disabling.00:58:45 – Jack the Insider counters that many of these conditions were under‑diagnosed or ignored in the 1970s and 80s; growing recognition doesn't automatically mean fraud.00:59:40 – He brings in chronic conditions like ME/CFS: historically treated as malingering or “all in the head”, now increasingly accepted as serious and often disabling.01:00:02 – Hong Kong Jack quotes a Stanford professor asking, “At what point can we say no? 50%? 60%?”—underlining institutional concern that the system can't cope if a majority claim accommodations.01:01:05 – They wrestle with the employer's problem: how to interpret grades achieved with significant accommodations, and whether workplaces must also provide similar allowances.01:02:21 – Jack the Insider's answer is essentially yes: good employers should accommodate genuine disability, and it's on applicants to be upfront. He stresses diversity of ability and that many high‑achieving disabled people are valuable hires.01:03:40 – Hong Kong Jack remains more sceptical, shaped by long legal experience of people gaming systems, but agrees lawyers shouldn't be the priestly class defining morality.Cricket: India–South Africa, NZ–West Indies, BBL and the Gabba01:04:25 – They pivot back to sport: a successful South African tour of India, including a series win in Tests and a 1–1 one‑day series with big hundreds from Virat Kohli, Gaikwad and Aiden Markram.01:05:31 – Quick update on New Zealand's Test against the West Indies in Christchurch, with New Zealand rebuilding in their second innings through Ravindra and Latham.Women's Cricket and Phoebe Litchfield01:06:19 – Jack the Insider raves about the Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat game and singles out Phoebe Litchfield as the best women's batter in the world: technically sound, not a slogger, scoring “runs for fun” and hailing from Orange.Gabba Day–Night Test: Australia v England01:06:50 – With Usman Khawaja out, they discuss the unchanged 12 and whether Bo Webster plays, potentially pushing Travis Head up to open.01:07:39 – For England, Mark Wood hasn't recovered; they bring in Will Jacks, a batting all‑rounder and part‑time spinner, to bolster the order but lose their fastest bowler.01:08:11 – If you win the toss? Bat first, they say—if the conditions allow—and look to control the game with the bat for four hours or more.01:08:44 – They caution that with recent heavy Queensland rain, the pitch could be juicy whether you bat first or second; the key is getting cricket on Saturday.01:08:48 – Hong Kong Jack rates this as the best England attack to tour Australia in a long time, especially with Wood and Archer firing in Perth, although Archer's pace dropped markedly in the second innings.01:09:36 – They dissect England's first‑Test collapse: at one stage it was an “unlosable” match according to Ponting and the stats, but reckless strokes from set batters (Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook) handed it back to Australia.01:09:55 – Mitchell Starc's extraordinary home day–night record—averaging around 17 with the pink ball—looms as a big factor.Franchise Cricket, Empty Stadiums and Saving the Red‑Ball Game01:12:11 – Jack the Insider describes watching the ILT20 in the UAE: near‑empty stands, disengaged fielders and an overall “soulless” spectacle aimed solely at TV viewers in South Asia and the Gulf.01:13:49 – Despite his love of cricket, he worries this is a glimpse of the future if the longer formats aren't protected and nurtured. He pleads, in effect, for saving Test and other red‑ball cricket from being cannibalised by anonymous franchise leagues.Class and Cricket: Private Schools, Clubs and Stuart Broad01:14:11 – The Jacks explore the class divide in English cricket: all but one of England's Perth XI finished school at private schools; the sole exception is captain Ben Stokes, who grew up partly in New Zealand.01:15:05 – In contrast, Australia's pathway still runs largely through club cricket, though private schools with professional coaching (like Cranbrook) give some players a head start.01:15:47 – Jack the Insider notes Sam Conscientious (Sam Constance / Cummins reference is implied) spending two years at Cranbrook, reflecting how elite schools build academies with ex‑first‑class coaches that state systems can't match.01:16:20 – They agree state‑school kids like the Waugh twins still come through club cricket, but in England, some top private schools effectively operate as de facto county academies.01:17:31 – Anecdotes about Stuart Broad: a likeable “nepo baby” of former England player Chris Broad, who was toughened up by a formative season at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne sub‑district cricket. Local players loved him.01:18:20 – Hong Kong Jack recommends Broad's appearance on The Front Bar as essential viewing for understanding his character and the cultural contrasts between English and Australian cricket.01:18:40 – More class culture: Chris Cowdrey, briefly England captain, shows up in full whites and blazer to toss with Viv Richards in surf shorts and thongs. When Cowdrey starts reading out England's XI, Viv cuts him off: “Mate, I don't care who you play, it's not going to make any difference.”F1, Oscar Piastri's Bad Luck and AFLW Glory01:21:11 – Brief detour to Formula 1: Oscar Piastri's season with McLaren seems dogged by terrible luck and questionable team decisions that have cost him a near‑certain championship.01:21:57 – Jack the Insider reflects on how F1 drivers like Piastri have effectively been in vehicles since toddlerhood, climbing the ladder from go‑karts to supercars.01:22:50 – They express hope he can clinch the title in the final race, but wryly note that F1 rarely grants fairytale endings.AFLW01:22:23 – AFLW: North Melbourne complete an undefeated season to win the premiership, comfortably beating Brisbane in the grand final.01:23:07 – Hong Kong Jack praises it as the best AFLW season yet, with marked improvement in depth and skill across the competition. North remain the benchmark everyone else must chase.Wrap‑Up, Tom Stoppard Anecdote and Season Timing01:23:49 – The Jacks look ahead to watching the Gabba Test, beers on ice for Jack the Insider and the late Hong Kong dusk session for Hong Kong Jack.01:24:01 – They note the death of playwright Tom Stoppard at 88 and share a favourite story: Spielberg offers him the Jaws screenplay; Stoppard declines because he's writing a play—“actually for BBC Radio”.01:25:11 – Final reflections on how Stoppard would have improved Jaws, then a note that the podcast will soon reach its final episodes for the year, with plans to feature listener feedback before a short summer break.01:25:56 – Jack the Insider signs off, thanking listeners and Hong Kong Jack, and promises they'll be back next week.

Bill Gurley (@bgurley) is a general partner at Benchmark, a leading venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. His new book is Runnin' Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love.This episode is brought to you by:Momentous high-quality creatine for cognitive and muscular supportOur Place's Titanium Always Pan® Pro using nonstick technology that's coating-free and made without PFAS, otherwise known as “Forever Chemicals”Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail businessCoyote the card game​, which I co-created with Exploding Kittens*Timestamps:[00:00:00] Start.[00:01:43] The book that gave Jerry Seinfeld permission to pursue comedy and inspired Runnin' Down a Dream.[00:03:59] AI bubble or not?[00:06:33] Circular deals and SPV chaos.[00:12:01] Angel investing in the AI era.[00:14:32] Why you should be the most AI-enabled version of yourself, regardless of field.[00:20:47] China deep dive: Ten days, six cities, high-speed trains, and a Xiaomi SU7 factory tour.[00:22:43] Communism misconceptions.[00:25:40] Lei Jun: The Steve Jobs of China.[00:29:17] Jack Ma, ByteDance's invisible CEO, and the risks of prominence in China.[00:32:11] America vs. China (Lawyers vs. engineers).[00:41:01] Keys for US competitiveness.[00:43:47] Bill is bullish on these countries.[00:47:30] Matthew McConaughey's “Don't half ass it” moment.[00:49:45] Runnin' Down a Dream thesis: Helping people pursue X instead of A, B, or C.[00:51:03] The 80,000-hour question.[00:52:47] The self-learning test.[00:56:58] Bob Dylan as music expeditionary.[01:00:27] Go to the epicenter where the action is.[01:10:56] Danny Meyer's pivot.[01:13:30] Working for free.[01:19:37] Never too late: Tito Beveridge started Tito's Vodka at 40.[01:21:51] AI sanity checks.[01:25:59] AI-proof bets.[01:29:13] Sam Hinkie's Moneyball moment.[01:32:37] Competitive strategy, avoiding false failures, and regret minimalization.[01:43:46] Purpose, Progress, and Prosperity — the P3 Policy Institute.[01:47:18] Regulatory capture explained.[01:51:55] Why the IPO market is broken.[02:01:52] Stablecoins putting Visa and Mastercard on notice.[02:03:40] Hopes for Runnin' Down a Dream and parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do high-achievers feel perpetually behind, even while consuming more content than ever? In this conversation, Pat Flynn explains the trap of “overlearning” and how it quietly keeps us stuck in motion without progress. You'll learn how to shift from “just-in-case” learning to “just-in-time” learning, create real momentum with a simple four-step framework, and protect what matters most with practical boundaries. Along the way, Pat shares how these principles helped him build multiple successful businesses (including a Pokémon channel with millions of followers) without sacrificing his family, health, or joy.Memorable Quotes“We all, in a way, are not just our overlearning, but we're getting over-inspired. We're so connected with so many amazing people out there who teach us this and push us over here, and then we're pulled over this way. We're spread so thin it's we're we're not seeing any results in our own life.”“Now we all have access to all the same kind of information, but we're still treating it as if it's scarce…However, we now live in a buffet line of information… and we're not quite evolved to absorb all of this because we're stuffing our plates full. Not only are we getting bloated and and and slowed down, but we're also getting force-fed on these platforms.”“This is the difference between ‘just-in-case learning,' which is what we've all been doing, and ‘just-in-time learning,' which is learning what you need to know to just take that next step. Because truly the action of taking that next step, the results of that one way or another—whether there are good results or bad results—can teach you so much more than just absorbing this information and never taking any action at all.” “[Silence] allows me to be with myself and to digest the things that I've already learned, to think about my priorities and the things I've already committed to. It allows me to make creative connections between things that I have already picked up instead of just getting more puzzle pieces to try to figure out where they go.”“I mean I was always taught that again, ‘The more you know the more successful you'll be,' and there's always seemingly opportunities to inject more of that learning. And it has this sort of fake productivity that goes along with it, because it is only truly productive, in my opinion, when you actually put into action those things that you do read or listen to or watch.”“At our authors retreat, a theme across most of the people there was not optimizing for revenue, not optimizing for scale, but optimizing for peace. And that was huge to think about.”“If I give myself five months to learn, I'm gonna take five months to learn it. If I give myself five hours to learn, I'm gonna take five hours to learn it. So I almost use time as a tool to help me get to the point of action and then understanding sooner.”“I've developed this rule called the 20% Itch Rule, and that is, out of all the things you do, 80% of your time is dedicated to the things you've already committed to, the things that, the responsibilities you have, the things that you've already said, yes to. The last 20% of time, allocate for curiosity, for play, for experimentation.”Key TakeawaysOverlearning Is a Hidden Productivity Trap. Constant consumption creates a sense of progress without producing results—and often adds more “to-dos” than your life can hold.Shift from “Just-in-Case” to “Just-in-Time.” Learn only what you need for the next step, then take action. Real learning accelerates through doing.Use the 4-Step Lean Learning Cycle. Identify the next step → choose one resource → implement → review. Repeat.Silence Helps You Digest What You Already Know. Pat's “silent car” habit creates space for integration, creativity, and clarity.Watch for “Junk Sparks.” Many ideas are just distractions dressed up as opportunity—especially when algorithms reduce the friction to buy, click, or binge.Try the “20% Itch Rule.” Dedicate 80% of your time to current commitments and responsibilities, and reserve 20% for curiosity, experimentation, and play—without blowing up your life.Optimize for Peace, Not Scale. More revenue isn't always worth the hidden cost. A Double Win means there's still room for what makes you feel most alive.ResourcesSmart Passive Income (Pat's Business)Superfans (Book)Lean Learning (Book)Watch on YouTube at:  https://youtu.be/aLp6hHTrYQsThis episode was produced by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound

Former HGTV designer, coach, and mom of 11 Lisa Canning talks routines and the holidaysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us - https://simplyconvivial.com/coaching | Perfectionism blinds us to the beauty already in front of us. In this episode, I talk with Rachel Wendel, a wife and mom of four who discovered how small touches of beauty—and a massive mindset shift—changed her homemaking from burdensome to joyful.Rachel shares:Why perfectionism kept her from starting anythingHow tiny, inexpensive beauty touches lifted the whole mood of her homeWhat happened when she let her kids participate in creating beautyHow conversations with her husband shifted her entire vision for their homeWhy she had to repent of wanting a “picture-perfect” house instead of a family homeThe heart-level issue behind why adding beauty felt overwhelmingHer story is a powerful reminder: you don't need a perfect house to make it beautiful. You need attention, iteration, and a willingness to let real life—not Pinterest—shape your home.

Remember who you're here to serve. Know who puts food on the family table and obsess upon the human beings who love what you do. And then go all in for them.Give your heart and soul—via the mastery of your craft—for them. Underpromise and overdeliver for them. Respect them, encourage them, appreciate them and honor them. Their reply will be a lifetime of loyalty. And rewards you simply cannot put a price tag on.My latest book “The Wealth Money Can't Buy” is full of fresh ideas and original tools that I'm absolutely certain will cause quantum leaps in your positivity, productivity, wellness, and happiness. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookXYouTube

This Christmas-week episode is a special re-release from the early days of the podcast. Recorded six years ago, Teresa listens back with fresh ears and chooses to let this raw, honest reflection stand as it is. Through story, Enneagram insight, and an original song written from the heart, this episode invites listeners to slow down, make room, and rediscover wonder in the Christmas story.FREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!OTHER RESOURCES:Join the REALIFE Practice Membership!The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We'll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. Visit www.therealifeprocess.com/membership to join us today!Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. About Erica Vinson:Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!

As the Christmas season unfolds, Teresa and Erica invite you into a gentle, honest conversation about making room. Drawing from Advent themes, personal rhythms, and real-life coaching experiences, they explore what it looks like to create space on both the being and doing sides of life.In this episode, you'll reflect on simplicity, intentional scheduling, communication, and making room for God without striving or guilt. Whether you're navigating a full calendar, a tender season, or simply longing for a pause, this conversation offers permission to exhale and lean into what truly matters.Themes for this EpisodeMaking room as an invitation to pause and breatheHonoring your wiring and rhythms without guiltSimplifying schedules and lowering expectationsPre-deciding holiday boundaries and prioritiesMaking room for God through Advent and ChristmastideLetting go of “not right now” things for a seasonFREE RESOURCES:Take the FREE Intro to Needs & Values AssessmentReady to discover what uniquely matters to YOU? CLICK HERE to take our FREE Intro to the Needs & Values Assessment.FREE Download: 4 Steps to Simplify Your CalendarReady to uncover more time on your calendar? This FREE download will help you remove what doesn't matter, so you have space for what does. Click here to get this FREE resource!OTHER RESOURCES:Join the REALIFE Practice Membership!The REALIFE Practice Membership is designed for those who want to grow spiritually, but feel like REALIFE is getting in the way. We'll learn how to integrate meaningful spiritual practices and tools into our daily lives through live group calls, group coaching, training videos, downloadable resources, and an interactive community. Visit www.therealifeprocess.com/membership to join us today!Check out our YouTube Channel!Prefer to watch AND listen? Check out our YouTube channel for the podcast episode on video! Make sure to subscribe so you get all the latest updates.My Book LinkMy new book, Do What Matters, is available NOW! Banish busyness and discover a new way of being productive around what truly matters. Learn more at DoWhatMattersBook.com.LifeMapping ToolsWould you life to discover  Life Mapping tools to help you recognize and respond to God in your Story. Check out these tools here https://www.onelifemaps.com/JOIN OUR COMMUNITY & CONNECT WITH ME:Become part of the FREE REALIFE Process® Community! Connect with Teresa and other podcast listeners, plus find additional content to help you discover your best REALIFE.Connect with your host, Teresa McCloy, on:Facebook - The REALIFE Process® with Teresa McCloyInstagram - teresa.mccloyLinkedIn - teresamccloyAbout Teresa McCloy:Teresa McCloy is the founder and creator of the REALIFE Process®, a framework designed to empower individuals and groups with the tools, training, and community needed for personal and professional growth. Through the REALIFE Process®, Teresa is on a mission to help others grow in self-awareness, establish sustainable rhythms, and enhance their influence and impact by integrating faith and work into their everyday lives. She lives with her husband of 42 years on their 5th generation family farm in central Illinois and enjoys great coffee, growing beautiful flower gardens and traveling as much as possible. About Erica Vinson:Erica Vinson helps clients walk through defining moments with confidence and courage enabling them to move forward in freedom and embrace fearless living. As an ACC Credentialed and Certified Professional Life & Leadership Coach, she uses wisdom from all 3 Centers of Intelligence to help clients gain deeper self-awareness and grow in relationships with others both personally and professionally. Erica is a certified REALIFE Process® Master Coach, an ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner, and has a certificate in Spiritual Transformation through the Transforming Center. She lives in the Metro East St. Louis area and enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, golfing, tennis, boating/water skiing, traveling, is a bit of a technology nerd and loves learning!

After a bit of a pause, we return with a conversation that reflects the heart of this podcast: what it means to create, care, and hold many parts of a life at once. Today, Kaitlin is joined by poet and longtime listener Meg Leonard, whose new book Larkspur Queen (Broadstone Books, 2025) explores identity, care, and the shifting creative self. Together, they dive into the nonlinear reality of making art while mothering, working, and navigating chronic illness, and what it means to value process over product in every season of life.Meg shares how her friendship with Kaitlin began through this very podcast, reflects on the search for authentic creative community, and reads two poems from her new collection. They also discuss the months of “unproductive” writing that ultimately became essential to Meg's poetic process.Meg's Work: Larkspur Queen (Broadstone Books, 2025)book of lullabies (Milk & Cake Press, 2020)Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and give us a rating. This will help us reach more listeners like you who are navigating the joys and pitfalls of artistic and parenting identities.Visit our website: postpartumproduction.comFollow us on Instagram: @postpartumproductionpodcastSubscribe to our podcast newsletter on Substack: https://postpartumproduction.substack.com

In this episode, I invite my fellow mom-entrepreneurs to embrace the power of owning your decisions, especially during the busy holiday season. Through my own stories—like choosing comfort with yoga pants at an event or taking a break from business to prioritize family—I show how simple, intentional choices can bring more presence and less stress.I encourage letting go of guilt and the heavy burden of societal “shoulds,” reminding you that saying no or stepping back doesn't diminish your worth as a business owner or a mom. I candidly share how I navigate external judgments and internal pressures, and remind you that it's always okay to re-decide and shift direction as your priorities change. By reflecting on budgeting and redefining holiday traditions, my hope is to inspire you to align your decisions with your values and confidently do what works best for your family and your business.This episode is a heartfelt reminder to simplify, trust your choices, and show up authentically in both your work and your home.  Free Resources:Join 30 Day Calendar Blocking Blueprint and finally feel in control. ​Click here to join the next round. ​Are you a business owner making $100,000+ and still wearing all the hats? ​Click here​ to learn about my upcoming 12-week Outsourcing Mastermind.Are you an aspiring or newer business owner who needs some accountability and clarity on the next steps? ​Click here​ to join my 6-month accountability group - Simplify.

A2thaMo is joined by Forgotten One and then It'sYaBoiH2 to talk about Music,Productivity, Creative Endeavors, Sleeping, Politics, South Park, White Boy NBA, Jordan vs Nascar, NFL, More Music Talk, Clothes, Seafood, Danny McBride Shows, Eminem, Mental Health, and more while listening to new music!Encouragement - Sir NastyCloth - ItsYaBoiH2Another Bowl - A2thaMo

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Peter Swimm, founder of Toilville, about the future of AI and workplace automation. Peter shares insights from his long career in technology—from Microsoft to building large-scale conversational AI systems—and discusses the growing need for strong governance around AI usage. They explore privacy and IP concerns, the pitfalls of “vibe coding,” and why documentation and trust logs are essential for safe and effective AI adoption. The conversation also dives into generational shifts in education, the impact of COVID-19 on the job market, and how AI can enhance productivity without replacing authenticity.00:00 Introduction03:09 AI and Workplace Automation05:51 Privacy, IP, and Safety Concerns08:50 Vibe Coding and Development Challenges12:04 Governance and Compliance14:49 Evolution of AI Tools20:53 Early Tech Experiences31:28 Cultural Perspectives on AI36:31 AI and the Future of Education42:44 Career Paths and Experience50:54 Early Conversational AI56:15 COVID-19 and Contact Centers59:00 AI's Future in Business01:02:42 From Microsoft to Entrepreneurship01:13:44 Navigating the AI Landscape01:28:02 Empowering Businesses with AI SolutionsConnect with Peter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterswimm/Mentioned in this Episode:Toilville: https://www.toilville.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

TrulySignificant.com presents Dr. Melissa Robinson, author of The Empathic Leader: How EQ via Empathy Transforms Leadership for Better Profit, Productivity and Innovation. Enjoy this conversation centered around emotional intelligence and how modern day leadership should take EQ into a required set of skills to function.  Hear about actionable empathy and how it can work for you.Ponder Dr. Robinson's key message.....Empathy is in the feeling, but compassion is what you do.Learn the meaning of SOCIAL LUBRICATION. Walk away with a new perspective on warm hearts and cool heads. Purchase The Empathic Leader at B&N, Amazon and where ever you buy your books.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/success-made-to-last-legends--4302039/support.

How do we make sustainability not just a goal, but a competitive advantage? Peggy Smedley and Kiva Allgood, advisor, World Economic Forum, tackle this question. She says sustainability, productivity, and profitability are symbiotic. They also discuss: · Best practices for Scope 3. · How small and medium enterprises can improve sustainability. · A case study of a time cost study at one manufacturer.  http://www.weforum.org/

Success does not eliminate pressure. It often multiplies it.Once you experience a win, the fear shifts from “what if I fail?” to “what if I can't do it again?” In this episode, I unpack why success can feel heavier than failure, how emotional attachment to outcomes distorts clarity, and why many people end up running in place even while working hard.We explore how open loops, unfinished commitments, and mental clutter quietly drain focus, energy, and momentum. I share why learning to detach emotionally from outcomes is not about becoming numb or disconnected, but about creating enough objectivity to take better action. When everything feels personal, every fluctuation feels like failure.You'll learn how to:Detach your identity from results so one miss doesn't spiral into self-doubtClose open loops that create constant mental taxationCut through noise, distractions, and unnecessary commitmentsSay no with intention so yes actually means somethingMeasure progress beyond a single KPI or narrow definition of successBuild systems, structure, and infrastructure that support sustainable growthWe also talk about why sustainability must come before scalability, how discipline fills the gap when motivation fades, and why progress often comes from doing less, more intentionally, instead of chasing everything at once.This episode is a reminder that clarity creates momentum, simplicity creates leverage, and consistent execution is what turns intention into real results.Close the loops. Cut the noise. Get to work.Beyond The Episode Gems:Subscribe To My New Weekly LinkedIn Newsletter: Strategize. Market. Grow.Buy My Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business: StrategizeUpBook.comDiscover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast NetworkGet Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM PlatformSupport The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/ReviewsFollow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTokSubscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass EpisodesNeed Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com 

Don't let events and deadlines in early January catch you by surpriseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us: https://simplyconvivial.com/coaching - When nothing about your life changes—but everything still feels overwhelming—the problem usually isn't your schedule. It's your attitude.In this episode, I talk with Melissa Wood, a homeschooling mom of four living in Australia, about how Simplified Organization Community Coaching helped her move from chronic overwhelm and migraines to peace, clarity, and confidence—without changing her circumstances.Melissa shares:Why her life looked easy on paper but felt unbearably hardHow brain dumping and weekly review changed her mental loadWhy adding small touches of beauty actually improved her attitudeHow mindset work made it possible to handle a suddenly very busy lifeWhat happened when she stopped pushing through and started reflectingIf you feel worn down, resentful, or constantly overwhelmed—even though you “should” be fine—this conversation will help you see a better way forward.

If your mornings feel like a logistical nightmare and every week brings new arguments over the same unsolved problems, you're not alone. Between school pickups, work meetings, and trying to keep everyone on schedule, it's easy for families to fall into patterns of conflict and power struggles. But what if there was a proven, neuroscience-backed system that could reduce fighting, build connection, and actually teach your kids (and spouse) problem-solving skills?In this episode, I'm sitting down with Tia Graham, a Certified Chief Happiness Officer, bestselling author, and expert in the science of happiness. Tia shares the collaborative problem-solving method that transformed her own family, especially when traditional parenting tactics weren't working. Whether you're dealing with morning meltdowns, bedtime battles, or recurring disagreements with your partner, this framework will help you stop the cycle of frustration and start building stronger, more connected relationships at home.In This Episode, We'll Cover:Why traditional parenting methods (rewards, consequences, timeouts) often make things worseThe three-step collaborative problem-solving frameworkHow to identify unsolved problems versus focusing on behaviorsThe importance of letting solutions be a compromise, not all your wayConnect with Tia:www.tiagraham.comwww.instagram.com/tiaegrahamwww.linkedin.com/in/tiagrahamOvercoming mom guilt resource: www.tiagraham.com/overcoming-guilt ________________________________

The highest impact leaders all have one trait in common: they are extreme contrarians. They were seen by the majority as radicals, misfits and eccentrics. They saw what most see and thought what few think. They rejected the mass hypnosis and schooled brainwashing of society. That says that geniuses are cut from a different cloth, that your ethical ambitions should be suppressed and that your life needs to be reasonable. Makes me think of the words of George Bernard Shaw who wrote: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in adapting the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”My latest book “The Wealth Money Can't Buy” is full of fresh ideas and original tools that I'm absolutely certain will cause quantum leaps in your positivity, productivity, wellness, and happiness. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookXYouTube

If you've ever started the year feeling motivated… only to fall off a few weeks later, this episode is for you.In this episode, I'm breaking down the missing skill behind consistency and time management. Plus why motivation, discipline, and “wanting it badly enough” have never been the real problem.This episode is an honest conversation about why first-day motivation fades, why you keep procrastinating even when your goals matter to you, and why nothing has gone wrong. CLICK HERE TO JOIN NEW YEAR, ELEVATED YOUHOW TO ENTER GIVEAWAY:1. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcast and/or Spotify 2. Screenshot the review 3. Email the screenshot to: theperryrichardson@gmail.comConnect with me:EMAIL ME: theperryrichardson@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠22 Journal Prompts ( Free Guide)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram (the.mindsetbabe)⁠⁠⁠⁠keywords: goal achievement, consistency, follow through, time management, procrastination, productivity, motivation, self discipline, how to achieve goals, stop procrastinating, staying consistent, mindset for success, personal development for women, confidence and self trust, achieving goals in the new year, goal setting for women, busy women time management, self improvement podcast

Aleks Gampel is COO and Co-founder at Cuby, a company rethinking how homes are built in the middle of a nationwide housing crisis. The cost of housing has soared while construction productivity has barely budged in decades, and today's homes are still built through slow, wasteful, and carbon-intensive processes that aren't designed for escalating climate risks. Instead of shipping prefab boxes across the country, Cuby asks what it would look like if housing finally had its assembly line moment—and the factory moved to where homes are needed. Their mobile microfactories are inflatable, rapidly deployable facilities that manufacture standardized home components on or near the job site using mostly unskilled labor, then assemble houses in a predictable, repeatable way. In this conversation, Aleks unpacks the roots of the housing shortage, why past modular attempts fell short, and how Cuby's model could change what's possible for housing affordability, waste reduction, and resilience.Episode recorded on Nov 20, 2025 (Published on Dec 16, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [4:40] Causes for the housing crisis today  [8:17] Emissions associated with housing and how Cuby differs[12:54] An overview of  industrialized construction [16:43] Main challenges with industrialized construction[19:25] Cuby's antithesis to centralized gigafactories in construction[27:08] How Cuby's inflatable mobile microfactory works[30:17] Cuby's European headquarters and China facility [31:57] Cuby's single-family home design [33:30] The company's business model[37:52] Why Cuby isn't displacing jobs [38:55] The company's funding to date [40:15] What's next for Cuby Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Are you running yourself into the ground in the name of ambition, when really your nervous system is so wired that slowing down feels dangerous? Have you tied your worthiness so deeply to your output that rest feels like a threat? What if the exhaustion, gut issues, and hormonal chaos aren't signs you need to push harder but signals from a body screaming for you to cultivate safety around stillness?In this episode, I sit down with Hope Pedraza, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Human Design Guide, to unpack how worthiness wounds show up as overwork and ambition. I share why functional labs reveal the physical cost of emotional suppression, how Hope's own adrenal burnout became her wake-up call, and why the paradigm shift we're seeing is about discovering what freedom and success actually mean for you as an individual.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why productivity and ambition are often trauma responses masking the fact that rest doesn't feel safe in your nervous system, and how Hope ran herself into severe adrenal burnout before recognizing she'd spent years tying her worthiness to her output.How your Human Design centers connect directly to physical systems like your root center governing adrenals and the pressure driving burnout, your sacral tied to reproductive organs and life force energy, and your throat center connected to thyroid function and the ability to speak your truth (as evidenced by two clients in narcissistic relationships who both had thyroid issues).Why the paradigm shift accelerating in 2027 isn't just about doing less but discovering what freedom and success actually mean for you as an individual, and how COVID sparked people questioning whether the life they'd been building was the one they actually wanted.And while you're here, follow us on Instagram @creativelyowned for more daily inspiration on effortlessly attracting the most aligned clients without spending hours marketing your business or chasing clients. Also, make sure to tag me in your stories @creativelyowned.To get Wispr Flow the crazy handy voice-to-text AI that turns speech into clear, polished writing in every app. click here.Selling the Invisible: Exactly how to articulate the value of your cosmic genius even if your message transcends the typical “10k months” & “Make 6-figures” types of promises. Free on-demand training >>> https://www.creativelyowned.co/watchnow To find out how to own your unique edge, amplify who you truly are (& get paid for it), take your business to cosmic proportions, and have fun doing it, grab it here!! https://www.creativelyowned.com/quizOffer Architect: TURN YOUR ‘INVISIBLE' WISDOM INTO A COMPELLING OFFER THAT WILL SELL WITH A SINGLE EMAIL. >>>https://creativelyowned.com/offer-architectJoin the waitlist for the Selling the Invisible AI-Powered Conversion Copywriting System and be the first in line when the doors open again! >>>https://www.creativelyowned.co/waitlistTo connect with Hope Pedraza: hopefulandwholesome.com facebook.com/thehopepedrazainstagram.com/thehopepedraza

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!This episode was originally published on the Career 101 Podcast with Porschia Parker-Griffin on 13 June 2024:https://www.fly-highcoaching.com/productivity-hacks/Productivity hacks are increasingly crucial in today's fast-paced business environment, particularly for entrepreneurs who juggle multiple responsibilities. Are you maximizing your time and resources effectively?In this episode, our host and CEO, Porschia, along with our guest, Jeremy Cline, explore what productivity means for entrepreneurs and why it matters. They discuss the motivations behind starting a business and provide practical productivity hacks to manage an endless to-do list without reinventing the wheel.You'll also learn about the importance of asking for help, a common struggle for many entrepreneurs. Porschia and Jeremy share their favorite productivity hacks tools and highlight common mistakes entrepreneurs make regarding productivity.Jeremy is a coach and the host of Change Work Life, the podcast that's all about beating the Sunday evening blues and enjoying Mondays again. After 20 years spent largely furthering other people's dreams, Jeremy started to wonder whether he was going to end his career thinking, “Really?  This is what I did with forty years of working life?” And so in 2019 he started the Change Work Life podcast and became a coach in 2022 to help others. What you'll learn:The true meaning of productivity and why it's essential for entrepreneursHow to determine if you're being productive or notCommon productivity mistakes made by entrepreneurs and how to avoid themHow to know if you avoid getting support and when you should ask for helpEffective productivity hacks to manage a never-ending to-do listFly High Coaching on LinkedInFly High Coaching on Facebook Fly High Coaching on YouTubeChange Work LifeJeremy Cline on LinkedInChange Work Life on FacebookChange Work Life on InstagramChange Work Life on Twitter

In this episode of the PRS Global Open Keynotes Podcast, Dr. Paul Ghareeb discusses the important of research productivity (presentations and publications) to the career prospects of medical students, residents and attending surgeons alike.   This episode discusses the following PRS Global Open article: "How to Boost Research Productivity: An American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery Cross-sectional Survey" by Shannon Su, Ambika Menon, Christopher Stewart, Hannah Jones and Paul Ghareeb. Read it for free on PRSGlobalOpen.com: https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2025/11000/how_to_boost_research_productivity__an_american.5.aspx Dr. Paul Ghareeb is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia Your host, Dr. Damian Marucci, is a board-certified plastic surgeon and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Sydney in Australia. #PRSGlobalOpen; #KeynotesPodcast; #PlasticSurgery; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery- Global Open

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the return of jobs data and the death of the Sahm rule. Productivity is about to slump -- can AI come to the rescue? Is rent control going to become a national burden? 

Eric, Dave and Marty breakdown the latest VisionOS beta and some really intriguing patents showing directions Apple could go. Dave never had a hamster or a guinea pig. visionOS 26.3 Beta Release Notes https://developer.apple.com/documentation/visionos-release-notes/visionos-26_3-release-notes Apple Releases First watchOS 26.3, tvoS 26.3 and visionOS 26.3 Betashttps://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-releases-first-watchos-26-3-tvos-26-3-and-visionos-26-3-betas.2474753/visionOS 26.2 Now Available for Apple Vision Pro Usershttps://www.macobserver.com/news/visionos-26-2-now-available-for-apple-vision-pro-users/ Minor bug fix update for Apple Vision Pro arrives with visionOS 26.2https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/12/12/minor-bug-fix-update-for-apple-vision-pro-arrives-with-visionos-262Is Red Bull's "Immersive" Apple Vision Pro Ski Movie The Future of Action Sports?https://www.powder.com/news/world-of-red-bull-apple-vision-pro-ski-movie Apple Eyes Room-Aware Audio With New Patent Filinghttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/2000265846925697290Patent: Next-Gen Apple HMD Design Targets Comfort and Customizationhttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999503955785572486 Apple Introduces Next-Gen Gaze Tracking for Future Vision Pro and Smartglasseshttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999932661108801855 Apple Patent Expands Breath Tracking into AR/VR Interfaceshttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999865437509595198 Reinforced Fit: Apple's reveals Modular, Multi-Axis Band Architecture for next-gen Vision Prohttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999476174280376735 High-End Hybrid Sensor Approach could Redefine Apple'svGaming Input Strategyhttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999140661744779334 Grip Aware Pose: Apple's Patent uses Hand Skeletons to Track Hidden Controllershttps://x.com/PatentlyApple/status/1999163040906748278 The AR Glasses Race: Meta Ray-Ban at $299 vs Apple Vision Pro at $3,499 — Who Wins the Next Computing Platform?https://fourweekmba.com/the-ar-glasses-race-meta-ray-ban-at-299-vs-apple-vision-pro-at-3499-who-wins-the-next-computing-platform Vision Pro M5 vs. Meta Quest 3S: Two Very Different Takes on Mixed Realityhttps://www.macobserver.com/tips/round-ups/vision-pro-m5-vs-meta-quest-3s/Vision Pro 2 rumors: is the future of Apple's visionOS tech actually smart glasses?https://www.stuff.tv/features/apple-vision-pro-2/ Review: Samsung Galaxy XRhttps://www.wired.com/review/samsung-galaxy-xr/Samsung Galaxy XR is getting 3 massive upgrades — Apple Vision Pro should be sweatinghttps://www.tomsguide.com/computing/vr-ar/3-new-upgrades-are-coming-to-samsung-galaxy-xr-including-one-of-the-vision-pros-best-featuresCan Apple's Vision Pro Turn the Office Into a Metaverse? - A New Reality for Productivity and Presencehttps://www.prnewsblog.com/tech/24709/can-apples-vision-pro-turn-the-office-into-a-metaverse-a-new-reality-for-productivity-and-presence/ Galaxy XR version of personashttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/qW-HaCNuCzAGravitas Threads: Exploring Reddit as a spatial museum in XR (Vision Pro app) Al + Physics Recommendation Enginehttps://www.reddit.com/r/AR_MR_XR/comments/1pn2f72/gravitas_threads_exploring_reddit_as_a_spatial/ APPS Sunglasses - Night Modehttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/sunglasses-night-mode/id6756418533 Glassbreakers - good use of control options using different fingers or positionshttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/glassbreakers/id6596780523ReminderFollow the live stream at YouTube.com/@VisionProfiles on Monday nights at 9 PM EST or catch the video later on Youtube or audio on any pod catcher serviceWebsite: ThePodTalk.NetEmail: ThePodTalkNetwork@gmail.com 

In this final Elevate episode of the year, Ankit Sharma reflects on a tough but important year of transition for New Zealand's construction sector. He explains the shift to proportionate liability, the push to clamp down on Phoenix companies, and how initiatives like FiNZscore aim to reward well-run building businesses with stronger credibility, better lending options, and improved consumer trust.Ankit also steps back to the bigger picture, unpacking the four global forces hitting construction – digitisation, decarbonisation, de-globalisation and demographics – and argues that technology is the single biggest opportunity for builders in 2026. He shares simple, practical examples of how members are already using tools like AI to save hours of admin, and draws on his Rethink 4.0 leadership newsletter to show why saying no, narrowing focus, and using a “not-to-do” list are now critical skills for owners who want more impact, more headspace, and a better life outside the business.Useful linksConnect with Ankit Sharma on LinkedInSay No to Say Yes: The Key to Turning Ambition into ProgressSubscribe to Rethink 4.0 NewsletterWhere else you can find usWebsite: https://www.masterbuilder.org.nz/Elevate Platform: http://elevate.masterbuilder.org.nzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/masterbuildernz/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/registeredmasterbuildersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmh_9vl0pFf0zSB6N7RrVeg

Hey there, hero!Space mathematician Katherine Johnson said, about the new strategies, tactics and calculation being created for the moon landing, “There were no textbooks, so we had to write one.”Ever faced something brand new in your acting, voice work or writing? It's not like working in a factory doing repetitive activities that have a long history of experience.There are very few “explainer videos” available on the things we create for our characters, our actions and our explanations. We, more often than not, have to create things from scratch.That's a pretty cool thing: creating the manual - the textbook - for something you're creating from scratch as a talent.Does it excite you to create the approach to something that's brand new? Or does it give you the willies? Let me know in the comments below.REQUEST: Please join this video's conversation and see the full episode on VOHeroes, where the comments are moderated and civil, at https://voheroes.com/be-like-miss-johnson-write-your-own-textbook/#Acting #Voice #VoiceOver #Performance #Productivity #Tips #Art #Commerce #Science #Mindset #Success #Process #Options #BestPractices #MarketingWant to be a better VO talent, actor or author? Here's how I can help you......become a VO talent (or a more successful one): https://voheroes.com/start ...become an audiobook narrator on ACX (if you're an actor or VO talent): https://acxmasterclass.com/ ...narrate your own book (if you're an author): https://narrateyourownbook.com/ ...have the most effective pop filter (especially for VO talent): https://mikesock.com/ ...be off-book faster for on-camera auditions and work (memorize your lines): https://rehearsal.pro/...master beautiful audiobook and podcast audio in one drag and drop move on your Mac: https://audiocupcake.com/ The VOHeroes Podcast is heroically built with: BuddyBoss | LearnDash | DreamHost | SamCart | TextExpander | BuzzSprout ...

Productivity Losses From Substance Use Disorder in the U.S. in 2023 American Journal of Preventive Medicine Information on morbidity-related productivity losses attributable to substance use disorder is limited. This study estimates morbidity-related productivity losses attributable to substance use disorder among U.S. adults aged ≥18 years in 2023. It found that total morbidity-related productivity losses attributable to substance use disorder in the U.S. are substantial, amounting to $92.65 billion in 2023. Inability to work cost accounted for $45.25 billion, followed by absenteeism cost of $25.65 billion, presenteeism cost of $12.06 billion, and cost of household productivity loss of $9.68 billion. Given that these estimates depend on the prevalence of substance use disorder and the amount of lost productive time, evidence-based prevention efforts and policies addressing them can help reduce these losses.   Read this issue of the ASAM Weekly Subscribe to the ASAM Weekly Visit ASAM

Now on Spotify Video! When Reid Hoffman first began studying artificial intelligence at Stanford, the world wasn't ready for it yet. Years later, inspired by conversations with top tech innovators, he recognized AI's potential and seized the moment. As the founding investor in OpenAI and co-founder of Inflection AI, he's at the forefront of shaping AI and the future of work. In this episode of the AI Vault series, Reid introduces the concept of "superagency," where AI enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them. He also addresses common fears surrounding AI and shares his vision for a future powered by AI-driven agents. In this episode, Hala and Reid will discuss:  (00:00) Introduction (01:49) Reid's Early Interest in Artificial Intelligence (04:18) AI, Jobs, and Concerns for the Future (08:25) Superagency: Amplifying Human Capability with AI (19:34) Training AI to Be a Better Human Companion  (23:15) Trust and Misinformation in the Age of AI  (25:56) Why Human Expertise Still Matters in AI (28:13) Reid's AI Twin (31:07) Leveraging AI for Content Creation (32:39) How AI in Action Will Shape the Future Reid Hoffman is an entrepreneur, investor, partner at Greylock, and the co-founder of LinkedIn and Inflection AI. He's also a bestselling author and host of the Masters of Scale podcast. Reid majored in artificial intelligence at Stanford through the Symbolic Systems program, one of the earliest undergraduate AI majors. As an early investor in OpenAI, he has become a prominent voice championing responsible AI development that expands and amplifies human potential. Sponsored By: Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.  Revolve - Head to REVOLVE.com/PROFITING and take 15% off your first order with code PROFITING  DeleteMe - Remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans at to joindeleteme.com/profiting  Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever. Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/design and use code PROFITING Intuit QuickBooks - Bring your money and your books together in one platform at QuickBooks.com/money  Resources Mentioned: Reid's Book, Superagency: amzn.to/4g7cfVG Reid's Book, Blitzscaling: bit.ly/Blitzscalin  Reid's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/reidhoffman  Reid's Website: reidhoffman.org  Reid's AI Video, Reid Hoffman Meets His AI Twin: bit.ly/4jzlVeD  Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, ChatGPT, AI Marketing, Prompt, AI in Business, Generative AI, AI for Entrepreneurs, AI Podcast 

What if the real reason you struggle to focus, remember what you read, or follow through on your goals has nothing to do with willpower or intelligence and everything to do with your values?In this episode, I sit down with world renowned human behavior expert Dr. John Demartini to explore how your values quietly control what you pay attention to, how fast you learn, and whether you actually apply what you know.Dr. Demartini went from being a high school dropout with dyslexia and a speech impediment to reading over 30,000 books, teaching in more than 100 countries, and becoming one of the most respected thinkers in human behavior and values. In our conversation, he breaks down the exact process he used to rewire his brain, accelerate his learning, and turn struggle into mastery.You will learn how to discover your true highest values, why they decide what your brain lets in or filters out, and how to link any subject even the ones you “hate” to what matters most to you so you stop procrastinating and start progressing. John also shares a powerful framework for moving from debate to dialogue so you can dissolve polarization, think more objectively, and actually change your mind when it serves you.This conversation will show you how to align your learning with your deepest values so you can focus longer, remember more, and finally unlock your fullest potential./ / / Ready to upgrade your brain? / / /Choose your own adventure. Below are the best places to start:>>> Master Exceptional Memory Skills in 31 Days>>> Discover Your Unique KWIK BRAIN C.O.D.E To Activate Your Genius>>> Unlock New Levels of Cognitive PerformanceTake your first step by choosing one of the options above, and you will find everything you need to ignite your brilliant brain and unlock your exceptional life, allowing you to achieve and surpass all of your personal and professional goals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you making the most of your life? Maybe you have good goals, but the pressure to achieve has caused you to sacrifice your peace and fold under the pressure. In this episode, I share important principles for partnering with God and releasing the pressure attached to productivity. There's more waiting for you on the other side of surrender. If you're tired of trying to make things happen on your own, this one's for you. Highlights from Today's Episode Building healthy habits Aligning with God Planning with purpose Related Resources Ready to live beyond the limits of your to-do list? Listen to my chat with Kendra Adachi on A New Approach to Productivity. Check out this conversation with Jennifer Dukes Lee on The Balancing Act: God and Goals. Prepare your heart and mind for the year ahead with the Write It Down guide and the free Dream Builders Workshop. CLICK HERE FOR FULL SHOW NOTES The post #560 – How to Plan Without Striving first appeared on Chrystal Evans Hurst.

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Episode SummaryI chat with Austin Blake, developer of the Stuff app, about all things productivity, technology, and to-do lists..Show Notes Pagejeffsanders.com/606.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 SponsorsStuff → Get 50% off your first year with code MIRACLEClickUp → Use my code MIRACLE to get 15% off all AI add onsSolaray → Try Solaray's new Testosterone Support supplement today!.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 MediaLinkedIn • Facebook Group • Instagram.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.

How can you be more relaxed about your writing process? What are some specific ways to take the pressure off your art and help you enjoy the creative journey? With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre. In the intro, Spotify 2025 audiobook trends; Audible + BookTok; NonFiction Authors Guide to SubStack; OpenAI and Disney agreement on Sora; India AI licensing; Business for Authors January webinars; Mark and Jo over the years Mark Leslie LeFebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as nonfiction books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. Mark and Jo co-wrote The Relaxed Author in 2021. You can listen to us talk about the process here. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights, and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why the ‘relaxed' author Write what you love Write at your own pace Write in a series (if you want to) Schedule time to fill the creative well and for rest and relaxation Improve your writing process — but only if it fits with your lifestyle You can find The Relaxed Author: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey on CreativePennBooks.com as well as on your favorite online store or audiobook platform, or order in your library or bookstore. You can find Mark Leslie Lefebvre and his books and podcast at Stark Reflections.ca Why the ‘relaxed' author? Joanna: The definition of relaxed is “free from tension and anxiety,” from the Latin laxus, meaning loose, and to be honest, I am not a relaxed or laid-back person in the broader sense. Back in my teens, my nickname at school was Highly Stressed. I'm a Type A personality, driven by deadlines and achieving goals. I love to work and I burned out multiple times in my previous career as an IT consultant. If we go away on a trip, I pack the schedule with back-to-back cultural things like museums and art galleries to help my book research. Or we go on adventure holidays with a clear goal, like cycling down the South-West coast of India. I can't even go for a long walk without training for another ultra-marathon! So I am not a relaxed person — but I am a relaxed author. If I wanted to spend most of my time doing something that made me miserable, I would go back to my old day job in consulting. I was paid well and worked fewer hours overall. But I measure my life by what I create, and if I am not working on a creative project, I am not able to truly relax in my downtime. There are always more things I want to learn and write about, always more stories to be told and knowledge to share. I don't want to kill my writing life by over-stressing or burning out as an author. I write what I love and follow my Muse into projects that feel right. I know how to publish and market books well enough to reach readers and make some money. I have many different income streams through my books, podcast and website. Of course, I still have my creative and business challenges as well as mindset issues, just like any writer. That never goes away. But after a decade as a full-time author entrepreneur, I have a mature creative business and I've relaxed into the way I do things. I love to write, but I also want a full and happy, healthy life. I'm still learning and improving as the industry shifts — and I change, too. I still have ambitious creative and financial goals, but I am going about them in a more relaxed way and in this book, I'll share some of my experiences and tips in the hope that you can discover your relaxed path, too. Mark: One of the most fundamental things you can do in your writing life is look at how you want to spend your time. I think back to the concept of: ‘You're often a reflection of the people you spend the most time with.' Therefore, typically, your best friend, or perhaps your partner, is often a person you love spending time with. Because there's something inherently special about spending time with this person who resonates in a meaningful way, and you feel more yourself because you're with them. In many ways, writing, or the path that you are on as a writer, is almost like being on a journey with an invisible partner. You are you. But you are also the writer you. And there's the two of you traveling down the road of life together. And so that same question arises. What kind of writer-self do you want to spend all your time with? Do you want to spend all your time with a partner that is constantly stressed out or constantly trying to reach deadlines based on somebody else's prescription of what success is? Or would you rather spend time with a partner who pauses to take a contemplative look at your own life, your own comfort, your own passion and the things that you are willing to commit to? Someone who allows that all to happen in a way that feels natural and comfortable to you. I'm a fan of the latter, of course, because then you can focus on the things you're passionate about and the things you're hopeful about rather than the things you're fearful about and those that bring anxiety and stress into your life. To me, that's part of being a relaxed author. That underlying acceptance before you start to plan things out. If the writing life is a marathon, not a sprint, then pacing, not rushing, may be the key. We have both seen burnout in the author community. People who have pushed themselves too hard and just couldn't keep up with the impossible pace they set for themselves. At times, indie authors would wear that stress, that anxiety, that rush to produce more and more, as a badge of honor. It's fine to be proud of the hard work that you do. It's fine to be proud of pushing yourself to always do better, and be better. But when you push too far — beyond your limits — you can ultimately do yourself more harm than good. Everyone has their own unique pace—something that they are comfortable with—and one key is to experiment until you find that pace, and you can settle in for the long run. There's no looking over your shoulder at the other writers. There's no panicking about the ones outpacing you. You're in this with yourself. And, of course, with those readers who are anticipating those clearly communicated milestones of your releases. I think that what we both want for authors is to see them reaching those milestones at their own paces, in their own comfort, delighting in the fact their readers are there cheering them on. Because we'll be silently cheering them along as well, knowing that they've set a pace, making relaxed author lifestyle choices, that will benefit them in the long run. “I'm glad you're writing this book. I know I'm not the only author who wants peace, moments of joy, and to enjoy the journey. Indie publishing is a luxury that I remember not having, I don't want to lose my sense of gratitude.” —Anonymous author from our survey Write what you love Joanna: The pandemic has taught us that life really is short. Memento mori — remember, you will die. What is the point of spending precious time writing books you don't want to write? If we only have a limited amount of time and only have a limited number of books that we can write in a lifetime, then we need to choose to write the books that we love. If I wanted a job doing something I don't enjoy, then I would have remained in my stressful old career as an IT consultant — when I certainly wasn't relaxed! Taking that further, if you try to write things you don't love, then you're going to have to read what you don't love as well, which will take more time. I love writing thrillers because that's what I love to read. Back when I was miserable in my day job, I would go to the bookstore at lunchtime and buy thrillers. I would read them on the train to and from work and during the lunch break. Anything for a few minutes of escape. That's the same feeling I try to give my readers now. I know the genre inside and out. If I had to write something else, I would have to read and learn that other genre and spend time doing things I don't love. In fact, I don't even know how you can read things you don't enjoy. I only give books a few pages and if they don't resonate, I stop reading. Life really is too short. You also need to run your own race and travel your own journey. If you try to write in a genre you are not immersed in, you will always be looking sideways at what other authors are doing, and that can cause comparisonitis — when you compare yourself to others, most often in an unfavorable way. Definitely not relaxing! Writing something you love has many intrinsic rewards other than sales. Writing is a career for many of us, but it's a passion first, and you don't want to feel like you've wasted your time on words you don't care about. “Write what you know” is terrible advice for a long-term career as at some point, you will run out of what you know. It should be “write what you want to learn about.” When I want to learn about a topic, I write a book on it because that feeds my curiosity and I love book research, it's how I enjoy spending my time, especially when I travel, which is also part of how I relax. If you write what you love and make it part of your lifestyle, you will be a far more relaxed author. Mark: It's common that writers are drawn into storytelling from some combination of passion, curiosity, and unrelenting interest. We probably read or saw something that inspired us, and we wanted to express those ideas or the resulting perspectives that percolated in our hearts and minds. Or we read something and thought, “Wow, I could do this; but I would have come at it differently or I would approach the situation or subject matter with my own flair.” So, we get into writing with passion and desire for storytelling. And then sometimes along the way, we recognize the critical value of having to become an entrepreneur, to understand the business of writing and publishing. And part of understanding that aspect of being an author is writing to market, and understanding shifts and trends in the industry, and adjusting to those ebbs and flows of the tide. But sometimes, we lose sight of the passion that drew us to writing in the first place. And so, writing the things that you love can be a beacon to keep you on course. I love the concept of “Do something that you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.” And that's true in some regard because I've always felt that way for almost my entire adult life. I've been very lucky. But at the same time, I work extremely hard at what I love. Some days are harder than others, and some things are really difficult, frustrating and challenging; but at the end of the day, I have the feeling of satisfaction that I spent my time doing something I believe in. I've been a bookseller my entire life even though I don't sell books in brick-and-mortar bookstores anymore—that act of physically putting books in people's hands. But to this day, what I do is virtually putting books in people's hands, both as an author and as an industry representative who is passionate about the book business. I was drawn to that world via my passion for writing. And that's what continues to compel me forward. I tried to leave the corporate world to write full time in 2018 but realized there was an intrinsic satisfaction to working in that realm, to embracing and sharing my insights and knowledge from that arena to help other writers. And I couldn't give that up. For me, the whole core, the whole essence of why I get up in the morning has to do with storytelling, creative inspiration, and wanting to inspire and inform other people to be the best that they can be in the business of writing and publishing. And that's what keeps me going when the days are hard. Passion as the inspiration to keep going There are always going to be days that aren't easy. There will be unexpected barriers that hit you as a writer. You'll face that mid-novel slump or realize that you have to scrap an entire scene or even plotline, and feel like going back and re-starting is just too much. You might find the research required to be overwhelming or too difficult. There'll be days when the words don't flow, or the inspiration that initially struck you seems to have abandoned you for greener pastures. Whatever it is, some unexpected frustration can create what can appear to be an insurmountable block. And, when that happens, if it's a project you don't love, you're more likely to let those barriers get in your way and stop you. But if it's a project that you're passionate about, and you're writing what you love, that alone can be what greases the wheels and helps reduce that friction to keep you going. At the end of the day, writing what you love can be a honing, grounding, and centering beacon that allows you to want to wake up in the morning and enjoy the process as much as possible even when the hard work comes along. “For me, relaxation comes from writing what I know and love and trusting the emergent process. As a discovery writer, I experience great joy when the story, characters and dialogue simply emerge in their own time and their own way. It feels wonderful.” — Valerie Andrews “Writing makes me a relaxed author. Just getting lost in a story of my own creation, discovering new places and learning what makes my characters tick is the best way I know of relaxing. Even the tricky parts, when I have no idea where I am going next, have a special kind of charm.” – Imogen Clark Write at your own pace Mark: Writing at your own pace will help you be a more relaxed author because you're not stressing out by trying to keep up with someone else. Of course, we all struggle with comparing ourselves to others. Take a quick look around and you can always find someone who has written more books than you. Nora Roberts, traditionally published author, writes a book a month. Lindsey Buroker, fantasy indie author, writes a book a month of over 100,000 words. If you compare yourself to someone else and you try to write at their pace, that is not going to be your relaxed schedule. On the other hand, if you compare yourself to Donna Tartt, who writes one book every decade, you might feel like some speed-demon crushing that word count and mastering rapid release. Looking at what others are doing could result in you thinking you're really slow or you could think that you're super-fast. What does that kind of comparison actually get you? I remember going to see a talk by Canadian literary author Farley Mowat when I was a young budding writer. I'll never forget one thing he said from that stage: “Any book that takes you less than four years to write is not a real book.” Young teenage Mark was devastated, hurt and disappointed to hear him say that because my favorite author at the time, Piers Anthony, was writing and publishing two to three novels a year. I loved his stuff, and his fantasy and science fiction had been an important inspiration in my writing at that time. (The personal notes I add to the end of my stories and novels came from enjoying his so much). That focus on there being only a single way, a single pace to write, ended up preventing me from enjoying the books I had already been loving because I was doing that comparisonitis Joanna talks about, but as a reader. I took someone else's perspective too much to heart and I let that ruin a good thing that had brought me personal joy and pleasure. It works the same way as a writer. Because we have likely developed a pattern, or a way that works for us that is our own. We all have a pace that we comfortably walk; a way we prefer to drive. A pattern or style of how and when and what we prefer to eat. We all have our own unique comfort food. There are these patterns that we're comfortable with, and potentially because they are natural to us. If you try to force yourself to write at a pace that's not natural to you, things can go south in your writing and your mental health. And I'm not suggesting any particular pace, except for the one that's most natural and comfortable to you. If writing fast is something that you're passionate about, and you're good at it, and it's something you naturally do, why would you stop yourself from doing that? Just like if you're a slow writer and you're trying to write fast: why are you doing that to yourself? There's a common pop song line used by numerous bands over the years that exhorts you to “shake what you got.” I like to think the same thing applies here. And do it with pride and conviction. Because what you got is unique and awesome. Own it, and shake it with pride. You have a way you write and a word count per writing session that works for you. And along with that, you likely know what time you can assign to writing because of other commitments like family time, leisure time, and work (assuming you're not a full-time writer). Simple math can provide you with a way to determine how long it will take to get your first draft written. So, your path and plans are clear. And you simply take the approach that aligns with your writer DNA. Understanding what that pace is for you helps alleviate an incredible amount of stress that you do not need to thrust upon yourself. Because if you're not going to be able to enjoy it while you're doing it, what's the point? Your pace might change project to project While your pace can change over time, your pace can also change project to project. And sometimes the time actually spent writing can be a smaller portion of the larger work involved. I was on a panel at a conference once and someone asked me how long it took to write my non-fiction book of ghost stories, Haunted Hamilton. “About four days,” I responded. And while that's true — I crafted the first draft over four long and exhausting days writing as much as sixteen hours each day — the reality was I had been doing research for months. But the pen didn't actually hit the paper until just a few days before my deadline to turn the book over to my editor. That was for a non-fiction book; but I've found I do similar things with fiction. I noodle over concepts and ideas for months before I actually commit words to the page. The reason this comes to mind is that I think it's important to recognize the way that I write is I first spend a lot of time in my head to understand and chew on things. And then by the time it comes to actually getting the words onto the paper, I've already done much of the pre-writing mentally. It's sometimes not fair when you're comparing yourself to someone else to look at how long they physically spend in front of a keyboard hammering on that word count, because they might have spent a significantly longer amount of a longer time either outlining or conceptualizing the story in their mind or in their heart before they sat down to write. So that's part of the pace, too. Because sometimes, if we only look at the time spent at the ‘writer's desk,' we fool ourselves when we think that we're a slow writer or a fast writer. Joanna: Your pace will change over your career My first novel took 14 months and now I can write a first draft in about six weeks because I have more experience. It's also more relaxing for me to write a book now than it was in the beginning, because I didn't know what I was doing back then. Your pace will change per project I have a non-fiction work in progress, my Shadow Book (working title), which I have started several times. I have about 30,000 words but as I write this, I have backed away from it because I'm (still) not ready. There's a lot more research and thinking I need to do. Similarly, some people take years writing a memoir or a book with such emotional or personal depth that it needs more to bring it to life. Your pace will also shift depending on where you are in the arc of life Perhaps you have young kids right now, or you have a health issue, or you're caring for someone who is ill. Perhaps you have a demanding day job so you have less time to write. Perhaps you really need extended time away from writing, or just a holiday. Or maybe there's a global pandemic and frankly, you're too stressed to write! The key to pacing in a book is variability — and that's true of life, too. Write at the pace that works for you and don't be afraid to change it as you need to over time. “I think the biggest thing for me is reminding myself that I'm in this to write. Sometimes I can get caught up in all the moving pieces of editing and publishing and marketing, but the longer I go without writing, or only writing because I have to get the next thing done instead of for enjoyment, the more stressed and anxious I become. But if I make time to fit in what I truly love, which is the process of writing without putting pressure on myself to meet a deadline, or to be perfect, or to meet somebody else's expectations — that's when I become truly relaxed.” – Ariele Sieling Write in a series (if you want to) Joanna: I have some stand-alone books but most of them are in series, both for non-fiction and for my fiction as J.F. Penn. It's how I like to read and write. As we draft this book, I'm also writing book 12 in my ARKANE series, Tomb of Relics. It's relaxing because I know my characters, I know my world; I know the structure of how an ARKANE story goes. I know what to put in it to please my readers. I have already done the work to set up the series world and the main characters and now all I need is a plot and an antagonist. It's also quicker to write and edit because I've done it before. Of course, you need to put in the work initially so the series comes together, but once you've set that all up, each subsequent book is easier. You can also be more relaxed because you already have an audience who will (hopefully) buy the book because they bought the others. You will know approximately how many sales you'll get on launch and there will be people ready to review. Writing in a non-fiction series is also a really good idea because you know your audience and you can offer them more books, products and services that will help them within a niche. While they might not be sequential, they should be around the same topic, for example, this is part of my Books for Authors series. Financially, it makes sense to have a series as you will earn more revenue per customer as they will (hopefully) buy more than one book. It's also easier and more relaxing to market as you can set one book to free or a limited time discount and drive sales through to other books in the series. Essentially, writing a book in a series makes it easier to fulfill both creative and financial goals. However, if you love to read and write stand-alone books, and some genres suit stand-alones better than series anyway, then, of course, go with what works for you! Mark: I like to equate this to no matter where you travel in the world, if you find a McDonald's you pretty much know what's on the menu and you know what to expect. When you write in a series, it's like returning to hang out with old friends. You know their backstory; you know their history so you can easily fall into a new conversation about something and not have to get caught up on understanding what you have in common. So that's an enormous benefit of relaxing into something like, “Oh, I'm sitting down over coffee, chatting with some old friends. They're telling me a new story about something that happened to them. I know who they are, I know what they're made out of.” And this new plot, this new situation, they may have new goals, they may have new ways they're going to grow as characters, but they're still the same people that we know and love. And that's a huge benefit that I only discovered recently because I'm only right now working on book four in my Canadian Werewolf series. Prior to that, I had three different novels that were all the first book in a series with no book two. And it was stressful for me. Writing anything seemed to take forever. I was causing myself anxiety by jumping around and writing new works as opposed to realizing I could go visit a locale I'm familiar and comfortable with. And I can see new things in the same locale just like sometimes you can see new things and people you know and love already, especially when you introduce something new into the world and you see how they react to it. For me, there's nothing more wonderful than that sort of homecoming. It's like a nostalgic feeling when you do that. I've seen a repeated pattern where writers spend years writing their first book. I started A Canadian Werewolf in New York in 2006 and I did not publish it until ten years later, after finishing it in 2015. (FYI, that wasn't my first novel. I had written three and published one of them prior to that). That first novel can take so long because you're learning. You're learning about your characters, about the craft, about the practice of writing, about the processes that you're testing along the way. And if you are working on your first book and it's taking longer than planned, please don't beat yourself up for that. It's a process. Sometimes that process takes more time. I sometimes wonder if this is related to our perception of time as we age. When you're 10 years old, a day compared to your lifetime is a significant amount of time, and thinking about a year later is considering a time that is one-tenth of your life. When you have a few more decades or more under your belt, that year is a smaller part of the whole. If you're 30, a year is only one-thirtieth of your life. A much smaller piece. Just having written more books, particularly in a series, removes the pressure of that one book to represent all of you as a writer. I had initial anxiety at writing the second book in my Canadian Werewolf series. Book two was more terrifying in some ways than book one because finally, after all this time, I had something good that I didn't want to ruin. Should I leave well enough alone? But I was asked to write a short story to a theme in an anthology, and using my main character from that first novel allowed me to discover I could have fun spending more time with these characters and this world. And I also realized that people wanted to read more about these characters. I didn't just want to write about them, but other people wanted to read about them too. And that makes the process so much easier to keep going with them. So one of the other benefits that helps to relax me as a writer working on a series is I have a better understanding of who my audience is, and who my readers are, and who will want this, and who will appreciate it. So I know what worked, I know what resonated with them, and I know I can give them that next thing. I have discovered that writing in a series is a far more relaxed way of understanding your target audience better. Because it's not just a single shot in the dark, it's a consistent on-going stream. Let me reflect on a bit of a caveat, because I'm not suggesting sticking to only a single series or universe. As writers, we have plenty of ideas and inspirations, and it's okay to embrace some of the other ones that come to us. When I think about the Canadian rock trio, Rush, a band that produced 19 studio albums and toured for 40 years, I acknowledge a very consistent band over the decades. And yet, they weren't the same band that they were when they started playing together, even though it was the same three guys since Neil Peart joined Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. They changed what they wrote about, what they sang about, themes, styles, approaches to making music, all of this. They adapted and changed their style at least a dozen times over the course of their career. No album was exactly like the previous album, and they experimented, and they tried things. But there was a consistency of the audience that went along with them. And as writers, we can potentially have that same thing where we know there are going to be people who will follow us. Think about Stephen King, a writer who has been writing in many different subjects and genres. And yet there's a core group of people who will enjoy everything he writes, and he has that Constant Reader he always keeps in mind. And so, when we write in a series, we're thinking about that constant reader in a more relaxed way because that constant reader, like our characters, like our worlds, like our universes, is like we're just returning to a comfortable, cozy spot where we're just going to hang out with some good friends for a bit. Or, as the contemplative Rush song Time Stand Still expresses, the simple comfort and desire of spending some quality time having a drink with a friend. Schedule time to fill the creative well and for rest and relaxation Mark: What we do as writers is quite cerebral, so we need to give ourselves mental breaks in the same way we need to sleep regularly. Our bodies require sleep. And it's not just physical rest for our bodies to regenerate, it's for our minds to regenerate. We need that to stay sane, to stay alive, to stay healthy. The reality for us as creatives is that we're writing all the time, whether or not we're in front of a keyboard or have a pen in our hand. We're always writing, continually sucking the marrow from the things that are happening around us, even when we're not consciously aware of it. And sometimes when we are more consciously aware of it, that awareness can feel forced. It can feel stressful. When you give yourself the time to just let go, to just relax, wonderful things can happen. And they can come naturally, never feeling that urgent sense of pressure. Downtime, for me, is making space for those magic moments to happen. I was recently listening to Episode 556 of The Creative Penn podcast where Joanna talked about the serendipity of those moments when you're traveling and you're going to a museum and you see something. And you're not consciously there to research for a book, but you see something that just makes a connection for you. And you would not have had that for your writing had you not given yourself the time to just be doing and enjoying something else. And so, whenever I need to resolve an issue or a problem in a project I'm writing, which can cause stress, I will do other things. I will go for a run or walk the dogs, wash the dishes or clean the house. Or I'll put on some music and sing and dance like nobody is watching or listening—and thank goodness for that, because that might cause them needless anxiety. The key is, I will do something different that allows my mind to just let go. And somewhere in the subconscious, usually the answer comes to me. Those non-cerebral activities can be very restorative. Yesterday, my partner Liz and I met her daughter at the park. And while we quietly waited, the two of us wordlessly enjoyed the sights and sounds of people walking by, the river in the background, the wind blowing through the leaves in the trees above us. That moment wasn't a purposeful, “Hey, we're going to chill and relax.” But we found about five minutes of restorative calm in the day. A brief, but powerful ‘Ah' moment. And when I got back to writing this morning, I drew upon some of the imagery from those few minutes. I didn't realize at the time I was experiencing the moment yesterday that I was going to incorporate some of that imagery in today's writing session. And that's the serendipity that just flows very naturally in those scheduled and even unscheduled moments of relaxation. Joanna: I separate this into two aspects because I'm good at one and terrible at the other! I schedule time to fill the creative well as often as possible. This is something that Julia Cameron advises in The Artist's Way, and I find it an essential part of my creative practice. Essentially, you can't create from an empty mind. You have to actively seek out ways to spark ideas. International travel is a huge part of my fiction inspiration, in particular. This has been impossible during the pandemic and has definitely impacted my writing. I also go to exhibitions and art galleries, as well as read books, watch films and documentaries. If I don't fill my creative well, then I feel empty, like I will never have another idea, that perhaps my writing life is over. Some people call that writer's block but I know that feeling now. It just means I haven't filled my creative well and I need to schedule time to do that so I can create again. Consume and produce. That's the balance you need in order to keep the creative well filled and the words flowing. In terms of scheduling time to relax instead of doing book research, I find this difficult because I love to work. My husband says that I'm like a little sports car that goes really, really fast and doesn't stop until it hits a wall. I operate at a high productivity level and then I crash! But the restrictions of the pandemic have helped me learn more about relaxation, after much initial frustration. I have walked in nature and lain in the garden in the hammock and recently, we went to the seaside for the first time in 18 months. I lay on the stones and watched the waves. I was the most relaxed I've been in a long time. I didn't look at my phone. I wasn't listening to a podcast or an audiobook. We weren't talking. We were just being there in nature and relaxing. Authors are always thinking and feeling because everything feeds our work somehow. But we have to have both aspects — active time to fill the creative well and passive time to rest and relax. “I go for lots of walks and hikes in the woods. These help me work out the kinks in my plots, and also to feel more relaxed! (Exercise is an added benefit!)” –T.W. Piperbrook Improve your writing process — but only if it fits with your lifestyle Joanna: A lot of stress can occur in writing if we try to change or improve our process too far beyond our natural way of doing things. For example, trying to be a detailed plotter with a spreadsheet when you're really a discovery writer, or trying to dictate 5,000 words per hour when you find it easier to hand write slowly into a journal. Productivity tips from other writers can really help you tweak your personal process, but only if they work for you — and I say this as someone who has a book on Productivity for Authors! Of course, it's a good idea to improve things, but once you try something, analyze whether it works for you — either with data or just how you feel. If it works, great. Adopt it into your process. If it doesn't work, then discard it. For example, I wrote my first novel in Microsoft Word. When I discovered Scrivener, I changed my process and never looked back because it made my life so much easier. I don't write in order and Scrivener made it easier to move things around. I also discovered that it was easier for me to get into my first draft writing and creating when I was away from the desk I use for business, podcasting, and marketing tasks. I started to write in a local cafe and later on in a co-working space. During the pandemic lockdown, I used specific playlists to create a form of separation as I couldn't physically go somewhere else. Editing is an important part of the writing process but you have to find what works for you, which will also change over time. Some are authors are more relaxed with a messy first draft, then rounds of rewrites while working with multiple editors. Others do one careful draft and then use a proofreader to check the finished book. There are as many ways to write as there are writers. A relaxed author chooses the process that works in the most effective way for them and makes the book the best it can be. Mark: When it comes to process, there are times when you're doing something that feels natural, versus times when you're learning a new skill. Consciously and purposefully learning new skills can be stressful; particularly because it's something we often put so much emphasis or importance upon. But when you adapt on-going learning as a normal part of your life, a natural part of who and what you are, that stress can flow away. I'm always about learning new skills; but over time I've learned how to absorb learning into my everyday processes. I'm a pantser, or discovery writer, or whatever term we can apply that makes us feel better about it. And every time I've tried to stringently outline a book, it has been a stressful experience and I've not been satisfied with the process or the result. Perhaps I satisfied the part of me that thought I wanted to be more like other writers, but I didn't satisfy the creative person in me. I was denying that flow that has worked for me. I did, of course, naturally introduce a few new learnings into my attempts to outline; so I stuck with those elements that worked, and abandoned the elements that weren't working, or were causing me stress. The thought of self-improvement often comes with images of blood, sweat, and tears. It doesn't have to. You don't have to bleed to do this; it can be something that you do at your own pace. You can do it in a way that you're comfortable with so it's causing you no stress, but allowing you to learn and grow and improve. And if it doesn't work but you force yourself to keep doing it because a famous writer or a six-figure author said, “this is the way to do it,” you create pressure. And when you don't do it that way, you can think of yourself as a failure as opposed to thinking of it as, “No, this is just the way that I do things.” When you accept how you do things, if they result in effectively getting things done and feeling good about it at the same time, you have less resistance, you have less friction, you have less tension. Constantly learning, adapting, and evolving is good. But forcing ourselves to try to be or do something that we are not or that doesn't work for us, that causes needless anxiety. “I think a large part of it comes down to reminding myself WHY I write. This can mean looking back at positive reviews, so I can see how much joy others get from my writing, or even just writing something brand new for the sake of exploring an idea. Writing something just for me, rather than for an audience, reminds me how much I enjoy writing, which helps me to unwind a bit and approach my projects with more playfulness.” – Icy Sedgwick You can find The Relaxed Author: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey on CreativePennBooks.com as well as on your favorite online store or audiobook platform, or order in your library or bookstore. The post The Relaxed Author Writing Tips With Joanna Penn and Mark Leslie Lefebvre first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly performing, but the real work happens behind the scenes? This episode dives into Michael Hyatt’s powerful concept of “Front Stage vs. Back Stage” work from his “Freedom Work” framework. We’ll explore how distinguishing between visible, high-impact tasks like delivering a presentation and essential, behind-the-scenes efforts like organizing travel […]

Tycoons are devoted to relentless optimization. If they are founders of a hotel chain, they just might delay the opening of a new property for two months if the marble they ordered for the restaurant is not the precise color. If they are a tech company founder, they'll insist on getting the product to Mona-Lisa-level exquisiteness before it's released (Steve Jobs wanted the icons on the iPhone to be so magical users would want to lick them). If they are entertainment titans they'll be relentless in making sure that their film or album is astonishingly well made, no matter how much they have to suffer to get the job done at rare-air standards.My latest book “The Wealth Money Can't Buy” is full of fresh ideas and original tools that I'm absolutely certain will cause quantum leaps in your positivity, productivity, wellness, and happiness. You can order it now by clicking here.FOLLOW ROBIN SHARMA:InstagramFacebookXYouTube

In this powerful episode of the Inside Personal Growth Podcast, host Greg Voisen sits down with Dr. Melissa Robinson Winemiller, author of The Empathic Leader, to explore why empathy is no longer a “soft skill,” but a strategic leadership advantage. Drawing from her personal journey—from classical musician to educator, researcher, and leadership consultant—Melissa shares how unempathetic leadership systems can derail careers, damage cultures, and stifle innovation. She explains how empathy is a learnable, actionable skill, rooted in perspective-taking, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. Listeners will gain deep insight into how empathetic leadership drives higher productivity, stronger cultures, lower turnover, and increased profitability, especially in an AI-driven world where empathy cannot be automated. This conversation challenges outdated command-and-control leadership models and offers a practical framework for leaders who want to lead with clarity, courage, and humanity

Send us a textWe see it constantly: salon owners saying they're overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, and unsure what to work on next. They're putting in the effort, working long hours, and still feeling behind, and it doesn't have to be that way.In this episode, we break down why overwhelm shows up so often for salon owners and why it's usually not a time or effort problem. We talk about bad advice, vague soundbites, echo chambers, and the pressure to do everything at once, and how all of that creates mental fatigue instead of progress.We also share practical ways to reduce overwhelm immediately: narrowing priorities, identifying what season your business is in, eliminating services and tasks that don't serve you, focusing on one problem at a time, and replacing multitasking with focused work that actually moves your business forward.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.If you're feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you slow the noise, regain clarity, and take back control — one decision at a time.Key TakeawaysOverwhelm is usually a priority problem, not a workload problem.Vague advice and soundbites create confusion, not clarity.Multitasking increases stress and reduces meaningful progress.Focused work outperforms scattered effort.Small wins build momentum; something is always better than nothing.Simplifying services and tasks reduces mental load.Every business moves through seasons; you can't work on all of them at once.Money, people, demand, and systems are the most common constraints.Systems reduce chaos and decision fatigue over time.Overwhelm fades when clarity, focus, and ownership increase.Time Stamps00:00 — Why salon owners feel overwhelmed 01:00 — Jen's opening take: saying no, staying in your lane 04:00 — Todd's opening takes: technician vs owner + complacency 06:00 — Bad advice, soundbites, and industry echo chambers 09:00 — Why vague guidance creates paralysis 11:00 — Multitasking, task-switching, and mental fatigue 13:00 — Focused work blocks and the “accomplished list” 15:00 — Small wins > doing nothing 16:00 — Confirmation bias and online noise 18:00 — Eliminating services, simplifying menus, reducing friction 20:00 — Business seasons: growth, repair, stabilization, preparation 22:00 — Stop trying to do every season at once 23:00 — Common constraints: money, people, demand, systems 25:00 — Systems reduce chaos and decision fatigue 27:00 — Avoidance, uncomfortable tasks, and leadership growth 29:00 — Final thoughts: focus, clarity, one step forwardLinks and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

Are you ready to embrace your unique strengths as an introverted leader and give yourself permission to shine? In this inspiring episode of The Quiet And Strong Podcast, host David Hall welcomes award-winning entrepreneur, strategist, and TEDx speaker Courtney Daniels for an empowering conversation all about thriving as a confident, creative introvert.Tune in to discover why introverts don't lack confidence—they simply need permission and systems that support their authentic energy. Courtney Daniels shares her journey from behind-the-scenes powerhouse to permission coach, teaching introverts how to build their own paths to success and step up to the mic without compromising who they are. You'll learn practical strategies for organizing your life and work to match your strengths, setting boundaries that nurture your well-being, and embracing multifunctional passions without apology.This episode is perfect for anyone looking to amplify their voice, create systems for success, and honor what truly lights them up—no matter where they fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum. If you're seeking encouragement, energy-saving strategies, or just a reminder that your quiet power matters, this is the episode to listen to.Give yourself permission to shine—and be strong.Episode Link: QuietandStrong.com/254Courtney Daniel is an award-winning entrepreneur, strategist, and TEDx speaker with over 20 years of experience transforming chaos into clarity for Emmy Award-winning professionals, multi-million dollar founders, and visionary creative teams. Personally recognized for designing a U.S. Postal Service stamp and featured in outlets like Huffington Post and Entrepreneur on Fire, she excels in executive administration, strategic branding, product launches, and seamless operational systems. A proud multipassionate introvert, Courtney leverages deep listening, intentional creation, and authentic connection to help creative leaders step confidently from behind the scenes and lead with vision, integrity, and quiet power.Connect with Courtney: LinkedInSend us a text- - -Contact the Host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast:David Hall Author, Speaker, Educator, Podcaster quietandstrong.comGobio.link/quietandstrongdavid [at] quietandstrong.com NOTE: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Take the FREE Personality Assessment: Typefinder Personality Assessment Follow David on your favorite social platform:Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube Get David's book:Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts Get Quiet & Strong Merchandise

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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3222: Laura Stack explains how true focus demands more than willpower, it requires reflective thinking, the metacognitive skill of analyzing your thoughts to improve productivity and decision-making. By regularly stepping back to evaluate systems and habits, professionals can streamline their work, limit distractions, and sharpen their ability to act decisively under pressure. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://theproductivitypro.com/blog/2017/07/focus-and-the-role-of-reflective-thinking/ Quotes to ponder: "No matter how hard you work, if you can't maintain a tight focus on the key activities that directly affect your organization's success, you'll never perform up to par." "Long-term success requires you to occasionally step back and look at the big picture so you can then hone in on the 'problem children' in your workflow." "Reflective thinking represents a process of learning from experience." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julie Solomon didn't just see entrepreneurs struggling with Instagram marketing; she lived the frustration herself. Despite growing an audience, her revenue stalled until she invested $25K in high-level mentorship and uncovered the real drivers of social media growth. Within nine months, she scaled from $250K to $1.3M and now shares her strategy with other creator entrepreneurs. In this episode, Julie reveals how to build a magnetic Instagram brand, boost engagement, and convert followers into paying customers regardless of your audience size. In this episode, Hala and Julie will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:52) Redefining Visibility in Influencer Marketing (07:53) The Importance of Value-Driven Content (12:38) Foundations for Magnetic Instagram Branding (19:05) Building a Profitable Instagram Ecosystem (26:19) Automating Instagram Sales and Messaging (35:46) Monetizing Small Audiences on Social Media (48:07) Marketing Tips for Boosting Engagement (52:05) Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Mastermind (59:23) Manifestation Practices for Entrepreneurs' Success Julie Solomon is a brand strategist, bestselling author, and host of the Woman of Influence podcast, where she helps entrepreneurs grow their visibility and monetize their influence. A trusted voice for aspiring influencers and established creatives, she is known for her expertise in content creation, social media strategy, and personal branding. Julie has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Business Insider, and was named one of the top 100 leaders in influence marketing by Influence Co. Sponsored By: Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING  Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting.  Revolve - Head to REVOLVE.com/PROFITING and take 15% off your first order with code PROFITING  DeleteMe - Remove your personal data online. Get 20% off DeleteMe consumer plans at to joindeleteme.com/profiting  Spectrum Business - Visit Spectrum.com/FreeForLife to learn how you can get Business Internet Free Forever. Airbnb - Find yourself a cohost at airbnb.com/host  Northwest Registered Agent - Build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes at northwestregisteredagent.com/paidyap Framer - Publish beautiful and production-ready websites. Go to Framer.com/design and use code PROFITING Intuit QuickBooks - Bring your money and your books together in one platform at QuickBooks.com/money  Resources Mentioned: Julie's Website: juliesolomon.net  Julie's Instagram: instagram.com/julssolomon  Julie's Podcast, Woman of Influence: bit.ly/WOI-apple  Julie's Book, Get What You Want: bit.ly/GWUWant  Julie's Program, The Revenue Growth Lab: juliesolomon.net/profiting   Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals  Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap YouTube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting Newsletter - youngandprofiting.co/newsletter  LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services: yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new  Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship Podcast, Business, Business Podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal Development, Starting a Business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side Hustle, Startup, Mental Health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth Mindset, SEO, E-commerce, LinkedIn, Digital Marketing, Content Creator, Storytelling, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Communication, Video Marketing, Social Proof, Marketing Trends, Digital Trends, Content Marketing, Online Marketing, Marketing Podcast