Podcast appearances and mentions of taylor jacobson

Episode Notes In this episode of Workplace Hugs, Shannon and Rami chat with Taylor Jacobson, founder of FocusMate, about how virtual co-working can combat procrastination and isolation. Taylor shares the science behind "body doubling" and how having another person present helps regulate your nervous system, making it easier to focus and get things done.

Today we have Taylor Jacobson joining us, founder of Focusmate, to explore why hyper‑connectivity can actually diminish our accountability and personal growth—and how a simple “body‑doubling” video call can cure loneliness and procrastination.Taylor Jacobson shares the origins of Focusmate, the neuroscience of focus, inspiring user success stories, and practical tips to reclaim your life‑force energy.➡️ https://focusmate.com

Today, on Notable Leaders' Radio, I speak with Taylor Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Focusmate. He highlights the importance of embracing collaboration, asking for help without shame, and gives tools for overcoming procrastination. In today's episode, we discuss: . Embrace Being a Beginner. Don't be afraid to start something new, even if you're not great at it initially. The only way to improve is through consistent practice, and giving yourself permission to have a “shitty first draft” is crucial for growth. Ask for Help Without Shame. Embrace collaboration by asking others for support or to simply keep you company while you work. Recognize that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness, and can boost productivity and focus. Prioritize Tasks That Energize You. Focus on doing tasks that bring you energy and passion, and don't be afraid to delegate the ones that drain you. Asking for help not only lightens your load but allows others to shine in their strengths. Guest Bio: Taylor is on a mission to heal the culture of fear and shame around productivity and help people give their gifts with love and confidence.  Focusmate offers a supportive online community where open-minded people can experience the joy of getting things done together. To date, Focusmate has hosted over 9 million co-working sessions for members in over 170 countries worldwide.  Taylor Jacobson's work and perspectives on productivity, authenticity, and the future of work have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, BBC, NPR, GQ, CNN, and more. Website: https://focusmate.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjacobson/  Belinda's Bio: Belinda is a sought-after Leadership Advisor, Coach, Consultant and Keynote speaker and a leading authority in guiding global executives, professionals and small business owners to become today's highly respected leaders. As the Founder of BelindaPruyne.com, Belinda works with such organizations as IBM, Booz Allen Hamilton, BBDO, The BAM Connection, Hilton, Leidos, Yale School of Medicine, Landis, and the Discovery Channel. Most recently, she redesigned two global internal advertising agencies for Cella, a leader in creative staffing and consulting. She is a founding C-suite and executive management coach for Chief, the fastest-growing executive women's network. Since 2020, Belinda has delivered more than 72 interviews with top-level executives and business leaders who share their inner journey to success; letting you know the truth of what it took to achieve their success in her Notable Leaders Radio podcast. She gained a wealth of expertise in the client services industry as Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management at Grey Advertising, managing 500 people around the globe. With over 20+ years of leadership development experience, she brings industry-wide recognition to the executives and companies she works with. Whether a startup, turnaround, acquisition, or global corporation, executives and companies continue to turn to Pruyne for strategic and impactful solutions in a rapidly shifting economy and marketplace. Website: Belindapruyne.com Email Address: hello@belindapruyne.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindapruyne  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotableLeadersNetwork.BelindaPruyne/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/belindapruyne?lang=en  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindapruyne/   

Did you know there is science behind increased productivity and virtual co-working? Listen as Taylor Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Focusmate, chats with Melody Rawlings, Director of CAVO, about the importance of factors such as pre-commitment, implementation intensions, social pressure, and accountability.

In episode 12, Taylor Jacobson, CEO of Focusmate, joins us to explore virtual coworking and the power of accountability. We discuss who Focusmate serves and its business model, as well as delve into the complexities of focus and procrastination in remote work. From personal entrepreneurial experiences to the future of virtual coworking, this episode offers insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities of remote collaboration.Focusmate:https://www.focusmate.com/Taylor Jacobsonhttps://x.com/taylorjacobsonWant to dive deeper? Read more about remote work on the Remotely Serious website.Check Out Curtis' Stuff: Personal Site The Origin Rockwell Media

Garnet Trust Hour on 107.5: USC women's soccer's Taylor Jacobson joins This program is sponsored by Garnet Trust and airs from 10 am to 11 am EST on Tuesday and Thursday, on 107.5 The Game. Learn how you can connect with and support South Carolina student-athletes through Garnet Trust for as little as $10/month at GarnetTrust.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who wants more ideal clients in their inbox? And signing contracts? That's what I thought. If only wishing made it happen. The reality is ideal clients are hard to get if hope is your strategy. That's why I asked the one and only Katy Taylor Jacobson to join me in a conversation about: - What is an “ideal client” (besides one with a big budget)? - How do you attract them in the first place? - Why do they want to connect with your brand? - And how to deal with behind-the-scenes decision-makers who are less than ideal? Oh, and we're sharing information on our new mastermind, Social and Sway, co-created with Persephone and her team at The Media Socialites. Get more information about the mastermind at www.socialandsway.com

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Today on the podcast, Mitko (@mitkoka) is joined by Taylor Jacobson (@TaylorJacobson), the founder, and CEO of FocusMate - a virtual coworking community with a mission to help everyone do their best work. FocusMate connects thousands of people across 193 countries worldwide to sit side-by-side, via video, to keep each other company, cheer each other on, and hold one another accountable while working remotely.During this episode, Taylor shared his remote work journey before starting FocusMate, why so many people struggle with focus and procrastination, and some easy ways to start improving our productivity.

Ever check your to-do list and see small tasks like “send email”, “send gift”, and “pay online bill”, and get EXTREMELY overwhelmed? “How can it be THIS hard?!” you think. Sending an email takes 5 mins! You can send an e-gift! And the online bill is just entering your credit card info. But somehow, you wait until the last minute, when the pressure is on, the timer is counting down, and the credit card company sends a “late payment” notice. You may be someone who needs accountability to get tasks done. Or a body double. This means you need someone in front of you or next to you to create some natural pressure to complete a task. This is especially helpful if you have ADHD or are neurodivergent. But how do you just find a person to work with you on a Tuesday at 2:30 in the afternoon? Enter: FocusMate. On this week's episode, Chelsea sits down with Taylor, the CEO and Founder of FocusMate, to discuss: Where did the idea of FocusMate come from? Getting stuck and how to get yourself unstuck with tangible steps The importance of having company, even without communication (aka accountability partner) The pros and cons of working with a buddy while getting your own business done and why is it important to set up structure The behavioral science and studies around accountability Starting from the ground up and building the muscles of what you want to do without an expert background Advice to listeners - "Learning is the most important thing. Do whatever you need to do to know better." “...I don't know if there's anything as powerful as that to help the nervous system to tell the body really that it is safe. And so, when you get on a Focusmate session, really the first thing that happens is somebody smiling at you and greeting you. And there's just such a warm culture…so that shifts the blood flow back into the brain and optimizes your body for focus and for creative tasks as opposed to survival tasks.” - Taylor Jacobson Try FocusMate here to 10X your productivity! CONNECT WITH TAYLOR: Website: https://www.focusmate.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjacobson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/taylorjacobson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorejacobson/ CONNECT WITH CHELSEA: Website: www.chelseariffe.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseariffe/ 1:1 Coaching Open for 2 more spots until 2023 - apply right here **NEW** Leave a voice note to the pod! Drop a Q on podcasting, dating, travel, money - whatever's on your mind to get Chelsea non-expert (sometimes expert!) opinion on it. Resources mentioned: Teresa Amabile research on creativity Simon Sinek - Start With Why Jim Rohn - Rule of Five Mark Manson Lean Startup Methodology Transcript of Episode

If you've ever wondered what can explain the different states of your performance, from feeling stuck or paralyzed to feeling creatively and energetically in flow or on fire, the answers are all inside this episode with my special guest Taylor Jacobson. Taylor gives us a masterclass on the relationship between productivity and the nervous system. Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of why we react to stress the way that we do. Taylor Jacobson is the Founder & CEO of Focusmate (www.focusmate.com), a virtual coworking community with a mission to help everyone do their best work. Thousands of people in 193 countries worldwide sit side-by-side, via video, to keep each other company, cheer each other on, and hold one another accountable. Taylor has been featured in The New Yorker, CNN, The Guardian, NPR, Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, and many more.Timestamps:• [4:38] Taylor shares why: “That was all just this cover story for feeling completely spun out in my life and feeling like a total failure.” • [7:23] Taylor explains when he discovered his true purpose “to help people be who they want to be…”• [11:13] “I went through this whole arc of like, grief and empathy, and then like, joy and possibility.“• [20:02] “The human nervous system is not an individual nervous system, it is a collective nervous system.”For more information on the Make Time for Success podcast, visit: https://www.maketimeforsuccesspodcast.comGain Access to Dr. Christine Li's Free Resource Library where she offers you 12 downloadable tools and templates to help you bypass the impulse to procrastinate. CLICK HERE NOW TO CLAIM YOUR FREE RESOURCES: https://procrastinationcoach.mykajabi.com/freelibraryTo work with Dr. Li on a weekly basis in her coaching and accountability program, please register for The Success Lab here: https://www.procrastinationcoach.com/labConnect with Us!Dr. Christine Li -Website: https://www.procrastinationcoach.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/procrastinationcoachInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/procrastinationcoach/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@procrastinationcoachTaylor Jacobson - Website: https://www.focusmate.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjacobson/

After Taylor Jacobson started to work remotely and could not find an effective tool to help with his procrastination, he created it himself. Focusmate aims to increase remote workers' well-being and productivity by pairing them up in co-working sessions. In this episode, Taylor shares scientific insights behind stress and productivity and gives tips on how remote workers can leverage them. Topics we also discussed:The founding story of FocusmateStress signals to look out forDefining focusThe science of FocusmateCheck the full transcript here.Stay tuned for the next episode with Kim Hansen from Cake Equity on structuring equity in a remote team. 

John Lee is a lifelong nomad and founder of "The Work From Anywhere Team", which aims to solve tax complexity for a global remote workforce. In this episode, John shares his insights on tax laws and risks to avoid when employing a global remote team. Topics we also discussed: Emerging tax risks for Remote WorkersTax loopholes you should avoidThe 4 ways of setting up taxes for a global remote teamHow governments and companies will adapt their tax structures to remote workCheck the full transcript here. Stay tuned for the next episode with Taylor Jacobson from Focusmate on increasing productivity as a remote worker. 

Did you ever have a great study buddy? Someone in high school or university who made those long sessions on the books a little less punishing?  What did that person actually do? Were they giving you tips? Or was it enough to just have them… there? I know I work with a whole lot more concentration and energy when my teammates are around.  And Taylor Jacobson does too - he had such a great study buddy in college that he turned the experience into a company. Taylor explains how Focusmate works, and crucially, details the processes that go into turning a regular social interaction into an accountability tool.  Connect with Taylor on Twitter or try Focusmate here You can find the full interview here: Focus! Why Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate to force himself to concentrate *** My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here. Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin Twitter Instagram    If you're looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au CREDITS Produced by Inventium Host: Amantha Imber Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

Did you ever have a great study buddy? Someone in high school or university who made those long sessions on the books a little less punishing? What did that person actually do? Were they giving you tips? Or was it enough to just have them… there? I know I work with a whole lot more concentration and energy when my teammates are around. And Taylor Jacobson does too - he had such a great study buddy in college that he turned the experience into a company. Taylor explains how Focusmate works, and crucially, details the processes that go into turning a regular social interaction into an accountability tool. Connect with Taylor on Twitter or try Focusmate hereYou can find the full interview here: Focus! Why Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate to force himself to concentrate***My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.Connect with me on the socials:LinkedinTwitterInstagram  If you're looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.coVisit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.auCREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Focusmate is all about distraction-free productivity. As a creative entrepreneur, you often get pulled away from your work because of the other things you need to do to keep your business running. Taylor founded the company on the principle that working with others and being “held accountable” for your productivity leads to improved work. And it took off. As the company's popularity rose, Taylor found himself in the same position as his clients. Today, we talk about the rise of Focusmate and what it really takes to prioritize properly. Check out more at https://www.focusmate.com/ and create a free account to get a taste of enhanced productivity thanks to a “live” co-worker. You can also find him on LinkedIn on Twitter.TIMELINE:[1:20] The history of caring about humans and creating better lives for everyone- of “getting out of our own way.”[6:25] Something to offer in a world with need. Productivity is more than just tools and techniques. It's filling in the gaps with a human connection and understanding our differences.[10:15] We want to look at the tools and duplicate them, but life is messier than that.[11:45] Working in a corporate environment showed Taylor that lacking support meant a lack of performance. It informed his ideals of coming together to be better humans.[14:47] Focusmate came from perseverance and luck. It connects the focus comradery that the service offers.[19:27] While the press and interest have certainly gone up, Taylor thinks of it as a welcoming party for those discovering the benefits of Focusmate. Creating a great remote experience is crucial now more than ever.[22:40] COVID has opened up a window to vulnerability, and it's stripped away a lot of norms and status quos.[25:05] Mental health and remote work have an interesting relationship. The challenge of learning these new life skills, especially through a pandemic, is something that we're all dealing with.[28:16] Understanding where you work best is crucial. How do you respond to working remotely? It can be a huge struggle for some, and it's important to know what works for you and ask for it.[31:20] Now is when employers must make a paradigm shift. We need to shake things up. We've never had more permission to do so than now

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Have you worked with someone whose abilities were so awe-inspiring that they started to rub off on you? We've all had bosses, co-workers, friends or study mates whose discipline we've tried to tap into before. And Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate so he could do that forever! After excelling in college because of his carefully selected study mates, Taylor realised his tactics could be used by anyone, and for any kind of work. He details how and why a Focusmate session works, how he uses them himself, and how he balances all that work with restful, restorative time off. He also shares how a new community has changed his life and the way he thinks about and tackles goals. Connect with Taylor on Twitter or LinkedinVisit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.auIf you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co   CREDITSProduced by InventiumHost: Amantha ImberProduction support from Deadset StudiosEpisode Producers: Jenna Koda and Liam RiordanSound Engineer: Martin ImberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you worked with someone whose abilities were so awe-inspiring that they started to rub off on you? We've all had bosses, co-workers, friends or study mates whose discipline we've tried to tap into before.  And Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate so he could do that forever! After excelling in college because of his carefully selected study mates, Taylor realised his tactics could be used by anyone, and for any kind of work.  He details how and why a Focusmate session works, how he uses them himself, and how he balances all that work with restful, restorative time off.  He also shares how a new community has changed his life and the way he thinks about and tackles goals.  Connect with Taylor on Twitter or Linkedin Visit amanthaimber.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a short monthly newsletter that contains three cool things that I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co     CREDITS Produced by Inventium Host: Amantha Imber Production support from Deadset Studios Episode Producers: Jenna Koda and Liam Riordan Sound Engineer: Martin Imber Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taylor Jacobson is the CEO and Founder of Focusmate (www.focusmate.com), a virtual coworking community with a mission to help everyone do their best work. Thousands of people in 193 countries worldwide sit side-by-side, via video, to keep each other company, cheer each other on, and hold one another accountable. Taylor is a passionate voice on creating soulful work and workplaces and has been featured in The New Yorker, CNN, The Guardian, NPR, Fast Company, Bloomberg Businessweek, and more.In this episode, Eric and Taylor discuss his company, Focusmate, along with many useful ideas for designing the life you want to live.But wait – there's more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It's that simple and we'll give you good stuff as a thank you!Taylor Jacobson and I Discuss Tools to Find Focus and Accountability and…His company, Focusmate, that he started to help himself and others to become more productiveThe importance of feeling safe in a community in helping to accomplish your goalsProcrastination is an expression of feeling unsafeHow it's difficult to focus when you're feeling stressed or anxiousHow having a morning routine is grounding and signals our body we're safe and able to get startedDesigning a life that demands what you want to giveNoticing when you need to make a shift and reinvent yourselfThe ability to focus and the correlation to our nervous systemFight or flight impulses Learning to experience and release these energy forcesHis choice to find the optimal environment to do the important inner work he desiredSpiritual practices and choosing and trusting your inner truthUnderstanding that our experiences inform the gifts that we can give to the world How living in fear limits our ability to share our unique giftsTaylor Jacobson Links:Taylor's WebsiteTwitterFacebookWhen you purchase products and/or services from the sponsors of this episode, you help support The One You Feed. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!If you enjoyed this conversation with Taylor Jacobson you might also enjoy these other episodes:How to Focus and Accomplish Goals with Emily BalcetisChris Bailey on Focus, Productivity, and MeditationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Saas Company tells us how they leverage a Facebook Group to create their product perfect it and create a culture of belonging. In this episode with Taylor Jacobson, the CEO of Focusmate. We get a clear picture of how any company can leverage a Facebook Group to turn their product or service into a movement and culture of excellence. Taylor gives us a colorful picture on the power of building a community and his focus on making it interactive and inclusive Some of what you will learn in this episode How to fill your group with targeted members How to validate an idea How to get real-time feedback on your products and services How to create a sense of belonging and much more Try Focusmate for free! https://www.focusmate.com Join Focusmate's Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/focusmate Want to connect?  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asherefried Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asher-fried-01101b158/ Email: Usherfried@gmail.com I really hope to hear from you soon! Enjoy!!

Taylor Jacobson joins us to talk about groundedness, vulnerability, and accountability on his journey to founding Focusmate.

Taylor Jacobson joins us to talk about groundedness, vulnerability, and accountability on his journey to founding Focusmate.

Taylor Jacobson is the founder & CEO of Focusmate (www.focusmate.com), a virtual coworking community on a mission to help everyone do their best work. Thousands of people in 160+ countries sit side-by-side, via video, to keep each other company, cheer each other on, and hold one another accountable. He's been featured in The New Yorker, CNN, The Guardian, Bloomberg Businessweek, and more.In this episode, Taylor & I discuss how healing trauma can lead you to become more productive, how spirituality ties into your business, and the importance of staying true to your internal values as you navigate the world in your career and relationships.If you're someone who has had to adapt to life as a virtual worker in the past year and want to learn more about Focusmate or the person behind it, then please welcome Taylor Jacobson.Connect with Taylor:FocusmateLinkedInTwitterArticles:Has the Self-Improvement Community Become Too Obsessed with Meditation?5 Practical Tips to Stay Productive When You're Feeling Anxious or DepressedOpportunism vs. Shiny Object Syndrome: Know the Subtle Difference

Don't miss out on the next WeAreLATech podcast episode, get notified by signing up here http://wearelatech.com/podcastWelcome to WeAreLATech's Los Angeles Tech Community Spotlight!   “Remix: Taylor Jacobson, Alex Loukissas, and Tito Melega”WeAreLATech Podcast is a WeAreTech.fm production.To support our podcast go to http://wearelatech.com/believe To be featured on the podcast go to http://wearelatech.com/feature-your-la-startup/Want to be featured in the WeAreLATech Community? Create your profile here http://wearelatech.com/communityHost,Espree Devorahttps://twitter.com/espreedevorahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/espreeGuest,Taylor Jacobsonhttps://twitter.com/taylorjacobsonGuest,Alex Loukissashttps://alexloukissas.com/Guest,Tito Melegahttps://www.titomelega.com/For a calendar of all LA Startup events go to, http://WeAreLATech.comTo further immerse yourself into the LA Tech community go to http://wearelatech.com/vipLinks Mentioned:Focusmate, https://www.focusmate.com/WeAreLATech Focusmate Group, http://wearelatech.com/coworkingCellars.LA, https://cellars.la/A Mask For All, https://amaskforall.com/Credits:Produced and Hosted by Espree Devora, http://espreedevora.comStory Produced, Edited and Mastered by Cory Jennings, https://www.coryjennings.com/Production and Voiceover by Adam Carroll, http://www.ariacreative.ca/Team support by Janice GeronimoMusic by Jay Huffman, https://soundcloud.com/jayhuffmanShort Title: Taylor Jacobson, Alex Loukissas, and Tito Melega

For years I’ve been wanting to write a book but I could never sit still long enough to write it. I even tried to hire somebody to sit and write with me. It was too awkward to write together. I tried to hire someone to write for me. I didn’t like their writing. Finally, over COVID, I used something called Focusmate and I freaking wrote the book! Today I invited the founder of Focusmate to find out how he built it. Taylor Jacobson is the founder of Focusmate, virtual coworking that helps you get things done. Taylor Jacobson is the founder of Focusmate, virtual coworking that helps you get things done. Sponsored byHostGator – Ready to take your website to the next level? Whether you’re a first-time blogger or an experienced web pro, HostGator has all the tools you need to create a great-looking website or online store. A wide range of options includes cloud-based web hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. Founded in 2002, HostGator is the perfect web partner for business owners and individuals seeking hands-on support. Visit www.hostgator.com/mixergy to see what HostGator can do for your website. Vervoe – If you’re considering hiring, use Vervoe to find the best candidate based on performance. Vervoe uses skills assessments that showcase the talent of every candidate so you can make better hiring decisions. Mixergy listeners who sign-up for the free three-month trial will also get a 30-min complimentary consulting session with our Customer Success team member. More interviews -> https://mixergy.com/moreint Rate this interview -> https://mixergy.com/rateint

Taylor Jacobson, CEO and Founder of Focusmate talks with Digital Mindfulness about the importance of digital accountability in helping us to do our best work, and how solo remote work may not be all it's cracked up to be.

Taylor Jacobson is the founder of Focusmate (www.focusmate.com) a remote coworking community where people get things done, together. He's a trained executive coach with clients like Yale, Cornell, and Wharton, a wannabe adventurer, and a recovering pizza addict turned holistic health aspirant. He's been featured in The New Yorker, CNN, The Guardian, BBC, and more. Today we talk about, unscheduled downtime, accountability, our zone(s) of focus, anxiety, and how we Get Sh*t Done.  Enjoy! ----------  ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION*** In this episode Peter & Taylor discuss:    :40  -  Intro and welcome Focusmate founder Taylor Jacobson  [Thank you to Lisa Marks for introducing us!] 2:46  -  On Focusmate – what it is,  how and why you created it. 5:08  -  Did you find this type of focus tool was something you needed, and was that why you created it? 9:02  -  On societal (go-go-go) mentality and how Focusmate taps into the concept of accountability without being overbearing, hitting the sweet spot of good middle-ground 12:56  -  On sense of pride upon completion of a project/reward, and for Focusmate’s repeat customers, how it becomes a lifestyle tool to stay organized and accountable 14:46 -  On Focusmate session completion and the positivity that goes along with it 15:02  -  On advantageous results from frequent use of Focusmate sessions 16:00  -  On the concept of scheduling, and it’s vital importance for people with ADD/ADHD  18:01  -  How do people find you and learn more and reach out to you?  @TaylorJascobson on Twitter or LinkedIN   People can head over to www.focusmate.com to sign up. Follow them on twitter @Focusmate  For subscribers of this podcast! You can sign up and enter coupon code:  FTN  for your FREE month of Focusmate Turbo!  19:15  -  Thank you Taylor! And thank YOU for subscribing, reviewing and listening. Your reviews are working! Even if you’ve reviewed us before, would you please write even a short one for this episode? Each review that you post helps to ensure that word will continue to spread, and that we will all be able to reach & help more people! You can always reach me via peter@shankman.com or @petershankman on all of the socials. You can also find us at @FasterThanNormal on all of the socials. As always, leave us a comment below and please drop us a review on iTunes and of course, subscribe to the podcast if you haven’t already! As you know, the more reviews we get, the more people we can reach. Help us to show the world that ADHD is a gift, not a curse! Do you know of anyone you think should be on the FTN podcast? Shoot us a note, we’d love to hear! 19:38  -  [Hey thanks a bunch Peter! It’s true @stevenbyrom is totally looking for more work] STAY HEALTHY - STAY SAFE - PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK.. until next time! 20:44-  Faster Than Normal Podcast info & credits   TRANSCRIPT:  Hey, Hey, what's up everyone.?Happy, happy day. Hope you're having a wonderful day, my name is Peter Shankman and you are listening to another episode of Faster Than Normal. We believe that ADD, ADHD, anything in the neurodiverse world, can be a gift, if you know how to use it.   That doesn't mean we don't have problems, it doesn't mean we don't want to throw things against the wall alot of times it doesn't mean our brains aren't incredibly weird creatures that seem to have their own wants and desires, no matter what we try to do, that all still exists, but we don't believe that neuro-diversity is as bad as for instance, the people on Reddit make it out to be. I personally think that neuro-diversity is pretty cool. So I want to welcome you to another episode. I'm glad you're here.  Again, my name is Peter Shankman.  I am joined today by Taylor Jacobs. We're going to call this the “Get Shit Done,” episode or GSD episode, and we're going to talk to Taylor Jacobson, who founded a company called https://www.focusmate.com/.  Focusmate is a remote co-working community and we'll let him tell you all about that, but I love the idea, shout out to my friend, Lisa Marks, who I'm pretty sure Lisa introduced us, am I right? Yeah. Shout out to Lisa Marshall, who I also found out it was just, she gets some sort of a, I'm totally going to screw this up, she got some sort of award today. She was listed as one of the, I don't know, some designer to watch or something,  I don't know, she sends me texts all the time and I read them and then I kind of forget about them, but I do want to congratulate her on winning some sort of, uh, Women in Design Leadership Committee and Advisory Council there, I looked up the text. Congratulations, Lisa, and thank you for turning me on tyo Taylor. Taylor has, is a trained executive coach. He has clients like, yeah, Cornell, Wharton. He's a wanna be adventure and he calls himself a recovering pizza addict, turned holistic health aspitant.  I hate every single one of those words, dude. I am, I am I, you don't recover from pizza, pizza gets you. And it's just, it just, is, so we're going to talk about that. It's all bullshit. There has no, no not okay. He's been in the https://www.newyorker.com/ ,   https://www.cnn.com/ ,  https://www.theguardian.com/us ,   https://www.bbc.com/  and more.   Taylor, welcome to Faster Than  Normal.  Thank you, Peter.  I am thrilled to have you. I love the concept of Focusmate. Tell us before you, I mean, tell us a little about what it is that... I want to find out how you created it, because it seems like something that everyone needs beyond all conceivable belief.  So tell us, tell us about, tell us about it and then tell us about why you created it.   Yeah, so we'll give a quick overview of what it actually is. So we, we call it virtual co-working, but, but basically you and a, motivating buddy, an accountability buddy, get on a 50 minute video call where you hold each other accountable and you keep each other company while you each work on your own stuff, your own projects.  Um, so, you know, our, our, our application online. It's, you know, you basically schedule anytime you want to get work done, you just book an appointment. There's people available all over the world, 24/7.  Um, and you get matched up with somebody awesome, and when your appointment starts, you greet each other and really in like a minute or less, you share what you are planning to work on, and you might write it down in the chat to be a little extra accountable, and then you just get to work.  Most people mute themselves. Um, and your partner is there. You can see them. Um, I, for instance, I’ll put my partner on a second screen so I can see them while I'm working on my main screen, and you just do your work and you might update each other.  “Hey, I just finished you know,  my first task. I wrote my to-do list and now I'm moving on to outlining this blog post.”  And, but you're not talking, you're um, you're just sitting there quietly working sort of side by side, if you will. And at the end of the 50 minutes, a bell goes off, um, and you come back to say hi to your partner again, and just say, “hey, how'd it go?”  And you have this moment of reflection and it's not meant to be punitive or anything like that.  It's really just checking in and, and, um, and hopefully celebrating a little before you go on your respective way. And, and, you know, we do 50 minutes. That's the only format we offer at the moment, um, but one of the nice things about it is a lot of people do Focusmate sessions back to back. Um, so it sort of builds, builds in a….break. You can go get a snack or whatever, and then get back to it. So I'll leave it there, but that is what Focusmate is, in a nutshell. I love the concept. I mean, I, first of all, I imagine, I imagine the person on the second screen, sort of watching it from above like, “Oh, look, God's here.” I love the concept, you know, for, for a lot, because I run a mastermind and, and it's, I’ve…. I've stopped calling the mastermind of late and started calling it an accountability group because that's really what it is.  No guys, I need to make sure that I do “X” - someone make sure by Thursday that a... bug me on Thursday that I've done “Y” right?  and I love the concept of doing it in real time. That is, that is brilliant. Um, what did you, was it something that you found that you needed and that's why you started it?  Yeah. Yeah.  So, absolutely, yes, um, you know, I started working remotely 10 years ago and, and I had a job at the time and, uh, you know, my, my commute got really far, so I basically begged my boss to let me work from home and overnight I went from being, I think, a pretty high performer to just absolutely useless, really, really struggling.  I just, and I, and I,  I didn't, you know, I didn't quote/unquote get fired, but it was about as close to getting fired, you know, as you can get, I was shown the door very gently, thankfully, but, um, you know, it just shows you, I couldn't cope with the lack of structure, um, of, you know, I didn't have a place to, I didn't, I didn't have to take a shower in the morning and put real people clothes on,  and be somewhere at a certain time. And, um, so the lack of structure and that just the lack of having people who could look over my shoulder and see if I was on, uh, on Facebook or just, just the thought that somebody could take a look and see if I was working, and, and so I really, really struggled and I, I did not figure it out for a really long time. And that, that struggle, it really thrust me into, you know, first it was shame and then depression, and then it just, you know, thankfully it really lit a fire under me to delve into the study of productivity and, and behavior change and, and all these things.  But I just experimented with everything that I could find and, and, a few years ago I was talking to... this is while I was executive coaching, which that, that whole career was really born out of this struggle of like, oh my goodness, it's so hard to just be who I want to be, uh, to do what I want to do. Um, I was talking to a friend who was also working from home and, and, you know, we were intimate enough friends, that we were just being very vulnerable with each other, and, um, it was in fact him that was procrastinating worse than me at the moment. But, um, I just sort of had this spur of the moment, you know what I'm going to tell my  friend, Jake was his name, I'm going to tell him like my dark fantasy of what I'd really like, what I'd really like, you know, in terms of a support structure.  And honestly, I felt kind of silly and a bit ashamed telling him about it, cause I, you know, we just have all these narratives about, kind of how we  you know, is it the sort of fierce, you know, rugged individualism of American culture and, um, all the language that we use around productivity, which basically likens us to machines and all this stuff.  So anyways, I was like, you know, Jake, here's my fantasy. I want to get on a video call and I want to, I want to tell, you know, to break this stuff down into specific tasks and, and, and just keep each other company and check in on each other, so Jake was down for that. And so he and I did the first quote/unquote Focusmate session about five years ago now, and you know, it just, both of us had tried everything under the sun, and then we had this, just magic moment where like,  “Oh my gosh, this really works!”  Uh, and you know, it just clicked like, Oh, there's gotta be millions of people who aren't so different from us that would really benefit from this same technique. No question about it. And you know, what, what I find interesting, uh, I think the most is about it, is that, um, you know, we are a society that… and you said it yourself, we thrive on that whole, oh, we have to work, we have to work, we have to work, you know, and, and, and I've always been of the opinion that we're killing ourselves, you know, we have these, of these, um, you have these, uh,  I hate the term called  “gurus” right?... on Instagram, um, specifically one who has a three-letter last name who talks about, you know, make sure you're hustling, you're gonna be hustling. And if you have nine hours, you know, if you have 24 hours a day and 18 of them are working and you know, you'll leave to see your kid for 30 minutes and just make them dinner and put them to sleep, but it works the more, you know, sleep 20 minutes, like, what are you doing? you're telling  people to kill themselves, you know? And so the, the premise of, of having to always be on is a, is definitely a societal thing, right? It affects us in America, it affects a lot of Asia. Um, hell the UK has it, they have it nailed down!  right,  OK, we’ve worked a week, time for six weeks off! But,, but on the flip side of that and what I love so much about what you’ve built, is that when I sit down to work, it's time to work, right?  I might not work 20 hours a day, I don't work 20 hours a day, right?  I try to strive... strive for that, I used to... I strive for that balance now, but when I sit down, it's like, okay, go  go, go and for me, the worst thing that has happened over this past year, and I think this episode is going to air about two months from now, but, but the, the… we are talking, we are having this conversation, you and I, on the Monday of the, of the one year anniversary of when everything shut down, right? This is the week that everything truly went to hell right?  A year ago with Covid, and for me, uh, my work, work place was on an airplane, and to no longer have that, to have that just taken away from me, you know, was, was brutally difficult. And so I think that something like this, even though it's not my preferred workplace, which is up in the air, you know, put me on a plane, 14 hours to Tokyo, and I'll write you a book, but, but which I've done like four times, but the, um, knowing that someone is there, to keep an eye on me without being sort of overbearing. I think you might have tapped into that perfect middle ground there.  Yeah. You know, it's not so different from the, you know, sit on an airplane for 14 hours. It's, it's a shorter time duration than that. But, um, yeah, it really, it goes back into this idea of like, you know, we're not machines, and so what is a support structure that just works for us. And, and, and I, I love the philosophy that you talked about in introducing your show about. You know that our neurodiversity can be our gifts. And, and I think the can be... is for me, is about, do we really embrace them? Do we really lean into them and just celebrate them and just say, okay, well, like how much can I learn about how this thing works so that I can tap into the awesomeness that's actually, um, You know, it's, it's two sides of the same coin. So for me, yeah, Focusmate is not about grinding ourselves into submission more, it's... it's about just saying, Hey, this is how we are, and if we embrace that, um, you know, what's going to work for us and this, you know, you could talk if you're interested, uh, we can dive into maybe why that's the case, but it's just a support structure that, that clicks for, you know, human beings, the way that we are. Um, and yeah, like you alluded to, it has this awesome side effect of yeah, when you're on you're on, and then like, there's nothing better than getting to the end of your last Focusmate session of the day and being like, all right, I'm done. And you know, for me, and for so many of our users, it really creates that like finitude, and sort of a celebratory finish line where it really empowers you to be switched off when you're off too.  I think that there's, there's also the aspect of it when you're done and you've completed it, there's a sense of pride, and studies have shown that pride... sense of pride, where you do something and you get it and you nail it, actually leads to dopamine,  leads to dopamine,  leads to adrenaline leads to serotonin, and so it could be a wonderful feedback loop in that regard. Okay. I know I'm going to work for four hours now and I'm excited about that, cause I know where I’m going, I know what my reward… then we get the mental reward and the stimulus reward going to at the end of this, which starts the process or even earlier.  So like, okay, let's sit down and do this. And I know that again, I, I linked back to the plane. When I get on that plane, I'm excited to work, right? I'm excited to take off, here's my Diet Coke, OK, let's rock this. You know, and there's that, there's that, uh, I think that, you know, normal people have, um, more normal ways of getting excited, but for me, this works, you know, but, but it it's, it's the thing that, okay, let's do this, let's get this done.  That's, that's a, that's a wonderful feeling. So I would assume that I would assume you have pretty high retention. I'm assuming that people who... who use you, tend to come back.  Oh, a hundred percent, yeah. It really becomes like a lifestyle. Um, yeah, I was just looking at some, some tweets, uh, in preparation for this of, of, you know, ADHD years who, who use Focusmate,  and, um, yeah, you know, people just, uh, it's like, I use this every day to start my day. All right. You know, I do two sessions a day every day, um, yeah, cause it just, I don't know, for me, it's like the metaphor I use, is it's like getting in an inner tube and floating down the lazy river as a way of getting things done, and, you know, if you have the right environment, it's really easy, you just float to your destination, hopefully. Um, so that's kinda how it feels. Um, I think it’s, you know, book…. book some  Focusmate  sessions when you want to be getting stuff done, and you can almost like relax into that, and know that you're going to get where you want to get to.  It's actually an interesting concept, because I look at it as the other thing, you know, you're, you're when you're, when you're on, you're on and you compared it to the lazy river, I get that, I mean, I get that you're just going to get your…. I think the end result…. what you're trying to, you're going to get there, right? Yeah. I think both metaphors, both metaphors are true in a way.  Yeah. I love that. Now tell me, um, when you, how often are you on it? I'd be like, do you use it? Do you use it religiously as well? Now that, you know, I know when I was, when I was running my company, it's like, you know, I started it, because I needed it and then, you know, you're, you're running it and it doesn't help as much, or you're like, “Oh God, I have to do this now.”  But yeah, I could see that. It's still, I'm guessing it's still pretty useful.  Yeah. Well, you know I’m  like in my job, I find that I have a lot of meetings and I have stuff like this, and yet I obviously want to get things done as well, and, um, you know, you can block us time to do deep, you know, so-called deep work, but nothing works for me the way that, um, actually booking a Focusmate appointment and saying this time is sacred. Um, so there's a few days a week,and, and at least a few hours every day, where I just block off time for Focusmate co-working and that, you know, and then I, and I schedule my meetings around that. So it actually really, really helps, um, yeah.  I find that, um, when you have, uh, the scheduling, the concept of scheduling is, is without question the ultimate, um, sort of necessity for anyone with ADHD. If you're not scheduling things, if you're not putting things like for instance, one of the, one of the things about COVID is that, you know, I can give two keynotes, maybe I was giving five keynotes a month, um, before COVID hit, I was on a plane all the time. Now I can get five keynotes in two days. Um, you know, I can do one in Tokyo at 7:00 AM and one in Bangkok at, at, at 9:00 AM, and, um, you know, then I'm home and I haven't left my apartment, right?  Which leaves a lot of free time, and when your ADHD free time is kind of the kiss of death, right? Unscheduled downtime is... is kind of the kiss of death because, you know, scheduled downtimes is OK,, I'm gonna play with my daughter, I'm gonna go outside, I'm gonna go swimming, I'm gonna work out whatever, but unscheduled downtime as, you get it, I have an hour to kill, and nothing to do.  Maybe I'll start a company, maybe I'll try that. You know, it's like, there's no, there's no middle ground there, right? It's all or nothing. Um, when, when, when, when you're, when you're ADHD, and so I would imagine that unscheduled downtime could be perfect for, OK, you know what? I'm going to work on that thing I've been putting off and I'm gonna, I'm going to do a Focusmate session to do it.  Yeah, I actually, I really relate, like I feel anxiety when I see unscheduled downtime, like, Oh, for sure. I'm going to screw that up. Like go way off the rails, and I'm going to alternately nap and eat pizza and watch TV and, you know, wake up, two days later.  What is your, I have to ask, what is your, uh, what is your go-to, uh, OK, I just finished it and now I'm going to start again, uh, series on Netflix or Hulu, or whatever it is.   You know, I don't, I don't, I haven't yet repeated any series.  Really? Yeah, OK I mean, I watch a lot of new stuff on the bike. I don't allow myself to watch new series, if I'm not on the bike because otherwise I just won't ever work. I'll like, just that'll be my entire day, but when I'm, when I have some time to kill and I just want to lay on the couch and not think about things, I tend to go back to King of the Hill a lot.  Nice.  It's a classic, but, uh, so tell us, so, so how can, um, people can head over to www.focusmate.com, and they can just sign up. I see that, that you're given that you get three free sessions a week.  Yes. We actually have a free plan that is forever free, no credit card. You can use it on the free plan indefinitely. Um, and our paid plan is to have unlimited sessions, uh, and that's currently $5 per month. Um, so, yeah love to, you know, have anyone who's interested, just give it a shot. Um, let us know what you think.   Guys, I can tell you that, that, um, you know, I don't often recommend products on podcasts, but we will link to it. It is Focusmate, it is one of those things that it's just, it's such a no-brainer to use. It makes such perfect sense for people like us, because it's literally exactly the kind of stuff that we have to deal with, and this is an answer, a solution for that, so strongly recommend it. Uh, I can't thank you enough for coming on the podcast. This was truly phenomenal, Taylor. I really appreciate it. How can people find you? Are you, are you on the socials? Where are you where people can impart more of your wisdom?  Yeah, I am, um, you can find me on Twitter or  https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjacobson/ My Twitter is https://twitter.com/taylorjacobson?lang=en. Um, so yeah, love to connect with folks, uh, on the socials.   Awesome, awesome, Taylor, thank you so much for taking the time. We want to know what you want to hear. Uh, do you have a guest that you think might be awesome? Could you be as cool as Lisa Marks and recommend someone as cool as Taylor to come on the podcast? Let me know, shoot me an email. Peter@shankman.com or @petershankman on all the socials or @FasterNormal  We would love to hear your suggestions for who we should have on, um, wanting to give a shout out to Steven Byrom, who is our wonderful producer, who makes me sound good, which isn't necessarily the easiest thing in the world because as I'm interviewing people, I'm also doing a million other things. And so he gets rid of all that background noise, all of all the stuff you don't hear. Chances are, I'm doing construction right now and you won't hear it! Because we have an amazing producer named Steven Byrom @stevenbyrom on Twitter . {thank you Peter}  If you need a Producer, I know he's looking for more work. [Always! Reels, library samples and resume at www.byroMMusic.com] Um, thank you, Steven and Taylor again. Thank you guys. We'll be back next week and we hope to see you. Then. My name is Peter Shankman. This is Faster Than Normal! ADHD and all neurodiversity is a gift, not a curse, we’ll see you soon!  Credits: You've been listening to the Faster Than Normal podcast. We're available on iTunes, Stitcher and Google play and of course at www.FasterThanNormal.com I'm your host, Peter Shankman and you can find me at petershankman.com and @petershankman on all of the socials. If you like what you've heard, why not head over to your favorite podcast platform of choice and leave us a review, come more people who leave positive reviews, the more the podcast has shown, and the more people we can help understand that ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Opening and closing themes were composed and produced by Steven Byrom who also produces this podcast, and the opening introduction was recorded by Bernie Wagenblast. Thank you so much for listening. We'll see you next week. 

Don't miss out on the next WeAreLATech podcast episode, get notified by signing up here http://wearelatech.com/podcastWelcome to WeAreLATech's Los Angeles Tech Community Spotlight!   “Remix: Tito Melega, Alex Loukissas, and Taylor Jacobson”WeAreLATech Podcast is a WeAreTech.fm production.To support our podcast go to http://wearelatech.com/believe To be featured on the podcast go to http://wearelatech.com/feature-your-la-startup/Want to be featured in the WeAreLATech Community? Create your profile here http://wearelatech.com/communityHost,Espree Devorahttps://twitter.com/espreedevorahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/espreeGuest,Tito Melegahttps://www.titomelega.com/Guest,Alex Loukissashttps://alexloukissas.com/Guest,Taylor Jacobsonhttps://twitter.com/taylorjacobsonFor a calendar of all LA Startup events go to, http://WeAreLATech.comTo further immerse yourself into the LA Tech community go to http://wearelatech.com/vipLinks Mentioned:A Mask For All, https://amaskforall.com/Cellars.LA, https://cellars.la/Neighbour Pledge, https://neighborpledge.com/Focusmate, https://www.focusmate.com/WeAreLATech Focusmate Group, http://wearelatech.com/coworkingTaylor's End of Day Ritual, https://bit.ly/3cGOmUBPeople Mentioned:Dustin Rosen, https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinrosen/Credits:Produced and Hosted by Espree Devora, http://espreedevora.comStory Produced, Edited and Mastered by Cory Jennings, https://www.coryjennings.com/Production and Voiceover by Adam Carroll, http://www.ariacreative.ca/Team support by Janice GeronimoMusic by Jay Huffman, https://soundcloud.com/jayhuffmanShort Title: Tito Melega, Alex Loukissas, and Taylor Jacobson

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Getting your business noticed is a constant challenge. Where do you advertise? What's the best way to connect with potential customers, and how do you maximize your limited advertising dollars to help grow your Small Business? I have asked myself these questions over and over with each Small Business that I have owned. Joining us today to help us answer those questions is Taylor Jacobson, a marketing expert that specializes in helping Small Businesses get noticed using various techniques that he is going to share with us today. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #285 for Friday, July 17, 2020 00:02:16 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS to start with a $20 credit.  00:03:39 Taylor Jacobson — Small Business Marketing and Bait by Jake  Random Read: The New Rules of Marketing and PR For everyone who needs marketing advice: What are your goals? Is it sales? Or is it branding? Either way we need a plan For sales: Then you need funnels. Where is your audience? Find your audience, and then start! Iterate later. Telling Your Business's Story Your goal is trust Using video to promote your small business. Mistake: not asking for help. Take action: Get your phone, set it up to record video, and talk to the camera for 3-5 minutes about your company. What do you do? How are you better than your competitors? What do you do best? Stop. Watch it back. SBS 285 Outtro Find Taylor on LinkedIn Buy our Book! There's a 99-cent deal!

Productivity. Wow.What exactly does that word even mean in a world of COVID19? One day life at work was in an office and then next day, a majority of people began working remotely. While remote working isn't new, this level of people working from home is new and this new experience is increasing isolation, desire for authentic connections, and meaningful relationships.Enter, Taylor Jacobson, Founder and CEO of Focusmate; A person with an idea pitched to his friend. From that one idea, Taylor decided to try it out. From the feedback and interest, Focusmate was created!Focusmate is a virtual coworking platform where you're paired up with a random coworker from all over the world! How does it work? You choose a time to work, Focusmate pairs you with an virtual accountability partner where you (and they) experience a live, virtual coworking session that will keep you on task, focused, and experience human connection!Listen to this week's PTSD and Beyond Podcast to learn more about Taylor Jacobson and Focusmate! For more information about Focusmate, to sign-up (it's free), go to: www.Focusmate.comRemember to post your comments, share, and send suggestions of guest and topics you'd like to hear on the PTSD and Beyond Podcast.Thank you for your continued support!Best,Dr. Deb

Today we are spotlighting Taylor Jacobson, Founder of Focusmate. Focusmate eliminates procrastination by providing you with a live, peer accountability partner any time, for a 50-minute working session over video. There’s no chit chat and no collaboration. Just book a time, show up, share your first task and get to work. Join the WeAreLATech Focusmate group! Get connected with members of the WeAreLATech community for your virtual coworking sessions at http://wearelatech.com/coworking Connect with us at wearelatech.com/podcast and on all social @WeAreLATech and @EspreeDevora. If you’d like to start a podcast for your company check out GetPodcastListeners.com. https://twitter.com/espreedevora https://www.instagram.com/espreedevora/ https://twitter.com/wearelatech https://www.instagram.com/wearelatech/

Fellow stylist to the stars, Mom, TV star, and co-founder of Duke Alexander, Taylor Jacobson is here to chat and recap everything Grammy’s! They’re running through Brad’s Best from the ceremony, her work with some high-profile clients, and how they became friends. Plus, Questions with/for…Taylor!

We talk with Taylor Jacobson,  founder, and CEO of Focusmate.   Among the topics, we talk about include: What  events led Taylor to found Focusmate Why Focusmate works The importance of reflection in his life The two questions he asks himself daily We hope you enjoy this interview with Taylor Jacobson

When you work a traditional 9-to-5, working from home (for yourself) can feel like a real treat. You sit in a comfortable chair of your choosing, you can blast music as loud as you want, and pants are optional. But anyone who works remotely full-time or runs their biz from their home office knows: it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Much of the time, you’re fighting distractions that are pulling you away from your work. Thankfully, Focusmate can help you… well, focus. We talked about productivity and human habit with Focusmate’s creator, Taylor Jacobson, on this week’s episode of Wealth by Design. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN [01:46] Who Taylor is and how he created Focusmate [05:05] How Focusmate uses virtual coworking to help you get work done [07:48] The versatility of Focusmate (it’s not just for paperwork!) [09:00] How Focusmate creates a distraction-free environment [10:44] Why we still need accountability in the digital age [13:18] Using behavioral triggers to get into a “flow state” [15:23] The three things you need to do to focus [16:47] The toughest part of running your own (online) business [19:07] How changing up your scenery makes a difference, too [21:10] The ways that community input advise Focusmate’s growth [24:24] Why the traditional workplace needs to evolve [27:36] How Taylor’s life would change in “revivement” [28:47] The non-sexy big thing that Focusmate is working on right now   HOW FOCUSMATE BOOSTS YOUR PRODUCTIVITY Procrastination is a drag. Avoiding something may feel good in the moment, but it just creates even more stress in the long run. But even though we know that procrastination is “bad” and productivity is “good,” that doesn’t make it any easier to actually get our work done. Especially when you’re your own boss. Focusmate works because you have an accountability buddy to keep you in check. Here’s how it works: You choose a time you want to work on Focusmate. Morning, afternoon, evening, it’s your call. You get a 50-minute session with your Focusmate partner, which starts with each of you sharing your goal for that chunk of time.  You get to work and achieve that goal.   When you join a Focusmate session, you’re paired with a random coworker — and they come from all over the world! But you can set up private groups if you find that you’ve matched up with some really great people in the past. Taylor mentioned that one of Focusmate’s goals in the future is to allow users the option to choose their favorite partners to work with individually. After hearing Taylor explain how Focusmate works, we assumed that its magic worked best on traditional office tasks. Emails, reports, budgets, that sort of thing. However, Taylor pointed out that Focusmate isn’t limited to work. You can use it for other things on your to-do list, like self-care practices, workouts, or meditation. Focusmate is incredibly versatile. Fun, right?! THANK YOU, SCIENCE: BEHAVIORAL TRIGGERS How does the methodology behind Focusmate work? Dustin mentioned that he geeked out over “The Science Behind Focusmate” page (linked in the show notes below!). What does it all boil down to? Understanding the psychology behind our actions and using that to your advantage by adapting your behavior and responses to triggers. Let’s say you set a goal for yourself at work: you want to spend two hours a week researching what your competition is doing on their website and social media channels. You know that this research will help you discover any current trends you might have missed, and it may even affect your own social media strategy. However… you fail to stick to this goal. Other tasks get in the way. (Or, more likely, you just get lost down an IG rabbit hole #guilty.)  Before you know it, the workweek is over and you’ve pushed that task to the next week. And the next. Repeat.  One reason this might happen? You’re setting yourself a vague, generic task to get something done at some point… you know, whenever. It’s different with Focusmate and accountability practices in general. You have a specific commitment to another person, not just yourself. It’s a lot harder to break that commitment. That’s one of the many ways Focusmate works: by anticipating your behavioral triggers and providing solutions for it ahead of time. Taylor even shared that some Focusmate users said that they were productive long after their coworking sessions even ended! Their mental state was so deeply ingrained in work mode that they tackled other stuff they had to do, even if they technically were “off the clock” at that point. We think that’s pretty cool. THE HURDLES OF RUNNING A BUSINESS (ONLINE OR NOT) Whether it’s fully remote or in-person, running any business is tough. However, choosing what to focus your energy on in your business is one of the hardest things entrepreneurs face. And it’s a constant battle prioritizing your tasks, especially in the beginning stages. You already started your own business, which means you brought a fantastic idea to life. That’s not the last great idea you’ll have and wanting to explore other ideas can be tempting. Taylor explained that choosing which business ideas to pursue is something he struggles with most. It really can be too much of a good thing. If you focus your attention on too many projects at once, you lose out on efficiency. And those ideas you picked won’t really reach their full potential if your concentration is scattered. Sometimes you have to learn to say no, even to yourself. (Plus, as you know, we’re not big fans of multiple businesses). This is just a taste of what we chatted about with Taylor this week. Make sure to check out the full episode for more about Focusmate, how it works, and what to expect from Taylor and his crew in the coming months!   This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. RESOURCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED   Focusmate (it’s free to join!) Taylor’s Twitter @taylorjacobsen and LinkedIn Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari The science behind Focusmate Living in an age of distraction (which we rant about in Episode 98!) Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport           CONNECT WITH DANIELLE AND DUSTIN Ask Your Questions On Facebook On Twitter

After a summer break, we are back with a brand new season of Ambition Today! Season 3 brings with it some fresh new changes to the podcast, coming to you from our brand new podcast studio in the heart of New York City! We have some exciting guests coming up and I can’t wait to share all of the great conversations & new questions with you! I hope you enjoy Season 3, now on to the episode! Who struggles with procrastination? Did you know that studies show up to 95% of people struggle with procrastination! My guest today is Taylor Jacobson. He is the founder of Focusmate, the app that helps you focus and in return be more productive. In this episode, we discuss with Taylor what in his personal life lead him to the idea of needing a solution like Focusmate, as well as his personal take on a lot of procrastination issues. As Taylor developed Focusmate, he found three major aspects of being more productive. One, you perform better when you need to complete a task in the presence of someone else. Two, if you commit to another person that you are going to do something, it is highly likely that you will complete it. And three, you are likely to increase productivity if you reflect on your work afterward. You know that you are going to have to review the job that you did, so in the moment of work, your actual focus becomes stronger. Focusmate is now helping thousands of people with all of these aspects! Tune in to hear more about Taylor and his company, Focusmate! Quote of the Episode: “These are the people {Co-workers} that have my back to grow into my best self” Gauntlet:This is a new section of my podcast for season 3, where I will ask my guest a tip or tool that they recommend for their business in each of the following categories. Listen in to hear Taylor’s answers: Branding/Design Go-to-Market Product Development Hiring Revenue and Accounting Fundraising The Greatest Piece of Advice: Join the podcast’s backchannel, The A-List where members can listen to exclusive A-list bonus clips and get the single greatest piece of advice our guests have ever learned! Links & show notes from this episode: Focusmate Taylor's LinkedIn Start At The End - Dave Lavinsky Indistractible - Nir Eyal Tim Urban - Inside the mind of a master procrastinator Equity Token Audible Profitwell Stripe ========== Proudly Independent & Supported By: Finta- A secure online, cloud-based, operations center for your start-up. Quickly set up your company and you've got a blazing fast tool for raising capital and securing your sensitive company information. House your pitch deck, secure your legal documents, organize your cap table, notify target investors, and close deals faster! Finta allows you to raise more, save time, and increase your efficiency. Audible - Visit www.audibletrial.com/AmbitionToday to download and keep any audiobook for free. Download your free book now! The A-List - Join the podcast’s backchannel for exclusive access to additional Ambition Today content, deeper guest insights, a community of fellow fans, and much more. Plus, Learn the single greatest piece of advice each guest has ever learned!  ========== Follow: Visit Ambition Today on the Web: www.siskar.co/ambitiontoday  Follow Kevin Siskar on: Twitter: twitter.com/TheSiskar Instagram: instagram.com/thesiskar Facebook: facebook.com/kevin.siskar Snapchat: snapchat.com/add/krsiskar Be sure to listen and subscribe to Ambition Today in the iTunes Store for iOS (apple.co/1NRRPzL), on Google Play Music (goo.gl/LmmciJ), or on Stitcher for Android (bit.ly/1Rn01dy). ========== About:  Ambition Today is a podcast about entrepreneurs, creators, investors, and builders who ambitiously changed the world. Each episode explores the hardships and heroism of everyday life to reveal the key moments which leave behind a lasting legacy. Creating value in the world is hard, but you are not alone. No matter where you are in the world Ambition Today, hosted by Kevin Siskar, is here to keep you company you as you create your own incredible story. Kevin Siskar brings you ambitious entrepreneurs inspired by Tim Ferriss Show, How I Built This with Guy Raz, Residual Income, Entrepreneur on Fire, NPR, HBR, TED Radio Hour, the StartUp podcast with Alex Blumberg by Gimlet Media, Pat Flynn, The Uncertain Hour, Bigger Pockets, Art of Charm, Dave Ramsey, Planet Money, Jocko Podcast, EntreLeadership, Zigler, APM Marketplace, This Week In Startups with Jason Calacanis, Mixergy, Seth Godin, Joe Rogan Experience, GaryVee, James Altucher, Monocle 24, How to Start a Startup, Crooked Media, and The $100 MBA Show with Omar Zenhom, Casey Neistat, and Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman.   

In this episode, I talk with Taylor Jacobson of Focusmate.com about how he's changing the world with his software that helps people accomplish the things that are most important to them and by building a community where people can thrive.  We discussed... How to make it right when you screw something up His transitions from "high performer" to procrastinator to being predictably productive The magic of setting your intention before any deep work session The highs and lows of getting feedback...especially when it's not great How we've forgotten how to be ourselves at work and how to change that Practical strategies for creating a feeling of safety on your team The one question he asks himself regularly that has changed everything. Taylor brings such a unique voice and perspective to the question of how to get through the mess in your business and I am SO inspired by the way he leads. You won't want to miss this one.

We talk to Taylor Jacobson, the founder of FocusMate. Software made to help you improve the way you work.

A lot of people struggle with keeping their focus. The result is procrastination, unfinished business, and lack of peace of mind. Taylor Jacobson built Focusmate, a remote co-working community, where people get things done together. In today’s episode, we will learn how this works and how it throws out all levels of putting off tasks. A trained executive coach, frustrated adventurer, and a recovering pizza addict turned holistic health aspirant, Jacob shares his greatest discovery through having focus, and more. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the Take Back Time community today: TugOfWarWithTime.com Tug of War With Time Facebook Tug of War With Time Twitter Tug of War With Time Pinterest

A lot of people struggle with keeping their focus. The result is procrastination, unfinished business, and lack of peace of mind. Taylor Jacobson built Focusmate, a remote co-working community, where people get things done together. In today’s episode, we will learn how this works and how it throws out all levels of putting off tasks. […]

In this episode, Taylor talks about how is workforce more isolated and distracted than ever before and how is Focusmate trying to solve the problem.

In this episode of ProductivityCast, the weekly show about all things personal productivity, we have the pleasure of bringing you The post 049 Virtual Coworking for Being More Productive with Taylor Jacobson, Focusmate – ProductivityCast appeared first on ProductivityCast.

"How can you provide human accountability exactly when and how we need it in order to get things done, in a world increasingly, we're distracted, we're alone, and people really struggle with procrastination." Episode #3 of Season 2 of The Social Impactors Podcast features #SocialImpactor Taylor Jacobson, CEO & Founder of Focusmate, a virtual coworking space that helps you get things done with distraction-free productivity. Taylor and I talked about how Focusmate spawned from his own challenges with procrastination, how we are social, tribal animals that need human connection and accountability, and how technology can be a boost for individuals who need some distraction-free productivity. Join the Social Impactors Community: 1. Leave an iTunes review to help new people find it! Link: https://apple.co/2WI5Ckn 2. Check out my website and share it! There's even a #merch store to become a real life #socialimpactor! Link: http://bit.ly/thesocialimpactorswebsite #SocialImpactEverywhere --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theimpactorspodcast/support

Taylor Jacobson, founder of Focusmate.com, shares ideas for how to hold yourself accountable and to improve your focus. Show notes at lifeskillsthatmatter.com/show265 The post How To Hold Yourself Accountable With Taylor Jacobson (265) appeared first on Life Skills That Matter.

Most entrepreneurs have a quitting story. Some have useful tips on how to make the most of your post-quit life. But today we’ve hit the jackpot, as our guest is Focusmate founder and CEO Taylor Jacobson - who has both! Taylor not only had to face a difficult quit to start his entrepreneurial journey but he also realized that through what he learned in his own struggles to be productive, he could help others in his same position to make the most of their time. So if you’re looking to make a job quit and are burning the candle at both ends with a side hustle and a main gig, or if you’re an entrepreneur trying to find more hours in the day, take a listen to Taylor’s story of how accountability can help you turn busyness into productivity.

Taylor Jacobson is the CEO of Focusmate an amazing product that pairs you with a virtual coworking buddy. Both you and your coworker keep each other accountable for an hour while you pound through tasks. I reached out to Taylor because I'm a user of the product and wanted to hear his thoughts on the connection between stress and creativity.

Taylor Jacobson, CEO and Founder of Focusmate talks with Digital Mindfulness about the importance of digital accountability in helping us to do our best work, and how solo remote work may not be all its cracked up to be.

Focusmate founder and CEO Taylor Jacobson breaks down how tribal psychology and accountability work partners can do wonders for your work and life.   You'll Learn:  The biggest distraction drivers in the workplace Four streamlined to-do list hacks Why NOT to rely on willpower   About Taylor: Taylor is the founder and CEO of Focusmate building productivity software that works when nothing else will. He's a trained executive coach with clients like Yale, Cornell, and Wharton, a wannabe adventurer and a recovering pizza addict turned holistic  health aspirant.   For transcript , links, and shownotes, visit www.awesomeatyourjob.com/ep368.  

We’ve got an excellent “TADD” Talk for you today! As part of ADHD Awareness Month and our special activities, ADDA has created TADD Talks, where we’ll be Talking about ADD every day the entire month of October! In today’s TADD talk, Taylor Jacobson discusses “How to Use Social Accountability to Rescue Your Productivity” Enjoy! And […] The post TADD 2018 – How to Use Social Accountability to Rescue Your Productivity appeared first on ADDA - Attention Deficit Disorder Association.

In today's episode, we talk to Focusmate founder Taylor Jacobson about human-to-human accountability and how it can help us beat procrastination and achieve our professional and personal goals.If you've ever sat down to work on a task and then suddenly minutes—our hours—have passed without you accomplishing much, you're not alone. Taylor experienced that situation enough times to know something had to change: so he created Focusmate, an app that pairs people with an accountability partner for live, virtual co-working sessions. Focusmate's vision is to improve the way millions of people work by helping them keep on task and get their jobs done. As you'll hear in this episode, I tried it myself, and I can personally vouch for it!In addition to hearing the story of how the app came about, we cover powerful ideas such as:How pairing people with an accountability partner helps improve focus and achieve goalsWhy relying on willpower is not an effective way to change behaviorHow vulnerability and being willing to admit our mistakes enables us to be more productiveTopics Discussed in This Episode:[00:01:04] How Taylor ended up being interviewed for this episode[00:03:30] How Taylor's interest in accountability partners got started[00:07:25] What happened when Taylor moved to India for his first startup project[00:10:54] The event that sparked the idea for Focusmate[00:13:00] Why Taylor believed that other people would benefit from Focusmate[00:20:26] Why relying on willpower alone to change a behavior isn't effective[00:23:59] How Taylor used accountability to develop Focusmate[00:26:49] How many people are part of Focusmate now[00:27:03] How Nir Eyal got involved in Focusmate[00:28:28] How Taylor would convince people who feel skeptical about accountability[00:32:57] Resources that Taylor recommends

Links from the show:  The Content Marketing Lounge FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/contentmarketinglounge Focusmate: https://www.focusmate.com/  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the secret to happiness (TED Talk): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXIeFJCqsPs How to Become an Early Riser: https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/05/how-to-become-an-early-riser/  How to Get Up Right Away When Your Alarm Goes Off: https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/04/how-to-get-up-right-away-when-your-alarm-goes-off/