Over the course of my career, I’ve occasionally dabbled with setting various goal-setting methods. I’ve done SMART goals. I’ve done OKRs. I’ve done KPIs. None of them do it for me. Here’s why: 1. Until you reach a goal, you’re not where you want to be. As the Buddha teaches: desire is the root of …
#19: Setting Goals Doesn’t Work (what to do instead) Read More »
This week, I deleted 2/3’rds of my tasks from my to-do list. I went through a lot of mental effort to put them there. I assigned context, formulated them so there was no friction, and even added artificial deadlines for some to get them over the finish line. They didn’t get done. This happens to …
I’ve reviewed hundreds of productivity apps. There are hundreds more. To help you make sense of them all, here’s my framework for grading them so you have something to hold on to while surfing the waves of lame marketing slogans, overhyped features, and other attempts to distract you from what’s most important: removing any friction that keeps YOU …
I recently spoke to Tiago Forte, author of Building a Second Brain. One of the things he observed is that it’s become difficult for us to stay motivated. With a seemingly endless avalanche of information, projects & tasks coming at us at all hours of the day, it’s tough to make out true wins when they …
Do you capture your shower thoughts? If you aren’t, then you’re missing out. Great ideas often come during unexpected times or in unexpected places. Not writing them down increases your risk of forgetting them. Luckily, most to-do apps have a built-in inbox, and in all my tutorials you’ll find a dedicated section on the capturing process. …
One of the most touted pieces of productivity advice is to break big intimidating projects down into small, digestible, steps. The reason it’s so popular? It works. I remember when I decided to make videos on YouTube – publishing that first video was a massive undertaking. Setting up my recording setup, writing an outline, testing productivity software… I broke these …
I recently did a test to figure out my optimal productivity style. One of my biggest challenges is the balancing act of managing the various responsibilities in my personal and work life. Since becoming a solo entrepreneur, this has become amplified since I am responsible for everything in my business. Luckily, this was one of the key questions in …
How would you feel about eating a live frog, right now? Imagine it. The wet, slimy reptilian limbs being squished between your teeth. Feeling disgusted yet? Now, how does running for 5 miles sound? Probably not that bad anymore. This is the magic of a productivity principle by Brian Tracy, which posits that you should always start with your most dreaded task first: Eat That Frog. It’s the …
When I talk to people about LinkedIn, their first response is usually that they don’t really use it because it’s too cringe, annoying and full of self-serving narcissists who treat a LinkedIn post like a press conference. I get it. It’s a real problem, and I’ve been guilty of that myself. If you open LinkedIn and your first instinct reaction …
Don’t follow your dreams. Sounds crazy, right? 🤯 Going all-in on a passion is great but if you’re unable to make a living from it, you won’t be able to do it long-term and may even grow resentful of it. On the other hand, staying with a comfortable job that doesn’t fulfill you is a recipe for disaster …
