Start with Small Steps

1 - Why Small Steps are Important I was deeply moved by the Queen’s 2019 Christmas speech - it ignited a spark within me and set me on a path that I will be forever grateful for. Her calm demeanor, wise words, and infectious sense of humor left a lasting impression on me. That’s why I’ve decided to share this episode again, in honor of her memory. As I listened to the speech, I was struck by the power of small steps and how they can lead to significant change. I learned that even when faced with obstacles and setbacks, it’s important to keep going and focus on rebuilding relationships and achieving our goals. One particularly powerful idea was the concept of getting 1 percent better each day. It may seem like a small improvement, but over a year, it can lead to incredible results - thirty-seven times better, in fact! The key is to break down our goals into tiny, manageable steps that we cannot fail. By creating a connected trigger, naming the tiny habit, and celebrating our successes, we can build momentum and achieve great things. So, here’s my challenge to you: pick one thing that you can break into a small, tiny action that you know for sure you can do. Let’s take that first step towards lasting change together. Links and Resources: The Queen’s Speech on Small Steps to Change the Worldhttps://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a30260865/queen-elizabeth-christmas-message-transcript-2019/ James Clear on Being One Percent Betterhttps://jamesclear.com/marginal-gainshttps://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits BJ Fogg on Tiny Habitshttps://www.tinyhabits.com/300recipeshttps://www.tinyhabits.com/ Stephen Duneier on Small Decisionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMbvJNRpLE Half Sized Me on Slowing Downhttps://www.halfsizeme.com/why-you-need-to-slow-down/ Business Insider on Saving $1 a Dayhttps://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-much-youd-have-if-you-saved-1-a-day-for-the-rest-of-your-life-2017-7 Links https://startwithsmallsteps.com/why-small-steps/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

104 - Get Good Info with CRAAP or TAARP I share with you a really helpful method for ensuring that the data you collect is trustworthy and reliable. It's called the TARP/CRAP method (I know, not the most glamorous name!), and it involves evaluating the timeliness, authority, accuracy, relevance, and purpose of the data. I've found it to be a super effective way to make sure that the information I'm working with is legit. I talk to you about the importance of understanding your audience and the format of the data you're working with. And once you've got all that sorted out, you need to develop an action plan for how you're going to use the data. It's all about making sure that you're not just collecting data for data's sake, but that you're actually using it to make informed decisions and take action. So, if you're ready to up your data game and start collecting and using information like a pro, then you won't want to miss this episode! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3311 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRAAP_test Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

103 - How to Curate I talk about something that I'm really passionate about - curating data. It's something that's so important in today's world, where there's so much information available to us. But it's not just about collecting data - it's about doing it effectively, and making sure that the data we have is of high quality, comes from multiple sources, and is properly attributed. I've been curating data for a while now, and I've developed my own process for doing it. It's something that I think everyone should consider, especially if you're someone who works with data on a regular basis. In this episode, I'll be sharing my personal process for curating information, and how you can make it your own. But it's not just about my process - I also want to challenge you to think about your own data curation methods. Are you doing everything you can to make sure that the data you have is accurate and reliable? Are you using multiple sources to check your information, and are you properly attributing it? These are all important questions to ask yourself, and I hope that this episode will inspire you to think more critically about your own data curation methods. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/103-how-to-curate/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

102 - Learn and Earn and Keep Going I’m excited to share with you some insights from the book Making of the Modern Elder by Chip Conley. The topic was all about the importance of constantly learning and evolving in the modern work world. He suggests that fostering collaboration and being open to new ideas is key, no matter how experienced you are. By embracing a beginner’s mindset and learning from others, we can become better mentors and interns. And ultimately, this can make our companies and ourselves more successful. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/3298-2/ https://chipconley.com https://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_becoming_a_modern_elder  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

101- Can Generations of Workers Get Along? Have you ever wondered how different generations can work together in a company? Well, I review the book called The Modern Elder by Chip Conley and he had some great insights on this topic. He talks about the importance of respecting each other’s strengths and weaknesses and learning from one another. I talk about how we can all contribute to a company, regardless of our age or experience. Conley suggests that being a modern elder means being both a mentor and an intern, and it’s up to us to figure out which stage we’re in and how we can bring our unique skills to the table. What stage are you in at your company, and what do you bring to the job? https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3291 https://chipconley.com https://www.ted.com/talks/chip_conley_becoming_a_modern_elder  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

100- Be Childlike and See the World in a New way I share my thoughts on a book “Escape Adulthood” by Jason Kotecki. It really spoke to me about the importance of recapturing our childlike essence and finding joy in life, no matter our age. One of the key takeaways I got from the book was the idea of breaking down our dreams into specific goals and steps. This really helps in making our aspirations more achievable. And, it’s important to not go at it alone - finding support from others is crucial to our success. I also loved the emphasis on curiosity and playfulness. As we get older, we tend to lose that sense of wonder and excitement about the world around us. But, by embracing these qualities, we can discover new things and see the world through new eyes. Throughout the episode, I share personal anecdotes and quotes from inspirational figures that really resonated with me. I hope you enjoy listening and are inspired to pursue your own aspirations with childlike curiosity and playfulness. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3286 https://escapeadulthood.com/blog/ https://shop.escapeadulthood.com/products/wonderhunt-book-pre-order?variant=42234540032160 – For the fundraiser book  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

99 - The Unconscious Brain and Creativity I review the book “Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide” by John Cleese, and I have to say, it really got me thinking about the role of the unconscious mind in creativity. Cleese makes a great point that creativity isn’t just limited to the arts, and that our unconscious mind can be a powerful tool for problem-solving and generating new ideas. I found his advice on giving our unconscious mind time to work and minimizing interruptions to be particularly helpful. And his suggestion of learning from others and making ideas our own really resonated with me. Overall, this book has inspired me to embrace my creativity and explore new ways of thinking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWEXQ9E4QiI  Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com    

In this episode, I dive into Oliver Burkeman's book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" and explore some powerful ways to break free from productivity traps and focus on what truly matters. Burkeman has some great advice, like limiting task lists to just a few items, focusing on one thing at a time, and even embracing boring technology. But one of my favorite takeaways is the idea of deciding what to fail at. It may sound counterintuitive, but sometimes letting go of certain tasks or goals can actually free up more time and energy to pursue what's truly important. So, I challenge you to take a page out of Burkeman's book and think about four things you can get rid of or plan to fail at. It might be tough at first, but it will be worth it in the long run. And don't forget to pay attention to the small things in life, research your relationships, practice generosity, and even take some time to do nothing. You'll be surprised at how much more fulfilling life can be when you focus on what truly matters. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3267 https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

97 – Abandon the Time Trap by focusing on your Purpose I review Oliver Burkeman’s book “Four Thousand Weeks” and it completely changed my perspective on time and productivity. Rather than constantly trying to do more and falling into the “time trap,” Burkeman suggests focusing on our purpose and embracing radical incrementalism. This means breaking tasks down into smaller steps and prioritizing what truly matters. By doing so, we can gain control of our lives and work towards our ultimate purpose, finding true rest and fulfillment. Join me as I dive deeper into the concept of radical incrementalism and its potential to transform our lives. https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3260 https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com

96 - Our Damaging Concept of Time I review book called "4,000 Weeks, Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman. It changed my perspective on time management and the pressure we put on ourselves to constantly be productive. Burkeman challenges the traditional concept of time management and argues that it's impossible to ever feel like we're doing enough. The problem lies in our attitude towards time, which sets up a game that can never be won. After reading this book, I realized that it's important to focus on what's truly important and learn to say no to distractions. We also need to acknowledge that it's okay to have unpleasant moments and not everything needs to be perfect all the time. By doing so, we can reduce the stress and depression caused by time management and distractions. I highly recommend checking out this book if you're feeling overwhelmed by the constant pressure to be productive. It's a game-changer! https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3253 https://startwithsmallsteps.com/ruthlessly-eliminate-noise/ https://startwithsmallsteps.com/?p=3267 https://www.oliverburkeman.com/ Jill’s Linkshttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps Twitter startwithsmallsteps Email the podcast at jill@startwithsmallsteps.com