Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work and Life

This week I was excited to talk with Chris Sparks about all things poker and how the principles of the game can elevate both your professional performance and productivity. Chris is a professional poker player who at one time was ranked in the top 20 online players in the world. Chris Teaches CEOs and portfolio managers elite poker frameworks for unlocking new levels of optimized decision making and investing. He is also the host of the Forcing Function Hour Podcast. In our conversation Chris shares invaluable lessons on negotiation, collaboration, leadership, and the development of intuition. We also learn about Chris's personal journey from online poker to becoming one of the top players worldwide, and how he applies his expertise to help high performers dispel myths about decision making and risk. In addition Chris and I delve into his principles and tips for reducing uncertainty through information gathering and experimentation. Listeners will uncover valuable advice on embracing their emotions and personal narratives, and how despite being in competition with others how compassionate action can contribute to long-term success.Remember to sign for our newsletter at beyondthetodolist.comMake sure to check out our sponsors to help support the show!Connect with Chris: Website PodcastTwitter Connect with Erik:Sign Up For Our NewsletterFacebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram ________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week it was my privilege to welcome Jon Acuff back to the show to discuss his new book, All It Takes is A Goal: The 3-Step Plan to Ditch Regret and Tap Into Your Massive Potential. Regular listeners to the show are of course familiar with John as he has been on the show a number of times to talk about his previous books, Start, Finish, Soundtracks, and Your New Playlist. I consider Jon a good friend and in this new book he brings his trademark style of humor and clear communication back to the subject of achieving your goals. Fans of Jon might be familiar with his book Finish which begins to outline his philosophies on goal setting. In All It Takes is A Goal he both expands and codifies his thoughts on how we can set goals that are smart and achievable. In our conversation Jon introduces the concept of guaranteed goals, setting easy, middle, and potential goals to achieve a balance between comfort and chaos zones. In addition Jon also highlights the importance of what he calls sustainable fuel, goals that help to drive us without burning us out.Jon is the New York Times bestselling author and is Published in more than twenty languages. His work is both critically acclaimed and adored by readers including yours truly. He has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges and companies around the world including FedEx, Nissan, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Chick-fil-A, Nokia and Comedy Central.  For over 20 years Jon has also helped some of the biggest brands tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, and Staples. His fresh perspective on life has given him the opportunity to write for Reader’s Digest, Fast Company, The Harvard Business Review and Time Magazine.Make sure to check out our sponsors to help support the show!Connect with John:WebsiteBooksLinkedin Twitter Connect with Erik:Sign Up For Our NewsletterFacebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram _______________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I was excited to welcome Jason Silver to the show for a preview of his upcoming book Quietly Crushing It: Unlocking Big Impact at Work Without the Burnout in Life. This is a special sneak peek into a book that I think is going to be incredibly impactful when it’s released later next year. However in the meantime Jason takes us inside some of the methodologies and techniques that he was putting into practice when inspiration for the book struck.Jason is a former COO turned life strategist and startup coach and in this conversation he shares his inspiring journey of self-discovery and how he began applying everyday startup methodologies to transform his own life. In our chat Jason reveals the wake-up call that made him question societal expectations and reevaluate how he approached work and personal challenges. We dive deep into the experiments he conducted to challenge traditional assumptions, leading to a higher impact at work and greater joy in everyday tasks. Throughout the episode, Jason highlights three key topics that will have you rethinking the way you approach your own work and life choices.First, we'll explore the importance of considering how you want your work to feel, leading to a more enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Then, we'll delve into the power of effective communication, using techniques like the brief back to avoid miscommunications that can hinder productivity. And finally, we'll touch on preventing burnout and achieving work-life balance, all while maintaining high levels of productivity. Jason's journey is incredibly relatable, and his insights will leave you inspired to make positive changes in your own life.Make sure to check out our sponsors to help support the show!Connect with Jason:Book WebsiteNewsletterLinkedin Connect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Check out Erik's Blinkist Webinar________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I was delighted to welcome my friend of nearly ten years Lauren Gaggioli to the show for a practical and insightful conversation about purpose, parenting, and productivity. Lauren is a dynamic entrepreneur, educator, and a true advocate for purpose-driven living. She excels at leveraging technology to make her mark on the world, but she also finds joy and fulfillment in domestic activities like knitting, gardening, and brewing beer. In our conversation, we dive deep into the challenges of finding balance and control in our daily lives. Lauren shares her experiences of being productive as a spouse, a parent of young children and as an entrepreneur, highlighting the importance of communication, compromise, and creating a family culture that works for everyone. We also explore Lauren's passion for teaching and helping others realize their dreams while discussing her new duo of online courses. Big Why Life, the first of Lauren’s courses, is designed to help individuals assess their values, determine their purpose, and take action. A perfect course for high school or college students, it leverages the observations Lauren made while running a tutoring company that offered online ACT and SAT courses, prioritizing completion over perfection and embracing frameworks over strict formulas. In her second course Organic Marketing Ecosystem, Lauren examines business and content strategy, with a focus on search engine optimization (SEO) to help entrepreneurs refine their target audience and convert online strangers into clients. Join us on this episode as we delve into the intricacies of parenting, entrepreneurship, and finding balance in a rapidly changing world. Discover how you can align your actions with your purpose, improve communication within your family, and cultivate a meaningful life that harmonizes personal pursuits with responsibilities.Make sure to check out our sponsors to help support the show!Connect with Lauren:Website Linkedin Instagram Connect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram ________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I was really excited to speak with my friend and former colleague Phil Mershon about his new book, Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences. Phil is the director of experience for Social Media Examiner where for over 12 years he has created amazing customer experiences at events like Social Media Marketing World and the Social Media Success Summit. Phil and I worked together at Social Media Examiner and throughout his 30+ year career he has been creating memorable experiences for businesses like non-profits, schools, and churches. In this new book Phil has compiled the knowledge that he has accumulated throughout his career into an amazing guide for both event creators as well as conference or event attendees. I’m sure you're aware of the adage, “This meeting could have been an email.” Well in many ways if you're anything like me you have been to conferences or events that feel like they should have been a meeting. Phil’s book looks to correct this trend by laying out the principles and best practices for building unforgettable events with truly useful takeaways.In this conversation Phil lays out some of his tried and true techniques for creating events both in person and online that generate team building while encouraging the interplay between in-person and online interactions. Phil also points out how events can minimize distractions and create an environment conducive to both focus and engagement. In many ways Phil sees himself as a kind of “game designer” responsible for creating experiences that are both engaging while simultaneously being rewarding and fun. Listeners will gain valuable insights into maximizing the impact of in-person events, improving engagement and productivity, and developing a deep understanding of attendees' needs while also improving their own attendee IQ to get the most out of their next work event or conference.______________________________________________________________Connect with Phil:Website BookLinkedin Twitter Facebook InstagramConnect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Make sure to check out our sponsors here to help support the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I’m excited to welcome Anna Dearmon Kornick to the show to discuss her new book Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy, and Productivity. Recently Anna invited me on her podcast, ‘It’s ABout Time’ for a chat about my journey through the world of productivity and why better time management takes time. I really enjoyed my appearance on that show so I was happy to pass along the invitation for her to join me here on Beyond the To-Do List.Anna is a Time Management Coach who helps busy professionals and business owners master time management so they can stop feeling overwhelmed and start spending time on what matters most. In our chat Anna shares her personal journey towards finding purpose, setting goals, and maximizing productivity while unpacking the inspirations behind her great new book. Time management isn't just about rearranging your schedule to fit everything in. It starts from a place of purpose and knowing what truly matters to you. In Time Management Essentials Anna aims to anchor us to time management with purpose and provide readers with a roadmap to identify and articulate your own purpose in order to both structure our priorities and our schedules. In addition to helping us finding deeper significance in our scheduling Anna also implements a visualization technique using boulders, big rocks, and pebbles to prioritize tasks, and discusses the importance of getting mentally organized, as well as sharing tips for scheduling parenting and homeownership responsibilities. This is a small, easy to read book that packs a powerful productivity punch for anyone interested in learning tried and true techniques from a true time management master._________________________________________________________Erik’s appearance on Anna’s show ‘It’s ABout Time’ Big Rocks VideoConnect with Anna:WebsiteBookLinkedinTwitterInstagramConnect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Make sure to check out our sponsors here to help support the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oliver Burkeman, author of 'Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals', shares his fresh perspective on productivity, urging a humane approach to managing our limited time. He emphasizes accepting our human limitations as a path to realistic goals instead of stress. The conversation dives into the balance between flexibility and intention in productivity, advocating for decisions driven by intuition. Burkeman argues for redefining tasks as enjoyable pursuits rather than obligations, ultimately promoting a richer experience of time and personal fulfillment.

This week I’m excited to welcome Brittany Berger to the show to discuss productivity, fighting hustle culture, and helping creatives balance, work and rest. Brittany is the founder of Work Brighter where she talks and teaches about inclusive productivity and helping disabled, chronically ill, mentally ill and neurodivergent creatives find work balance. I’ve admired Brittany’s writing for some time now and enjoy reading about what she's doing with Work Brighter in her weekly newsletter. In this episode we explore how productivity is all about finding the “best method for you” that both empowers you to get things done without experiencing exhaustion, feelings of laziness, or even guilt. Brittany breaks down some of her favorite techniques for working productively without experiencing fatigue or mental stress. In addition we discuss the value in journaling or tracking your time and your energy levels so you can find those ebbs and flows not just in your personal physiology, psychology and emotions, but also as a way to match your tasks so you're not overloaded and not expecting more of yourself than you should. Connect with Brittany: WebsiteNewsletterTwitterDiscover Work Brighter:WebsiteInstagramConnect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I’m excited to welcome Mike Williams to the podcast to discuss his new book Doing to Done: Productivity Made Simple Illustrated For Busy People Like Us. I was really delighted by the design, illustrations and readable nature of this book. Doing to Done is all about simplified, illustrated, easy-to-implement techniques that help you decrease overwhelm and turn chaos into clarity. It's a better way to be the best. This book teaches anyone how to cultivate quick wins that lead to big-time impacts in all areas of your life, for the rest of your life. Mike Williams is a speaker, author, executive, and coach who helps leaders obtain small wins with a big impact on their lives and businesses. He gives people the actionable tools to succeed on their terms with less effort AND be at the top of their game in all areas of life.Through his leadership roles with General Electric, The David Allen Company, and Zappos, Mike kept noticing that people were desperate for a better path to productivity to help them fight digital distractions, mind clutter, and wasteful uses of their time. But the only resources available involved complex approaches, reading thick self-help books, or participating in boring seminars. He knew a better way existed—one rooted in simplicity and realism. So in his pursuit, he spent two decades working with thousands of people across different industries--from rocket scientists to students to nonprofit organizations.Connect with Mike: WebsiteFree Webinar Book TwitterInstagramLinkedinConnect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram ________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week I'm excited to welcome Lizzie Penny and Alex Hirst to the show to discuss their new book, Workstyle: A revolution for well being, productivity and society. If you're like me, perhaps you have heard or even used the term “workstyle” in the past without truly reflecting on the overall meaning or concept. As it turns out my guests this week coined the term nearly a decade ago during an inspired conversation at a pub. Little did they know that that conversation would lead them to co-found the multi-million pound social enterprise Hoxby to test and prove the concept of workstyle. Today Hoxby has helped thousands of workstylers around the world to set, project and respect their own workstyles. They have set up their own longitudinal research study into the link between autonomy, productivity and wellbeing and have delivered projects for some of the biggest businesses in the world including Unilever, Amazon, AIA, and Merck. Forbes.com have described them as 'creating the freelance revolution 3.0' and they have been featured in the FT, Times, Telegraph, Stylist, Marie Claire, Metro and The Guardian, among others.I really enjoyed this book and believe that it will start to help countless people and businesses find relief from their work conditioning, inspire them to create a workstyle for themselves, and enable them to take part in the most significant change to working practices since 1817. By giving you the complete freedom to identify and pursue a way of working which fits around the unique nature of your lifestyle, this book can teach us how to be well, work better and do great things on our own time. Connect with Lizzie and Alex WebsiteJoin The RevolutionBook Lizzie’s InstagramAlex’s Instagram Connect with Erik:Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Instagram ________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.