45: Like Going Back to High School

FromFocused

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45: Like Going Back to High School

FromFocused

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Length:

42 minutes

Released:

Apr 17, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

David's home workspace gets invaded by teenagers, Jason reprises his old commute and learns to appreciate the ability to work from anyplace, and a listener reminds us of a classic technique: making promises that your future self has to keep.

Released:

Apr 17, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk though their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.

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14: Putting Numbers in Boxes, with Andrew Carroll: A new year brings accounting and tax challenges for independent workers, so we asked accountant and financial advisor Andrew Carroll to join us. by Focused
39 min listen
15: Put on the Business Hat: You can't earn a living as a Free Agent if you don't get paid. In this episode we discuss why true professionals ensuring they're being compensated. When you're on your own, you're the one who has to make sure that the money is flowing in. by Focused
42 min listen
3: My Curse and My Reward, with Myke Hurley: Myke Hurley, co-founder of Relay FM, discusses transitioning from his bank job to a full-time podcaster, including the inherent contradictions in working a dream job that never lets you take a vacation. by Focused
43 min listen
2: Booked Up With Myself: Just because you're independent doesn't mean you don't need a schedule. This episode is about building (and breaking) routines. by Focused
25 min listen
35: I Guess I'm Felix Unger: David and Jason discuss the importance of prep time, resetting your balance, gauging the value of your work, time tracking, managing ongoing commitments, getting sick and keeping clients happy, and the value of uncluttered office space. by Focused
59 min listen
8: Email Is Not Your Job: Managing email and setting rules about how you use it. by Focused
28 min listen
51: Freedom Frogs: David and Mike talk about why “eating your frog” is an important Free Agent survival skill. David talks through a pivot in his approach to book publishing. Mike shares his struggles with “Imposter Syndrome” and how he overcomes it. by Focused
55 min listen
23: It's Hard To Get on a Different Train: When should you form a corporation, and if so, what kind? David has some broad advice, though you should be sure to consult with a local attorney and your accountant before making any final decisions. by Focused
40 min listen
12: Right Now It's Only Me, with Katie Floyd: David's Mac Power Users co-host Katie Floyd, a very recent Free Agent herself, tells us about the early days of her independent life. by Focused
43 min listen
19: Nobody Grades You on the Scaffolding: Should you adopt an organizational system? How can these systems help you, and are they worth the investment? Jason and David detail their own personal organization systems and discuss approaches to getting more organized. by Focused
60 min listen
1: The Temptation of Yes: In our very first episode, David and Jason discuss narrowing scope and taking on too much work. by Focused
36 min listen
7: Be Like a Duck: So you've decided to leave the nest. What can you do to prepare while you're still working for the man? What's the right way to give notice, and prepare for the aftermath? by Focused
40 min listen
9: The Feedback Episode: In a wide-ranging episode, David and Jason answer your letters and tweets. by Focused
52 min listen
20: Jason's Origin Story: David asks Jason to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a big corporation. by Focused
60 min listen
5: Envision a Bonfire by Focused
31 min listen
17: Stop Digging: Not all clients are good clients. If you don't manage the herd, you could lose the farm. This is why it's important to consider the right time, and right way, to fire a client. by Focused
29 min listen
28: David's Origin Story: Jason asks David to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a law firm. by Focused
47 min listen
21: The Second Feedback Episode: We're once again answering your letters and tweets In a wide-ranging episode covering all sorts of aspects of being an independent worker. by Focused
58 min listen
13: Promotion Can Feel Gross: Being good at what you do isn't enough. You also need customers, clients, or whatever else you need to pay for shoes. That means you need to promote yourself. But you can be really great at what you do and still be terrible at self-promotion. by Focused
40 min listen
26: A Batphone to My Heart: While Jason leaves the phone off the hook, David describes his trial of Google Voice and ultimate decision to use a live receptionist service. by Focused
59 min listen
4: Location, Location, Location: Deciding where to get your work done can be a difficult challenge for an independent worker. Can you work out of the house? Does renting office space make sense? What about co-working spaces, or that long wooden table at your neighborhood Starbucks? by Focused
39 min listen
10: Indie Vacation: Planning and taking vacations as an independent worker. by Focused
37 min listen
24: Take Care of Yourself: What happens if you're a lone-wolf independent operator, and then you get sick? We discuss staying healthy, getting help, and buying insurance. by Focused
44 min listen
61: The Morning Routine: Mike and David dig in on their morning routines. Mike finds himself entering the Free Agent arena like never before and David wants to start year-end planning. by Focused
61 min listen
16: R2-D2 on My Desk: Jason and David discuss their home-office set-ups and the challenges they face when working in a house they share with other people. by Focused
54 min listen
25: Breadcrumb of My Life, with Stephen Hackett: Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett discusses his origin story, including the personal challenges he first encountered when he went independent. by Focused
57 min listen
6: The Shawshank Redemption, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad: PlayStation veteran Shahid Kamal Ahmad left Sony to become an independent game developer. We discuss why he left and how he schedules his workday in his garden shed, the ShaShed. by Focused
48 min listen
37: The Twelve-Week Year: We wrap up the year with a discussion of navigating holidays and vacations, David's thoughts about getting projects to completion in the new year, Jason's update to his Not-To-Do List, end-of-year appreciation gifts for clients, and more. by Focused
54 min listen
31: Being Selective About Clients, with Aleen Simms: Relay FM Host and App Launch Map founder Aleen Simms joins us to talk about her accidental fall into freelance work and setting high standards for her clients. by Focused
38 min listen
22: Staying Agile: One of your great advantages as an independent worker is your agility. While larger companies have more resources, they can be much slower to react to change. David and Jason swap war stories about adapting and changing. by Focused
28 min listen

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204: Analog Productivity, with Jeff Sheldon: Ugmonk founder Jeff Sheldon is back to talk about designing and building physical products, how our environments shape our ability to focus, and finding joy in the analog. by Focused
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203: The Little Lies You Tell Yourself, with Jason Snell: Jason Snell is back to talk about staying focused as an indie and his unique spin on off-site personal retreats. by Focused
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202: Slow Productivity: David & Mike consider Cal Newport's philosophy on organizing knowledge work in a sustainable and meaningful manner. by Focused
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201: What to Do When Things Don't Go Your Way, with Haemin Sunim: Bestselling author & Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim joins David & Mike to talk about gratitude, mindfulness, compassion, and dealing with disappointment when things don't go your way. by Focused
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200: Favorite Productivity Hacks: David & Mike celebrate 200 episodes by sharing their favorite productivity hacks. by Focused
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195: The Productivity Field Guide: After several years in production, the Productivity Field Guide is here! Mike interviews David about what's in it, how much went into it, and why it's so important to David. by Focused
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187: Drop Zones & Launch Pads, with Jesse J. Anderson: Jesse J. Anderson is back to talk about troubleshooting productivity systems and his new book for helping adults with ADHD find focus. by Focused
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184: Solving Problems, with Jay Clouse: Jay Clouse of Creator Science joins us to talk about the sawdust problem, the focus benefits of community, and finding the balance between quality and quantity. by Focused
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183: Practicing Focus: David & Mike discuss how they inject focus into their workdays & Mike shares about his tiny house retreat experience. by Focused
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182: Building Focused Flywheels, with Nathan Barry: ConvertKit CEO Nathan Barry joins us to talk about the power of focus and how it helped save his company. by Focused
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45: Like Going Back to High School

45: Like Going Back to High School

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Focused