75: Intentional Constraints

FromFocused

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75: Intentional Constraints

FromFocused

ratings:

Length:

90 minutes

Released:

Jun 11, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

The conversation on moving the needle continues as David and Mike talk about intentional constraints. Mike embarks on a task management spirit quest, David shares his Bullet Journal advice, and together they consider the balance of process and results.

Released:

Jun 11, 2019

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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30: Tito Needs to Pay the Rent: So you're working in a house full of kids. Or a partner who is there all the time. It can make working from home difficult to say the least. We discuss the good and bad of working around kids (and others) who are in your house with you. by Focused
47 min listen
33: When You Say Yes to Everything: David struggles with time management. Jason gets a better perspective on how his business is performing. by Focused
54 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
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
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
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
8: Email Is Not Your Job: Managing email and setting rules about how you use it. by Focused
28 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
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
18: A Series of Logical Decisions, with Greg Pierce: Agile Tortoise's Greg Pierce discusses what he's learned in a decade as an independent developer and consultant. by Focused
45 min listen
10: Indie Vacation: Planning and taking vacations as an independent worker. by Focused
37 min listen
27: Bird in the Bush: Passion projects can be an enjoyable outlet. But how do you balance the work that pays the bills with the work that feeds the soul? by Focused
44 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
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
36: My App Story, with John Voorhees: John Voorhees of MacStories is a brand-new free agent, a lawyer who left his job in Chicago to set out on his own as a writer and app developer. He tells us how he decided to leave the legal profession and go full time as an independent worker. by Focused
40 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
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
5: Envision a Bonfire by Focused
31 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
9: The Feedback Episode: In a wide-ranging episode, David and Jason answer your letters and tweets. by Focused
52 min listen
53: The Value of Your Time: David and Mike talk about protecting your most valuable resource - your time. Mike gets inspired during his personal retreat and learns how to say “no.” David learns the hard way from his recent travels but has a plan for what to do differently next time. by Focused
72 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

More Episodes from Focused

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205: Tasks & Calendars: David & Mike consider their use of tasks and calendars and share their workflows for how they tie these two essential productivity tools together to get things done. by Focused
72 min listen
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
82 min listen
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
84 min listen
202: Slow Productivity: David & Mike consider Cal Newport's philosophy on organizing knowledge work in a sustainable and meaningful manner. by Focused
76 min listen
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
71 min listen
200: Favorite Productivity Hacks: David & Mike celebrate 200 episodes by sharing their favorite productivity hacks. by Focused
63 min listen
199: Repotting & Retirement, with Jim Eager: Jim Eager joins us to talk about how to navigate the 4 phases of retirement with meaning and purpose. by Focused
90 min listen
198: Revisiting Journaling: David & Mike revisit the topic of journaling for personal growth and share how their workflows have evolved. by Focused
94 min listen
197: Feel Good Productivity: David & Mike consider the role of happiness & joy in meaningful productivity. by Focused
86 min listen
196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf: Cognitive neuroscientist and reading warrior Dr. Maryanne Wolf joins us to talk about the science of reading and how what we read changes our brains. by Focused
79 min listen
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
70 min listen
194: I'd Like to Take a Mulligan: David & Mike reflect on everything that happened in 2023 and share their intentions for 2024. by Focused
64 min listen
193: The Problem with Mise en Place, with Justin Khanna: Chef, creator, and entrepreneur Justin Khanna joins us to share focus lessons from the culinary world. by Focused
77 min listen
192: Flow State: David & Mike consider the benefits of the flow state and what we can do to achieve it more consistently. by Focused
69 min listen
191: Multi-Scale Planning: David & Mike unpack the concept of multi-scale planning and share how they are both using it to live in alignment with their vision and values. by Focused
86 min listen
190: Overdosing on Gratitude, with Karl Staib: Process Consultant Karl Staib joins us to talk about process design, delegation, and the power of gratitude. by Focused
78 min listen
189: Focus & AI: David & Mike consider how various AI tools can help protect our focus and share what they're using to boost their productivity & creativity. by Focused
94 min listen
188: Q4 Planning & The PKM Stack: David & Mike revisit the topic of toxic productivity, discuss choosing apps & tools that support your intentions, and share their plans for the last quarter of 2023. by Focused
83 min listen
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
82 min listen
186: The Burden of Opportunity, with Shawn Blanc: The Focus Course creator and small business owner Shawn Blanc is back to talk about margin, sabbaticals, and focusing like a boss. by Focused
80 min listen
185: How to Be Miserable: David & Mike discuss the satirical self-help book How to Be Miserable by Randy J. Paterson and share the dysfunctional skills they are particularly good at. by Focused
84 min listen
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
68 min listen
183: Practicing Focus: David & Mike discuss how they inject focus into their workdays & Mike shares about his tiny house retreat experience. by Focused
81 min listen
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
76 min listen
181: Walking Your Own Path, with Justin Moore: Sponsorship coach Justin Moore joins us to talk about his journey from medical devices to Creator Wizard founder, avoiding the comparison trap, and finding your niche. by Focused
87 min listen
180: A Focused Hodgepodge: David reflects on 18 months of freedom, Mike reports back from Craft + Commerce, and they both share their best advice for teaching kids how to focus. by Focused
78 min listen
177: The Care and Feeding of Technology, with Mike Rohde: Mike Rohde is back to talk about the role of analog and digital tools in maintaining creative focus. by Focused
89 min listen
176: Doing Less: David & Mike revisit the importance of saying no and discuss how to prevent taking on too much. by Focused
78 min listen

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69: The Intentional Life: David and Mike continue to explore intentionality and the role it has in every area of your life. David gets ready for a work trip, Mike answers questions about Masterminds, and they discuss the importance of space in living the life you want to live. by Focused
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77: You Can't Hack the System: David and Mike share some things they've learned about managing energy. They discuss staying positive, Mike continues his digital Bullet Journal experiment, and David spends some time "reseaching" the perfect notebook. by Focused
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The Coach and the Therapist: A Conversation with Rick Maguire, Part Two: This week, Dr. Dan Allender continues a conversation with his friend Rick Maguire, who recently left a successful career at Microsoft to pursue work helping others as a life coach. Rick and Dan talk about what is required to walk with someone... by The Allender Center Podcast
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The DMs #003- "What To Do With Siblings That Fight With Each Other?": David and Heidi respond to the DM’s! This time they discuss the struggle that happens between siblings! How do you get siblings to connect and communicate? David shares a great suggestion that you can start now to help build relationships in your family. by Light The Fight- Parenting Podcast
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Mac Power Users 223: MPU Live: It's So Choice...: David and Katie chat with Mike Rhode about his new book, the Sketchnote Workbook. David talks about his latest purchase. We also follow-up on a number of topics including academic workflows, goal setting security and share listener tips and answer questio by Mac Power Users
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75: Intentional Constraints

75: Intentional Constraints

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Focused

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