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 through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.
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David & Mike walk through their planning processes and make their best case for leaving social media altogether. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The 2023 Focused Calendar Give the Gift of Relay FM Focused #164: Mind Mapping Command Strips | Amazon Focused #138: Hyper-Scheduling Revisited ...
Chris Upchurch joins us to talk about his recent career change from metropolitan transportation planner to whitewater rafting guide. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Guest Starring: Chris Upchurch Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Gran...
David & Mike consider the focus benefits of mind mapping and discuss the tools and methods they use to think beyond the outline. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Sofa : Organize your downtime. Download now. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The 2023 Focused Calendar | NeuYear Mind Map Mastery by Tony Buzan Mac Power Users #82: Cooking Idea...
Baron Fig CEO Joey Cofone joins us to talk about creativity, embracing constraints, and finding your own way. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. ExpressVPN : High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Guest Starring: Joey Cofone Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Laws of Creativity by Joey Cofone B...
David & Mike discuss perfectionism, procrastination, and overcoming the urge to get everything just right. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Focused #146: The Extended Mind, with Annie Murphy ...
Jean MacDonald joins us to talk about social media, the M.E.O.W. system, and reading books. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Ethos : Life insurance that fits your budget. Guest Starring: Jean MacDonald Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Relay FM for St. Jude Micro.blog The Weekly Review #219: A MEOW Review 😺 Stolen Focus by Johann Hari | Amazo...
David & Mike compare calendars and task lists, the jobs to be done by each, and the resistance that will inevitably appear in your quest to get things done. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Exten...
David & Mike consider note-taking and its role in the creative process. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Ethos : Life insurance that fits your budget. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte | Amazon Readwise Mind Map Mastery by Tony Buzan | Amazon reMarkable Liminal Thinking by Dave Gray | Amazon...
Rob Krecak joins us to talk about the psychology behind email, the importance of communication norms, and tips from his experiences helping organizations move to a 4-day work week. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Rob Krecak Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Humans First | Technology Mindfulness and Behavioral Change Shorter by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang | Amazon The 4 Day ...
Mike Vardy is back to talk about the rhythm of work and why some people feel "productivity" is becoming a dirty word. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: NetSuite : The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Get a special one-of-a-kind financing offer. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Mike Vardy Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Exten...
Inspired by a Cal Newport article on Getting Things Done, David & Mike go through an audit of the (in)famous productivity system. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: NetSuite : The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Get a special one-of-a-kind financing offer. Setapp : More than 240 powerful apps. Try it free for a week. Indeed : Start hiring now and only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episod...
David & Mike explore the idea of favorite problems and identify a dozen of their own in a quest for self-discovery. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Setapp : More than 240 powerful apps. Try it free for a week. NetSuite : The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Get a special one-of-a-kind financing offer. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes...
Tiago Forte joins us to talk about his new book, building knowledge assets, and flipping the switch from consumer to creator. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Setapp : Curated playlists to help you get things done. Search and follow ‘Setapp’ on Spotify. Guest Starring: Tiago Forte Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with ...
Kourosh Dini is back to talk about being with the work and the dark side of flow. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Kourosh Dini Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Shortcuts for Mac Field Guide | MacSparky Focused #135: Don't Eat the Frog, with Jesse J. Anderson Mi...
David & Mike share some of their favorite mental models and how to use them for better sensemaking. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Kolide : Endpoint Security Powered by People. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Linking Your...
Francesco D'Alessio joins us to talk about the state of productivity apps, picking the right tools, and his new app, Bento. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Kolide : Endpoint Security Powered by People. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Francesco D'Alessio Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: ...
David & Mike celebrate episode 150 by talking about focus traps and answering a bunch of listener questions. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Kolide : Endpoint Security Powered by People. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The...
Marc Champagne (author of Personal Socrates) joins us to talk about mental fitness, journaling, and why simply asking the right questions can change your life. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Microsoft Lists – MSA Preview : Sign up, sign in and track what matters most. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Marc Champagne Links and Show Notes: Dee...
Chris Bailey is back to talk about his dopamine fast, the art of savoring, and avoiding the productivity racket. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Ahrefs : Improve your website’s SEO performance and get more traffic from search. Free for website owners. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Guest Starring: Chris Bailey Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ep...
Mike and David delve into personal task management systems, with Mike sharing his Obsidian experiment and both discussing their unique uses of checklists. They explore the balance between digital complexity and analog simplicity, reflecting on the individual nature of productivity and the importance of adapting systems to life changes. The conversation also touches on parenting in the digital age and setting boundaries with technology.
Author Annie Murphy Paul joins us to talk about playing with ideas, working in groups, and other ways to extend the mind. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Ahrefs : Improve your website’s SEO performance and get more traffic from search. Free for website owners. Guest Starring: Annie Murphy Paul Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul Annie Murphy Paul'...
David & Mike consider how the environment affects our ability to focus and share the very different ways they set up their workspaces. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Shopify : Grow your business with Shopify. Start your 14-day free trial today. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Virtua...
Patrick Rhone joins us to talk about analog productivity, knolling, mise en place, and staying focused while wearing many hats. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Ahrefs : Improve your website’s SEO performance and get more traffic from search. Free for website owners. Guest Starring: Patrick Rhone Links and Show Notes: Deep Fo...
David and Mike share some thoughts about what they’re up to in the new year and the personal changes they’re making to their routines. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Shopify : Grow your business with Shopify. Start your 14-day free trial today. Ahrefs : Improve your website’s SEO performance and get more traffic from search. Free for website owners. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content....
Sparky finally put his money where his mouth is and he's doing just one thing now. In this episode, Mike has questions and David has answers. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Links and Show Notes: Credits The Hosts Mike Schmitz Dav...
David & Mike discuss the arrival fallacy and the importance of finding joy in the journey. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Setapp : More than 200 powerful apps for your Mac. Try it free for a week. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Mic...
Engineering professor Cory Hixson joins the Focused crew this week about staying on target, not letting your kids eat take your brain, and why you are not a computer. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Setapp : More than 200 powerful apps for your Mac. Try it free for a week. The Intrazone, by Microsoft SharePoint : Your bi-weekly conversation and interview podcast about SharePoint, OneDrive and related tech within Microsoft 365. Gue...
David & Mike consider the source of negative self-talk, the power of positive thinking, and taming the rebellious brain. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Privacy : Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams | Amazon Courage Is Calling by Rya...
Mike and David return to the subject of hyper-scheduling after they've both been at it a few years. What works? What doesn't? And how did Mike's experiment go where he stopped blocking time? This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Privacy : Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Indeed : Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post. Squarespace : Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Credits The H...
Mike and David return to the insidious problem of "busy". Mike and David are not beyond getting caught in this trap and share some ideas about how to avoid it. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Privacy : Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. Timing : The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase. Setapp : More than 200 powerful apps for your Mac. Try it free for a week. Links and Show Notes: Credits The Hosts Mike Schmitz David S...
