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- How to solve hard problems (The 3I Method)
“The desire to do something because you find it deeply satisfying and personally challenging inspires the highest levels of creativity, whether it’s in … Continued - How to be effective and calm (Cultivating Acceptance)
“What would it be like if I could accept life, accept this moment, exactly as it is?” — Tara Brach Why it works … Continued - How to build enduring drive (Rethinking Motivation)
“Desire is persistent, but happiness is fleeting.” — Daniel Z. Lieberman Why it works Daniel Z. Lieberman (pictured) is a professor of Psychiatry and … Continued - How to do hard things (Reversal of Desire)
“The Comfort Zone is supposed to keep your life safe, but what it really does is keep your life small.” — Phil Stutz … Continued - How to break bad habits (3 Proven Steps)
“Time management is pain management.” — Nir Eyal Why it works Nir Eyal (pictured) is a leading expert on habit formation and focus. … Continued - How to avoid Zoom Fatigue (3 Simple Fixes)
“Just because you can use video doesn’t mean you have to.” — Jeremy Bailenson Why it works Jeremy Bailenson (pictured) is a Professor … Continued - How to break limiting beliefs (The Work)
“A thought is harmless unless we believe it.” — Byron Katie Why it works Byron Katie (pictured) is an American author and speaker … Continued - How to stop worrying for good (The Pennebaker Protocol)
“Human relationships are not rocket science — they are far, far more complicated.” — James W. Pennebaker Why it works James W. Pennebaker … Continued - How to create your dream life (The Three-Year Vision)
“To make better decisions today that create happier tomorrows, we need to find ways to close the gap between our current and future … Continued - How to accomplish any goal (The Three Questions)
“Decide what you stand for. And then stand for it, all the time.” — Clayton Christensen Why it works Clayton Christensen (pictured) was a … Continued - How to transform your life (The Three Alarms)
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” —James Clear Why it works James Clear (pictured) … Continued - How to nail your interview (10 Things Not to Say)
“The world wants you to be vanilla. They will always push you to look and act the same as everyone else.” – Ramit Sethi Why … Continued - How strong leaders speak (11 Powerful Phrases)
“A strong leader has the humility to listen, the confidence to challenge, and the wisdom to know when to quit arguing and to … Continued - How great leaders thrive (7 Productivity Habits)
“If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will.” – Greg McKeown Why it works Greg McKeown (pictured) is a British-American author and speaker … Continued - How to level up your leadership (5 Top Infographics)
Dear readers, Before diving into today’s post, I have an important update to share. 2025 is shaping up to be a big year … Continued - How to thrive as an introvert (6 Myths Debunked)
“The bias against introversion leads to a colossal waste of talent, energy, and happiness.” — Susan Cain Why it works Susan Cain (pictured) … Continued - How to work smarter (4 Powerful Levers)
“Where focus goes, energy flows” – Tony Robbins Why it works Tony Robbins (pictured) is an American author, coach, and motivational speaker. His … Continued - How to accelerate your career (7 Soft Skills)
“Hard skills get you in the door, but soft skills move you up the ladder” – Unknown Why it works James Heckman (pictured) … Continued - How to be more productive (7 Golden Rules)
“Heroes finish strong.” – Brian Johnson Why it works Brian Johnson (pictured) is an American entrepreneur, podcaster and author known for bridging ancient wisdom … Continued - How great leaders build trust (10 Powerful Phrases)
“The leader’s job is to put other people on stage.” – Liz Wiseman Why it works Liz Wiseman (pictured) is an American author, researcher … Continued - How to unlock your full potential (9 Habits You Must Quit)
“Difficulty is what wakes up the genius” – Nassim Taleb Why it works Nassim Taleb (pictured) is a Lebanese-American scholar, former trader and author … Continued - How to build strong character (7 Signs)
“Authentic happiness derives from raising the bar for yourself, not rating yourself against others.” – Martin Seligman Why it works Martin Seligman (pictured) is … Continued - How to speak like a leader (8 Powerful Phrases)
“A brave leader is someone who says I see you. I hear you. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m going to … Continued - How to build psychological safety (5 Practical Tips)
Want to Make Faster Progress? This Tool Transformed How I Learn Today, Beyond Productivity is brought to you by Shortform. They provide the … Continued - How to ace any job interview (5 Actionable Tips)
“Sometimes the most advanced thing you can do is the basics, consistently.” – Ramit Sethi Why it works Ramit Sethi (pictured) is an American … Continued - Holiday Edition (10 Most Popular Infographics in 2024)
Dear readers, Welcome to a special holiday edition of Beyond Productivity. As the year rounds up to a close, I’ve compiled my 10 … Continued - How to be happier (8 Surprising Truths)
Want a smarter way to keep up with great books? Today, Beyond Productivity is brought to you by Shortform. They make the best book … Continued - How to master prioritization (8 Proven Methods)
“The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” – Warren Buffett Why … Continued - How to empower introverts (6 Powerful Practices)
Need a smarter way to keep up with great books? Today, Beyond Productivity is brought to you by Shortform. They provide the best book … Continued - How to have more productive meetings (6 Actions)
First, big thanks to today’s sponsor — Fyxer AI: Emails and meetings are the biggest time sinks in organizations. Using Fyxer AI allowed me … Continued - How to become a better leader (5 Actionable Steps)
“Ego can’t sleep. It micro-manages. It disempowers. It reduces our capability. It excels in control.” – Robert K. Greenleaf Why it works Robert … Continued - How to master time management (6 Powerful Techniques)
Before we get to today’s post, I have exciting news: We have three open seats in our Becoming Ultraproductive 1:1 coaching program, starting in November, … Continued - How to build high-trust teams (10 Keys)
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” – Aristotle Why it works Amy C. Edmondson (pictured above) is an American … Continued - How to de-stress your life (10 Tiny Habits)
“Celebrating small wins gives them something to repattern our life around.” ― BJ Fogg Why it works BJ Fogg (pictured above) is an … Continued - How to build a high-performing team (5 Signs)
“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it” ― Simon Sinek Why it works Simon Sinek (pictured above) is … Continued - How to delegate like a CEO (4 Powerful Methods)
“Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It’s that simple, and it’s that hard.” ― Danny Meyer Why it … Continued - How to remember everything you learn (6 Proven Ways)
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin Why it works Michael Merzenich … Continued - How Apple’s CEO gets things done (5 Productivity Rules)
“Let your joy be in your journey, not in some distant goal.” ― Tim Cook Why it works Tim Cook (pictured above) is … Continued - How to unleash quiet powers (4 Proven Tips)
“There’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” ― Susan Cain Why it works Susan Cain (pictured above) … Continued - How to win your day the night before (7 Evening Habits)
“A productive day starts the night before.” – Unknown Why it works Morning habits are all the rage. Yet, a great day starts … Continued - How great leaders manage their time (9 Powerful Tools)
“Effective executives, in my observation, do not start with their tasks. They start with their time” – Peter Drucker Why it works Early … Continued - How to not be productive (6 Productivity Killers)
”Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love — is the sum of what you focus on.” – Cal … Continued - How world-class CEOs get more done (6 Practices)
“We’re perfectly productive when we accomplish what we intend to do.” – Chris Bailey Why it works “Productivity” is a loaded term that … Continued - How to find your life’s purpose (4 Ikigai Elements)
“The more things for which you develop a fondness, the richer the life you live.” – Dan Buettner Why it works Ikigai is … Continued - How to get better (7 Unique Traits of Successful People)
“We’re either getting better, or we’re getting worse.” – David Goggins Why it works David Goggins’ journey from a depressed, overweight teenager to … Continued - How to be successful (8 Essential Soft Skills)
“Hard skills get you in. Soft skills get you far.” – Unknown Why it works The term soft skills was created by the … Continued - How to have better meetings (6 Powerful Methods)
“Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time.” – Elon Musk Why it works This blunt … Continued - How to overcome procrastination (10 Proven Ways)
“Proximity to temptation is one of the deadliest determinants of procrastination.” – Dr. Piers Steel Why it works Dr. Piers Steel (pictured above) … Continued - How to win your day by subtraction (12 Morning Habits To Avoid)
“We know what is wrong with more clarity than what is right, and that knowledge grows by subtraction.” – Nassim Taleb Why it … Continued - How to build your emotional intelligence (8 Crucial Ways)
“In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels.” – Daniel Goleman Why it works Top … Continued - How to make stress work for you (10 Powerful Tips)
“Stress is not always bad. In fact, a certain amount of stress can be beneficial for growth and learning.” – Andrew Huberman Why … Continued - How to ace time management (11 Tools)
“The antidote to impulsiveness is forethought.” – Nir Eyal Why it works Productivity isn’t about squeezing in more things, but about doing the … Continued - How to recognize and prevent burnout (9 Hidden Signs)
“Rest is, quite simply, when you stop using a part of you that’s used up, worn out, damaged, or inflamed, so that it … Continued - How to get more done in less time (The 80/20 Rule)
“For many phenomena, 80% of consequences stem from 20% of the causes.” – Joseph M. Juran Why it works According to the 80/20 … Continued - How to become Ultraproductive, our book deal with Portfolio Penguin, and a gift for you
Imagine asking 100 people in a room if they want to boost their productivity. You’d see nearly every hand in the air. The … Continued - How to beat procrastination for good (5 Methods)
“Anytime you stop striving to get better, you’re bound to get worse.” — Brian Tracy What to do Beat procrastination for good with … Continued - How to remember everything you learn (3 Non-Negotiables)
“Behaviour first. Thoughts, feelings and perceptions follow.” — Prof. Andrew Huberman What to do Learn up to 10x more efficiently by optimizing alertness, focus and rest. Why … Continued - How to boost your life satisfaction (6 Daily Questions)
“Fate is the hand of cards we’ve been dealt. Choice is how we play the hand.” – Dr. Marshall Goldsmith What to do … Continued - How to optimize your energy (7 Power Habits)
“Energy, not time, is the fundamental currency of high performance.” – Dr. Jim Loehr What to do Optimize your energy with 7 power … Continued - How to be consistent (Seinfeld Strategy)
“Most people need consistency more than they need intensity” – James Clear What to do Turn working on an important task into a … Continued - How to get things done 400% more quickly (Four Quarters Method)
“The days are long, but the years are short.” — Gretchen Rubin What to do Get four shots to ace your day instead … Continued - How to own your morning and win your day (8 Morning Habits)
What to do Set yourself up to win the day with 8 morning habits. Why it works Robin Sharma (pictured above) is a renowned … Continued - How to own your day (4 Time Management Methods)
“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.”– Dwight D. Eisenhower What to do Own your day with … Continued - How to transform your life in 12 weeks (7 Habits)
According to writer Chris Bailey, productivity advice generally falls into one or more of three categories: time, energy and attention management. What to … Continued - How to boost your motivation by 250% (6 Dopamine Habits)
Dopamine is widely viewed as a pleasure chemical. Yet, it’s so much more than that. What to do Boost your motivation by 250% … Continued - How to boost your productivity by 500% (6 Focus Habits)
“It is only by concentrating intensely that you can master a difficult discipline or solve a demanding problem”, according to a 2016 article … Continued - How to increase your life expectancy to 92 (3 Longevity Habits)
“A healthy man wants a thousand things; a sick man only wants one.”, Confucius wisely said. Here‘s how to maximize your chances of … Continued - What not to do (4 Anti-Habits)
92% of us fail our New Year’s resolutions by Valentine’s Day. So instead of beginning the new year trying to add new habits … Continued - How to own your evening and win tomorrow (5 Evening Habits)
Morning habits are all the rage. Yet, a great day starts the night before. What to do Adopt 5 game-changing habits to own … Continued - How to 4x your productivity without burning out (The 3-3-3 Method)
The book I’ve gifted most often is Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman (pictured above). His 3-3-3 Method is one of my favorite productivity tools. … Continued - How to live a happy life (7 Social Fitness Keystones)
“The frequency and the quality of our contact with other people are two major predictors of happiness.” – Prof. Robert Waldinger, MD What … Continued - How to boost your willpower and tenacity (aMCC Training)
“Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” – Jerzy Gregorek As it turns out, you can train your brain to get better … Continued - How to transform your health and shape (The 3-Pillar Method)
Most people start the new year with lofty goals around eating healthier and exercising more because they want to look good (been there, … Continued - How to boost your growth while reframing stress (Stress Goals)
Trying to avoid stress reduces your well-being, happiness and life satisfaction. Fortunately, there’s a much better way to view stress. What to do … Continued - How to make stress work for you (Stress Mindset Cultivation)
You don’t get to avoid stress. But you get to improve the physiology of your stress system – by changing how you think … Continued - How to get better at stress (Alertness System Activation)
What to do Get better at stress by activating your sympathetic nervous system (aka alertness system) through intense exercise, cold exposure and breathing. … Continued - How to off turn stress in real-time (Calmness System Activation)
You don’t get to avoid stress. But you get to manage it. Pulling that off requires you to take control of your autonomic … Continued - How to have a great night’s sleep (Avoid Deep Sleep Killers)
If you wake up feeling destroyed instead of rested despite getting 7-8 hours of sleep, it might be due to three common deep … Continued - How to fall deeply asleep quickly even after a stressful day (Exhale-Emphasized Breathing)
85% of people don’t get sufficient quality sleep at night, which kills their productivity and resilience during the day. To get a good night’s … Continued - How to set up your bedroom for a great night’s sleep (Turn It Into a Cave)
As I explained in last week’s post, a great night’s sleep starts with 90 minutes of deep sleep. It can increase productivity by up to … Continued - Why 8 hours of sleep is terrible advice and what to do instead (The 3T Method)
85% of people don’t get sufficient quality sleep at night, which kills their productivity and resilience during the day. Fortunately, there’s a simple way … Continued - How to avoid digital clutter for good in five minutes a week (Maintaining PARA)
Last week, I explained how to use productivity expert Tiago Forte’s PARA method to declutter your desktop in 60 seconds. As it turns out, keeping … Continued - How to declutter your desktop in 60 seconds (PARA Method)
Digital clutter kills our productivity. A Princeton study found that it restricts our capacity to process information, impairs our ability to focus, and ultimately keeps … Continued - How to avoid all-day meetings with random participants and no agenda (Slack Saunaing)
Entrepreneur Jason Fried compares group chat tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams to “being in an all-day meeting with random participants and no … Continued - How to limit screen time to 90 minutes a day (Intermittent Digital Fasting)
While we have more leisure time than 50 years ago, there is an important twist, according to Harvard professor Ashley Whillans (pictured above): … Continued - How to win back 5+ hours a week (Meetings à la Musk)
In an email to Tesla employees in 2022, Elon Musk wrote that “excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always … Continued - Why to-do lists kill your productivity, and what to do instead (Timeboxing)
Bestselling author Nir Eyal (pictured above) compares managing your day with to-do lists to running your life on Windows 95. Why? Because to-do … Continued - How to accomplish more by working less (Shutdown Routine)
I used to work 24/7. In the morning, I’d open my laptop with no idea of what I wanted to get done. I’d … Continued - How batching emails doubles your productivity (3-2-1 Method)
The average knowledge worker sends and receives 126 emails per day. 70% of emails are opened within six seconds of receipt. The never-ending … Continued - How to lower stress in less than 30 seconds (Exhale-Emphasized Breathing)
Besides raising your stress threshold and changing your stress mindset, there’s a third brutally-effective way to master stress: lowering it in real-time. As it turns out, … Continued