Focused 117: Roles & Goals

Goals are great, but they aren't enough. In this episode of Focused, Mike and I talk about how roles and goals work together, and how the hats that you decide to wear are the real foundation of a solid personal productivity system.

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.

• TextExpander, from Smile: Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off your first year.

• Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.

Focused 116: The Big Reset

Mike and I take on the new year in our own focused ways as we talk through a workflow for change on the latest episode of Focused.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get an extra three months free.

• Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to boost your job post.

Focused 115: Solving Interesting Problems, with Ernie Svenson

Ernie Svenson joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about how focus inspired his career change from lawyer to small firm consultant, the importance of getting help, and the value of journaling.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get an extra three months free.

• Woven: The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.

Focused 114: Inputs and PKM Stacks

Inputs! We all have too many of them and not enough of us have a plan for them. In this episode of Focused, Mike and I talk about those pesky inputs and how to deal with them.

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.

• Woven: The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.

The 2021 Focused Wall Calendar

The year 2020 turned out to be a bit of a dumpster fire for a lot of us and as we’re heading into the new year, just about everyone is ready for a fresh start. So why not hit the ground running in 2021 with a beautiful wall Focused wall calendar. Mike and I have partnered once again with the folks at NeuYear to produce a great looking wall calendar.

This year’s version is dry-erase (but keeps the $24 price point) and week’s start on Monday, as they should. It’ll look amazing on your wall as you conquer 2021. As much as I like my digital bits, there is something to be said for having a big wall calendar staring back at you as you plan your year. It lets you see where you have room to make something great and where you’re too busy to take on any more. I love the way these came out and I hope you do too.

Focused 113: ADHD and Cognitive Science, with Brittany Smith

Brittany Smith is a cognitive scientist and very focused. She was also diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and she has a lot of wisdom to share on this week’s episode of Focused. 

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get an extra three months free.

• Woven: The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.

Focused 111: Environmental Focus, with Erik Fisher

Erik Fisher joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about internal and external distractions, setting up your environment for focused work, dealing with unexpected changes, and building self-awareness.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Teamistry: The stories of unsung teams who pioneered new ways of working to achieve the unexpected. Listen now.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

Focused 108: Pruning, with Ian Byrd

Educator, speaker, and online course creator Ian Byrd joins Mike and me on the latest episode of Focused to talk about quarterly retreats, technology, and focus. Also, I make a commitment.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get an extra three months free.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

Focused 107: The Bullet Journal Method, with Ryder Carroll

Bullet journal method founder Ryder Carroll joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about taking time offline, asking the right questions, and finding the balance between style and substance in getting the right 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.

Focused 106: Home Offices with Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam joins Mike and me on this episode of Focused to talk about challenges and opportunities in working from home. We also break down our ever-evolving shut down routines.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

Focused 104: Sleep and Sabbaticals

Mike and I cover a lot in this week's episode of Focused, ranging from my attempt at a sabbatical, to sleep, to productivity in virtual reality.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

• A Fine Start: The new tab page you’ll actually use.

Focused 103: Systems and Challenges

On the latest episode of Focused, I’m tweaking my shutdown routine and prepping for my for sabbatical. Mike’s unpacking his hybrid productivity system. And we each have our own productivity challenge to complete.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Drafts: Where text starts. Try it free now.

• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

• Ahrefs: SEO tools and resources to grow your search traffic. Get a 7-day trial for just $7.

Focused 101: Taking a Sabbatical, with Sean McCabe

Sean McCabe is back on the latest episode of Focused to talk about sabbaticals—and to convince David to take one of his own.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

• 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.

Focused 100: Staying Focused with Episode 100

It's Focused’s 100th episode! Mike and I are looking back and looking forward in terms of focus. 

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure and anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.

• Timing: The automatic time-tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.

Focused 99: Working From Home, with Dave Caolo

Dave Caolo joins Mike and me on this week’s episode of Focused to talk about games and productivity, how his bullet journal helps him stay focused, and working from home without going crazy.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

• Blinkist: Read 3,000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Focused 98: Floating with Dave Hamilton

Dave Hamilton joins us on this episode of Focused to talk about how to keep your focus in the workplace and during a pandemic. Also, Dave uses an isolation tank, and we have questions.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

• Agenda: Date-focused note taking. Download now for free.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

Focused 96: Working from Home

On this episode of Focused, Mike and I are talking about keeping your focus while working from home.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Agenda: Date-focused note taking. Download now for free.

Focused 95: Five Years of Freedom

I’m sharing the big lessons I’ve learned from five years of working independently on the latest episode of Focused. Also, Mike and I talk about the fear of failure, intentional constraints, effective delegation, and the impact my furry new coworker has on my productivity.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Blinkist: Read 3,000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

• Timing: The automatic time-tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.

• ExpressVPN: High-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.

Focused 94: Journaling with Matt Ragland

On the latest episode of Focused, Matt Ragland explains how he uses his paper bullet journal to stay focused.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.

• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

• Indeed: Post your job today and get a free sponsored job upgrade.

Focused 93: Attention Overload

In this second part of the overload series, Mike and I discuss emotional hijacking, the myth of multitasking, and how to tame the lizard brain.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:

• Ahrefs: SEO Tools & Resources To Grow Your Search Traffic. Get a 7-day trial for just $7.

• Blinkist: Read 3000+ books in 15 minutes or fewer. Start your 7-day free trial.

• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code FOCUSED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.