ProdPod, a Productivity Podcast

Sometimes, it's all in how you define an unproductive behavior that starts to build new, productive behaviors. I'd like to invite everyone listening to the podcast to my new live, monthly Twitter conversation, Productivity Chat or prodchat. Please visit productivity.podbean.com to learn more, and see how easy it is to join the conversation! The first accepted definition is procrastination being a...

Worry isn't and wasn't always unproductive; it started as a means of human survival. If there wasn't worrying, our ancestors wouldn't have eaten, foraged for food or fled when hungry predators appeared! Today, though, worry is much less needed in our day-to-day lives but it still persists as a chronic, systemic problem for many trying to have a fulfilled, productive life. In this episode, and havi...

In this episode, I describe my unfortunate relationship with the definition of the word "savings" for many years and what it taught me about productivity. When I was in my late teens and was into reading books on financial literacy, I learned along the way a peculiar definition of "savings." Savings, according to this definition, is the deprivation of something now for later benefit. I struggled f...

One of my favorite finds when it comes to project planning was the acronym SMART. It stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-sensitive. Recently I've learned of additions to the acronym to make it SMARTER, to include evaluate and reassess to the SMART goal planning process. I use the SMART criteria specifically during my planning phase of any project, for writing out my proj...

A "Someday/Maybe" list, according to David Allen's Getting Things Done (or GTD) methodology is for any goal, project or next action that you are not committed to achieving or doing right now. Many people have struggled to separate what goes on their Someday/Maybe lists from their Actions and Projects lists, so I thought in this episode I'd describe Someday/Maybe's in my productivity system in hope...

Two-Minute Book Summary: Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life Dr. Spencer Johnson Dr. Spencer Johnson wrote and published his NY-Times-5-years-running bestselling book, Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life, in 1998. I read this oft-cited business fable back in 1999 or 2000 for the first time, and it r...

In this episode's lesson, I explain why changing your entire productivity system can be truly counterproductive and to think twice. I'm the first person to extol the virtues of change. I've actually got an episode upcoming about just how to handle change. But, when it comes to changing to an entirely new productivity system, in this episode's lesson, I explain why change on that macro level can be...

Learning a Productive Habit This is the fourth and final episode in How to Form a Productive Habit. In episode 14, we discussed theory and now we'll be discussing a practical strategy and tactics for coming out victorious in your endeavor to form a productive habit. This is the fourth and final episode in How to Form a Productive Habit--Learning a Productive Habit. In episode 14, we discussed theo...

Realities of Forming Habits: New Scientific Data This is part three of our 4-part podcast on How to Form a Productive Habit. In this episode, we'll be discussing the realities of forming habits using the most current scientific data on automaticity. This is part three of our 4-part podcast on How to Form a Productive Habit. In this episode, we'll be discussing the realities of forming habits using...

Stop Digging: Unproductive Habits This is part two of our 4-part podcast on How to Form a Productive Habit. In this episode, we'll be discussing Unproductive Habits. This is part two of our 4-part podcast on How to Form a Productive Habit. In this episode, we'll be discussing Unproductive Habits. Most productive habits start by the realization of an unproductive one. So, my first piece of advice i...

Distinguishing Between Habits and Other Forms of Non-Associative Learning In this 4-part podcast, I'll be discussing How to Form a Productive Habit. In this first episode, I'll explain the groundwork for determining how you'll tackle the formation of a new habit. In this 4-part podcast, I'll be discussing how to Form a Productive Habit. In this first episode, I'll explain the groundwork for determ...

This episode is a series of quick tips I've gathered over time for power productivity through active listening. We have so many forms of communication available to us today. Technology keeps improving and with a globally-connected, 24/7 society, you could easily have engaging conversations 'round the clock. With all this capacity and experience with digital communication technologies, it makes sen...

In the last episode, I explained the benefits of single-tasking, or completing one task at a time, over multi-tasking. Well, in this episode's tip: I'd like to introduce a new kind of productivity technique I've coined "meta-tasking." In the last episode, I explained the benefits of single-tasking, or completing one task at a time, over multi-tasking. Well, in this episode's tip: I'd like to intro...

This episode's tip: Single-tasking is the way to achieve more with greater focus and less stress, not multi-tasking. For as long as I can remember, productivity experts have lauded the virtues of multi-tasking, or doing more than one thing at the same time for efficiency's sake. However, what scientific studies have taught us in recent years is that focus on a single task at a time actually accomp...

This episode's tip: How to leave a presentation ready for action with handouts. Productivity and presentations can almost be considered antonyms to the common seminar or  workshop attendee. Everyone's time is limited and they usually don't take the information gained into action. I've heard statistics that over two-thirds of individuals use *none* of the actionable information from professional co...

THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: CORNELL NOTE-TAKING METHOD FOR MEETINGS. CREATED BY WALTER PAUK, EMERITUS, AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY THIS METHODOLOGY WAS CREATED TO HELP STUDENTS TAKE NOTES AND LEARN FROM THEM THROUGHOUT A COLLEGE COURSE. I'VE MODIFIED THE CONCEPTS SLIGHTLY TO SUIT MY PROFESSIONAL NEEDS. THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: CORNELL NOTE-TAKIN...

THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: STARTING AND ENDING YOUR MEETINGS ON TIME BUILDS A CULTURE OF TRUST. WHETHER IT'S A FAMILY COUNCIL ON FINANCES OR A CORPORATE BRAINSTORMING MEETING ON NEXT YEAR'S MARKETING PLAN, KEEPING MEETINGS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE IS A PRIME MEANS TO GETTING PEOPLE TO ATTEND AND KEEPING THEM ENGAGED. THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS:...

So much is talked about anecdotally of the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of meetings in the knowledge worker age. In this episode, we'll be kicking off a series to clear up some misnomers and begin to lay down some strong foundations for effective meetings, whether at home, at work, or in community group environments. WELCOME TO OUR FIFTH EPISODE OF PRODPOD, THE PODCAST OF PRODUCTIVITY TIPS IN...

In our fourth episode, Ray gives us an overview of Charlie Gilkey's second part of the Special Theory of Productivity--the Principles. WELCOME TO OUR FOURTH EPISODE OF PRODPOD, THE PODCAST OF PRODUCTIVITY TIPS IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS. I'M RAY SIDNEY-SMITH AND I'M YOUR PRODUCTIVITY GUIDE, THE CURRENT ORGANIZER OF GETTING THINGS DONE DC MEETUP & THE FOUNDING ORGANIZER OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED GETTING...

In our third episode, Ray gives us a brief introduction to the first part to (ProductiveFlourishing.com blogger-entrepreneur) Charlie Gilkey's other and highly practical Special Theory of Productivity. WELCOME TO OUR THIRD EPISODE OF PRODPOD, THE PODCAST OF PRODUCTIVITY TIPS IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS. I'M RAY SIDNEY-SMITH AND I'M YOUR PRODUCTIVITY GUIDE, THE CURRENT ORGANIZER OF GETTING THINGS DONE D...

In our second episode, Ray gives us a brief introduction, with a list of resources posted below for further reference, to ProductiveFlourishing.com blogger-entrepreneur Charlie Gilkey's Theory of Productivity. You can find his original post discussing the General Theory of Productivity at Productive Flourishing . WELCOME TO OUR SECOND EPISODE OF PRODPOD, THE PODCAST OF PRODUCTIVITY TIPS IN TWO MIN...

Introducing ProdPod, the podcast of productivity lessons in two minutes or less! For an example of the referenced graph, see: http://goo.gl/niUIs I'M RAY SIDNEY-SMITH AND I'LL BE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY GUIDE. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. I AM CURRENTLY THE ORGANIZER OF GETTING THINGS DONE DC MEETUP & THE FOUNDING ORGANIZER OF THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED GETTING THINGS DONE NYC MEETUP. YOU CAN FIND ME TWEETING...