The Faster, Easier, Better Show

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at the 3 Habits of Inefficient People and how to work around them. Without picking on anyone (especially Ellen and her habits), they discuss: • Being resistant to change and how little changes can speed up mundane tasks • The importance of being open to new things, especially technology (Ellen!) • The importance of having some structure to your day • How even va...

Lee and Ellen are back together for the podcast! It's been a few weeks and we are happy to be back together to share our Faster, Easier, Better ideas. And this week we are giving you a peak behind the scenes of what happens BEFORE we record our episodes. Like anything other podcasts we have a little time beforehand to talk about what we want to talk about, and what's going on, and today we want to...

In this episode, Lee looks at the things you can stop doing in 2023 to be more efficient, including: • Making meetings shorter and setting up better boundaries around your time • Saying "No" to more so you can say "Yes" to the things you want to do • Doing the work that makes a difference in your life • Letting go of the Fear of Mission Out • Adding fewer things into your life • Making a point to...

Ellen's on vacation so Lee takes the microphone to talk about the things we all should be doing more of to be more efficient in 2023. In this episode he focuses on the big three: • Getting more sleep -- harnessing the power of white noise, power naps, and standing up more • Planning -- keeping the year in front of you - not just the day or week • Doing more -- collaborating with others to leverage...

In this episode, Ellen looks at how to successfully battle the Energy Leaks that siphon away your energy during the day. She discusses: • What an energy leak looks like • Why transitions are persistent Energy Leaks • Three ways to build better transitions • The power of stopping before you get to the end • Keeping your work out • Knowing exactly what you are going to do when you get back to work  ...

In this episode, Ellen looks at building better (and easier!) habits, rather than struggling with resolutions. She discusses: • All habits are either something you are moving towards or away from • Make habit building easier by make it simple to do the thing you say you are going to do • Persevere. Know that it is going to take some time for your new habit to feel good • What the Beginner's Mind c...

In this episode, Ellen breaks down the secret to focus, no matter how much time you have available to you, by using one simple structure: A STING. STING stands of • SELECT one thing to focus on • TIME yourself, set a timer and focus during that time • IGNORE everything else. Turn off your phone, block distracting websites. • NO breaks while focusing • GIVE yourself a break when you finish Ellen go...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at what you can do to make your phone more efficient, and surprisingly, they don't agree! Together they discuss: • Eliminating App Bloat • The Controversial Art of App Arrangement • Organizing by folders or by trashcan • Updating your social media profiles • Utilizing the things that make you most efficient Edited at Studio D, Wayne Duncan producer Your co-hosts...

In the final episode of our seven-part series on "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People," Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Letting It Go. Together they discuss: • What "It" is and why we need to let go • Why efficient people know what is serving them and what isn't • How asking "can I control this" can make you more efficient • What emotional baggage and caring wh...

In this sixth episode of our seven-part series on  "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People," Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Failing Forward. Together they discuss: • What we can learn from failure (and it's definitely not all bad!) • Why we should all have a "Not to-do list" • Cultivating the mindset that failing isn't a waste of time - but rather fact gathering...

In this fifth episode of our seven-part series on  "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People," Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Thinking Big, Acting Small. Together they discuss: • The importance of combining big ideas with small acts to make them happen • Why tiny, miniscule tasks are so vital to success • How to remove fear so you know where to get started • What c...

In this fourth episode of our seven-part series on  "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People," Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Being Self-aware. Together they discuss: •The power of working with your own tendencies • Know what you prefer to do (and ignore everyone else) • You don't have to fit the norms of others (and probably shouldn't) • What happen to habits whe...

In this third episode of our seven-part series on  "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People," Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Begin Boring. Together they discuss: • The power of knowing what works and sticking with it. • Why being boring gives your structure (and what you can do with that structure). • How you can leverage uniform decisions to have more mental ener...

In this second part of our seven-part series on  "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People". In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Prioritizing Yourself. Together, Lee and Ellen look at: • Why putting yourself first isn't selfish; it's efficient • Scheduling (and keeping) time to recharge yourself (and knowing what it is that recharges you best) • Saying...

Today marks the first episode in a seven-episode series on "The 7 Unconventional Habits of Highly Efficient People". In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at the unconventional habit of Managing Your Energy. Highly Efficient people know to use their daily energy carefully. They: • Plan their day based on energy levels • Do things when they are at their most efficient • Know not to give their high en...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at three things winners do every day. Together they discuss: • The power of controlling the narrative of your life one day at a time • How a simple post-it note can keep you on track • Breaking big tasks down into smaller, break-sized bites of work • Why winners accept help • Why winners don't take shortcuts Edited at Studio D, Wayne Duncan producer Your co-host...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at the importance of being structured. Together they discuss: • How being structured (and possibly boring) gives your brain the opportunity to think about more important things • Why uniform decisions (in all areas of your life) can give you more freedom • How to stop relying on motivation to get things done • The power of 3 Edited at Studio D, Wayne Duncan prod...

In this episode, a very relaxed Lee and (not-so-relaxed) Ellen look at ways you can easily (and quickly decompress when you're working from home. All of the ideas are easy to do, don't take much time, and all leave you feeling more able to conquer the work you need to do. Together they look at: • warm clothes, relaxed eyes, and the power of a little bit of chocolate • fidgeting, crafting, and enjo...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen discuss the efficiency of being self-centered. After all, we are all at the center of our own universe (and we like it there!) Together they discuss: • How to use the self-centeredness of others to help you get things done • Questions you can ask yourself (and others) to help speed up progress • Options we have when things are working out with others Edited at Studio...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at the power of consistency: how you can leverage it and what it can do for you. Together they discuss: • The secret power of a morning ritual • What the great Stephen Curry knows about consistency (and how it's helped him) • Why consistency gives you more brain power • What other people see in you when you're consistent • How consistency helps you achieve goals...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen look at how adding more play into your life can improve, well, everything. Together they look at: • What happens to your brain when you start playing more • How taking a break improves our creativity • Why mimicking video games can help you achieve more • What adding competition can do for you Edited at Studio D, Wayne Duncan producer Your co-hosts: www. EllenGoodwin...

In this episode, Ellen and Lee look at the power of being a beginner. Together they look at: • Why it's never too late to start doing something • How to use videos to help you learn more quickly • One of Ellen's favorite new books: Beginners: The joy and transformative power of lifelong learning by Tom Vanderbilt • How mentors, both real or imagined, can help you learn more quickly • The power of...

In this episode, Lee and Ellen discuss ways you can quickly get more energy when you need it. Together they look at: • Looking beyond yourself and helping others • The power of taking a nap of a very specific length. (App: Calm)  • Getting comfortable • Quickly giving yourself a hit of dopamine • Breaking things down into manageable pieces • Small, simple things you can do to your office to give y...

In this episode, Ellen looks at the different types of accountability and how you can use them to get things done. She looks at: • What accountability IS NOT • What accountability IS (and why you want it in your life) • What Weight Watchers knows about accountability • Why classes and groups are great sources of accountability • Three types of accountability and how to use each one Edited at Studi...

In this episode, Ellen looks at two unconventional ways to deal with the distractions that you allow into your life. She looks at: • Why your brain loves to get distracted • How setting a timer for distractions can help you get more done • Why making distractions uncomfortable can help you indulge in them less • The reason you need to work against your brain when it comes to being stronger than yo...