Productivity
543: Stackify: Hard Work, Daily Persistence, Continuous Improvement, Constant Focus, and Brand Innovation with Matt Watson
Matt Watson is the Founder & CEO of Stackify. He has been a developer/hacker for over 15 years and loves solving hard problems with code. He sold his first startup, VinSolutions, for $150 million and started Stackify to solve the biggest challenge he had as the CTO of VinSolutions. Matt is skilled at SEO, blogging and content marketing. Stackify receives hundreds of thousands of monthly visits as a result of Matt’s successful content marketing.
Quotes:
“One of the best things somebody ever told me is to try to aim to get 1% better every day. And over the course of a month, you get 30% better.” – Matt Watson
“Business is tough, and so you just have to keep grinding through it.” - Matt Watson
“It's hard to be an entrepreneur. There's no doubt about it. It's just the daily persistence of chipping away at it.” - Matt Watson
Takeaways:
01:28 Daily 1% improvements compound into significant growth over time.
16:24 Content marketing is crucial for reaching hard-to-access professional audiences like software developers.
22:29 Entrepreneurs must focus on growth and be willing to work on tasks outside their comfort zone.
24:09 Simplifying complex data into an easy-to-understand score can be a powerful product differentiator.
26:33 Persistence and hard work are the most critical factors in entrepreneurial success.
Visit Stackify: Application Performance Monitoring for Developers
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520: Groundhog Day is an Event, Not a Business Strategy: Embrace Minimalism, Become Goal-Obsessed, Understand Your Customers, and Stand Out from the Crowd with Adam Hommey
Adam Hommey, Founder and Creator of The Business Creators' Institute™, helps you Emancipate the POWER of INFORMATION™ and WIN at the Game of Business and Marketing™ so you spend less time editing and maintaining - and more time educating your audience and monetizing your business. He is the host of the wildly popular Business Creators' Radio Show and have spoken around the country at events including the Dream Business Academy and Advanced Marketing Minds.
For years, Adam has been the "secret weapon" in the arsenal of dozens of internet marketers, executive marketing solution providers, and professional service providers such as attorneys, accountants, medical professionals, and the like.
In November 2016, Adam was a featured contributor in the international Amazon best-seller, Journeys to Success, The Millennial Edition. His much-anticipated new book, Groundhog Day is an Event, Not a Business Strategy, unearths the issues burrowed beneath the surface of your business in six areas - success mindset, converting prospects, team building, customer acquisition, persuasive language, and streamlining your operations, so you, as an entrepreneur and business creator, can grow your business and thrive at the intersection of your brilliance and passion!
Quotes:
“We are the product of our education, background, experiences, and what we've gone through in life. Nobody has had the same combination of those things as we have.” – Adam Hommey
“People don't buy a drill because they want to drill a hole. They buy a drill because they want to build something.” – Adam Hommey
“What's most important is not what people say they want or need; it's what gets them to respond in the way we want them to respond.” – Adam Hommey
Takeaways:
04:40 Small imperfections in business can actually grab customer attention and lead to unexpected success.
20:49 Breaking free from internal fears and conformity helps entrepreneurs stand out and create unique marketing strategies.
33:39 Understanding your customer's deeper motivations matters more than what they say they want.
41:22 Taking action and making direct contact with prospects is crucial for business growth.
46:36 Your unique personality and quirks can be powerful marketing tools when embraced authentically.
Claim Your Copy of: Groundhog Day is An Event, Not a Business Strategy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:20 — 45.2MB) | Embed
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517: Live the Ideal Work Week, Take Personal Inventory, Accomplish More, Set Yourself Up for Success, and Use the Best Tools with Cailen Ascher
Cailen Ascher helps women entrepreneurs design a life they love and begin living it now. Cailen has built her 6-figure business working just 3 days a week, and her signature program, 3-Day Workweek, teaches entrepreneurial women how to create their ideal schedule where they can successfully work less, make more and live better. During her 4-day weekends Cailen enjoys time with her two little daughters and husband.
Quotes:
“In order to be my most successful self, I really needed to start acting like a CEO in my business, instead of an entrepreneurial hobbyist, figuring it out as I went.” – Cailen Ascher
“This process of figuring out your best working hours and your ideal work week is really a journey into getting to know yourself better and not being so tied to what it looks like for everybody else.” – Cailen Ascher
“The journey that you're on has to align with the destination where you want to go.” – Cailen Ascher
Takeaways:
07:20 Track your time honestly to understand how you actually spend your working hours.
11:09 Prioritize completing meaningful tasks over checking off multiple small items.
14:50 Design a work schedule that matches your personal energy and family needs, not someone else's standard.
19:19 Create a dedicated workspace that signals professionalism and helps you stay focused on your goals.
22:33 Build your current work approach to match the successful future you want to achieve.
Claim Cailen's FREE 3-Day Workweek Schedule
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:30 — 23.4MB) | Embed
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511: Good Enough vs. Perfectionism: Productivity, Delegation, Milestones, Book Publishing, Content Marketing and More with Joanna Penn
Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F. Penn. She also writes inspirational non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning creative entrepreneur and international professional speaker. Her site is regularly voted one of the top 10 sites for writers and self-publishers.
Joanna is here to get that "finishing" energy, be more authentic, and finish what we start. Joanna is a self-published author who's always cranking out content, and she's discovered quite a bit when it comes to research, self-motivation, running a team, and so much more.
Quotes:
“The only way to get better at writing or anything we do is by practicing. If you think you're going to be terrible on Instagram, take a picture, stick it on Instagram, and get started.” – Joanna Penn
“What I found is that if you spend forever on one thing, you actually need to get past that first thing in order to open the creative pipe.” – Joanna Penn
“The more authentic you are, and the more you actually share that things happen in your life, the more you resonate with people.” – Joanna Penn
Takeaways:
00:04:00 Perfectionism often masks deeper fears of failure and judgment in creative work.
00:07:18 Starting where you are and sharing authentic experiences is crucial for connecting with an audience.
00:13:29 Scheduling dedicated time for creation and marketing is essential for long-term success.
00:21:28 Consistent, small daily efforts compound into significant creative output over time.
00:25:09 Writing a book is a transformative personal experience that goes beyond mere business strategy.
Resources
- The Creative Penn: Write, Publish, and Market Your Book (Official Site)
- The Creative Penn (Podcast)
- Joanna Penn (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:44 — 26.3MB) | Embed
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506: The One Thing and the Domino Effect: Think Big, Act Small, Get Clarity on Priorities, Time-Block, and Simplify with Geoff Woods
Geoff Woods is the Vice President of The ONE Thing and the hosts The ONE Thing podcast which is in the top 5% of all podcasts in the world. After hearing the Jim Rohn quote that "you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with" Geoff set out on a mission to surround himself with high level CEOs and successful entrepreneurs. Fast forward just 10 months, Geoff went from employee to entrepreneur, launching a company with the co-authors of the best selling book The ONE Thing. Geoff has been featured in Entrepreneur.com and is on a mission to teach people how to take back control of their time and get clarity on how they want to invest it.
The problem Geoff is solving for us today is how to achieve that "domino effect" in life through aggressive simplicity, getting clarity on priorities, time-blocking, a one page business plan, and, surprisingly, cancelling 50% of his upcoming appointments! Listen in to discover the secrets.
Quotes:
“If doing the most important thing is the most important thing, why would you do anything else?” – Geoff Woods
“Most people go through their days doing all the things that don't really matter and hope to free up time to do the things that matter most.” – Geoff Woods
“80% of your results come from just 20% of your activities. What we teach people to do is to get clarity on their priorities—the few things that, if you knock those dominoes down, would unleash the majority of the growth in any area of your life.” – Geoff Woods
Takeaways:
04:31 Most people waste time on easy, low-impact tasks that provide a quick dopamine hit but don't contribute to meaningful progress.
17:16 Protect your time by interrogating every calendar appointment and be willing to cancel up to 50% of meetings that don't directly support your key objectives.
18:23 80% of your results come from just 20% of your activities, so focus on the most critical tasks that truly move the needle.
21:27 Choose one specific, actionable task each day that, when completed, will make everything else easier or unnecessary.
29:30 When setting goals, think big picture first by imagining your future self and then work backwards to determine current priorities.
Visit The 1 Thing to Use the 4-1-1 Tool
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502: Get the Magic Back: Take Action, Make It Simple, Develop Success Habits, Set Clear Goals, and Find Your Motivation with Evan Money
Evan Money has been happily Married for over 20 years, is a #1 Bestselling Author, Global Entrepreneur and Film Producer. Evan and his bride remarry in a different state or country ever year.
Our focus with Evan is how to bring your dreams to life. Don't let the "dimmer switch of life" get the best of you, and instead, live intentionally. Don't wait for favorite conditions. Instead, implement simple tweaks to make yourself more successful through less phone time, less TV, more reading, and becoming the person you need to be.
Quotes:
“You can either make an excuse, or you can find a way.” – Evan Money
“It's not what you get that makes you valuable; it's what you become.” – Evan Money
“Favorable conditions never come. There are no such thing as favorable conditions when it comes to living your dreams.” – Evan Money
Takeaways:
04:38 Create intentional habits that support your goals by setting up environments that naturally guide you toward success.
17:02 Writing down ideas immediately prevents them from getting lost, especially during moments of clarity like shower time.
20:00 Taking consistent small actions daily moves you closer to your dreams, even during challenging times.
25:44 Remove technology from bedrooms to improve personal relationships and mental focus.
33:31 Success is about what you become, not what you get - personal growth matters more than immediate rewards.
Resources
- Grow Thrive Revive (3 Day Retreat: February 27 through March 1st)
- Email robert@EvanMoney.com: Ask for $1000 off the live event and bring a free guest
- Evan Money (Official Site)
- Evan Loves Susan (Site)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:33 — 39.0MB) | Embed
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500: Productivity Tools to Get Your Head in the Game: 16X Multiplier, The One Thing Scorecard, and 80/20 Gamification with Copywriter Kevin Donlin
Kevin Donlin returns to the Marketer of the Day for the 500th episode!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:16 — 71.6MB) | Embed
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He's been involved in marketing since 1994, when he sold one of the first ebooks online, payable by check and you had to mail it to a post office box. That was e-commerce in 1994! From 1995 to 1998, he was Webmaster for FedEx.com, where he worked with the pioneers of online marketing. Since 1998, he’s been a copywriter and marketing advisor for clients big and small, delivering sales gains of more than $1 million on multiple occasions with web pages, email promotions, sales letters, and print ads.
He's been interviewed by ABC-TV in Detroit, Fox and NBC News in Minneapolis, CBS Radio in Los Angeles and New York, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, and too many others to list here. He’s the author or co-author of 5 books, including his latest book, Marketing Multipliers.
For this return appearance, Kevin shares a few simple but powerful techniques that are working very well for him lately. One is "The One Thing 3x5 Scorecard" where he lists the 3 to 5 go-to activities he can perform in his business, from calling a prospect on the phone to mailing a letter or book. There's the Pocket Seinfeld calendar, and the 16X Pathfinder method to replace the bulk with the select few that makes a difference -- 80/20 -- and strategically abandon what isn't working.
Quotes:
“If you look at your calendar and how you use your time, 80% of it is largely wasted. It's only producing a small number of outputs.” – Kevin Donlin
“The most successful people are typically in the zone all day. It's like being at a seminar or your favorite destination city. You're not thinking about news or politics; you're just in the moment.” – Kevin Donlin
“90% of news is bad news. 90% of politics is outrage and anger. If you're looking at or thinking about that stuff, it's dragging you in the opposite direction of your goals.” – Kevin Donlin
Takeaways:
06:52 Creating a simple daily tracking system can boost your marketing productivity and keep you focused on key business-growing activities.
07:41 Visual tracking methods, like using sticky notes or scorecards, can help entrepreneurs stay accountable and motivated.
13:49 Most people waste significant time on low-value tasks that produce minimal results, and identifying these can dramatically improve business performance.
21:21 Replacing time-consuming, unproductive activities with high-impact tasks can potentially increase your effectiveness by 16 times.
26:26 Eliminating distractions like news, social media, and constant email checking can free up mental space for strategic business growth.
Resources
- Marketing Multipliers (Membership Site, reply to initial email with "Robert Plank 500th episode")
- Kevin's previous Marketer of the Day (Interview)
- Marketing Multipliers: 11 Simple Tools to Grow Your Business (Book)
- Client Cloning Systems: Get More Clients Like Your Best Clients (Site)
- Kevin Donlin (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:16 — 71.6MB) | Embed
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490: Productivity and Lifestyle Secrets of Top Performers: Reduce Overwhelm, Outsource Weaknesses, and Achieve Ultimate Freedom with Carey Bentley
Carey Bentley is the CEO of Lifehack Bootcamp, the top ranked online productivity company. She shows overachievers how to bring sanity back into their lives. Her team has shown hundreds of people the techniques they need to be maximally effective at work and in their personal lives.
Carey discusses the three gratitudes, how to avoid victim thinking, scheduled downtime, self care, and the "Do By Tuesday" concept which allows you to go on the offense with your business.
Quotes:
“Until my champagne moment is done, everything else is a distraction.” – Carey Bentley
“The power of gratitude is just phenomenal. If you want to get every day started off on the right foot—feeling empowered, feeling positive—then gratitude is the way to do it.” – Carey Bentley
“Pre-planning is literally the golden ticket for anyone wanting one thing they should start doing immediately.” – Carey Bentley
Takeaways:
09:51 Taking extreme ownership of your time means believing you control your schedule, not external forces.
14:44 Choose one critical "Champagne Moment" task each week that, if completed, makes everything else easier or unnecessary.
17:27 Defend your work time by turning off digital notifications and creating focused work windows.
20:56 Practice daily gratitude to start your day with a positive, empowered mindset.
23:40 Schedule fun activities in advance to create motivation and natural time constraints for work productivity.
Resources
- Lifehack Bootcamp (Website)
- Carey Bentley (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:20 — 28.7MB) | Embed
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475: The 5AM Miracle and the Free Time Formula: Focus on What Matters Most, Amplify Your Productivity, and Remain Flexible to Avoid Burnout with Jeff Sanders
Jeff Sanders is a keynote speaker, author of The 5 AM Miracle, and host of The 5 AM Miracle Podcast.
Jeff's latest book, The Free-Time Formula, launches in February 2018 and you can learn more at JeffSanders.com.
Quotes:
“The goal is figuring out what is ideal for you—what that balance looks like and how to make it happen.” – Jeff Sanders
“If you have a routine that's the same for more than a couple of weeks, I intentionally change it because I need that sense of freshness and newness to keep me more interested in my routine.” – Jeff Sanders
“Busyness does not equate to results. Most of the time, busyness just leads to overwhelm and stress, making you feel better even though nothing actually got accomplished.” – Jeff Sanders
Takeaways:
08:44 Early morning hours are the most powerful for focusing on your most important projects without distractions.
14:05 Morning routines should be flexible and adaptable to your current life goals and seasons.
17:11 Accountability and multiple systems can help you stick to productive morning habits.
26:32 Self-awareness and weekly reviews help prevent burnout and improve personal productivity.
34:10 Cutting unnecessary tasks from your calendar creates space for meaningful work and personal time.
Resources
- The 5 A.M. Miracle: Dominate Your Day Before Breakfast (Amazon Book)
- The Free-Time Formula: Finding Happiness, Focus, and Productivity No Matter How Busy You Are (Amazon Book)
- The 5 AM Miracle Podcast (Podcast)
- Jeff Sanders (Official Website)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:27 — 36.1MB) | Embed
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473: Work Less and Make More: Track Your Time, Delegate, and Tidy-Up Your Super Fast Business with James Schramko
James Schramko is an internet marketer and business coach who has helped over 2,000 students create and maintain six, seven and eight-figure businesses.
He's grown his coaching communities into multi-million dollar businesses that fund a lifestyle he loves. Running his businesses with an input of just hours a week, he finds ample time to surf, spend time with family and friends, watch movies and travel. The keys to such idyllic living are what he shares inside his two paid communities, SilverCircle and SuperFastBusiness.
James talks with us about his best productivity (and simplicity) secrets, easy ways to make money and find the low hanging fruit in your business. 80/20 isn't enough, you must go for 64/4!
Quotes:
“Stop worrying about how and start focusing on who.” – James Schramko
“If you could drop 80% of the things you're doing, you could still end up with 80% of the results you're getting right now.” – James Schramko
“I made a promise to myself that I will always be able to innovate and navigate around change, because that is the constant I face when I'm in business for myself.” – James Schramko
Takeaways:
11:59 4% of your business efforts can generate 64% of your total results, making it crucial to focus on your most productive activities.
17:19 Tracking time and evaluating business assets helps entrepreneurs make rational decisions about which projects to keep, sell, or eliminate.
28:46 Simplifying your business and reducing unnecessary tasks can lead to increased profitability and personal satisfaction.
30:06 Stop worrying about "how" to do things and start focusing on finding the right "who" to help you accomplish your business goals.
34:26 Building a successful business is about finding an offer that converts and scaling it, rather than creating multiple mediocre offerings.
Resources
- Super Fast Business (Website)
- Silver Circle Business Mentoring (Website)
- Work Less, Make More (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:48 — 35.5MB) | Embed
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