10 episodes

Productivity Book Group
Productivity Book Group is a virtual, personal productivity book discussion club and podcast. All are invited to read and discuss these personal productivity and related books with us!
GENERAL INFORMATION
We meet once a quarter by Zoom (audio, video or domestic and international phone dial-in options). In between those quarterly discussions, we interview productivity authors and record book summaries/reviews of other productivity books.
If you use Google Calendar, it’s easy to keep up-to-date as you can subscribe by visiting http://goo.gl/ym3Vl and clicking on “+Google Calendar” icon on the lower-right corner of the Productivity Book Group calendar.
DISCUSSION
It’s easy! Read the book noted on the schedule and then join the teleconference call at the date/time in the calendar or as posted in http://productivitybookgroup.org/upcoming-books/.
Join us in our digital community for Productivity Book Group via http://productivitybookgroup.org/community and you can discuss any of the books we are reading in the events created for each reading selection!
SCHEDULE
Please visit our Upcoming Books page to see the next few reading selections and the dates of our live discussion calls. For prior book discussions, please visit our Episodes page for the archives of those calls. We welcome your questions, concerns, recommendations and suggestions! Thank you!
Here’s to your productive life,
Ray Sidney-Smith
Productivity Book Group

Productivity Book Group Ray Sidney-Smith | rsidneysmith.com

    • Business

Productivity Book Group
Productivity Book Group is a virtual, personal productivity book discussion club and podcast. All are invited to read and discuss these personal productivity and related books with us!
GENERAL INFORMATION
We meet once a quarter by Zoom (audio, video or domestic and international phone dial-in options). In between those quarterly discussions, we interview productivity authors and record book summaries/reviews of other productivity books.
If you use Google Calendar, it’s easy to keep up-to-date as you can subscribe by visiting http://goo.gl/ym3Vl and clicking on “+Google Calendar” icon on the lower-right corner of the Productivity Book Group calendar.
DISCUSSION
It’s easy! Read the book noted on the schedule and then join the teleconference call at the date/time in the calendar or as posted in http://productivitybookgroup.org/upcoming-books/.
Join us in our digital community for Productivity Book Group via http://productivitybookgroup.org/community and you can discuss any of the books we are reading in the events created for each reading selection!
SCHEDULE
Please visit our Upcoming Books page to see the next few reading selections and the dates of our live discussion calls. For prior book discussions, please visit our Episodes page for the archives of those calls. We welcome your questions, concerns, recommendations and suggestions! Thank you!
Here’s to your productive life,
Ray Sidney-Smith
Productivity Book Group

    Work Clean – Productivity Book Group

    Work Clean – Productivity Book Group

    Productivity Book Group [ https://productivitybookgroup.org ] hosted our group book discussion for Work Clean: The life-changing power of mise-en-place to organize your life, work, and mind by Dan Charnas. Buy a copy on Amazon, bring a copy home from your local, independent bookstore, or borrow a copy from your local library, and enjoy the replay of the discussion!







    About Dan Charnas (Website)







    Dan Charnas is an award-winning music and business journalist; producer of records and television; and professor. Recipient of the 2007 Pulitzer Fellowship for Arts Journalism, he is the author of four books; was the co-creator and executive producer of the VH1 TV series The Breaks; and is an Associate Arts Professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. 







    Charnas’s upcoming book, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm (2022), is the product of four years of research and nearly 200 interviews. The book was an outgrowth of a course on J Dilla developed by Charnas at NYU in 2017, but its roots go back to Charnas’s time in the record business, when he first made the trip to Detroit to work with the producer then known as Jay Dee. In early praise for Dilla Time, the book has been called “one of the few hip-hop sagas to take the music as seriously as its maker,” by Publishers Weekly; and “detailed, well- researched, and passionate” by Booklist. For more information, visit the Dilla Time site at www.dillatimebook.com.







    Dan’s first book, The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop (2010) was called “a classic of music-business dirt digging as well as a kind of pulp epic” by Rolling Stone. The Big Payback inspired the 2016 pilot for the VH1 series, The Breaks. He is also the author of Work Clean: The Life-Changing Power of Mise-En-Place to Organize Your Life, Work, and Mind (2016), exploring what great chefs can teach the rest of us about their particular way of relating to time, space, motion, and resources. Work Clean arose from two years of research and over 100 interviews with culinary professionals. Charnas is the coauthor of Def Jam: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label (2011) with Bill Adler and Cey Adams. He has been a contributor to NPR, Billboard, and the Washington Post; and his writing has appeared in the Financial Times, the Chicago Tribune, Complex, Village Voice, Spin, and more. He has appeared as a guest on CNN, the BBC, PRI, and Bloomberg, and in a number of documentaries.







    At the Clive Davis Institute, he teaches Creative Music Entrepreneurs, a history of the pop music business; Recycling Pop Music, exploring the relationship between creativity and copying; and topics courses on hip-hop and other artists and subjects. 







    In the early 1990s, Dan Charnas was one of the first writers for The Source, becoming part of a generation of young writers who helped create hip-hop journalism. He penned cover stories, features, reviews and columns for a variety of publications on artists like...

    • 56 min
    The Checklist Manifesto – Productivity Book Group

    The Checklist Manifesto – Productivity Book Group

    Productivity Book Group [ https://productivitybookgroup.org ] hosted our book discussion for The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande, MD. Buy a copy on Amazon, bring a copy home from your local, independent bookstore, or borrow a copy from your local library, and listen to the discussion. Enjoy!







    About Atul Gawande, MD (Wikipedia)







    Atul Gawande is the author of three bestselling books: Complications, a finalist for the National Book Award; Better, selected by Amazon.com as one of the ten best books of 2007; and The Checklist Manifesto. He is also a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1998, and a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health. He has won two National Magazine Awards, a MacArthur Fellowship, and been named one of the world’s hundred most influential thinkers by Foreign Policy and TIME. In his work as a public health researcher, he is Director of Ariadne Labs a joint center for health system innovation. And he is also co-founder and chairman of Lifebox, a global not-for-profit implementing systems and technologies to reduce surgical deaths globally. He and his wife have three children and live in Newton, Massachusetts.







    You can find more at http://www.atulgawande.com.







    About the Book (Amazon)







    The New York Times-bestselling author of Being Mortal and Complications reveals the surprising power of the ordinary checklist.







    We live in a world of great and increasing complexity, where even the most expert professionals struggle to master the tasks they face. Longer training, ever more advanced technologies—neither seems to prevent grievous errors. But in a hopeful turn, acclaimed surgeon and writer Atul Gawande finds a remedy in the humblest and simplest of techniques: the checklist. First introduced decades ago by the U.S. Air Force, checklists have enabled pilots to fly aircraft of mind-boggling sophistication. Now innovative checklists are being adopted in hospitals around the world, helping doctors and nurses respond to everything from flu epidemics to avalanches. Even in the immensely complex world of surgery, a simple ninety-second variant has cut the rate of fatalities by more than a third.







    In riveting stories, Gawande takes us from Austria, where an emergency checklist saved a drowning victim who had spent half an hour underwater, to Michigan, where a cleanliness checklist in intensive care units virtually eliminated a type of deadly hospital infection. He explains how checklists actually work to prompt striking and immediate improvements. And he follows the checklist revolution into fields well beyond medicine, from disaster response to investment banking, skyscraper construction, and businesses of all kinds.







    An intellectual adventure in which lives are lost and saved and one simple idea makes a tremendous difference, The Checklist Manifesto is essential reading for anyo...

    • 41 min
    First Things First – Productivity Book Group

    First Things First – Productivity Book Group

    Productivity Book Group [https://productivitybookgroup.org] hosted our group book discussion for First Things First by Stephen R. Covey, PhD . Buy a copy on Amazon, bring a copy home from your local, independent bookstore, or borrow a copy from your local library, and listen to the discussion! Enjoy!







    About Stephen R. Covey (Wikipedia)







    Stephen R. Covey, PhD, was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker. His most popular book is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His other books include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, The 8th Habit, and The Leader In Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time. In 1996, Time magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people. He was a professor at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University at the time of his death.







    About the Book (Amazon)







    From the author that brought you the New York Times bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People comes a guide to prioritizing your personal and professional goals.I’m getting more done in less time, but where are the rich relationships, the inner peace, the balance, the confidence that I’m doing what matters most and doing it well?Does this nagging question haunt you, even when you feel you are being your most efficient? If so, First Things First can help you understand why we so often prioritize things that are unimportant to both our larger goals and our inner happiness. From the author that brought you the New York Times bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People comes a guide to building your work on the principles of effectiveness so that your life can spent cultivating genuine relationships, investing in pursuits you enjoy, and achieving balance in both your personal and professional lives.In First Things First, Stephen M. R. Covey advocates categorizing tasks by urgency and importance so that you can focus on what actually needs to be done in the limited amount of time that you have. Using personal examples and insight from years of business experience, he argues for a new way of looking at your “to-do” list. Rather than offering you another clock, First Things First provides you with a compass, because where you’re headed is more important than how fast you’re going.(Source: Amazon)







    Our next reading selection is:















    Show Notes:







    (Please listen to understand the context of the resources provided. If we missed something, please comment on the episode and let us know!)















    The callers you hear in this episode are readers just like you, and you are more than welcome to join us on the live calls to discuss productivity books too! Please visit ProductivityBookGroup.org and find out the details and the schedule for upcoming book discussion calls. If you plan to read ahead or read a little more slowly, please visit ProductivityBookGroup.org and check out the schedule on the “Upcoming Books” page.

    • 58 min
    The Psychology of Procrastination by Hayden Finch, PhD - Productivity Book Group

    The Psychology of Procrastination by Hayden Finch, PhD - Productivity Book Group

    Productivity Book Group [ https://productivitybookgroup.org ] discussed The Psychology of Procrastination by Hayden Finch, PhD. Buy a copy on Amazon, bring a copy home from your local, independent bookstore, or borrow a copy from your local library. Enjoy the discussion!







    About Hayden Finch PhD (Amazon)







    Part Lisa Ling, part Reese Witherspoon, and part Mary Poppins, Dr. Hayden Finch is a licensed clinical psychologist, behavior change expert, and dessert enthusiast originally hailing from North Carolina. Duke and Nebraska educated, she is a go-getter with a passion for translating research into practical coping skills. Dr. Finch treats clients at her Center for High Functioning Anxiety and is the CEO and founder of the educational platform Master Your Mental Health. Her goal is to equip people with the skills to master mental health, discover self-acceptance, and find meaning in a busy life through research-based strategies. Prior to launching her own businesses, she had adventures working with incarcerated juveniles, Veterans, and individuals who had been found not responsible for crimes by reason of insanity. In her personal life, Dr. Finch is a waterslide enthusiast, a musical theater aficionado, and an ice cream connoisseur.







    About the Book (Amazon)







    Understand your procrastination and break through to productivity







    Many different factors can trigger procrastination. The good news is, you’re not lazy or undisciplined, and you can achieve real productivity. Discover the psychological factors that drive your procrastination habits and unlock the secrets to overcoming them. With this research-based approach, you can learn to stop procrastinating, finish projects, and accomplish your goals.







    Begin by unpacking the common thought processes and emotional roadblocks that trap you in cycles of problematic behavior. Apply that awareness to each step of getting things done, using practical evidence-based techniques that address the root causes of procrastination and time management problems. When you are empowered to work along with your brain, rather than against it, you’ll be able to take control and create lasting change.







    This empowering choice in psychology books helps you:









    * Examine core issues―Look at possible mental health issues that often exacerbate procrastination, like low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and others.







    * Succeed step-by-step―Work through procrastination one step at a time: prioritize, find motivation, overcome avoidance, get started, focus, follow through, and finish.







    * Get perspective―Explore real-life anecdotes of people struggling with procrastination to gain insight into how it works in your life―and help you identify its causes.









    Our next reading selections are:







    Show Notes:







    (Please listen to understand the context of the resources provided. If we missed something, please comment on the episode and let us know!)

















    * The Procrastination Equation: How to St...

    • 56 min
    Get Organized Digitally! with Dr. Frank Buck

    Get Organized Digitally! with Dr. Frank Buck

    Get Organized Digitally!: The Educator’s Guide to Time Management







    I had the pleasure of interviewing yet again Dr. Frank Buck, author of Get Organized! Time Management for School Leaders [ http://amzn.to/2kfhJap ] and his newly-published book, Get Organized Digitally!: The Educator’s Guide to Time Management [ https://amzn.to/3ony6jk ]. Frank Buck, Ed.D., is a veteran school administrator, public speaker, productivity coach, and author. Most people are overwhelmed by the amount of paper and digital information in their lives. Dr. Buck makes organization easy so you can increase productivity, decrease stress, and enjoy life. Global Gurus ranked him #1 in the world in the “Time Management” category for 2019, 2020, and 2021. His career path took him from band director to principal to central office administrator and now to productivity coach, writer, and speaker.







    Productivity Book Group Author Interview Series is an opportunity to learn about new and interesting productivity books and authors. We interview authors that we have read or will be reading here on Productivity Book Group as well as other authors we think you might like. These podcast interviews are injected between our normal discussion-format episodes that are published here on Productivity Book Group.







    Enjoy the interview!







    The Amazon book description states:







    In today’s world, we’re often overwhelmed by our digital devices and the volume of available digital information. Get Organized Digitally! outlines a complete digital organizational system for the busy educator and helps you harness the power of technology to save time.This book is your go-to source, presenting the “nuts and bolts” of exactly how to make technology work for you in both your personal and professional life.Amazon.com







    Our next reading selections are:















    Show Notes:







    (Please listen to understand the context of the resources provided. If we missed something, please comment on the episode and let us know!)







    * Find Frank Buck at frankbuck.org















    Please visit our Upcoming Books to find out the details and the schedule for upcoming book discussion calls.







    Please feel free to visit Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or whichever podcast directory or app you prefer to access Productivity Book Group…and feel free to rate and review us there! This helps expand our readership and bring new discussion callers into the fold. Thank you.







    Finally, all podcast episodes are archived at ProductivityBookGroup.org under “Episodes” so if you missed a group discussion and want to review it, feel free to head over and give it a listen.















    Note: All registered service marks, trademarks and other copyrighted materials mentioned on the podcast are that of their respective owners. This group is not affiliated with or officially endorsed by those copyright owners.

    • 46 min
    The Productivity Zone by Penny Zenker – Author Interview – Productivity Book Group

    The Productivity Zone by Penny Zenker – Author Interview – Productivity Book Group

    Dr. Frank Buck sat down to interview Penny Zenker, author of The Productivity Zone: Stop the Tug of War with Time [ https://amzn.to/323FjNI ], for Productivity Book Group’s Author Interview Series.

    Productivity Book Group Author Interview Series is an opportunity to learn about new and interesting productivity books and authors. Dr. Buck and I will be interviewing some of the authors that we have read or will be reading here on Productivity Book Group as well as other authors we think you’d like to hear from. These shorter podcast interviews will be injected between our normal discussion-format episodes that are published here on Productivity Book Group.

    Enjoy the interview!

    The Amazon book description states:

    We’ve all experienced days where we’re “in the zone,” effortlessly meeting our objectives and feeling amazing. Wouldn’t it be great if we could experience this feeling every day? With this book you can discover how. The Productivity Zone takes you through the 10 Core Drivers that help you avoid procrastination and perfectionism and perform in the Productivity Zone. These 10 drivers are grouped into three core segments: Championship Psychology, Winning Strategies, and Sustainable Results. This is the only resource that combines both the skills and the mindset together in these 10 Core Drivers into one package. A deficiency in any one of the elements will stand between you and your best results.

    Our next reading selections are:



    Show Notes:

    (Please listen to understand the context of the resources provided. If we missed something, please comment on the episode and let us know!)

    The Productivity Zone: Stop the Tug of War with Time [ https://amzn.to/323FjNI ]

    Take Back Time with Penny Zenker podcast

    To find Penny Zenker and all that she discussed on the show, check out PennyZenker360.com.



    Please visit ProductivityBookGroup.org and find out the details and the schedule for upcoming book discussion calls. If you plan to read ahead or read a little more slowly, please visit ProductivityBookGroup.org and check out the schedule on the “Upcoming Books” page.

    Please feel free to visit Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or whichever podcast directory or app you prefer to access Productivity Book Group…and feel free to give the episode or show a rating or review! This helps expand our readership and bring new discussion callers into the fold. Thank you.

    Also, all podcast episodes are archived at ProductivityBookGroup.org under “Episodes” so if you missed a call and want to review it, feel free to head over and give them a listen.

    Finally, we have a digital community where we can discuss the productivity books we’re reading. You can access it on the Web, as well as via Android and iOS apps, and we’re very excited to have you join us there. Please visit https://productivitybookgroup.org/community and you will be taken to the new digital community to join. See you there!



    Note: All registered service marks,

    • 25 min

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