Beyond the To-Do List - Productivity for Work & Life Erik Fisher

This week I’m excited to welcome Michael Easter for a conversation about a pair of his books, Scarcity Brain, Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough and The Comfort Crisis, Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self. Michael is the founder of the 2% with Michael Easter newsletter and the New York Times bestselling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain. an author and a professor at UNLV. He writes and speaks on how humans can leverage modern science and evolutionary wisdom to perform better and live healthier lives. His work has been implemented by professional sports teams, elite military units, Fortune 500 companies, and leading universities.
In this episode, we delve into the profound realizations that Michael made about the role of discomfort in our lives, stemming from overcoming his own battle with alcoholism and spending 33 transformative days in the Arctic. We'll discuss how our modern world's technological conveniences and constant search for comfort have led to sedentary lifestyles and excessive digital consumption, which Michael refers to as the "scarcity brain." Hear about the dangers of the scarcity loop driven by the endless cycle of wanting more, and explore with us the practical steps we can take towards building a healthier mindset and lifestyle, and why sometimes the path towards improvement involves leaning into discomfort. Michael will also share insights on his "2%" newsletter and how small, intentional actions can have a significant impact on our lives. 
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Connect with Michael:
Website
Newsletter
Books 
Clear Space App
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LinkedIn 
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This week I’m excited to welcome Karl Hebenstreit for a chat about his book, The How and Why: Taking Care of Business with the Enneagram. Karl is a certified executive coach, leadership and organization development consultant, author, and international speaker. His 25+ year career spans the areas of HR and OD in biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, and more. Karl holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University. 
Together, we'll explore how the Enneagram provides a deeper, more nuanced look into our psyches compared to other personality frameworks like Myers-Briggs or DISC, and why knowing your Enneagram subtype can revolutionize communication and collaboration within your team. We'll delve into the synergy between your instinctual behaviors and core type, uncover how the Enneagram's focus on motivation helps us navigate workplace dynamics, and highlight the practical benefits of this wisdom for everyday interactions. This is a great episode for anyone eager to learn more about implementing Enneagram principles in their professional lives but are not clear on where to start.
Related Episodes:
Ian Morgan Cron on The Enneagram 101
Ian Morgan Cron on Overcoming the Productivity Hangups of Each Enneagram Type
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Connect with Karl:
Website
Book
LinkedIn
Karl’s Kids Book on The Enneagram 
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Connect with Erik:
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Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Carlos Alvarenga for a chat about his new book, The Rules of Persuasion: How the World's Greatest Communicators Convince, Inspire, Lead--and, Sometimes, Deceive. Carlos is an independent researcher and author. Before writing full-time, he worked as a management consultant and adjunct professor at the Robert H.Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Carlos holds a B.A. in Humanities and Classical Greek from Hampden-Sydney College and completed the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Classics at the University of Pennsylvania.
In this conversation we delve into the compelling world of persuasion as the art and science that influences every aspect of our lives. Carlos explains how he drew inspiration from Aristotle's foundational work on rhetoric to craft his book. We will unravel the subtleties of persuasion—as the act of shaping beliefs within a community—and how it distinguishes itself from manipulation and coercion. Carlos guides us through his periodic table of persuasion and the vital role language plays in shaping our reality. In addition, we discuss the shifts in teaching persuasion and the emergence of augmented intelligence, and how technology like deep-fakes are testing the limits of authenticity. Carlos also shares personal anecdotes, emphasizing the potency of storytelling, and offers insights into creating messages that resonate deeply with audiences regardless of their background or educational level.
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Related Episodes and Links to Content Mentioned In This Episode:
Kevin Costner’s Eulogy For Whitney Houston
What’s Going On Tops Rolling Stone’s 500 Best Albums of All Time
Terri Sjodin on Improving Your Presentation Skills and Public Speaking
Kasia Wezowski on Open Body Language & Compassionate Communication
Charles Duhigg on the Super Power of Clear Communication at Home and Work
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Connect with Carlos:
Website
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Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to speak with Adrienne Bellehumer. Adrienne the founder of Bellehumeur Co. and co-partner of Risk Oversight, based in Calgary, Alberta. Adrienne is also the author of the book, The 24-Hour Rule and Other Secrets for Smarter Organizations: Including the 6 Steps of Dynamic Documentation. In this episode she is here to shed light on the often overlooked yet crucial practice of documentation and its profound impact on both personal productivity and organizational success. As we dive into the conversation, we'll explore the six dynamic steps of documentation—capturing, structuring, presenting, communicating, storing, and leveraging—and learn why both "little d" everyday habits and "big D" corporate initiatives are essential for our effectiveness.
Adrienne will share her insights on the 24-hour rule, a powerful strategy for activating information and maintaining momentum. In addition we'll examine common misconceptions around documentation and discover how it can indeed propel individuals and teams forward rather than being seen as a burden. Get ready to rethink your meetings, create buffer times for processing information, and find out how to align your note-taking with your attention span, enhancing focus and productivity. Plus, you'll learn about the collaborative magic of real-time, communal editing, and the art of iterative processes in documentation.
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Connect with Adrienne:
Website 
LinkedIn
Risk Oversight 
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Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to conclude a series of conversations I’ve been having with my friend Jeff Sieh. Jeff is an international speaker and visual marketing consultant. He hosts the Social Media News Live show and podcast and is also “Head Beard” at Manly Pinterest Tips. Jeff has worked with and produced a wide range of content for various companies, including Guy Kawasaki, Kim Garst, Social Media Examiner, and Tailwind.
In our previous discussions Jeff and I addressed tools for harnessing your creativity, and tips for repurposing audio and video content to reach a larger audience. This week we are diving into the fascinating and rapidly evolving world of AI tools. We'll be exploring the ethical implications and impact of AI on creativity, touching on its integration into business and content creation. Jeff shares his insights on using AI tools such as Descript, and Midjourney in his business and recommends other specific tools for various tasks.
In addition we discuss the intertwining of AI and art, the potential impact of AI on industries such as podcasting and live video content, and the moral considerations necessary when using AI. We'll also share our experiences with AI tools in content creation and storytelling. Get ready to explore this ever-evolving landscape of AI and its impact on creativity in today's world. 
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Connect with Jeff:
Links 
Descript 101
Social Media News Live
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Connect with Erik:
LinkedIn 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This week I’m excited to welcome Francesco D’alessio for a really insightful chat about finding the right productivity tools and apps to meet your unique needs. Francesco is the founder of Keep Productive and co-founder of Tool Finder, the world's best place to discover and learn more about productivity tools. Both Keep Productive and Tool Finder aim to make productivity software easier to understand. There is a tool for everything so they create videos and courses to help you match to the perfect productivity tools for you. Tool Finder’s resources are designed to make productivity software easy to grasp and go deeper if you want to.
Built on an independent philosophy around reviews and matching people with the perfect tool, Tool Finder is a growing directory, network, and source of knowledge on the ideal productivity software to pick and adopt for your work, family life, or personal time management. Their 120,000+ readers a month gain insight into what apps are best for them, and what features matter and gain real insight into whether the tool is right for them. Tool Finder has reviewed over 750+ productivity apps and constantly updates its database. 
In this episode Francesco provides his unique three-part framework on selecting and sticking with productivity apps, emphasizing the importance of research, trial, and optimization. We also discuss the risks of the "shiny object syndrome" and the future of AI's role in productivity tools – a conversation that promises to give you a glimpse into the future of task management. In addition we touch on the importance of 'rules over tools'—a philosophy that prioritizes frameworks and strategies over the apps themselves. This is a vital episode for anyone looking for professional insights on what makes a great productivity tool and where the future of productivity is going.
Connect with Francesco:
Website
YouTube
Twitter
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Connect with Erik:
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
LinkedIn 
Twitter 
Facebook 
Instagram 
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This Podcast is Powered By:
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