A few times per year, the ProductivityCast team comes together to share with you a few software products and/or services that we know/use in our personal productivity systems, or with our client’s systems. We call this series Productivity App-apalooza, and do this in three rounds, with each of us taking the opportunity to explain the tool and why we believe it provides value to our productivity (and possibly yours). With that, here’s Productivity App-apalooza, Fourth Edition! (If...

Back when smartphones first came out, some (including Francis) asked the question: is a smartphone superior to a knapsack full of gadgets? For example, was a sack with a camera, pda, phone a functional equivalent?  If so, did it offer more than convenience? Was there a real improvement in productivity? Since then, the question has been answered by apps which rely and interact with multiple other apps, but the question is still valid. Just because a technology allows something to be...

Today we are discussing about Voice Productivity. the ProductivityCast team explains how to use Voice on our devices and technology to be more effective and productive. We have in the past We discussed voice assistants in episode 071 (Personal Outsourcing) and episode 086 (IoT Productivity). (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/115 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy!...

Using the Eisenhower Matrix Productivity Method Longtime productivity technique, Eisenhower Method, is often tied to the myth of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. After all, it’s named after him! But, there’s much more to the prioritization method than meets the eye. In this episode, the ProductivityCast team explains the Eisenhower Matrix (or more aptly, the Merrill-Covey Matrix) and analyzes the use cases for the time-tested tool. (If you’re reading this in a podcast...

Today, we take four questions that each of the ProductivityCast team has brought to the show and then we answer and discuss our perspectives. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/113 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to continue discussing this episode, please click here to leave a comment down below (this jumps...

We had the pleasure of interviewing on the show, Nicolas Vandenberghe, CEO of KosmoTime. Nicolas Vandenberghe started selling newspapers in the streets of Paris in high school, studied Maths at Ecole Polytechnique then Business at Stanford GSB, started and sold 3 tech companies with up to 65 employees and $11M in revenues, ran Sales for a $2Bn telecom company negotiating billion dollar deals with companies like Google, now co-founder of Chili Piper - the System of Action for revenue teams -...

We are going to be talking about software stewardship. And really what that means for the world of productivity, culture and society is remarkably impacted by how software today is developed, there isn't anything that isn't really run by technology, from your water plants, you know, the the treatment plants that are running water and sewage, to your cell phone. And on smartphones in your pocket. Everybody is connected to software in some way, shape, or form, even if we're not using that...

We are starting a new ongoing series on ProductivityCast called BookCast. Each BookCast, we bring you a productivity book that we have read and discussed the merits and demerits. We each come at the material from different backgrounds and experiences, therefore, some of us will dislike and some of us will dislike the material, and that will make for an enlightening discussion for you. For our first BookCast, we bring you The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important...

Templates can be a clever time-saving tool in your productivity tool belt, if you know where they are in your productivity system, as well as create and use them wisely. Today, we’re discussing what a template is (or, rather, how you should use them to their best advantage), what types of templates we use in our own productivity system, and how to overcome some common obstacles in making templates in your productivity software work for you. (If you’re reading this in a podcast...

In this week’s episode, we are going to introduce you to a productivity accountability technique called 25/55 (named for touching base every 25 and 55 minutes of every working hour). We describe what the 25/55 productivity accountability technique is, its components and why it works, how long you should practice a technique like this, and even a discussion on automating your check-ins. We’ll close out with some tips for those who may not feel like 25/55 will work for them; you’d be...

At the end of November 2019, David Allen, author and creator of Getting Things Done, held his latest (and presumably final) GTD Summit and at that time, he released his written drawings for what he called the ultimate GTD app. In this cast, we discuss the description provided and whether any existing software has gotten close. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/107 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of...

We received this comment below on the podcast (Episode 100), and so we're answering his question on dealing with distractions in open offices, to kick of the new year. Hey guys, thanks for the content! I’d like to hear your ideas about handling extended busy times. I’ve been practicing GTD (poorly, but trying) for 4 or 5 years and firmly believe in the system. I’m a manager in what is, unfortunately, effectively an open office. I don’t currently have the ability to schedule my time...

What a year 2020 has been! This week, the ProductivityCast team reminisces on four of our eight favorite episode topics this year (and all eight are embedded below for your listening pleasure), then we discuss thoughts on interests for next year. Happy, Productive New Year! (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/105 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback!...

The Pomodoro Technique This week on ProductivityCast, we discuss the ever-popular personal productivity technique called the Pomodoro Technique, a time management process developed by Francesco Cirillo. We did a little deeper at the Pomodoro Technique and how it might help you (and even your remote schooling kids!) be more productive. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/104 for clickable links and the full show notes and...

Using Your Task Management Profile to Focus Changes Everyone is walking around with self-taught skills in task management. As such, skill levels vary greatly but everyone would like to know where their areas of weakness might lie. In this episode the ProductivityCast team looks at the ways to build a task management profile and how one might interpret a self-assessment. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/103 for...

This week, we bring you our third Productivity App-apalooza! We’ll review three apps each that we know and use, and think you might find value in knowing about and using too! We’ll go in three rounds of the ProductivityCast team. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/102 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to...

This was a strange year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a bit of cheer...and by cheer, we mean holiday presents! So, we’re starting a tradition here on ProductivityCast--a holiday gift guide show each year, discussing the gifts we think the productivity enthusiast in your life will enjoy (and perhaps that’s you!). Enjoy our Holiday Gift Guide 2020! (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/101 for clickable links and the full...

We've reached 100 episodes! And, in honor of that, we hosted a live show and discussed our favorite of the first 99 episodes. Thanks to everyone who attended live and joined in the conversation, and here's to the next 100 episodes. Here's to your productive life, everyone. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/100 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks...

On this week’s ProductivityCast, we discuss the merits and demerits of all-in-one productivity tools, the likes of Outlook and its competitors on the market. Can they be good for your personal productivity system? Do they work at scale in an organization? Listen and let us know your thoughts. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/099 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us...

On this week’s ProductivityCast, we discuss the merits and demerits of Staying Productive with good cybersecurity practices. This is part 2 of 2. Listen and let us know your thoughts. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/098 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to continue discussing Staying Productive with...

On this week’s ProductivityCast, we discuss the merits and demerits of Staying Productive with good cybersecurity practices. This is part 1 of 2. Listen and let us know your thoughts. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/097 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to continue discussing Staying Productive with good...

The ProductivityCast team was having a conversation about our generational perspectives on technology and how they affect views about personal productivity. So, we decided to turn on the recording and share with you that conversation. What are your thoughts about how generations think differently about technology vis-a-vis productivity? (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/096 for clickable links and the full show notes and...

In this week's show, we discuss how our mobile productivity usage was and has mobile productivity changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that may apply to your own personal productivity systems. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/095 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to continue discussing how has your...

Mind maps are ancient theory, but they’re not ancient history! Since the concept of mind mapping was popularized by Dr. Tony Buzan’s work in the 1970s, they have become a staple in academy and productivity circles in the past 20 years especially. Learn how the ProductivityCast team uses mind maps in their personal productivity systems, and how you might want to use them, too! (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/094 for clickable...

Today on ProductivityCast we discussed some of our favorite non-digital productivity gear. (If you’re reading this in a podcast directory/app, please visit https://productivitycast.net/093 for clickable links and the full show notes and transcript of this cast.) Enjoy! Give us feedback! And, thanks for listening! If you'd like to continue discussing non-digital productivity gear from this episode, please click here to leave a comment down below (this jumps you to the...