Bringing Back “Old School” Productivity Hacks

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As technology gets more and more advanced, we tend to forget how we used to do things.

Think of how shocked kids are when they hear how you did homework before the internet. (No one appreciates the dewey decimal system anymore!)

But are we becoming too reliant on technology? While it certainly makes our lives more convenient, we now bypass certain steps that helped us to stay on top of our organizational game.

Here are some ways kickin’ it “old school” will make you more productive:

Remember the Typewriter – This old piece of tech is symbolic of a whole generation, you’d be hard pressed to find a black and white movie that doesn’t include a typewriter. One of the downsides to the typewriter was that if you made a mistake you had to start over again. As much of a pain as this may be it made you more conscious of what you were typing. Read more

Is Being on TV on Your Bucket List?

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No matter who you are or where you’re from, if you’re reading this blog, I can almost guarantee that you’re an expert in something?

Don’t believe me?

Well let me explain. An expert is defined as someone who is “very knowledgeable about or skilful in a particular area”. Too many people think that being an expert means you have to be the best or the most knowledgeable on the earth.

But that’s not true! There’s plenty of space for multiple experts to exist in any given field.

And you could be an expert at a bunch of topics that don’t even have to do with “what you do” for a living.

Take me for instance, I’m a TV producer by day but I’m also a list-making expert. It’s a skill I use as a producer but I’ve perfected my method and teach it to others – like those currently enrolled in my Listful Thinking Masterclass.

What are you an expert in?

Maybe it’s how to pick out the perfect outfit or  brunch spot or raising picky eaters or maybe it’s marine biology or something else.

You have something to say about what you know.  People deserve to hear it. So now what?

My other expertise aside from list making is having a keen eye for talent and who would make a great media feature or guest. I deal with experts all in day in my job as a news producer. I work specifically on health news so I’m always looking for doctors and health professionals to interview. Because of this I have a finely tuned sense for what makes a person ‘media’ ready.

The question I’m asked most often is “How do I get on TV?”

So I created a FREE 3-part video course called “How to Be a Media Magnet” with my friend and colleague Terri Trespicio.  Terri is a former magazine editor for Martha Stewart and brand strategist with a TEDx talk that’s gotten almost 2 million views.

In our FREE 3-part video series, “How to Be a Media Magnet,” you’ll learn:

  • What the media wants and what pitches will grab their attention
  • What mistakes to avoid when approaching the media
  • Overcoming the fear of not being “good enough”
  • How to get spots on TV, radio, and magazines

Don’t wait, because the free course is available for a limited time.

Guide to Getting Last-Minute Tasks Done Right

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Whether you make a regular habit of it, or you get caught unexpectedly and have to change plans – at some point we will all have a project or tasks that get left to the last minute. So how do you deal with these last minute changes? If you’re a person who’s used to having everything planned out well in advance, (like me) something like this can really throw you off your game.

But it doesn’t have to.

Even when it feels like it’s impossible to get everything done in time, you can still manage your  time most effectively.

So what do you do? Read more

Cross These Tasks Off Your To-Do List

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I love outsourcing. I mean who wouldn’t? You get to take your to-do list and hand it off to someone else!

What’s not to love?

However it’s one of the few productivity suggestions that when I mention to people, the response I get tends to be dubious.

The answer I always get is, “Well, I dunno, I like to do things myself.”

Sound familiar?

I’m a control freak, so I get it. Letting someone else be responsible for a part of my business (even if it is only a very small one) can feel scary. But if I can get past the control freak fear, then why can’t other people.

I think that most people actually aren’t afraid to outsource – they just don’t know where to start!

For example, if you asked a child if they wanted to give up their chores, of course they’d be happy. But when you tell them they have to pick just one — the choice becomes a bit more difficult. Read more

Become an Email Warrior

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You ever do this? You look through your email – and mark all the stuff you don’t want to deal with as “unread” because you’ll get to it later. But the thing is you never do!

You know you’ve played this game with your email too.

An email inbox is just another thing to get clogged and untidy. I know what it’s like to have thousands of unread emails and it something that can so quickly spiral if you don’t stay on top of it. I even created a whole course around it.

I’m not the only person who has tried to tackle the issues brought up by email. Ann Gomez, a productivity whiz from Canada, has recently published her book, “The Email Warrior: A Succinct, Practical Guide to Help You Corral an Unwieldy Inbox.” Like me advocates trying to keep your inbox at zero – her approach can clear your inbox in less than 3 hours!

I was thrilled when Ann asked me to write a blurb for the back of her book.  Here’s what I said:

“As a big believer of lists, there is one list that I do not like – and that is a long list of emails sitting in one’s inbox. I advocate a zero inbox policy with my clients because it streamlines life and makes us more productive. The Email Warrior is a succinct, practical guide to help you corral an unwieldy inbox. Busy professionals who are inundated with email will find this refreshing formula simple and attainable.” 

Her book is designed to help you:

  • Process email most efficiently
  • Save time for other priorities
  • Take back control over email
  • Spend less time on email
  • Organize your digital storage
  • Simplify your life
  • Reduce stress

I hope you’ll check it out and that it helps you finally tackle that stubborn inbox! Let me know what you think if you do.