Focused
305 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★ - 115 ratingsDavid Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.
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Episodes
201: What to Do When Things Don't Go Your Way, with Haemin Sunim
April 09, 2024 19:15 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBBestselling author & Zen Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim joins David & Mike to talk about gratitude, mindfulness, compassion, and dealing with disappointment when things don't go your way. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED....
200: Favorite Productivity Hacks
March 26, 2024 19:45 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBDavid & Mike celebrate 200 episodes by sharing their favorite productivity hacks. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. The Focus Course Focused #138: Hyper-Scheduling Revisited Nom Nom Automators | Relay FM Producti...
199: Repotting & Retirement, with Jim Eager
March 12, 2024 19:30 - 1 hour - 82.7 MBJim Eager joins us to talk about how to navigate the 4 phases of retirement with meaning and purpose. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses world...
198: Revisiting Journaling
February 27, 2024 17:15 - 1 hour - 86 MBDavid & Mike revisit the topic of journaling for personal growth and share how their workflows have evolved. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extend...
197: Feel Good Productivity
February 13, 2024 14:00 - 1 hour - 79.1 MBDavid & Mike consider the role of happiness & joy in meaningful productivity. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using ...
196: Focus & The Reading Life, with Maryanne Wolf
January 30, 2024 21:30 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBCognitive neuroscientist and reading warrior Dr. Maryanne Wolf joins us to talk about the science of reading and how what we read changes our brains. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Harvard Business Review: The leading destination for smart management thinking. Subscriptions start at just $10/month with c...
195: The Productivity Field Guide
January 16, 2024 21:00 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBAfter several years in production, the Productivity Field Guide is here! Mike interviews David about what's in it, how much went into it, and why it's so important to David. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes:...
194: I'd Like to Take a Mulligan
January 02, 2024 20:30 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBDavid & Mike reflect on everything that happened in 2023 and share their intentions for 2024. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episod...
193: The Problem with Mise en Place, with Justin Khanna
December 19, 2023 21:15 - 1 hour - 71 MBChef, creator, and entrepreneur Justin Khanna joins us to share focus lessons from the culinary world. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Guest Starring: Justin Khanna Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episod...
192: Flow State
December 05, 2023 16:15 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBDavid & Mike consider the benefits of the flow state and what we can do to achieve it more consistently. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csik...
191: Multi-Scale Planning
November 21, 2023 17:30 - 1 hour - 78.6 MBDavid & Mike unpack the concept of multi-scale planning and share how they are both using it to live in alignment with their vision and values. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Indeed: Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Whisper Memos: Re...
190: Overdosing on Gratitude, with Karl Staib
November 07, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 71.9 MBProcess Consultant Karl Staib joins us to talk about process design, delegation, and the power of gratitude. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Indeed: Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast. Harvard Business Review: The leading destination for smart management thinking. Subscriptions start at just $10/month with code FOCUSED. Guest St...
189: Focus & AI
October 24, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 86.5 MBDavid & Mike consider how various AI tools can help protect our focus and share what they're using to boost their productivity & creativity. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code FOCUSED. Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free. In...
188: Q4 Planning & The PKM Stack
October 10, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 76.2 MBDavid & Mike revisit the topic of toxic productivity, discuss choosing apps & tools that support your intentions, and share their plans for the last quarter of 2023. This episode of Focused is sponsored by: Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today. Indeed: Join more than t...
187: Drop Zones & Launch Pads, with Jesse J. Anderson
September 26, 2023 18:30 - 1 hour - 74.9 MBJesse J. Anderson is back to talk about troubleshooting productivity systems and his new book for helping adults with ADHD find focus.
186: The Burden of Opportunity, with Shawn Blanc
September 12, 2023 19:15 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBThe Focus Course creator and small business owner Shawn Blanc is back to talk about margin, sabbaticals, and focusing like a boss.
185: How to Be Miserable
August 29, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBDavid & Mike discuss the satirical self-help book How to Be Miserable by Randy J. Paterson and share the dysfunctional skills they are particularly good at.
184: Solving Problems, with Jay Clouse
August 15, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 62.6 MBJay Clouse of Creator Science joins us to talk about the sawdust problem, the focus benefits of community, and finding the balance between quality and quantity.
183: Practicing Focus
August 01, 2023 21:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBDavid & Mike discuss how they inject focus into their workdays & Mike shares about his tiny house retreat experience.
182: Building Focused Flywheels, with Nathan Barry
July 18, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBConvertKit CEO Nathan Barry joins us to talk about the power of focus and how it helped save his company.
181: Walking Your Own Path, with Justin Moore
July 04, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBSponsorship coach Justin Moore joins us to talk about his journey from medical devices to Creator Wizard founder, avoiding the comparison trap, and finding your niche.
180: A Focused Hodgepodge
June 20, 2023 18:30 - 1 hour - 71.4 MBDavid reflects on 18 months of freedom, Mike reports back from Craft + Commerce, and they both share their best advice for teaching kids how to focus.
179: Ideal Weeks
June 07, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBDavid & Mike discuss the process of planning (and attempting to live out) their ideal weeks.
178: Mike's Big Adventure
May 23, 2023 15:45 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBMike is finally a Free Agent. In this episode, he & David talk through the process and share some tips for those considering making revolutionary change.
177: The Care and Feeding of Technology, with Mike Rohde
May 09, 2023 17:30 - 1 hour - 82 MBMike Rohde is back to talk about the role of analog and digital tools in maintaining creative focus.
176: Doing Less
April 25, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 71.8 MBDavid & Mike revisit the importance of saying no and discuss how to prevent taking on too much.
175: The To-Don't List
April 12, 2023 01:00 - 1 hour - 66.2 MBDavid & Mike get caught up on listener feedback as they discuss journaling data, power naps, and choosing the things you aren't going to do.
174: Deep Work, with Cal Newport
March 28, 2023 16:45 - 1 hour - 66.1 MBComputer scientist & author Cal Newport joins us to talk about the impact of technology and culture on productivity and shares what we can do to protect our ability to focus.
173: Life Has Lifed You, with Mark Metzger
March 14, 2023 21:15 - 1 hour - 69 MBBusiness lawyer Mark Metzger joins David to talk about false urgency, the power of having a coach, and getting back on the wagon when life happens.
172: Journaling & Focus
February 28, 2023 18:15 - 1 hour - 77.1 MBDavid & Mike dive deep into the topic of journaling and share their workflows for making it stick.
171: Communication & Focus
February 14, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBDavid & Mike discuss communication, project management, and managing expectations to protect your focus.
170: Holistic Productivity, with Tim Stringer
January 31, 2023 20:30 - 1 hour - 78.7 MBTim Stringer joins us to talk about mortality, reinvention, and the fight to live a focused life.
169: How to Calm Your Mind, with Chris Bailey
January 17, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 76.9 MBChris Bailey is back to talk about dopamine, burnout, and finding calm in these anxious times.
168: 2023 Focus Resolutions
January 03, 2023 18:45 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBDavid & Mike share their words for the year and discuss their plans to live out the first quarter of 2023 with intentionality and focus.
167: 2022 Year in Review
December 20, 2022 20:45 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBDavid & Mike reflect on the last year and share what went well, what could have gone better, and their lessons learned.
166: The Social Dilemma
December 06, 2022 15:45 - 1 hour - 66 MBDavid & Mike walk through their planning processes and make their best case for leaving social media altogether.
165: On the River, with Chris Upchurch
November 22, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBChris Upchurch joins us to talk about his recent career change from metropolitan transportation planner to whitewater rafting guide.
164: Mind Mapping
November 08, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 65.1 MBDavid & Mike consider the focus benefits of mind mapping and discuss the tools and methods they use to think beyond the outline.
163: The Laws of Creativity, with Joey Cofone
October 25, 2022 21:30 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBBaron Fig CEO Joey Cofone joins us to talk about creativity, embracing constraints, and finding your own way.
162: Perfectionism
October 11, 2022 15:45 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBDavid & Mike discuss perfectionism, procrastination, and overcoming the urge to get everything just right.
161: Stolen Focus, with Jean MacDonald
September 27, 2022 19:45 - 1 hour - 75.8 MBJean MacDonald joins us to talk about social media, the M.E.O.W. system, and reading books.
160: Balancing Calendars and Tasks
September 13, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBDavid & Mike compare calendars and task lists, the jobs to be done by each, and the resistance that will inevitably appear in your quest to get things done.
159: The Art of Note-Taking
August 30, 2022 20:30 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBDavid & Mike consider note-taking and its role in the creative process.
158: Humans First, with Rob Krecak
August 16, 2022 21:30 - 1 hour - 77 MBRob Krecak joins us to talk about the psychology behind email, the importance of communication norms, and tips from his experiences helping organizations move to a 4-day work week.
157: Non-Traditional Measures of Productivity, with Mike Vardy
August 02, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 81.7 MBMike Vardy is back to talk about the rhythm of work and why some people feel "productivity" is becoming a dirty word.
156: The State of GTD
July 19, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 80.4 MBInspired by a Cal Newport article on Getting Things Done, David & Mike go through an audit of the (in)famous productivity system.
155: 12 Favorite Problems
July 05, 2022 18:45 - 1 hour - 72.2 MBDavid & Mike explore the idea of favorite problems and identify a dozen of their own in a quest for self-discovery.
154: Building a Second Brain, with Tiago Forte
June 21, 2022 17:15 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBTiago Forte joins us to talk about his new book, building knowledge assets, and flipping the switch from consumer to creator.
153: A Wandering Mind, with Kourosh Dini
June 07, 2022 16:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBKourosh Dini is back to talk about being with the work and the dark side of flow.
152: Mental Models
May 24, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 73 MBDavid & Mike share some of their favorite mental models and how to use them for better sensemaking.