Productivity Straight Talk | How To Improve Personal Productivity & Time Management To Maximize Profits For Entrepreneurs

In this episode, I sit down with Project Manager Natalie Gingrich whose business journey really took off when she became a Chief Of Staff in a Fortune 150 company. Natalie gives insight into the project management side of small businesses including how to prioritize your objectives that piggyback off one another, the maximum number of projects you should have going at one time no matter how big or how small, and the unrealized truth about setting hard deadlines for projects. We also discuss Natalie’s controversial theory on multitasking, the importance of scheduling project milestones, and what you could do to alleviate stress and get back in the jam of what you love doing. This was an awesome discussion with Natalie I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ The 7 Objectives That Are Important To Every Business ✔️ When Multitasking With A Purpose Might Make Sense ✔️ Why You’re Making Silly Decisions In Your Business And How To Stop ✔️ Tips

In this episode of Productivity Straight Talk, I walk you through the pivotal points of my hiring journey so you can obtain valuable insights to utilize when building your own team. I discuss numerous ways you can gain leverage in your business and at home, reveal an effective strategy to remove the stress of making a new hire, and explain the constraints you should put on yourself when contemplating hiring for another position or project. I also talk about the structure of my business including who does what, the triumphs and obstacles I faced with my hires, and what absolutely must be in my possession before making a new hire. I hope you enjoy my episode on hiring my own team and encourage you to put thoughtful consideration into your hiring strategy and every person you might hire. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ How Building My Own Team Enabled Me To Grow Bigger And Faster ✔️  What You Should Outsource And How ✔️  What Constitutes A Good Hire

In this episode, I sit down with the Chief People Officer at BizChix, Shelli Warren, who has over 25 years of experience building and leading teams at Proctor & Gamble. Shelli walks us through developing a recruitment strategy to ensure you hire based on data instead of emotions, streamlining the hiring process, and performing best candidate selections for people joining the company. We also talk about how NOT leading your employees can help you attain flow freedom, how to overcome your rational fears of growing a team, recognizing the triggers for when it’s the right time to hire, and determining if and where candidates could be a good fit for your business. This was an awesome discussion with Shelli I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The Factors You Should Build Into Your Hiring And Recruitment Strategies How To Write A Compelling Job Description That Attracts The Best Candidates Ways To Mold Your Team Into High Caliber Experts

In this episode, I introduce the concept of self-sabotage and how YOU might be the greatest factor holding yourself back from achieving what you desire. I go on to explain the many different types of self-sabotage, the first step to preventing it, what to do when you realize your engaging in it, and how to ultimately stop doing it. I also weigh in taking risks, taking on a number of projects at once, perfectionism, self-negotiation, and thinking you’re God’s gift to the business world. I hope you enjoy my episode on self-sabotage and encourage you to break free from those self-imposed shackles holding you back from reaching your goals. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ The Biggest Challenge You Must Overcome To Be Productive ✔️  Ways To Know If You’re Engaging In Self-Sabotage ✔️ Simple Strategies To Get Out Of Your Own Way ✔️ How To Stop One Poor Decision From Negatively Impacting Your Business ✔️ So Much More! Important Resources & Links From

In this episode, I sit down with speech pathologist and owner of multiple businesses, Betsy Furler, as she walks us through how she overcame struggles with productivity and discusses her mission to make technology as impactful to other people’s lives as it has been to her own and user-friendly so people don’t get frustrated but instead utilize it to improve their lives. Betsy also talks about the two keys to being productive after an event makes getting work done seem impossible, ways she found to be wholly productive at work so she could be fully present with her family, how she successfully reset her mind and got back to business after Hurricane Harvey devastated her neighborhood, and what is better to have on your mobile device than all the latest and greatest productivity and time management apps. This was an awesome discussion with Betsy I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: How To Not Fall Prey To How You’re Feeling Or What You’ve

In this episode, I discuss trying to get it all done, why you shouldn’t attempt to, and what you should do with your overloaded plate of tasks instead. I walk you through the 5 Ds to approach any task on your to-do list, ways to increase the efficiency of your business, and how assigning due dates can help you take massive, focused action toward your goals. I also offer tips for determining your high-value activities and prioritizing your projects against your tasks. I hope you enjoy my episode on trying to get it all done and encourage you to stop putting that unnecessary and harmful pressure on yourself. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ Why Your Beliefs Keep You Feeling Overwhelmed ✔️ The #1 Affirmation That Will Empower You To Be Productive ✔️ Why Your Approach To Projects May Be Counterproductive ✔️ The 5 D’s For Handling The Multitude Of Tasks On Your Plate ✔️ So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: 009 | Affirmation

In this episode, I sit down with author, speaker, and contributing editor for Inc. Magazine, Jeff Haden, as he walks us through how a conversation with tennis star Venus Williams sparked him to write his book on motivation, the first step to take when you have zero motivation, and the link between accountability and motivation that can help you reach your goals. We also dive into what you should and should not be doing during “me time,” why you shouldn’t give up for lack of a lightning bolt, and the type of addiction that can be beneficial to your success. This was an awesome discussion with Jeff hope you enjoy. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Why Motivation As We Know It Is A Myth What Separates People With Dreams From People Who Achieve Their Dreams How To Tap Into A Virtuous Cycle Of Motivation The Compound Effect Of An Extreme Productivity Day So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: Book: The Motivation Myth JeffHaden.com Jeff’s Articl

In this episode, I introduce the concept of eliminating tasks and activities from your life to reclaim your time. I reveal the best way to figure out how much your time is worth, help you discover what you should eliminate, and explain three simple methods of effectively cutting your sh!t without suffering any repercussions. I also discuss simple ways to service your clients better, increase your efficiency, lighten your workload, leverage the talent of others, and increase your profits. I hope you enjoy my episode on eliminating and encourage you to start cutting your sh!t immediately. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: ✔️ How To Audit Your Schedule For Wasteful Recurring Activities ✔️The Tasks And Activities You Could Easily Eliminate ✔️Which Tasks You Could Delegate And How To Do So ✔️Places In Your Business Where Inefficiencies Could Be Hiding ✔️ So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: Eps. 035 | Productivity + Profitabilit

In this episode, I sit down with Rachel Wenman, Co-Founder and Vice President of Urban Seed Inc., a startup that is reinventing and repositioning not just the way we grow food, but the way we provide it from produce to packaging, across the world. Rachel discusses how to activate life flows that lay the groundwork for increased productivity, her typical day wearing many hats in a startup, and ways she effectively sets boundaries as it pertains to her time. We also talk about how feeling bogged down motivated Rachel to seek life flows activation, the morning routine she slowly cultivated over time that helps her prepare for each day, and how she utilizes intentionally programmed music to activate her motivation and energy and get in the zone. This was an awesome discussion with Rachel I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Ways To Activate Your Productivity For Positive Results In Your Business Rachel’s 4 Inbox Method Of Processing Email T

In this episode, I discuss how creating and consistently implementing business boundaries can help you reduce feeling overwhelmed and get you closer to the elusive work/life balance you crave along with so many other benefits. I also provide help on creating boundaries during the different seasons of your life, reveal who you should convey your boundaries to, explain the importance of theme days when it comes to creating effective boundaries, and offer proven methods for implementing boundaries. I hope you enjoy my episode on business boundaries and encourage you to start implementing the right ones for the current season in your life. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The Numerous Benefits Of Establishing Boundaries The 5 Most Important Types Of Business Boundaries How To Relay Your Boundaries To New Clients And Employees/Contractors Ways To Enforce Your Boundaries Effectively So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: Eps. 023 | The Practice O

In this episode, I sit down with co-founder of Interact Quiz Builder, Josh Haynam, to discuss how putting the right people and processes into place in his company led to them helping over 40,000 brands create lead generation platforms in the form of quizzes, assessments, and giveaways. We talk about how the recession forced him into entrepreneurship and got him hooked on building things, a typical day as CEO over in-house, remote, and flexible employees, and what he refused to let go of that had him banging his head against the wall for two years. We also cover Josh’s stark realizations that allow him to get more done, developing processes to increase efficiency, and how he transitioned from being the doer to being the person creating the processes then delegating them. This was an awesome discussion with Josh I hope you enjoy. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The Powerful Outcomes Of Utilizing Processes Consistently How To Continually Beat Regressio

In this episode, I unpack the relationship between productivity and profitability, introduce the three “buckets” you need to invest your time in in order to be profitable, and discuss the big problem with living in the “other bucket.”  I also divulge why the proverb “Time is money” is not exactly true, the effects of failing to protect your mindset, and ways I keep my business in check for profitability that if implemented, could have a huge impact on your business’ ability to make money. I hope you enjoy my episode on profitability and encourage you to take the first step toward making your business more sustainable. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: My Unpacked Definition For Productivity What Productivity Is NOT That May Surprise You How Improved Productivity Drives Increased Profits The 3 High-Priority, Highly Productive Activities You Should Consistently Be Focusing On So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: Profit First By Mike Michalo

In this episode, I delve into why your New Year’s resolution is destined to fail and address how you can fix it so you can beat the odds and achieve your resolution in 2018. I discuss the specific criteria a well-designed resolution should meet, why trying to accomplish your resolution on your own and your finances could be the biggest obstacles to its success, and why it’s so important to vocalize your resolution to others. I hope you enjoy my episode on New Year’s resolutions and encourage you to transform yours to one that is destined to succeed today. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The Importance Of Creating New Year’s Resolutions 3 Reasons Your Resolution Is Sure To Fail (And How To Not Let It) The Secrets To Attaining Success With Your Resolution What Syndrome You May Be Suffering From That’s Holding You Back So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: 003 | Your BIG Why: Not Just Another Stupid Exercise 005 | Creating

In this episode, I run through many of the awesome benefits of entrepreneurship so you can run your business with the ultimate confidence that no matter how hard it gets, you chose the right career path when you embarked on your entrepreneurial journey. I also discuss the many challenges of working a conventional job that you might have forgotten, tapping in to your unlimited potential in numerous areas, and how being an entrepreneur ultimately makes both you and your family members better people. I hope you enjoy my episode on entrepreneurial gifts and encourage you to focus on entrepreneurship’s endless benefits when you go through rough patches in your business. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The 12 Entrepreneurial Gifts You Should Thank Yourself For How The Positives Of Running A Business Significantly Outweigh The Accompanying Stress Why Becoming An Entrepreneur Was The Right Decision Even If It Is Hard To See Now So Much More! Important Resources & Links

In this episode, I sit down with former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort, Lee Cockerell, as he walks us through his journey of being farm boy and college drop-out to becoming a leader of 40,000 cast members at Disney. Lee goes on to share his strong stance on time-blocking and routines, the tools he uses to stay organized, and why he is adept at technology but continues to use a paper planner. We also discuss the agreement Lee had in place that consistently kept him up to date on his people, processes, projects, and profits, the meaningful habit he learned during a time management seminar in 1980 that he still uses today, the number one problem business owners unknowingly have, and how his fear of failure sparks his curiosity and inspires him to learn every day. This was an awesome discussion with Lee I hope you enjoy. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Mickey-Approved Time Management Methods That Never Fail Daily Rituals Lee Kept

In this episode, I lay out workable solutions to avoid unnecessary holiday stress so you can relax and enjoy the season with your loved ones. We discuss the likely root cause of your stress, creative ways to eliminate it, and strategies to refrain from putting unnecessary pressure on yourself which never fails to heighten stress and anxiety. I go on to talk about how my strategies to avoid holiday stress can also transfer to helping you minimize work project stress and chaos. I hope you enjoy my episode on holiday and work project stress and encourage you to take actions to reduce your stress. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Two Tips You Can Implement To Make The Holiday Season Less Stressful How Changing Your Verbiage Can Greatly Decrease Holiday Chaos Why Some Of Your Holiday Traditions Could Fail But Don’t Have To So Much More! Important Resources & Links From This Episode: Discovery Call

In this episode, I sit down with business growth strategist Kelly Roach of Unstoppable Success Radio as she talks about why she quit her corporate job as a Sr. Vice President with a huge income to start her entrepreneurial journey. Kelly goes on to offer hacks to get on the fastest, most efficient path to making gigantic leaps in your business without compromising your quality, sanity, relationship, or bank account in the process. We also discuss why hiring untapped and untrained talent may be wise for your bottom line, the challenges of acquiring a support team who can become masters of their craft, and ways to easily attract the right clients without having to chase them down. This was an awesome discussion with Kelly I hope you enjoy. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Tips To Catapult Your Sales With Just A Few Hours A Day How To Hire A Team That Will Be Capable Of Running The Show Training Suggestions For The Ambassadors Of Your Brand The Best Way To Create A Snowb

In this episode, I take you on a tour through my toolbox and share my top time-saving tools I can’t live without. I discuss the key functions of each program, their unique features, ways to customize them to meet your unique needs, and discuss why I absolutely love using these particular tools in my business. I also talk about the solution to wanting to read more, the problem with Frankensteining your processes and tools, and the must-have program that can turn any small business owner into a self-sufficient graphic designer. I hope you enjoy my episode on time-saving tools and encourage you to pursue finding tools that could level up your business. Now let’s jump right in and get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: My Toolbox Favorites My Business Can’t Function Without Handy Tips For Utilizing These Powerful Tools Solutions To Your Social Media Scheduling And File-Sharing Woes How I Successfully Manage Over 200 Tasks At Any Given Time Without Feeling Overwhelmed So Much More! Impor

In this episode, I sit down with successful entertainer and show producer Jeff Civillico as he walks us through his journey from doing shows for his parents in their kitchen to headlining on the Las Vegas Strip and offers insight into his creative thinking process and productive routines that enable his numerous skillsets, passions, and projects to functionally overlap. We also discuss how Jeff leveraged his network to found and manage the non-profit Win-Win Entertainment, the top three activities he does on a regular basis that move the needle, and how he creates balance between all of his task-oriented and relationship-oriented activities. This was an awesome discussion with Jeff I hope you enjoy. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: The Crazy Amount Of Work It Takes To Produce, Star In, And Market A Profitable Show Actionable Ways To Amplify Your Productivity How To Break Down Everything On Your Plate Into Manageable Parts Jeff’s Go-To, Pick-Me-Up Drink Containing Lion

In this episode, I dive into why it’s so important for entrepreneurs to take breaks even when you feel like you don’t have the time, how breaks actually increase your productivity, and ways you can fit breaks into your schedule. I also discuss the types of breaks that best serve your energy levels and divulge my top tips and creative techniques for taking productivity-increasing breaks. As a bonus, previous Productivity Straight Talk guest Mariah Secrest Comer chimes in to offer some actionable ideas for simple work breaks that can improve your health. I hope you’ll enjoy my episode on taking breaks and encourage you to start scheduling them into your routines. Now let’s get to the straight talk! What You’ll Discover In This Episode: Why Daily Breaks Are An Absolute Necessity For Entrepreneurs Tips For Making Time For Breaks When You Just Don’t Have Time The Types Of Breaks That Relax You, Refuel You, Reenergize You, And Help You Refocus A Proven Method Of Successfully Creating Effective Work / Break Cycles