Who calls without texting first? What emergency prompted this? My mind raced through worst-case scenarios as I answered with a tentative “Hello?” To my surprise, my old friend Jake, simply wanted to hear how I was doing. That spontaneous five-minute call left me strangely energized. I realized how rare voice connection had become in my… Read More »The 8-minute phone call
About the author Tony Robbins rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world’s top life coaches and motivational speakers. Born in 1960 in North Hollywood, California, Robbins grew up in a financially unstable household. His mother married multiple times, which led to a tumultuous childhood. At just 17, Robbins left home and began… Read More »Motivated by the desire to avoid pain
The meeting ran long. My phone buzzed. I checked it under the table. Was this distraction caused by the notification (external) or my boredom (internal)? Was I planning to check messages at this time (traction) or was this an unplanned detour (distraction)? These questions form the backbone of the Indistractable Grid—a deceptively simple tool that… Read More »The Indistractable Grid Method
Motivation has a dirty secret. It’s wildly unreliable. It rises and falls like the tide, leaving our best intentions stranded when we need them most. I watched this pattern in myself for years. The fired-up version of me on Monday would set ambitious goals, only for Wednesday-me to wonder where all that energy went. This… Read More »Implementation intentions: Make your goals a reality on auto-pilot
About the author Born in Vienna in 1905, Viktor Frankl grew from a curious medical student into one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. Before his rise to prominence, life threw him into the darkest human experience possible. As a Jewish psychiatrist during World War II, the Nazis sent him to four… Read More »Between stimulus and response, there is a space
About the author David Allen stands as one of the most respected productivity experts of our time. As the creator of the “Getting Things Done” (GTD) method, Allen changed how millions of people manage their work and lives. His background spans various careers, from karate teacher to manager at a lawn service company, giving him… Read More »Your brain is great for having ideas
According to cognitive psychology research, your brain has a strict capacity limit. Seven items. When you exceed this, your mental processor jams. You can’t think clearly. You can’t focus. You can’t sleep. The solution isn’t more coffee or better time management. It’s getting those thoughts out of your head completely. This is where mind sweeping… Read More »The mind sweep method for clearing your mental clutter
About the author Allison Graham is a business coach, speaker, and author who focuses on professional growth and workplace strategy. Her background includes helping professionals build their networks and find success through genuine relationships rather than superficial connections. Her book “Take Back Your Weekends” gives insight into her unique approach to work-life harmony. Her ideas… Read More »Uncover the subtle nuances that steal your productivity
When you’re running late, always say you’ll be later than you think. If you think you’ll be 10 minutes late, tell your friend, colleague or partner you’ll be 15 minutes late. That way, they’ll only be disappointed once when you say you’re late, and they’ll be happy when you show up earlier than expected. Most… Read More »When late be late only once
For years, I failed the circle of hell test without even knowing it existed. I’d see someone hovering at the edge of a conversation, clearly wanting to join, and I’d do nothing. I’d continue talking, pretending not to notice their awkward half-smile and shifting weight. I told myself pulling strangers into our group chat wasn’t… Read More »The circle of hell test
