The Productivity Show

Should you really eat that frog first thing every morning? We aren’t so sure, and in this encore episode, we’re throwing out four pieces of productivity advice so widely repeated that most people follow them without ever asking whether they actually work. From the classics to the modern assumptions, we make the case that some of the most popular productivity wisdom might be quietly holding you back. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass: Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:31] Why the early risers really win — and the “time arbitrage” idea behind it [5:17] The “crazy” one-day meeting fix that gave back the whole week [11:16] What actually happened after every meeting moved to Wednesday [17:00] The productivity lever nobody in this industry talks about [24:12] No budget? How to buy back time when you’re starting from zero [35:00] The take that might get Brooks fired: skip eating the frog [39:56] Links Masterclass Even Reali

Most AI meeting assistants create transcripts, but few actually save time. We rank the top tools like Otter, Fireflies, and Fathom based on ruthless practicality. Learn how to automate your follow-up, reclaim 10 to 20 hours a week, and close deals faster by eliminating post-meeting admin work. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop 25X Productivity Coaching Otter Fireflies Fathom Zoom AI Companion Granola Read AI Lindy Todoist Attio If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

How many good decisions do you actually have in you each day? Ari Meisel says the answer is about two dozen — which means your inbox, with its thousands of tiny choices, is quietly bankrupting you before lunch. In this encore conversation, the founder of Less Doing joins us to reframe email as a decision-making problem rather than a communication one, and to explain why he’s replaced almost all of his messaging with asynchronous voice. He shares how he runs a coaching business, closes sales, and stays close with far-flung friends without a single call on his calendar — and how those constraints made him more effective, not less. If you’re looking for genuinely unconventional ways to do less and get more done, this one’s worth your time. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:43] The diagnosis that cut an 18-hour workday down to one [4:05] Forget “eat the frog” — the prioritization rule most people miss [6:32] Why your inbox isn’t an email problem at all [11:11] How he closed a $1,500 sale in 8 minutes of voice notes [19:40] Drowning in a new inbox? The four-times-speed fix [26:10] The hospital night that turned him into a data geek [34:59] The one

Why did reading twenty books a year suddenly become impossible? Thanh used to fly through books and podcasts without a second thought — until his ability to concentrate quietly started slipping away, and no amount of blocking notifications or silencing his phone fixed it. The distraction wasn’t coming from his devices. It was coming from inside his own head. In this encore episode, Thanh breaks down what actually happened, the strange mix of experiments he ran to fix it, and the concept of attention management that came out the other side — a shift in thinking that helped him concentrate for 90 minutes or more at a stretch. If you’ve noticed your own focus fading and assumed it was just a willpower problem, this episode makes the case that it isn’t. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Keeper Security 25X Productivity Coaching If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Most productivity advice tells you to add: more goals, more apps, more habits, more trackers, more systems. But what if the fastest path to better results isn’t adding anything at all—it’s subtraction? In this episode, Thanh and Brooks explore why removing friction beats adding motivation, and how a subtraction audit can transform your productivity faster than any new resolution. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Shopify: Own your customer relationships. Own your revenue. Start with a free trial at shopify.com/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:37] The weekly review question that uncovers hidden hours you didn’t know you had [7:24] The one-inbox rule that made it easier to capture — and actually find — ideas later [11:24] The new device ritual both hosts use to make every app earn its place back [21:44] The 15-minutes-a-day method that makes decluttering actually stick [29:40] Why “maybe” is just another way of saying no [35:45] The AI side effect that quietly cancelled Thanh’s app subscriptions [38:50] Links Shopify <a href="https://keepersecurity.com/tps" target="_blank" re

When was the last time you actually counted how many wishes you have? In this episode, Thanh unpacks a line that’s stuck with him for years: when we’re sick, we only want one thing back, but when we’re healthy, we have a thousand wishes. That idea comes from one of the most-gifted books in his library, built on interviews with people near the end of their lives about the lessons they wanted to pass on — and it reshaped how Thanh thinks about productivity itself. Thanh breaks down why relationships, purpose, and health are the real foundation of happiness, and why optimizing for happiness, not just output, is what actually makes us more productive. He also shares the simple gratitude practice he uses every morning to keep this front of mind. It’s a quick, honest reminder that no task on your list is worth sacrificing the people and moments that matter most. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans Productivity Academy If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Ever find yourself staring at your to-do list at 3 PM, unable to decide what to do next? Or ordering the same lunch every day because choosing feels impossible? You are not bad at follow-through. You are drowning in micro-decisions. Decision fatigue isn’t a dramatic mental collapse. It’s a subtle quality decay that creeps in as your day accumulates choices—each one nibbling away at your capacity to judge, prioritize, and choose well. By the time you hit the afternoon, you’re not lazy. You’re depleted. In this episode, we break down what decision fatigue actually feels like (hint: it’s not what the pop-psych headlines say), where it comes from, and the three rules that stop it cold: decide once, decide earlier, decide smaller. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. For 50% less your first year, go to HomeServe.com/TPS. Void in Florida. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:39] The decision-fatigue study you’ve heard a hundred times — and why it might be wrong [6:23] Why AI doesn’t reduce your decisions — it concentrates them [10:38] Brooks’s podcast confession about what he wears every day [18:19] The simple rule that stops your team from asking ‘can I do this?’ [25:32] <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/1f9e0.png" alt="🧠" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-hei

If your brain feels weird in summer, it is not a character flaw. It is a systems mismatch. Learn why your brain works differently in June than January and how to use the Summer Reset framework to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks to the hottest parts of the day. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop 25X Productivity Coaching If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Most AI meeting assistants save notes, but fewer actually save time. In this episode, we move past the hype to rank tools like Otter, Fireflies, Fathom, and Zoom AI Companion based on ruthless practicality. We evaluate them to help you find the one that reliably removes post-meeting work rather than just creating prettier transcripts. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps.  Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [3:01] The meeting where AI bots outnumbered the actual humans [5:32] Why some meeting organizers are now blocking AI notetakers outright [8:16] The strange email problem you get when your AI drafts everything for you [12:03] The one popular meeting assistant that never actually joins your call [22:39] How your action items could update your task list without you lifting a finger [25:16]

Stop managing time and start managing energy. Learn how to identify the physical, mental, and emotional drains killing your productivity. We explore the Energy Audit framework, sleep hygiene, and recovery rituals to help you rebuild capacity and perform at your peak. Discover why vitality is the real secret to getting things done without burning out. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Claude.ai/tps 25X Productivity Coaching Pomodoro Technique TEA Framework SXSW Clearing to Neutral If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

If your brain feels “off” in July, it’s not a character flaw—it’s a systems mismatch. Summer changes the biological inputs your brain responds to: more daylight, intense heat, and schedule volatility. In this episode, we break down the science of why your January operating system fails in July and share a Summer Reset framework to redesign your workflow around seasonal reality. Learn how to simplify goals, anchor routines, and move lower-brain tasks strategically to stay productive without the guilt. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:11] Why your January productivity system quietly breaks every summer [5:45] The kid factor and the coworker factor: two things that derail even disciplined summers [7:28] The underappreciated reason you can’t think straight when it’s hot outside [16:21] The backlog season: when your someday-maybe list finally becomes your to-do list [21:06] The case for “chill goals” and giving yourself grace whe

How is it possible that doing less could make you more productive? It sounds like a contradiction, but the truth is most of us are grinding through the day in a way that’s quietly working against us — skipping breaks, ignoring hunger, running on empty — and calling it discipline. It’s not. It’s just exhaustion with good PR. In this encore episode, we make the case for building intentional renewal into your day — not as a luxury, but as a performance strategy. From 10-second micro breaks to the surprisingly powerful nap, you’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to recharge without losing your flow. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is strategically stop. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Upwork 25X Productivity Coaching 25X Productivity System Pomodoro Technique If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Is AI actually saving you time, or just creating a productivity mirage? In this episode, we explore the “jagged technological frontier” and identify 7 warning signs that your AI tools are quietly increasing the drag on your work. From “workslop” to the verification trap, we break down how to ensure AI remains a force multiplier rather than a place to hide. Learn the AE rule for subtracting friction and audit your workflow for real results.Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Use promo code tps at evenrealities.com to get 10% off Even Ring 1 and/or Even Clip when you add them to your Even G2 order. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:59] How AI turned a devoted monotasker into someone juggling 8 simultaneous agent terminals [10:09] The 80/10/10 rule that reframes whether you still need to single-task in the AI era [19:46] The automation trap: why jumping to AI before you’ve done something yourself is a mistake [24:39] The silent credibility killer in your AI-generated content (that no one will tell you about) [28:14] A simple habit that makes AI-drafted emails sound like you actually wrote them [34:51] <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.

How much of your to-do list actually requires you? Most people grind through endless tasks without pausing to ask that question — and it’s costing them their focus, energy, and joy in their work. In this encore episode, we introduce the concept of “life leverage”: a simple but powerful filter for identifying the tasks that only you can do, and letting go of everything else. Once you find your life leverage, delegation stops feeling like a luxury and starts feeling obvious. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com — promo code: TPS Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off your first order 25X Productivity Coaching If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Does your work calendar bleed into your personal life? Do your personal tasks creep into your workday? You’re not disorganized — you’re caught in the “have it all” trap: the belief that keeping everything together means staying on top of everything. It doesn’t. It just means everything competes for your attention, all the time. In this encore episode, we break down four practical strategies for separating work and personal productivity — so you can actually be present at work when you’re working, and present at home when you’re not. If you’ve ever felt like you’re always half-focused on two things instead of fully focused on one, this episode is your way out. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com — use promo code tps Get 60% off personal and family plans at keepersecurity.com/TPS Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:28] Why keeping everything “together” is quietly wrecking your focus [3:26] The counterintuitive first move: cut before you organize [6:54] How to stop tasks and information from falling through the cracks [22:28] Build a system that makes distraction nearly impossible [32:24] Why “balance” is a trap — and what to pursue instead [41:

When’s the last time you felt totally locked in? Ideas flowing, focus sharp, getting more done in two hours than you normally do all day? That feeling isn’t random luck. It’s your biology working in your favor, and you can engineer it to happen on purpose. Your brain runs on a predictable 24-hour energy cycle, and most people are unknowingly scheduling their hardest work during their worst hours. Peak positioning is the simple strategy of mapping your most important tasks to the moments when your mind is naturally at its sharpest. In this encore episode, we break down the science behind your daily energy peaks and valleys, and you’ll discover a dead-simple formula to find yours — no fancy gear required. Once you know your pattern, everything changes. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching RISE Science app TEA Framework (Time, Energy, Attention) — Asian Efficiency If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Discover the real-world productivity stack the Asian Efficiency team relies on daily. We move beyond the hype to explore how tools should support your systems, not create overhead. Learn our criteria for choosing apps by role, when simple tools beat complex ones, and our specific recommendations for capture, task management, calendars, and automation. Whether you’re looking to audit your setup or simplify your workflow, this episode provides concrete examples of what works, what we abandoned, and how to build a stack that supports your time, energy, and attention. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get 60% off personal and family plans at Keepersecurity.com/TPS. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:29] The first category of apps about to be replaced by your AI chat window [7:17] The hidden feature that decides which apps survive the AI era [10:44] The boring task an Atlassian button quietly killed for Brooks [14:26] Brooks’s surprising “central hub” for everything he does — and it isn’t his task manager [20:52] <img src="https://s.w.o

How is it that some people seem to keep getting more valuable, more connected, and more successful — almost effortlessly — while others work just as hard and stay stuck? The answer isn’t talent or luck. It’s three specific investments that quietly compound in the background, and most people never deliberately make them. In this encore episode, we break down the exact strategy used to build Asian Efficiency from the ground up — stacking high-leverage skills, building a network that opens doors you didn’t even know existed, and using coaching to close the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Simple, actionable, and less than 10 minutes. Your future self will thank you. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Upwork 25X Productivity Coaching Asian Efficiency Gary Vaynerchuk Michael Dell If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Ever feel like your focus just disappears after an hour of work? It’s not laziness—it’s biology. In this episode, we dive deep into the science of ultradian rhythms and why the popular “90-minute focus block” is both powerful and often misunderstood. We’ll separate productivity mythology from real biology, showing you how to identify your own peak windows, use deliberate recovery breaks, and adapt these blocks to fit your real life. Stop fighting your brain and start working with your natural energy cycles. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:31] The sneaky way busyness tricks you into thinking you had a productive day [5:54] Why counting tasks done is one of the most dangerous productivity habits [9:01] The token leaderboard problem — and why short-term metrics always backfire [16:48] The 90-minute mini-cycle your body runs all day (and what it means for your work) [19:29] How to actually build a 90-minute focus block that fits your real life [24:25] Are you leav

Stop chasing the perfect app. I am sharing the real world productivity stack we use at Asian Efficiency and why your system matters more than the software. Learn how to choose tools by role, reduce friction with voice capture, and build your stack incrementally to support your time, energy, and attention without creating unnecessary overhead. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com — promo code: tps Listen to this episode (MP3) Links DripDrop — promo code TPS for 20% off 25X Productivity Coaching Four Thousand Weeks: How to Live a Meaningful Life with Limited Time w/ Oliver Burkeman (TPS468) Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals TEA Framework Asian Efficiency If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

How do you stay productive, present, and sane while raising kids who seem to change the rules on you every few years? Julie Morgenstern — New York Times bestselling author of Time to Parent — has spent 30 years helping people answer exactly that question, and she brings a refreshingly framework-driven approach to one of life’s messiest juggling acts. In this encore episode, Julie walks us through her PART and SELF frameworks — two interlocking systems that clarify what parents actually owe their kids, and what they owe themselves. You’ll learn why kids don’t need big blocks of your time (just consistent, undivided attention in short bursts), how to stop the chore wars with a simple index card exercise, and why it’s never too late to hit reset — whether your kids are toddlers or teenagers. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code TPS. Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY. For problems worth solving go to Claude.ai/tps. Get the right life insurance for you and save more than 50% on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Why the productivity advice you know probably doesn’t work for parents [1:06] The half of parenting productivity nobody talks about [7:47] The job description parenting never gave you (the PART framework) [10:56] Why neglecting sleep an

Procrastination isn’t about laziness—it’s about emotion regulation. Discover the Procrastination Equation and the 4-step fix to boost your confidence, increase task value, and design an environment that beats impulsiveness. Learn how to stop delaying and start doing with these practical psychological tweaks and behavioral design tactics. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links Upwork 25X Productivity Coaching Asian Efficiency The Procrastination Equation – Piers Steel Atomic Habits – James Clear If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!

Ever wonder why some tasks feel impossible to start, even when they only take 10 minutes? In this episode, you’ll learn why procrastination is actually about emotion regulation, not laziness, and how to diagnose your own delay patterns using four key variables: expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and delay. We provide a practical 4-step fix to increase your confidence, reconnect with your purpose, and build an environment that makes focus easier than distraction. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps. Get the right life insurance for you and save more than 50% on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. Listen to this episode (MP3) Cheat Sheet Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:25] The real reason you can’t start that task (hint: it’s not laziness) [4:33] How watching someone else succeed can unlock your own confidence [9:42] The “I’ll just” trick that makes any task feel ridiculously easy to start [19:46] Why you’ll never procrastinate on something that truly matters to you [21:20] The sprint mindset that made Brooks’s personal velocity skyrocket [28:22] What your 30 open browser tabs are rea

Stop adding more tools and start reclaiming your time. In this episode, I break down my actual AI workflow for planning and decision-making. You’ll learn the 80-10-10 rule for delegation and how to turn AI into your personal execution system so you can finally focus on the work that actually matters. Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics. Go to HomeServe.com to find the plan that’s right for you. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between $4.99 to $11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. Listen to this episode (MP3) Links HomeServe 25X Productivity Coaching ChatGPT Claude Anthropic Gemini Claude Cowork If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts or your favorite podcast player. It’s easy, you’ll get new episodes automatically, and it also helps the show. You can also leave a review!