Every week Mike Vardy (aka The Productivityist) shares ideas, insights, and inspiration designed to improve your relationship with time and help you stop "doing" productive and start being productive.
6 Things To Think About: November 2023
Hello Reader,
Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly email series, “6 Things To Think About.”
As November comes to a close, I've been reflecting on themes of learning and moving forward, both personally and professionally. Here's a curated list of insights and stories that resonated with me this month, echoing these themes:
- The AI genie is out of the bottle. It has been for a long time. In this piece by Alexandra Samuel, she shares how AI can serve as your coach. It’s definitely something to think about. You can read the post here and explore more of her work at alexandrasamuel.com.
- A big thanks to my good friend Russel Lolacher for introducing me to Kanopy, a fantastic streaming service that connects with many libraries so that you can watch movies, documentaries, and more for free. I’ve spent more time on this streaming service than any other this month and I’m glad I have. Explore their collection at kanopy.com. (And don’t miss out on Russell’s engaging podcast episodes here.
- Charlie Munger passed away only a couple of days ago and once I read the news I couldn't help but think of this quote. Next on my mind was his powerful speech, curated by James Clear, which serves as a timeworthy and compelling read on wisdom and decision-making. Read it here.
- Discover why a fast-paced work environment can be detrimental in Juliet Funt’s article here. Also, check out our discussion on this episode of my podcast.
- I’m not a fan of John Tesh‘s music but I am a fan of the inventive way he captured what is perhaps his most iconic song.
- This month has been all about refining things, including the products and services I offer. Pricing is always an interesting area to refine and as I have been going through that process I couldn’t help be think back on the story behind how I price my products and services.
Reflecting on these pieces, I'm reminded of the importance of pausing, learning, and preparing for what's next. And there is plenty of next to come.
Thanks for taking the time to read this edition of this monthly series. I’ll be back for the final instalment of 2023 in just a few weeks from now. Until then… take time to pause and think during what can be the most frenetic time of the calendar year. Your future self will thank you for it.
See you later,
Mike
P.S. If you’re a TimeCrafting Trust Premium member you’ll have ample opportunity to pause and think this Friday and Saturday during The READY Retreat. You’ll also have the time and space to set you – and your future self – up for the months ahead. Make sure to check out the space in the community so that you don’t miss out on this virtual two-day event. And if you’re not a TimeCrafting Trust Premium member yet, you can click here to sign up for just $99/year or $499 to gain lifetime access.
ATTN: From The Outbox of Mike Vardy
by Mike Vardy
Every week Mike Vardy (aka The Productivityist) shares ideas, insights, and inspiration designed to improve your relationship with time and help you stop "doing" productive and start being productive.
Hello Reader, Did you know that we’re smack dab in the middle of National Procrastination Week as I send you this? Indeed, this week serves as a timely reminder that none of us are immune to the allure of procrastination. Interestingly, the term ‘procrastination’ originates from the Latin ‘procrastinare’, which literally means ‘to defer until tomorrow’. Historically, this wasn’t always seen in a negative light; it was simply part of planning and prudent delay. However, over time, the concept...
Hello Reader, “Oh, no… I want to do that trip solo.” That was what my daughter said to me after I suggested we all go to Southeast Asia as a family. This was after she declared that area of the world was the next place she wanted to experience. She’d literally just returned from a four-month “gap year” trip to Europe with two of her closest friends, so I’m not surprised that she’d caught the travel bug. I’m not surprised she wants to do the Southeast Asia trip solo, either. But I was...
Hello Reader, Jim Vaselopolous was my podcast guest this week and I must commend him on writing his book “Clarity” in a challenging style that is hard to do well. So the idea of challenging myself, even in the simmering of the start of a calendar year, was something I decided to pursue this week. I started that pursuit on social media and I’ve decided to pursue it further here. This pursuit came in the form of a single question: Would you rather live a long life or a full life? Before you...