I have a knack of coming up with tons of ideas. I know I'm not alone in this.

The great thing when you focus on managing tasks over time is that you can make progress on those tasks with less concern over the time they take. Make no mistake -- those who focus on task over time are still aware of time. It's just they simply don't feel the same constraints that those who focus on time over task do.

But ... tasks can get out of control. Your list can grow beyond the scope of what you can possibly accomplish within a reasonable amount of time. If you stare at hundreds of tasks (whether organized in some fashion or not), they can be just as overwhelming as a ticking clock.

So if you're an idea machine like I am, you'll need to get comfortable with killing ideas. That's a very hard thing to be comfortable with but it's essential if you want any of your ideas to become something exceptional.

The concept of an "Idea Calendar" can help you curate your ideas. Spending some time managing your ideas (I introduce the process of idea management in The Productivityist Workbook) will help you gain the comfort and confidence to let go of those just don't fit the bill...no matter the reason why. By putting some sort of structure in place (as you should with tasks) you can make many ideas flourish...and kick perhaps even more to the curb.

Ideas come and go; it's what you do with them as they come and go that can have a lasting impact. The sooner you accept the notion that killing some of your ideas is a necessity, the more likely it will be that the ones you move forward with will live up to your expectations.

Photo credit: MaraB. (CC BY 2.0)

First off, I'd like to thank everyone who turned up or messaged me during my book event at Chapters Victoria last week. It was really cool to be in a massive brick and mortar bookstore with several copies of The Front Nine to sign for those wanting to pick it up.

Secondly, thanks to all who have bought The Productivityist Workbook so far. I'm closing in on 800 sold in a little over two weeks of pre-sales/sales(!) -- and I'm floored with the response I've been getting. Cody Keisler is putting the finishing touches on the Amazon and iBooks version. I'll let you know when those versions launch. (Anyone who buys the eWorkbook in its PDF format prior to these other versions being ready will automatically receive them for free when they go live.)

Finally, I've got events lined up every week between now and mid-July, so the writing here will be no more than twice per week during that timeframe. I've got several ProTECHtivity workshops with Steve Dotto (and friends) that I'll be part of, and I'm speaking at Northern Voice in Vancouver and the all-new VoxPopCon event in Hamilton, Ontario to wrap up my six weeks of busy-ness. You can check out all of my event appearances on the Events page -- and sign up for several of them through the links provided for each.

One more thing: Happy Victoria Day to my fellow Canucks -- I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. Now go forward and have a productive week!

Noise can get in the way of productivity. Social networks are becoming noisier and noisier, and many of them are less useful as a result. But there’s one out there I’ve been using since it launched that remains a source of more serenity – and more utility as of late.

That social network is App.net.

It’s the newest kid on the block, but it’s newness is one of its most appeaking aspects. It reminds me a lot of early Twittter; you can engage and find things easier. I’m able to have clearer conversations on App.net than most other social networks (I’d say Google+ is the exception to this), and the interface is clean and simple.

The thing about App.net that also appeals to me is that it’s a paid social network. Why does that appeal to me? Because it keeps only those who are interested in using it there (at least for now). But better still, it means the user has a greater degree of control than on a free social network. The App.net team is committed to its users rather than to advertisers; that’s an important distinction since other platforms are leaning towards mediums for marketing rather than for conversation.

I can pop into App.net and have conversations, ask questions, get advice, share things, and not get sucked in nearly as deep. I’m in and I’m out – which is great for my productivity.

The team at App.net have given me 100 invites that will give those who want to give teh service a go a chance to do so. This invite is for the free tier only, and once the number of invites are gone then they are gone (I won’t be tracking it, so if you’re number 101, you’ll know courtesy of App.net and not yours truly). You can grab an invite here.

I hope you’ll join me on App.net. I think you’ll like it.

For only $5 you get a PDF packed with tips, tactics, and tools you can uses to better your personal productivity. There’s also several exercises within its pages, and I’ve actually included them as separate worksheets when you buy the book to make it easier for you to print them out (thanks to my pal Brett Kelly -- author of the quintessential guide to Evernote, *[Evernote Essentials][1]*, for that feedback).

I’m not going to say anymore here about this e-workbook. Instead, I’ll have this video trailer I had made do the talking.

You can buy The Productivityist Workbook here.

The past week has been crazy. Very crazy. But a good kind of very crazy – because I’ve been able to manage it better than before.

The biggest part of this past week on my calendar was Social Media Camp. I had a great time at the event because I set myself in such a way to focus on it – and my part in it as a speaker – without having distractions in the way. I took a lot of it in, and stepped aside when there was no capacity for me to absorb anything further (which can happen during the span of a multi-day event). I’ve been to three of the four Social Media Camps so far (with the first year and this year being the most involved), and I found this year’s event to be excellent – with an eneregy and enthusiasm on par with events like New Media Expo. I was happy to have been part of it – and even more happy that I was able to truly be part of it.

The closing keynote of the event struck me more than any other .. and that is likely because I’m spending more and more time working on crafting an amazing life. C.C. Chapman (author of Amazing Things Will Happen) took the stage and owned it – as he does his own life – and his talk was a great way to cap off the event. My biggest takeaway from it is that there are far too many times we spend doing things rather than doing the right things. Things like wondering, wandering, connecting, and embracing. You can do any (or all) of these things on your own or with others, but the key is to do them – and do them well.

The only really big thing I did this past week was attend Social Media Camp. I left everything else open on my schedule. Does that make me more productive than others, as this Fast Company article suggests? Possibly. But I think there’s far more to it than saying “no” to things others send my way. I’d say that I’m constantly asking myself if doing that “thing” is either right or wrong, depending on where I’m at. Asking that question of myself helps shape not just my day, but my week, month, and beyond. It helps stave off overwhelm, which is something that really hurts productivity. When you have a system and structure in place, you can ask those questions and can afford to answer accordingly. You can afford to do the right things because they stand out above all else. The wrong things gradually become right … or they just go away.

I was able to spend my time productively this week because I was doing the right things. Simply doing things isn’t productive because doing isn’t always productive.Wondering why you are doing things leads to better productivity when you take action once that moment of wonder has ceased. Connecting with what’s on your task and project list leads to doing the right things instead of just doing. Embracing your work and your life will lead to better work .. and a better life. Doing these things will all lead to amazing things happening.

And that’s because you’ll be doing the right things.

(Note: The picture accompanying this post is a portion of a sketchnote of my talk, as done by the incredibly talented Deborah LeFrank. You can see entire sketchnote by clicking on the image. She really captured the essence of my talk -- and handed me a business card with the above image on it the very next day. Talk about a quick turnaround! Follow her on Twitter ... she's tremendously talented and deserves a ton of accolades for her work.)

The Productivityist Workbook is ideal for those who are just starting to work on improving their productivity, while presenting ideas that will work for the seasoned productivityist, as well. The Productivityist Workbook is accessible both in content and in price.

The Story Behind The Productivityist Workbook

Originally packaged as The Ready Retreat Digital Workbooks, I took a good, long look at them in that format. After doing so, I came to a couple of conclusions:

• They were too short to be sold individually … and I also felt too valuable to be offered for free.
• The Ready Retreat branding was better suited for something bigger, like an actual event that people would attend. The workbooks could still be offered for those who did attend the live event, but on their own the naming convention just didn’t work.
• They were priced too high, both as individual workbooks and as a four book package. Yep, I felt that while they did have value, the price of $39.99 for the complete package of workbooks was too much to ask.

After coming to these realizations, I took action.

First, I contacted anyone who bought the series of workbooks at their old price and offered them some form of compensation for placing their trust in my product at such an early phase. After all, I didn’t want any hard feelings or buyer’s remorse impacting my long-term relationship with them.

Secondly, I decided to stop selling the workbooks individually. The workbook would also be renamed The Productivityist Workbook—a 36 page digital workbook that covers all four elements mentioned above.

Thirdly, I decided to price the workbook at only $5.

Finally, I’m also now offering a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked. If you don’t feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth, then simply get in touch with me and I’ll refund your money.

So for the price of a decent latté, you’ll get an e-workbook in PDF format (with additional formats coming soon) that can help you level up your productivity across severf your work and your life.

The Productivityist Workbook is divided into four sections that each devote time to a specific area that can impact your productivity:

Idea Management

The problem with ideas is not whether or not they are good; it’s how we can take those ideas that have the potential to be good and make them great. The process of seeing an idea through from start to finish is hard, and knowing when to pursue an idea and when to let it go is even more challenging.

In this section, I will provide you with tips, tools, and strategies that will help you do just that.

Time Management

Every one of us on this planet has the exact same amount of time in the day to deal with—it’s how we choose to deal with it that separates us. One of the biggest barriers when it comes to productivity is the notion that we simply don’t have enough time. With all that comes our way nowadays, there’s good reason that this notion exists and is held by many.

In this section, I will offer you a better understanding of how time plays a role in your productivity and how you can really take advantage of every moment.

Email Management

The technology of email is wonderful in that we can actually communicate with each other from opposite ends of the globe or from right next door with just a few keystrokes and a “whoosh” from our computer’s speakers, but it has come at a cost and is getting out of control.

In this section, I will share the tips, tricks, and tactics you can use to treat email in a way that allows you to be productive both inside your email application and beyond it.

Task Management

Task management is one of the hardest things to get a handle on because many of us don’t know the difference between a task and a project, goal, or something similar. Further to that, we often use the wrong tools—and mindset, for that matter—when dealing with tasks.

In this section, I will help you not only clearly identify what a task is, but to identify how to manage all the tasks you deal with today and going forward. I’ll offer tools and mindset suggestions to employ to help you figure out what tasks you need to do, what tasks you need to delegate, and what tasks you need to delete.

The Productivityist Workbook is a great starting point for those new to the world of personal productivity and who want to spend more time being productive rather than simply doing productive. So if you're looking to up your game without breaking the bank, pick up The Productivityist Workbook and start boosting your productivity today!

Note: I'm using Squarespace Commerce for my sales, but understand the need to make this shift slowly. So if you want to use PayPal to buy The Productivityist Workbook, click here.

Yesterday I found some great stuff on the Internet. It was stuff I needed to find, especially with where my mind has been as of late.

The first was a manifesto by Jesse Thorn on how one can "make their thing". The second was a podcast episode of CMND+ Space where Myke Hurley had a conversation with Merlin Mann. The third was a piece by Paul Miller over at The Verge discussing his findings after being off the Internet for an entire year.

All of these things got me thinking. Thinking hard, in fact.

Jesse's manifesto resonated with me in that there are times when I'm not making the best stuff I can be, mainly because I feel I could be putting more effort into things than I have been. Sure, I do a lot. But sometimes that stuff hasn't been as good as I wanted it to be. I know that people have a tendency to be more critical of themselves because they are looking at their work through their own lens -- myself included. But if I hope to go forward with my work then I need to make my things better -- because I want them to have a lasting impact. I want them to be memorable for the right reasons. I want them to stand because of how great they are. I want them to be better because I know they can be better.

That will mean doing less things so that I can do my things better. That will mean less posts here, but they will be better. That will mean less social network interactions, but they will be better. Whatever I make, I will make better because they will be -- no matter who seem to be for on the surface -- my things, and I'll settle for nothing less than better going forward.

The episode of CMND+ Space had me thinking about why I got into productivity in the first place. It had me looking back to my creative roots, back to my comedy. That s why I was trying to be more productive. During my days at Costco, I was trying to find time for that stuff and still keep my head above water at the day job. Once I started to write about productivity, I pushed the comedy stuff aside. I'm not saying I don't enjoy being a productivityist, but there has to be more than that for my work to really have deeper roots. So I'm going to get back into that stuff again -- albeit slowly -- and keep the day job going strong because unlike my old day job I really love this one. I'll take what I've learned through my exploration of productivity and apply it as initially intended – to my comedic work -- and I'll also get back on stage from time to time and start writing fiction again in some form or another. Regardless, I need to get back to that stuff in some shape or form...because that's been the missing piece.

Finally, the Paul Miller piece tied both of those ideas together. For all of what was in the post (which is a must-read), it ultimately was all about connection. I think I've finally connected the dots with my work. I got lost for a while during my explorations, and the scenery was beautiful so I didn't really mind all that much. But I've found it more difficult to describe the scenery in a way that makes it sound as beautiful as it is. Maybe that's because it isn't as appealing as it once was, but I think it's more because I forgot why I was exploring in the first place. I wanted to better connect with who I am and what I really wanted out of life. Exploring the realm of personal productivity gave me a place to discover how to make that happen, and it finally brought me back to the why I wanted it to happen. Make no mistake, I'm passionate about productivity. I love to look at better ways to do and -- more importantly -- be better. I am a productivityst, but I'm not just a productivityist. I'm a father. I'm a husband. I'm a performer. I'm a comedian. I'm a creative. Exploring the world of productivity has helped me tap into so much more than just how to do stuff. It has helped me tap into what I need to do to make the things I want to happen a reality. It's helped me deal with adversity. It's helped me shift easier than I was able to in the past. It's helped me in terms of awareness, mindfulness, and preparedness. It's helped me connect with so much and so many, and it will continue to do so.

Going forward, I'm going to better aligned with all of who I am. It has been (and will always be) family first and work second -- but now that work will consist of what I've been doing as a productivityist and a fostering of my other creative endeavours. All of those aspects will be better because of a pledge to accept nothing less than that, a return to my roots with better equipment in tow, and a deeper connection to every facet of who I am and what is important to me.

Photo credit: Road by Sardinelly via stock.xchng

The weekend is upon us.

Tonight I’ll conduct my Weekly Review (as per David Allen’s Getting Things done methodology and doing so within OmniFocus). Then I’ll relax, knowing that I’ve set myself up for the week to come.

Tomorrow I’ll spend some time in Evernote, updating my beer cellar entries and compiling photos of the items my wife and I plan to offload during upcoming online sales and an “offline” yard sale. (conducting a yard sale with Evernote at the ready is going to be huge for us. And while it didn’t come directly from the pages of Brett Kelly’s Evernote Essentials, using Evernote for it was certainly inspired by his great book.)

Then we’ll start planting food in our urban garden. Again, we’re using Evernote (and I’m also using OmniFocus) to keep tabs on that as well.

(I’ll be writing some posts on how I use both apps for these “non-technology related” projects in the next couple of weeks here, so stay tuned.)

Then we’ll do more of this relaxation stuff that neither of us get enough of these days.

Sunday marks the beginning of a new week, and I’ll dive back into the writing. But not before some quality family time in the early part of the day. I’ve been able to do more of that lately, mainly due to an adjustment in my own work schedule…but also due to the fact that spending time with my entire family is just as important as the time I spend on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at home with just my son.

I’ll also spend some time reading this weekend, which is something else I’ve been able to do a lot more as of late.

Indeed, it’s the weekend. Time for a different kind of productivity. A productivity that is no less important than the kind I deliver during the week. In fact, I’d say that doing the right things during the week sets you up do just the same on the weekend…which makes the weekend all the more enjoyable.

The latest update to one of the apps that is key to my productivity path has just received another great update on both the iPhone and iPad.

Drafts now sports a slew of additional features, including:

• Evernote Actions
• Drafts Management
• Reminders Integration
• Action Management
• Improved TextExpander Snippet Integration

And that’s just for starters.

You can check out all of the release notes in this massive update at the Agile Tortoise website.

If you’ve not given Drafts a go, there’s no time like the present to give it a shot. This update kicks up its usefulness yet another notch (or several). And that’s not only a testament to what the app can do, but to the man behind the app, Greg Pierce.

Drafts is $2.99 for the iPhone and $3.99 for the iPad.¹

¹ This update requires iOS 6, yet another reason for me to get the lead out on upgrading my first-generation iPad.

One of the most common contexts (or tags) used in task management apps is “Home” because there are certain things you can only do – or want to do – at that location.

But if you work from home, then using that word as a context can be problematic.

For one thing, it can be incredibly vague. It can encompass the entire home, which would include whatever room you use as an office. I don’t use the “Home” context very often at all, mainly for that reason. Instead, I’ll use particular rooms in the house where warranted (the kitchen, for example) and areas around the home (the yard, for example). I try to keep the word “home” out of the equation because I work from my home – I don’t want to muddy the waters.

I realize this may pose a problem when it comes to using geo-location. But considering I’m in my home for nearly every hour of the week, reminders of what to do at home (or when I get home) don’t really need to be set. The workaround for that would be to really look at the task associated with the context in this case. A task like “take out the garbage” is going to inform the context more than the context will inform the task.

There are other non-conventional contexts I use (like apps, energy levels, and others that I touched on during my OmniFocus Setup talk in January) and by limiting my use of a nondescript context like “Home” I’m in a better position to use ones that hold a deeper meaning.

If you spend most of your time at home, then you might want to consider keeping “Home” out of your contexts. It’ll help keep the work out of your home and the home out of your work at – which is exactly what you need to be more efficient and effective overall.

There’s a task funnel I’ve been using more and more – something I call The Productivity Path – and it has proven to remove quite a bit of friction from my work life and life outside of work. My particular path is one that those who have invested in iOS and OS X devices can use, and it’s actually quite simple to adopt.

On my iOS devices, Drafts is the “launching pad” for all of my tasks that don’t come from email messages. If it’s a task – something that is actionable – then it gets entered in Drafts and immediately sent to OmniFocus. I don’t add contexts or anything during this process; it’s all about getting it to the right inbox as quickly as possible. If it’s something that is more of a reference item or isn’t solely a task itself gets sent to Evernote.

So while I capture things in Drafts (both for the iPhone and iPad), they certainly don’t stay there for long.

If a task comes in via email, I’ll forward it to my OmniFocus Mail Drop address. I’ll rename the subject to clearly define the task, but I still don’t add contexts and the like during this phase. I do that when I’m in my OmniFocus inbox. When reference items come in via email, i’ll send it to my Evernote email address.

For OS X, I use Postbox as my email app and that allows me to clip items slated for Evernote to be added through the app’s Evernote integration. Tasks are sent to OmniFocus via my Mail Drop address, just like I do on my iOS devices.

As for direct entry, I’m using Alfred more and more for that. I used to use Shawn Blanc’s Oopsie Focus script to quick enter into OmniFocus when the app wasn’t open, but Alfred has workflows that take care of that now. Even the OmniFocus “quick entry” option isn’t something I use nearly as much now that Alfred 2 is around. In fact, the only reasons I’ll use either of the old methods is because they are so ingrained in my mind. The more I play with Alfred, the more it will become ingrained.

From the browser, I use the “Send to…” option provided for OmniFocus and the Evernote Web Clipper does the trick for my reference and research materials.¹

As you can see, I generally use three points of entry for anything I need to keep in Evernote or OmniFocus (the apps I use for reference material and task management). Those are the apps I use, but The Productivity Path can be put in place for a wide variety of other apps and other platforms (Drafts can send captured items to other apps that are alternatives to what I use). I encourage you to find something that will allow you to create The Productivity Path that is ideal for you. You might find that not just knowing where your stuff is supposed to go -- but knowing how you are consistently going to put it there -- can really take your productivity to the next level.

¹ While I have them installed on my mobile versions of Safari, I rarely use them on those devices. Instead I’ll just share links via email and send them to whatever address makes sense.

I’ve been reading Mark Hurst’s Bit Literacy and came across a tip that I’ve employed for eons but others may not have thought of before. In fact, I never even thought to share it (until earlier this week on Twitter during #prodchat) because it just seemed second nature to me now.

It’s a simple tip that will help you keep your email inbox under control, and you can make this simple adjustment now and begin to see it pay immediate dividends (whether you use your email inbox as a task manager or not.¹

Here it is: Change your inbox settings so that the oldest message appears at the top.

Now this can’t be done on iOS devices yet – at least not in a way that I’m aware of – but if you do this on your main mail application either in its web interface (Gmail, for example) or in your email client (Outlook, Mail.app, Postbox, etc.) then the email you received least recently will be at the top. This will keep it in your face when you review your email and will help you deal with it sooner (which you should, since older email messages arrived in your inbox sooner than your most recent ones).

While this tip may not help you get to inbox zero (which is the wrong zero to chase anyway), it will help you deal with email in a way that it should be dealt with: first in, first out.

¹ That said, you really shouldn’t use your email client as a task manager. There are applications that do that sort of thing far better: OmniFocus, Things, Asana, Flow, Doit.im, Astrid, IQTell…and the list goes on.

We all come up against a wall every now and then. There just seems to be something stopping us from moving forward, and in some cases we can’t quite put our finger on it. It’s frustrating. You stare at your list of tasks and can’t move at all. You’re stuck in what I call “task paralysis” – and it’s not a fun place to be.

Task paralysis is often broguht on by one of three things:

1. The list of tasks is so long that it is overwhelming.
2. There are things on your list that aren’t tasks at all.
3. You’ve misaligned your tasks so that you can’t move forward with them.

Here’s how you can deal with each one of these and get back to the “going forward” rather than “going nowhere” instead.

1. The Lengthy List

Take a good look at your list. Identify the three most important tasks you can do to move forward or make progress¹. Start a replacement list and list those, numbering them accordingly. Then take the remaining tasks and ask yourself if they really need to be done today, done by you, or even done at all. This is where EISENHOWER.ME can come in handy, as it uses The Eisenhower Matrix to help you categorize priorities more effectively (and realistacly to boot). Whatever you deicde needs to stay on the list, move to the new list. Whatever doesn’t, assign it accordingly (to a future date, to somewhere else, ot to the trash bin). Now you can move forward with the confidence that you’ve really thought about the day as a whole and can make realistic progress throughout hte day as a result.

2. The Wrong Identification

Take a good look at your list. Look at each item on the list and ask yourself if that item requires multiple steps to complete. For example, “Clean Kitchen” would be an item that requires more than one step to complete. There are several areas within the kitchen that would need to be cleaned (sweep the floor, clean the fridge, take out the garbage, etc.). That means it isn’t a task – it’s a project. That may sound silly to some, but it’s a fact. Take any mutiple step items on your list and create a new list for each of them. Then break down that larger item into the smaller tasks that make that item a project. Then feel free to move some of those tasks to your to-do list rather than work of the project lists themselves. That said, if you decide that you want to work on each proejct alongside your original (and now properly identified) task list, then go ahead. Properly classifying tasks in their purest definition (a single action) makes things a lot clearer. Clarity is a huge ally when it comes to being productive.

3. Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Take a good look at your list. (Are you sensing a pattern here?) Then check out your surroundings. Are there things on your list that you can take care of in your present surrounsdings – meaning where you are with what you have? If not, then you’ve got a list that isn’t aligned with where you were going to be or what you were going to have. This is going to be rarer than the other examples because with smartphones we can often be anywhere and have a tool that can help us move forward with what we need (and want) to do.Still, the use of proper context (or tags) is crucial so that you can keep on topof things no matter where you are or what you have. If you’re using a paper planner, then it may be a good idea to use a code for different locations (a different colour ink or something like “E - Pick up drycleaning” where “E” means Errands). Find something that will resonate with you – but think about who you are and what you work best with so that you can find that something. Everyone will have their own variation of what works for them. Take the time to figure out yours – and make it a priority to implement it into your workflow.

Task paralysis isn’t permanent. It can be overcome with a thoughtful approach to the tasks you have to deal with – whether you’re stuck on them or otherwise. I can’t stress enough how doing that all-important “front end work” will limit the number of occasions you face task paralysis (among other things). With that in place, you’ll be able to go forward rather than go off madly in all directions – or in the case of task paralysis – go nowhere at all.

¹For a whole lot more on contexts, check out the various talks at The OmniFocus Setup.

On the most recent episode of Mikes on Mics, Schechter and I had a great round table with Thanh Pham of Asian Efficiency (creators of OmniFocus Premium Posts) and Kourosh Dini, author of Creating Flow with OmniFocus (which I'm currently re-reading). One of the things that came up was the idea of mastery, especially regarding the topic of productivity and workflow. Schechter made a point of saying that I'm a student of productivity -- something I completely agree with -- but it was also something that got me thinking.

I do spend time exploring and learning about new apps all the time. From my days at The Next Web right through until the emergence of this site, I've continued to do that. Meanwhile, my approach to mastery has been more along the lines of the mindful components of productivity and workflow as opposed to the mastery of tools. I think this was definitely the right course -- and still is. But I'm going to make a bit of a shift in my approach to exploration and mastery going forward.

I really do enjoy exploring, but I'm going to explore mastery of apps that I enjoy using (and that work for me) rather than spend time exploring new apps (or options). That doesn't mean I'm not going to look at new apps. But I'll be even more selective about those I do examine, and will spend less time in them if they don't give me that "Hell, yeah!" sensation that warrants them becoming part of my app toolbox.

Instead, I'm going to explore the depths of those apps I do use regularly, and cull those apps that I don't. I'm going to dive deeper into Evernote (which I'm already doing), look at my writing apps and see which ones can serve me best on multiple fronts (read: nvALT), and I'm going to do this over a period of time that doesn't slow my progress while doing so.

This isn't a new thing. For example, Patrick Rhone has his "enough" -- and it's safe to say it works for him. My old "enough" is now too much, so I'm going to redefine my "enough" by adding more quality while reducing quantity.

My goal has always been to stop doing productive and start being productive. This new approach will help me get closer to realizing that goal on an ongoing basis.

I’m spending more and more time with headphones in my ears these days, whether it’s because I’m editing Mikes on Mics (or the members-only Mike Techniques podcast) or because I’m spending time outdoors getting my run on. A good set of headphones can actually really help your productivity – especially if you like to listen to music while you work or you do a lot audio work as part of your daily workflow.

My headphones have generally been the earbuds that came along with my iPhone 4S. Now they’re not bad, but they’re not great, either. Back when I was working in campus radio, I was using some pretty serious AKG headphones. Now I haven’t gone out and invested in cans like that in years, so when the folks at RHA asked if I’d be willing to give a set of their MA450i headphones a try I decided to take them up on their offer.1

I’m glad I did.

These headphones are of the in-ear variety, and they come with 7 interchangeable tips so that you can figure out what ones will work best for you. This is crucial if you’re going to be running while wearing them, as the wrong fit will surely result in the buds falling out more often than not. The controls on the headphones function in a similar way as the Apple earbuds, but are easier to use and even feel more responsive to me.

The cable is one of the things that made me take notice almost right away. It is braided with a fabric, and RHA has said that there is a reduction in tangling because of that. When compared to other earbuds I have (my Apple ones and a pair of older Sennheisers that I still have kicking around), that claim is proven to be accurate. I also just love the feel of the cable because of the design, and the gold-lated connection adds a preimum touch as well.

The sound quality of the RHA MA450i headphones is top-notch for its price point -- which is around $50. The tips for the earbuds (when fitted properly) allow for noise isolation – which is great when I’m trying to edit a podcast or conduct an interview. The headphones effectively block out background noise and allow for superior sound to flow into my ears without bleed from elsewhere. These headphones are definitely going to be my travelling pair – and for good reason.2 Beyond the noise isolation, the sound quality is very rich. Deep bass pours in and the sounds are balanced and detailed. The craftsmanship that has gone into the RHA MA450i headphones is commendable – and my other earbuds are put to shame by them.

If you’re looking for a solid pair of in-ear headphones that won’t break your bank and sound great, I highly recommend the RHA MA450i headphones. They’ve become my headphones of choice – both at work and at play.

1 Full disclosure: The headphones were offered in exchange for a review.2 They even come with a handy carry case.

She’s been a big supporter of me and my work, and I wrote a dedication to her in my book. So I’m going to publish that dedication today. That way even if you don’t have a copy of The Front Nine¹ you can all read what I wrote about her...and why the book is dedicated to her.

Happy birthday, Mom. You’re the best.

Patricia hasn’t had a rough life. She’s had a good life, full of the ups and downs many of us face ourselves. But she’s also had a lot of unexpected “restarts” over her life.

Sure, many have had those as well – I know of several people who have – but it’s how she has faced those restarts that has helped her shape and craft her life in a way hat works for her that is admirable. Perhaps not rare, but definitely admirable.

Married for 27 years, she decided to make a change and move on. All she’d known for those 27 years was marriage and life with two boys, but it was time for a restart. So she did just that. This was the least of her unexpected restarts, because it was something that had been in the back of her mind for some time…but she hadn’t “hit the ball” despite planning the approach for a while.

Some time later, she met a man whose did want to share the rest of her life with. This wasn’t unusual; others before and after her have felt the same way and acted upon it. But it was definitely unexpected, and it definitely was a restart. She moved with her new husband to a part of the country she lived in where she was going to be further away from her family (including her two boys, now also on their own) than ever before. Yet she did it because this was a time in her life where she could make progress towards her goal of living a life for her – and her new husband as well.

Then…another unexpected restart happened.

After far too short a time together, her husband suddenly passed away. It was unexpected – especially considering the circumstances – and suddenly she was in a very unfamiliar place. This time something (in this case, someone) was taken from her that forced a restart. After catching her breath, she did what she had to do and restarted again. She moved back to be closer to most of her family (except for her oldest son, who was living on the west coast) and began shaping her newly-rebooted life once again.

All of these restarts have led to a life rich with experience. Some great, some not so much. She has faced her numerous restarts with tenacity and as much grace as humanly possible. She’s not perfect, but that’s okay. None of us are. But she’s faced adversity and seen many things through – not all mentioned here (because this book is about you and not about her). And I’m proud of her for all of that and so much more.

While this book may not be for Patricia, it is dedicated to her.

I love you, Mom. Thanks for everything, especially instilling in me the ability to handle my own restarts.

¹ If you don't have a copy yet, You can pick up a copy of The Front Nine in print here or the e-book version here.

As much as I’m heavily invested in OmniFocus as my “solo silo” for task management, I still use a collaborative productivity solution a lot. And Flow has usurped Asana as my team-based task manager of choice.

I’ve discussed my reasoning why here on the site, and if price has been a barrier for some of you then the folks at Metalab have put together a deal that might just encourage you to pony up the dough.

From now until April 5th, if you buy an annual membership you’ll get $30 off the regular price. That makes the cost just $69 – meaning you’ll have top notch task management that you can use both collaboratively and individually for what amounts to $5.75 a month. I’m a big believer in paying for services when available, and this deal makes stepping up to the plate and adopting Flow a whole lot easier.1

I’m a big fan of Flow, and I’m sure you will be too. Pick it up for a great price while you can by clicking here.

1 Although the product itself more than justifies paying for it, I realize some folks just don’t see the need to spend money on a task manager. I’d like to help change that mindset, and so would the team behind Flow.

I’ve discussed standing desks before, and while I continue to praise the idea of them I have definitely changed how I incorporate one into my workspace. In fact, at the end of last year I went on the lookout for a new workstation that would meet the following criteria:

• Allow me to stand or sit at it with as little friction as possible
• Take up as little space as possible (as my workspace is in the master bedroom).
• Reduce the amount of overall furniture we have in our house.
• Transform my workspace back into living space quickly and easily.

I knew this was going to be a tall order, but I’ve managed to do it. I’ve been using it for the past couple of months – and I love it.

Here’s how I created my new minimal workspace…

The first part of the equation was finding a way to create this workspace without adding more furniture to our house. I’ve parted with both the Ikea Ludvig, as I found that there was nowhere for me to place the display so that my neck wasn’t strained while using it. I also moved my writing chair into the living room (along with the Levenger Lap Desk) for those times where I want to mix things up a bit. I’ll often work out in the living room once my wife has gone to bed – after all, I’m the night owl in the house – and crank out a bunch of words while using my old main work area. The chair was far too nice and comfy to not be used in our living room (along with another retro chair I’d picked up off of UsedVictoria.com) so I was able to get rid of two of the unsightly chairs in our living room. So already I’d eliminated two pieces of furniture from the house.

Then I looked at my wife’s writing desk.

She barely used it and I saw loads of potential in it, so we moved it into the master bedroom and I made it my primary workspace. It was passed down to her from her grandmother, and it has both a classic and minimal look to it. I can only keep so much in it, and only have so much real estate to work with as well. But it’s enough.

One of the other interesting things about this desk is that it has a mirror that provides me a good look at myself. I’m not saying that I use it to check myself out or anything, but when I get stuck on anything I can give myself a bit of a gut check in the mirror without leaving my seat and that often gets me back on track.

I also recognized that the top of the desk was deep enough to hold my Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mighty Mouse, so I checked the height out to see if it was ideal for me to use them while placed on it. As luck (or my height) would have it – the setup was perfectly suitable. Now all I need was a way to get my MacBook Air to eye level.

That’s where The Insider came to the rescue.

The Insider is a floating shelf – but it is also so much more. Sure, it looks like a typical Ikea Lack shelf at first glance, but it also contains a secret compartment within itself. I came across this shelf while looking for floating shelves locally online, and learned more about it over at Hide It Away. I realized the potential of The Insider as a means of making my ideal minimal workspace a reality, and reached out to the compay’s owners. They were intrigued by my suggestions, and agreed to come by my home to install one for me. n1

The best part about the shelf is that it accomplishes two things that I wanted:

1. It gives me the platform I need to place my display at the correct height.
2. It stores my keyboard and mouse when I’m not using them.

One of the other things I liked about the shelf is the people behind it.

I’m big on supporting local businesses when and where I can, and I could tell as I saw Paul and Ramona work that they cared deeply about the product and their craft. It was funny…they seemed like a mirror image of my wife and me. Doing all they can with what they love to do to make a go of their business so they could make a better future for themselves and their family. The precision and care that went into all they did while helping me finish my workspace was admirable. And what they’ve built in The Insider (as well as what I’ve seen of their other products) is just as admirable.

Now this shelf isn’t cheap…but it is increidbly versatile and durable. (You can check out all of the product specifications -- and order one for yourself -- at the company’s website.) It really is easy to install – and considering that you could use it to build a similar setup for $125 makes it all the more valuable.

With this new workspace I’ve managed to achieve my objectives. The master bedroom looks less like an office, I am able to easily move from sitting to standing with very little friction, and I’ve created an effective space for me to get my work done. That’s ultimately what you want in a workspace – and it’s what I now have thanks to some thought into the project, some innovation into what I’m using, and the addition of an inventive shelf called The Insider.

1Full disclosure: I agreed to write my story about The Insider in exchange for the shelf.