Does your week tend to fill up before you’ve had a chance to decide what actually matters? Too often, we move from meeting to meeting and task to task, reacting rather than choosing, and then wonder why the week felt busy yet unproductive. The problem usually isn’t effort or discipline; it’s that the week was never intentionally shaped in the first place.

In this encore episode, you’ll learn a simple, realistic weekly planning process that focuses less on perfect schedules and more on making better decisions with your time and energy. You’ll discover how to choose the right moment to plan, identify your true priorities, and build a week that sets you up for small, consistent wins — even when life inevitably disrupts your plans.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• SelectQuote
• 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!

Have you ever felt like you’re constantly performing, but the real work happens behind the scenes?

This episode dives into Michael Hyatt’s powerful concept of “Front Stage vs. Back Stage” work from his “Freedom Work” framework. We’ll explore how distinguishing between visible, high-impact tasks like delivering a presentation and essential, behind-the-scenes efforts like organizing travel or marketing yourself can transform your productivity. Learn how to apply an Asian Efficiency lens to this framework, ensuring you’re not just performing, but strategically building your platform and impact. Discover actionable insights to prioritize, delegate, and optimize both types of work for maximum results.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:27].
• Why what people see is only a fraction of the work—and how that misunderstanding hurts productivity [05:19].
• Real-world examples that reveal the hidden effort behind great performance (including a surprising political analogy) [08:31].
• How AI can quietly handle the invisible work so humans can shine where it matters most [16:20].
• The subtle imbalance that creates “fake work” and keeps people busy but unnoticed [22:12].
• A provocative question: how much prep is actually required for great execution? [27:38].

Links:

• Indeed
• SelectQuote
• DripDrop
• Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less
• TPS109: Finding Your Focus w/ Michael Hyatt
• Black Box Thinking: Growth Mindset and the Secrets of High Performance
• JustWatch
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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 books that shaped my productivity philosophy and how their core lessons can transform your work and life. From mastering note-taking with the Zettelkasten method to understanding the power of sleep and identifying fake work, this episode shares actionable insights to help you get more done without sacrificing what truly matters.

Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Notion Agent
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking

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!

Feeling overwhelmed by your daily tasks? In this episode, we dive into practical, easy-to-implement automation strategies that will help you win back precious time every single day. Discover how small tweaks, from optimizing your browser to streamlining your morning routine, can lead to massive productivity gains. We’ll share actionable examples and personal insights to help you automate your way to a more efficient and fulfilling day.

Sign up for a $1/month trial period at shopify.com/tps.

Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:38]
• A simple mindset shift that makes automation feel effortless [06:15]
• Real-life automations we use that save time and energy every single day [15:41]
• How small tweaks can turn routine into something that runs itself [32:09]
• The surprisingly simple habit that keeps everything on track [40:24]

Links:

• Shopify
• Notion Agent
• Gusto
• Lindy
• EooCoo Office Desk Timer Cube Visual Pomodoro Timer
• The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win
• meross Outdoor Smart Plug
• 5 Examples of Tasks You Can Automate To Save Yourself An Hour a Day (TPS262)
• Comet AI Browser
• Elgato Stream Deck MK.2
• Keyboard Maestro
• Alfred
• Raycast for Windows
• Velja
• BrowserTamer
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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 often do your most productive breakthroughs happen when you’re off the clock? There’s a reason for that. In this episode, you’ll discover why the secret to sharper focus, better problem-solving, and more motivation might actually be found outside your usual workflow. A creative hobby—whether it’s a racket sport, photography, painting, or anything you genuinely enjoy—can reset your brain in ways traditional productivity hacks can’t touch.

In this encore episode, we’ll show you why adding a little creativity to your routine might be the most productive decision you make all year.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• 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!

Ever wonder why some books quietly change your life while the big bestsellers barely move the needle? In this episode, we spotlight six underrated reads that never make the productivity “top 10” lists—but absolutely should. These are the books that have shaped how we think, plan, lead, and make decisions, even though they rarely get the attention they deserve.

If you’re looking for your next meaningful read (and not just the next trendy one) this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Masterclass.com/TPS for up to as much as 50% off.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• An unexpected air-fryer trick you’ll wish you knew sooner [00:29]
• Top 3 Productivity Resources [01:30]
• What really makes a book “underrated”? [04:40]
• The journaling book that unlocks 3,001 questions about yourself [07:32]
• The framework that helps you finally finish what you start [18:56]
• How AI can quietly supercharge your productivity systems [24:36]
• A smarter way to get past resistance and overwhelm [25:38]
• Why “The Road Less Stupid” might save you from costly mistakes [26:40]
• How a simple pre-mortem can prevent future regrets [28:19]
• The visual-thinking skill most presentations are missing [34:59]
• The human-evolution insight that explains modern behavior [40:49]
• Four habits that set exceptional leaders apart [46:58]

Links:

• Masterclass
• Gusto
• DripDrop
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• Atomic Habits — James Clear
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen R. Covey
• The Power of Full Engagement — Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz
• How to Have a Good Day — Caroline Webb
• How to Stop Worrying and Start Living — Dale Carnegie
• 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans — Karl Pillemer
• 3001 Questions All About Me
• Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done — Charlie Gilkey
• The Road Less Stupid: Advice from the Chairman of the Board — Keith J. Cunningham
• Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations — Nancy Duarte
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — Yuval Noah Harari
• The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive — Patrick Lencioni
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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!

This week marks a special moment—it’s Thanksgiving, and 10 years of The Productivity Show. In today’s short episode, I just want to say thank you. I’ll share a few reflections from the past decade and what I’m most excited about going forward. Consider this your personal thank-you note for being part of our journey.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• SelectQuote
• 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!

Managers and team leaders, this episode is for you! We’re diving deep into actionable strategies to boost your productivity and empower your teams. Learn how to master communication, build high-performing teams, leverage automation, and optimize your personal workflow. We’ll share practical tips and real-world examples to help you get the important things done without sacrificing what matters most. Tune in for insights that will transform your leadership.

Life insurance is never cheaper than it is today. Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, and save more than fifty percent at selectquote.com/tps.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/TPS, and get 3 months free when you run your first payroll.

Get 20% off your first order: dripdrop.com and use promo code tps.

Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Top 3 Productivity Resources[02:53]
• How to stop living in your inbox and start using email like a high-leverage manager instead of a help desk. [07:42]
• A simple meeting shift that frees up focus time and makes your team like meetings more (yes, really). [22:29]
• How AI note-takers let you “be” in two meetings at once — without burning out or missing crucial details. [24:39]
• The underrated behaviors that quietly turn a group of individuals into a high-performing team. [33:19]
• A low-friction way to build real accountability on your team without turning into a micromanager. [39:53]
• The personal habits great managers use behind the scenes to stay sharp, organized, and credible. [44:06]

Links:

• SelectQuote
• Gusto
• DripDrop
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Sunsama
• Wisdom Takes Work: Learn. Apply. Repeat. by Ryan Holiday
• Otter.ai
• Lindy
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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 is it possible that a small fraction of your tasks is responsible for almost all of your progress? Most people drown in endless to-dos, believing productivity comes from doing more. But the truth is far more straightforward, and far more liberating. In this encore episode, we unpack the 20% of actions that quietly drive 80% of your results, and why identifying them can instantly change how you work.

Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Notion Agent
• 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!

Have you noticed how the final quarter of the year has a way of sneaking up on you? Either motivating you to sprint or reminding you of everything you didn’t get done? Q4 is a powerful reset point, and with the right approach, it can become the most satisfying, high-momentum stretch of your entire year.

That’s why we’re sharing a simple but surprisingly effective 3-step framework to help you review what’s happened, uncover new opportunities, and set yourself up for a strong, confident finish.

Whether your year’s been smooth, messy, or somewhere in between, this encore episode gives you a practical roadmap for turning the final weeks into meaningful progress. You’ll learn how to cut through overwhelm, identify what truly matters, and execute with clarity, so you enter the holidays feeling accomplished instead of stressed or disappointed. If you’re ready to close out the year on your terms, this is your blueprint.

Visit Indeed.com/tps to start hiring now.

Masterclass.com/TPS for an additional 15% off any annual membership.

Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

Visit asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

Cheat Sheet:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Top 3 Productivity Resources [02:25]
• The simple reflection process that reveals what really happened last quarter [03:48]
• How to spot hidden opportunities you may have overlooked all year [18:28]
• Why the “best” workout time might not be what you expect [28:23]
• A small reading habit shift that removes all friction [31:46]
• Tweaks that turn everyday routines into smoother systems [35:06]
• The behind-the-scenes change that made our content process way easier [38:47]
• The execution mindset that makes big goals actually achievable [43:56]
• Quick tips and go-to resources to power up your productivity [53:26]

Links:

• Indeed
• Masterclass
• Notion Agent
• 25X Productivity Coaching
• Leatherman Style PS Keychain Multitool
• Ultralearning: Master Hard Skills, Outsmart the Competition, and Accelerate Your Career
• The Summer Juggle — Can You Be Productive When The Kids Are On Summer Break? (TPS251)
• Here’s A Quick Way To Stay On Track With Your Goals All Year (TPS254)
• 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans
• Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)
• Fall; or, Dodge in Hell: A Novel
• Become Productive Again: 6 Ways To Get Back On Track (TPS255)
• 12 Week Year
• Fatigue, Procrastination and Being Unproductive…These Are Some of the Penalties of Ignoring This One Thing (TPS237)
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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!

When life keeps changing, should your productivity system stay the same? In this encore episode, we share how rigid routines can start to hold you back once your priorities evolve — whether that’s starting a new job, building a relationship, or entering a completely new season of life.

Discover how to plan with flexibility, stay anchored to your long-term vision, and truly enjoy the passage of time — even when everything around you is shifting. If you’ve ever felt that your old productivity methods no longer fit your new reality, this episode will help you recalibrate, refocus, and find flow again.

Get Notion, now with Notion Agent at notion.com/tps.

Links:

Become a member of TPS+ and get ad-free episodes a week before anyone else with other great bonuses like the famous “One Tweak A Week” shirt.

• Notion
• 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!