The Productivity Show

Asian Efficiency

Asian Efficiency

  • 11 minutes 22 seconds
    The 80-10-10 Rule: How to Actually Delegate to AI

    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.

    Links

    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!

    29 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 58 minutes 52 seconds
    How I Use AI to Save 10+ Hours Every Week (My Actual Workflow) (TPS610)

    Discover how to reclaim 10+ hours every week by turning AI into your personal execution system. In this episode, we break down a simple, real-world workflow that uses AI to handle planning, decision-making, and repetitive tasks—without adding more tools or complexity. Learn how to automate context-gathering, research, and follow-ups so you can stop digging through your inbox and start focusing on the high-value work that actually matters.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

    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.

    Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tps.



    Cheat Sheet

    • 🎯 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:46]
    • ⚡ The shift that changes everything: when AI stops advising and starts executing [5:53]
    • 🖥 Why the Mac Mini is sold out everywhere (and what it unlocks for your workflow) [9:32]
    • 📊 The uncomfortable test for whether you're actually using AI or just playing with it [14:07]
    • 📋 The $1 morning briefing that replaces your executive assistant [22:27]
    • 🧠 How to stop your AI from reminding you about things you've already handled [28:39]
    • 👔 Three things a digital chief of staff does that you probably didn't know were possible [37:29]
    • 🤝 Thanh's personal rule for what AI can do without checking with him first [46:54]
    • 🤖 Four AIs coded and argued for five straight days while Thanh watched a paddle tournament [50:36]

    Links

    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!

    27 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 11 minutes 50 seconds
    How to Use AI for Massive Everyday Productivity Gains

    Discover how to turn AI from a novelty into a productivity powerhouse. Thanh Pham shares practical tips on using integrated writing tools, automating meetings with bots, and leveraging AI agents to transform your workflow. Learn why the real magic happens in implementation and how to start with just one tweak this week.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    DripDrop — Get 20% off your first order at dripdrop.com with promo code tps.

    Links

    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!

    22 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 47 minutes 15 seconds
    The 5 Cognitive Biases Destroying Your Productivity (And How to Beat Them) (TPS609)

    Hidden cognitive biases quietly sabotage your productivity every day, from the planning fallacy that ruins your schedule to decision fatigue that drains your willpower. In this episode, we explore the psychology behind these mental shortcuts and provide practical systems to beat them. Learn how to recognize traps like anchoring and confirmation bias, and discover simple frameworks—like buffer time and friction reduction—that help you make better choices with less effort.

    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.

    Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tps.



    Cheat Sheet

    • 🎙 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:40]
    • 🧠 Why your brain — not your tools — is the real productivity bottleneck [6:55]
    • 💸 Why spending $40 on tickets might cost you a good night's sleep [8:57]
    • 😴 The cognitive trap that was wrecking Brooks's sleep before concerts [10:50]
    • 🏦 The billion-dollar version of that thing you do with your gym membership [11:42]
    • 🗓 Why your brain erases all the annoying parts when estimating how long things take [13:27]
    • ⏱ The buffer time trick that turns chaotic schedule blowouts into clean handoffs [21:00]
    • 🏋 Why designing your environment beats relying on willpower every time [23:52]
    • ⚖ What judges reveal about why you make worse decisions after lunch [28:50]
    • 🥜 The counterintuitive reason Brooks banned snacks from his car [31:35]
    • 🎯 The three hidden biases that are skewing your decisions right now [33:19]
    • 🤖 How Thanh uses AI to surface and audit his own past decisions [38:00]

    Links

    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!

    20 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 8 minutes 9 seconds
    Why a Fresh Start is Your Secret Productivity Weapon (TPS608W)

    Discover the “Fresh Start Effect” and how to use psychological clean slates to reset your habits. We explore Katy Milkman's research on why Mondays and birthdays boost motivation, the hidden danger of resets for high performers, and how to mentally subdivide your day into chapters so one bad morning doesn't ruin your entire day.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

    Links

    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!

    15 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 39 minutes 24 seconds
    Attention Residue: The Hidden Tax of Context-Switching (TPS608)

    Do you ever feel like your brain is stuck in “buffer mode” after switching tasks? That’s attention residue—the hidden productivity tax that quietly reduces your focus and performance every time you context-switch. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience behind why part of your mind stays stuck on previous tasks and how this makes deep work harder. We share practical strategies, including environment design and outcome-focused scheduling, to protect your attention so you can work with greater clarity and efficiency.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/PRODUCTIVITY

    Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free.

    Cheat Sheet

    • 🛠 Top 3 Productivity Resources [1:12]
    • 🧠 The hidden tax on your focus that builds up every time you switch tasks [5:11]
    • 🤖 Why your brain and ChatGPT crash the same way [7:34]
    • 💾 The 90s computer problem that explains your scattered modern brain [12:05]
    • ✍ The 30-second habit that closes open loops before they pile up [15:38]
    • 📬 Why classic GTD advice still fixes problems that didn’t exist when it was written [16:44]
    • 🔕 How a self-described people-pleaser learned to protect his mornings [26:53]
    • ⏱ The 10-minute buffer that changes everything about back-to-back meetings [31:17]
    • 📝 The one thing to write down before you close your laptop tonight [38:25]

    Links

    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!

    13 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 9 minutes 16 seconds
    The AI Skill Gap: Why Waiting Is Your Biggest Risk

    Everyone has access to AI, but not everyone has the skill. In this episode, I explain why waiting to adopt AI is becoming a massive risk to your career and productivity. You will learn the three levels of AI mastery and a simple plan to start gaining leverage today before the gap widens further.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    Try Notion Custom Agents at notion.com/tps.



    Links

    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!

    8 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 56 minutes 49 seconds
    Why Waiting on AI Is Becoming Risky: The Widening Skill Gap and Your Plan to Stay Ahead (TPS607)

    Is AI just another tech trend, or is the window for competitive advantage closing? In this episode, we explore why waiting to adopt AI is becoming a massive career and business risk. We discuss the widening divide between the “AI fluent” and everyone else, how small daily use compounds into massive leverage, and why you could fall behind in months, not years. Plus, we provide a simple, actionable plan to start using AI today before the gap becomes insurmountable.

    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 fifty percent on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/TPS.

    Try Notion Custom Agents at notion.com/tps.

    Masterclass.com/TPS for at least 15% off any annual membership.

    Cheat Sheet

    • 🚨 Why your “I'll learn AI later” plan is already backfiring [1:12]
    • 📚 Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:43]
    • 🚗 The surprisingly useful thing you can do with ChatGPT in your car [4:30]
    • 🔍 What Google's 1998 launch tells us about AI's tipping point right now [5:55]
    • 📉 It's not AI taking your job — it's the person who knows AI [9:13]
    • 🎓 The college students who can't get hired until they build something [11:35]
    • 🗣 The two everyday skills that predict how fast you'll pick up AI [24:15]
    • 🔁 Why using the tools daily matters more than watching tutorials [26:08]
    • 🤝 Think of AI like a new hire — it's bad at first and that's the point [26:56]
    • ✉ Stop copy-pasting AI drafts into Gmail — here's what to do instead [29:40]
    • 🎯 How Thanh trained Claude to write emails that sound like him [30:52]
    • 🔓 The curiosity trick that unlocks capabilities you didn't know AI had [32:13]
    • 💡 Why asking “can AI do this?” beats Googling how to do it yourself [36:57]
    • ⚠ Wrote off AI after one bad experience? Time to try again [38:46]
    • 🧩 The side quests that turned into a real client project a year later [43:34]
    • ⚡ You don't have to build apps — small daily wins count too [47:12]
    • 📊 From 30-minute manual updates to a fully automated portfolio tracker [49:30]
    • 📱 Your Mac Mini might become your always-on AI agent server [53:36]

    Links

    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!

    6 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 9 minutes 28 seconds
    The Secret to Creative Focus and Real Productivity

    Unlock your creative potential and boost productivity by understanding your unique energy rhythms. Discover how to combine diverse skills for unparalleled value and craft an environment that fosters deep work. This episode reveals practical strategies to align your daily actions with your creative peaks, ensuring you get important things done without sacrificing joy or innovation.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    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.

    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!

    1 April 2026, 11:00 am
  • 39 minutes 21 seconds
    The Clutter-Free Workspace: How to Create and Maintain a High-Performance Environment (TPS606)

    Is your workspace holding you back? In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology and tactics of creating a clutter-free workspace. We explore why physical clutter leads to mental friction and share practical strategies like the “replacement rule” and multi-purpose tool selection. Whether you're struggling with a messy desk or a fragmented digital workflow, you'll learn how to shift your mindset to view organization as a form of self-respect.

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

    Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to claude.ai/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 [2:27]
    • 🔄 The end-of-day reset that makes tomorrow's you more productive [8:16]
    • 🧹 Why a cordless vacuum changed everything about cleaning habits [11:28]
    • 📸 The sneaky reason your bookshelf stays neat (hint: it's on camera) [14:00]
    • 🧠 The three levels of clutter — and why the deepest one is hardest to fix [16:13]
    • 👟 Too many shoes and not enough honesty: when clutter is really about letting go [21:42]
    • 📐 Why getting a bigger desk (or house) might be the worst thing for your productivity [24:40]
    • 📦 What downsizing taught Brooks about the junk room trap [26:08]
    • ✨ The “own less, own better” philosophy that simplifies everything [27:45]
    • 🪑 The two-desk experiment that 99% of Instagram predicted would fail [29:53]
    • 📱 The thousand-dollar tool in your pocket that replaces a dozen gadgets [31:24]
    • 👕 One in, one out: the simple rule that keeps clutter from creeping back [32:57]
    • 💻 Why your app collection might be the biggest source of mental clutter [34:26]

    Links:

    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!

    30 March 2026, 11:00 am
  • 9 minutes 51 seconds
    How to Let Go of What’s Not Working (A Simple Framework)

    Why do we keep sticking with things that clearly aren’t working? Whether it’s a tool you paid for, a project you’ve invested time in, or a commitment you feel guilty dropping, the pull to “see it through” can quietly drain your energy and focus. The real cost isn’t what you’ve already spent—it’s what holding on is preventing you from doing next.

    This episode breaks down a simple, practical framework to help you identify what’s no longer serving you—and let it go with confidence. You’ll learn how to spot the hidden red flags, ask better questions about your commitments, and make small, low-risk changes that free up time, clarity, and momentum for what actually matters.

    Ready to tackle bigger problems? Go to Claude.ai/tps.

    Visit www.asianefficiency.com for more productivity tips and tactics.

    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.

    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!

    25 March 2026, 11:00 am
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