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Tune in to this episode to get some great insights about how Merv helps organizations reduce waste around processes and enable their people to do more of what they’re good at. Merv also has tips on improving productivity and becoming more efficient. — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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Full show notes coming soon! ——- [Get the FREE Optimize, Automate, Outsource Blueprint here.](https://go.lessdoing.com/blueprint?utm_campaign=blueprint-ari&utm_medium=link&utm_source=podcast) — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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Summary:
In Episode #220 Ari and Nick share a ton of useful links, as well as an interview with Linda Formichelli – author of [How to Do It All – While Only Occasionally Wanting to Poke Your Eyes Out With a Sharpie](http://www.amazon.com/How-All-Revolutionary-Meaningful-Occasionally/dp/0997346809).
Linda’s an effective delegator who’s passionate about helping people regain control of their time.
Listen in to hear Linda’ top tips for time management, how to zero in on your core competency, and why you need to stop making excuses and start doing things.
Time-stamped Show Notes
– 09:30 – Nick and Ari have launched a [HeroX](https://herox.com/) Campaign with a prize for the best automation
– 10:20 – They’re also writing a book on outsourcing using [Book In A Box](http://bookinabox.com/)
– 10:35 – Welcoming Linda to the show
– 10:56 – Wrote the book in response to the people who were saying “don’t do it all”
– 11:37 – Time management and attitude management skills
– 12:03 – Women have a cultural narrative directed at them telling them to slow down
– 12:35 – “Don’t expect your family to support you”
– 13:30 – Don’t set prerequisites for getting started – just do it
– 14:22 – Linda outsources many aspects of her life, from taxes to blog posting to cleaning
– 15:12 – “Figure out what you do best and outsource the rest’
– 16:22 – You have more time than you think you do
– 17:11 – Ari and Nick started Less Doing on zero dollars
– 17:38 – Linda’s core competency is writing
– 18:50 – Linda made mistakes when she started outsourcing
– 19:16 – She spent $6500 on someone who did almost nothing
– 19:00 – Linda employs virtual assistants to help her
– 20:12 – Start tracking your time – it’s the first step to doing more
– 20:50 – Analyze and optimize your schedule
– 21:20 – Other people can do the things you do
– 22:00 – [168 Hours](http://lauravanderkam.com/books/168-hours/) – book by Laura Vanderkam
– 23:10 – Linda moved from Slavic linguistics to entrepreneurship
– 23:50 – She built her first website with an HTML book she found in a phone booth
– 24:45 – Linda’s working on two books: about control, and about ‘doing it anyway’
– 25:30 – What are the main excuses people have for not doing things?
– 25:52 – _Top 3 Tips For Being More Effective_ – Come to terms with the fact that if you’re middle-class, you have enough of everything – Outsource everything – Track your time and analyze your schedule
– 27:15 – Find out more about Linda at [How To Do It All](http://lindaformichelli.com/)
Key Points:
– Figure out what you do best, and outsource the rest.
– You have more time than you think you do. Analyze your schedule and find ways to make it more efficient.
– Don’t expect anyone to support you – get started on your own terms. Resources Mentioned:
– [How To Do It All](http://lindaformichelli.com/)
– Linda’s book – [The Renegade Writer](http://www.therenegadewriter.com/)
– Linda’s blog – [How to Make Life Spectacular](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2016/05/spectacular/)
– Article from Barking Up The Wrong Tree
– [Why Parents Don’t Like Their Kid’s Boyfriends and Girlfriends](https://www.fatherly.com/parenting-and-relationships/why-parents-dont-like-their-childrens-boyfriend-and-girlfriends/)
– Article from Fatherly
– [Chaos is Good for Cognition](https://www.fatherly.com/mens-health/staying-busy-is-good-for-mental-cognition/)
– Article from Fatherly
– [Reply Up](https://replyup.com/?ref=producthunt)
– Automatically send follow-up emails
– [Vidrack](http://vidrack.com/)
– Embed videos from fans in your website Sponsored By: [FreshBooks](https://www.freshbooks.com/)
– FreshBooks helps you simplify your accounting. Generate invoices automatically, follow up clients, and cut your accounting time to just a few minutes. Get a 30 day free trial by using the code LESSDOING at [www.freshbooks.com/lessdoing](https://www.freshbooks.com/lessdoing) Text DOLESS to 33733 to sign up for the Less Doing Newslett — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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Summary:
In Episode #194 Ari interviews Mike Vardy of [The Productivityist](http://productivityist.com/).
Listen as Ari and Mike talk about the value the productive space, and how developing a personal methodology for productivity can help individuals harness tools instead of letting productivity tools control them.
## [Leave Us a Review!](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ari-meisel-less-doing/id605938952?mt=2&uo=6) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.
Time Stamped Show Notes:
– 01:01 – Introduction to today’s show with Mike Vardy
– 02:30 – Links
– 12:02 – Less Doing Boot Camp
– 13:43 – Speaking with Mike Vardy
– 14:02 – Mike’s background in productivity education
– 15:37 – First steps in becoming more productive
– 17:34 – [GTD](http://gettingthingsdone.com/) Principals
– 19:53 – The people of GTD
– 20:54 – Being productive vs. doing productive
– 21:47 – The approach is more important than the app or tool. “Men can become the tools of their tools”
– 23:14 – What aspects of productivity planning work well
– 24:33 – Put personal back in productivity
– 25:51 – [Sanebox](http://www.sanebox.com/l/upgrade-your-inbox-today/) and other email organizers
– 27:04 – [Unroll Me](https://unroll.me/)
– 27:52 – Productivity maintenance vs. growth
– 28:41 – Mike’s daily routines
– 31:21 – Daily themes
– 31:53 – Mike’s Top 3 Tips to be More Productive
– 31:55- Have a simple morning and evening routine
– 32:15 – Write journal entries
– 32:34 – Work by mode 3 Key Points:
1. There is a psychology to productivity—without the psychology, it can’t work.
2. Don’t let your tools take you over.
3. Develop a routine and stick to it—the benefits will be massive.
Resources Mentioned:
– [Pavlok Wristband –](http://buy.pavlok.com/) Pavlok Wristband’s safe electronic stimulus helps relieve users of bad habits like smoking, overeating, and more. – [Tap Slash](http://tapslash.com/)
– Slash is a free keyboard for iPhone & iPad that makes it easy to share anything, without switching apps. Just tap “/” to unlock Places, GIFs, Music, Stickers, Videos, and much more. – [Instant App](http://instantapp.today/) – Instant tracks all your daily activities automatically so that you will be able to notice how you spend time on your smartphone. – [Easy Swag](http://easyswag.co/)
– Easy Swag is powered by Large, a free office admin in Slack that gets your team anything hassle free. – [Synkio Music Library](http://synk.io/library)
– Use Synkio’s to access music professionals who will manage your music and licensing needs. – [Startup Threads](https://www.startupthreads.com/)
– StartupThreads is the easiest way to automatically send custom shirts and apparel to your loyal customers and fans, without having to hold inventory in your office. – [GTD](http://gettingthingsdone.com/)
– ‘Getting Things Done’ is a productivity methodology. – [Sanebox](http://www.sanebox.com/l/upgrade-your-inbox-today/)
– SaneBox works on top of your email account. It prioritizes important emails and summarizes the rest. – [Unroll Me](https://unroll.me/)
– Unroll Me allows you to unsubscribe from subscriptions or combine your favorite subscriptions into one email. – [194MikeVardyOfProductivistInterview”>Evernote](https://www.evernote.com/%3Ca%20href=)
– vernote keeps all your writing in one place, from notes to lengthy research. – [The Productivityist](http://productivityist.com/)
– Mick’s productivity business that provides productivity coaching, events, and podcasts. – Call 1-844-i-do-less – Toll-Free number, Press “0” to speak with a Less Doing Certified Coach – Text DOLESS – Text DOLESS to 33733
Credits:
– Audio Engineering provided by [Chris Mottram](https://www.linkedin.com/pub/christopher-mottram/96/b12/708)
– Original Music provided by [Felix Bird](http://2014.felixbird.com/)
– Show Notes provided by [Mallard — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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Summary:
In Episode #192 Ari interviews JV Crum of [The Conscious Millionaire](http://consciousmillionaire.com/).
Listen as Ari and JV talk about the value of having _real_ purpose in life, and how chasing that purpose means having measurable goals and focused priorities.
Special Announcements:
This week’s episode of the Less Doing Podcast is brought to you by [JustWorks](https://www.justworks.com/), an innovative company striving to make payroll, benefits, and compliance management a seamless and stress-free process.
The most intuitive software for your business; take your most tedious and time consuming part of your job and make it the simplest and most automated part of your day.
## [Leave Us a Review!](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ari-meisel-less-doing/id605938952?mt=2&uo=6) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.
Time Stamped Show Notes:
– 04:44 – [Less Doists](http://www.lessdoists.com/) — the virtual assistant service Ari started with Nick S. of Calvin app lore — did 100 hours of work for its clients
– 26:42 – Introduction of JV Crum III—[the Conscious Millionaire](http://consciousmillionaire.com/)
– 26:59 – JV stands for ‘Joint Venture’. JV was called ‘Junior Varsity’ in law school and he decided to change that by telling people at conferences it stood for ‘Joint Venture.’ His full name is James Vivien Crum the III
– 28:20 – Before being ‘The Conscious Millionaire’ JV grew up in a family with a lot of financial struggles and decided that the end to that was to grow up and be a millionaire. He became a millionaire when he was about 25
– 28:50 – He realized his life was miserable and he went on sweat lodges, spiritual retreats as part of a 15 year journey to try and figure out what was missing
– 29:27 – He sold the companies because he realized he wasn’t living his purpose and went on to find out what was his purpose
– 29:41 – Had a revelation in Lake Tahoe and solved the phrase in his head ‘Conscious Millionaire’ and decided that’s what he was supposed to be doing.
– 30:10 – He made his money by working in his dad’s business (regional trucking line). He turned the business around and within 3 years the company was making three figure profits in a month
– 32:02 – Teaching people how to make money in alignment with their purpose, their passion
– 32:47 – Helps people find their passion or purpose with coaching
– 33:30 – Journaling
– 33:36 – How to figure out passion: What are the things you’re so passionate about that hours pass and you don’t even know it? And when you’re engaged in it you feel joy? And I bet those are the same activities you’ve helped friends/clients for free.
– 34:11 – 2. How to figure out your purpose: a difference you want to make. – 35:08 – Purpose is about being of service to others.
– 35: 15 – How to figure out your purpose: if you could wake up every day and make this difference for people, you’d feel joy, you’d feel happy?
– 35:28 – What are your natural strengths?
– 35:40 – Strengths = things you do almost perfectly every time.
– 36:29 – People don’t know how to make money out of it.
– 36:31 – You make money by looking at a few niche markets that have problems that the difference you want to make can help provide solutions for.
– 36:47 – The only thing a buyer will buy is solutions.
– 37:01 – Only chose one of those niches and two or three problems and 1 product
– 38:01 – His first product was coaching
– 39:47 – Having a holistic approach
– 40:12 – The energy from your heart space is what really pushes you
– 40:28 – Health and fitness practices are indispensable
– 42:00 – JV’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_
– 42:23 – Have priorities and don’t have more than 3
– 42:34 – Don’t wake up with a to-do list, wake up with a priority
– 43:25 – Take focused action and have measurable results
– 43:55 – [www.Con — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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**Summary:**
In Episode #191 Ari interviews Mark Podolsky of [The Land Geek](http://www.thelandgeek.com/), a company that’s founded on land flipping and the development of passive income.
Tune in to hear Mark and Ari talk secrets to success and why all your entrepreneurial attention should be on moving the needle.
**Special Announcements:**
This week’s episode of the Less Doing Podcast is brought to you by [JustWorks](https://www.justworks.com/), an innovative company striving to make payroll, benefits, and compliance management a seamless and stress-free process.
## [Leave Us a Review!](https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ari-meisel-less-doing/id605938952?mt=2&uo=6) Hey Less Doing Podcast Listeners, we want to hear from YOU! Visit us on iTunes and leave a review or subscribe to the podcast if you’re not already a dedicated follower.
**Time Stamped Show Notes:**
– 00:35 – Introduction of [JustWorks](https://www.justworks.com/) and Isaac Oats
– 00:55 – Nuts and bolts are the hardest part of HR for small companies
– 02:45 – Ari muses on Daylight Savings Time
– 33:56 – Introduction of Mark Podolsky of [The Land Geek](http://www.thelandgeek.com/)
– 34:11 – Mark Podolsky’s background
– 36:21 – The process of identifying properties
– 38:00 – Now Mark teaches Land Flipping
– 40:05 – Automation has become integral to Mark’s success
– 40:32 – The automation of the offer sending process is the keystone to Mark’s success
– 41:12 – Click to Mail
– 42:29 – Mark’s vetting process doubles as his marketing process
– 42:54 – Don’t worry about “generating traffic” just go to where the buyers are
– 43:58 – [The Death of Money](http://amzn.to/20KID5C)
– 44:50 — $6000 for a property and flipping it for $55K
– 46:37 – The course creation process
– 47:53 – Mark’s _Top 3 Tips to be More Effective_
– 48:05 – Take imperfect action
– 48:42 – Don’t recreate the wheel—respect your time
– 49:11 – Be aware of _everything_ you do—have your numbers DOWN
– 49:30 – “Playing Business” doesn’t move the needle—focus on what does
– 50:08 – [www.TheLandGeek.com](http://www.thelandgeek.com/)
**5 Key Points:**
1. Don’t waste your time on things that don’t move the needle.
2. Respect your time.
3. Niche markets can be a highly lucrative (and easy) way to make money.
4. Don’t worry about traffic, just take yourself to where the buyers are.
5. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS.
**Resources Mentioned:**
– [The Less Doing WODcast](http://lessdoingwodcast.com/)
– A FULLY AUTOMATED daily workout routine brought to you for FREE by Dave Rael and Ari – Call 1-844-i-do-less – Toll-Free number, Press “0” to speak with a Less Doing Certified Coach – Text DOLESS – Text DOLESS to 33733 – [iflscience](http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/should-work-start-10am)
– From Sleep Researcher Paul Kelly, an article explaining why the day shouldn’t start until 10AM – [Ivee](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ivee-talking-to-your-home-is-no-longer-sci-fi?ref=producthunt#/story)
– Talk to your home with a voice integrated assistant – [Kimerakoffee](http://www.kimerakoffee.com/?utm_content=buffer1958c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#kimera-legend)
– Coffee infused the high-quality nootropics – [Power of Empathy](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/09/power-of-empathy/)
– The 3 ways empathy can improve your life – [Homey App](http://startupli.st/homey_team)
– Assign chores with snapshots – [SVET](http://startupli.st/getsvet) – Smart lightbulbs that improve your life – [Anti-Vaccine Group Hurts Itself](http://magazine.good.is/articles/anti-vaxx-study-backfires)
– An Anti-Vaccine group funded an objective study that showed no correlation exists between autism and vaccines – [The Fountain of Youth](http://www.medicaldaily.com/pulse/fountain-youth-oldest-woman-world-susannah-mushatt-jones-eats-bacon-every-day-356208)
– 116 Year old woman eats bacon every day – [Fun Fungi](http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and– — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message
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