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Focused

Focused

Relay

David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.
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Top 10 Focused Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Focused episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Focused for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Focused episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Focused - 9: The Feedback Episode
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11/15/16 • 52 min

In a wide-ranging episode, David and Jason answer your letters and tweets.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Sanebox: Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content.
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Focused - 49: Panting to the Finish Line
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06/12/18 • 48 min

Family members with employment issues remind Jason about just how far he's come; David grapples with letting go of control and working with an assistant; and Jason hands in his resignation and participates in an "exit interview" with David.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FREEAGENTS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
Links and Show Notes: Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership
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Focused - 124: Reading and Learning
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04/27/21 • 85 min

In this episode, Mike and David talk about PKM planets and how they read, process, and learn from books and other media.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Memberful: Best-in-class membership software for independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more. Get started now, no credit card required.
  • PDFpen, from Smile: Powerful PDF editing on your Mac.
  • Indeed: Get a free $75 credit to upgrade your job post.
Links and Show Notes: Credits

The Hosts
Mike Schmitz
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. What is PKM? What is Personal Knowledge Management? - YouTube Focused #122: Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo - Relay FM Mac Power Users #583: The Obsidian Deep Dive - Relay FM Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative: Kleon, Austin: 8601300471914: Amazon.com: Books Pensieve | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom Focused #117: Roles & Goals - Relay FM Journaling Using Daily Questions in Obsidian – The Sweet Setup Craft - Create Amazing Documents Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought. Obsidian DEVONtechnologies | DEVONthink, professional document and information management for the Mac and iOS Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World: Newport, Cal: 9781455586691: Amazon.com: Books Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time eBook: Tracy, Brian: Books Blinkist: Big ideas in small packages Shortform - The World's Best Book Summaries Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration (8601400995709): Catmull, Ed, Wallace, Amy: Books How to Train Your Mind by Chris Bailey | Audiobook | Audible.com Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less eBook: Carpenter, Sam: Kindle Store How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading: Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren: 0042516291251: Amazon.com: Books Readwise Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: Clear, James: 9780735211292: Amazon.com: Books XXL Hammock Chair Swing by Hammock Sky Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Dweck, Carol S.: 9780345472328: Amazon.com: Book...
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Tim Stringer joins us to talk about mortality, reinvention, and the fight to live a focused life.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
  • ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get an extra three months free.
Guest Starring:

Tim Stringer

Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended episodes with bonus deep dive content. Technically Simple | Productivity Coaching, Consulting & Training Learn OmniFocus | OmniFocus Video Tutorials, Articles & Webinars A Chinese Farmer Story | YouTube Getting Things Done Holistic Productivity Day One Tim Stringer (@timstringer) | Twitter Tim Stringer (@[email protected]) | Mastodon
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Focused - 171: Communication & Focus
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02/14/23 • 87 min

David & Mike discuss communication, project management, and managing expectations to protect your focus.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
  • Indeed: Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Time Timer Mac Power Users #578: Getting to Know Notion, with August Bradley Mac Power Users #650: Craft Deep Drive Boox Tab Ultra A Mindfulness Monday Review of the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra | The Sweet Setup Digital Journaling in Obsidian course | Faith-Based Productivity Investigation: How TikTok's Algorithm Figures Out Your Deepest Desires Focused #78: Changing Defaults with John Zeratsky Hackschooling makes me happy - Logan LaPlante | TEDxUniversityofNevada The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey How to Be a High School Superstar by Cal Newport How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
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Focused - 137: Managing Busy
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10/27/21 • 81 min

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Focused - 191: Multi-Scale Planning
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11/21/23 • 85 min

David & Mike unpack the concept of multi-scale planning and share how they are both using it to live in alignment with their vision and values.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
  • Indeed: Join more than three million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
  • Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
  • Whisper Memos: Record a voice memo, receive it as email. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes: Deep Focus: Extended ad-free episodes with bonus deep dive content. Ep. 272: The Essential Tools (w/ David Epstein) - The Deep Life by Cal Newport The Focused NeuYear Calendar Discbound Heirloom Journal (Brown) – Ugmonk Ugmonk Analog How to Calm Your Mind by Chris Bailey Totebook – Studio Neat 1911 King of Pen Ebonite Naginata-Togi Fountain Pen | Sailor Nakaya Dorsal Fin Fountain Pen Hidden Potential by Adam Grant Same as Ever by Morgan Housel
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Focused - 66: Putting Email in its Place
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02/05/19 • 82 min

David and Mike navigate the minefield of email, sharing strategies and workflow tips to help you curb inbox addiction and reclaim your focus.

This episode of Focused is sponsored by:
  • Timing: The automatic time tracking app for macOS. Use this link to save 10% on your purchase.
  • Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
  • Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code FOCUSED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes Support Focused with a Relay FM Membership Radicati Email Report Subject: Email, We Just Can’t Get Enough | Adobe Blog Doing a Personal Retreat | Chris Upchurch Personal Retreat experiences | Focused forum Email Field Guide | MacSparky Atomic Habits by James Clear (Book) | Amazon Deep Work by Cal Newport (Book) | Amazon TextExpander SaneBox MailMate Deckset Markdown Field Guide | MacSparky The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey (Book) | Amazon IBM Email Search vs. Folders Study AppleScript to Link to Apple Mail Message | MacSparky
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FAQ

How many episodes does Focused have?

Focused currently has 225 episodes available.

What topics does Focused cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts, Business and Careers.

What is the most popular episode on Focused?

The episode title '101: Taking a Sabbatical, with Sean McCabe' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Focused?

The average episode length on Focused is 71 minutes.

How often are episodes of Focused released?

Episodes of Focused are typically released every 13 days, 23 hours.

When was the first episode of Focused?

The first episode of Focused was released on Jul 26, 2016.

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