PRODUCTIVITY
The PRODUCTIVITY podcast delivers you time management strategies that work. We give you one productivity tip a day in a short, productive, episode. From the best productivity apps, productivity software, productivity tools, to the best productivity tips that are backed by science to work. After listening you'll be getting your important things done consistently and getting the most out of your time and talent. Your Host Brandon White has been an entrepreneur in the trenches for over two decades. Knowing he'll never get everything done in a day, he's figured out the best productivity strategies and products that are force...
The BJ Fogg Behavior Model: How to Make Any Behavior or Habit Easy and Make it Stick
Today we're breaking down the Fogg Behavior Model, what it is, the surprisingly simple formula behind it, and three tips you can use to start building habits that actually stick.Â
I'll also tell you why the graph behind this model is one of the most useful things I've ever seen, and I say that as someone who completed BJ Fogg's Behavior Design Boot Camp and earned the certification of an Expert Tiny Habits Coach from Dr. Fogg himself.
STUDY CITATIONS:
Anza, H., et al. (2025). "Behavioral science meets public health: a scoping review of the F...The Hot Wash: The Military Debrief Technique That Stops Your Team From Making the Same Mistakes Twice
Today we're explaining what a hot wash is and where it comes from, look at what the research says about why the hot wash works, and give you three practical tips to run regular hot washes with your team.
STUDY CITATION: Tannenbaum, S. I., & Cerasoli, C. P. (2013). Do team and individual debriefs enhance performance? A meta-analysis. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 55(1), 231–245.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!...Your Personal Board of Directors: Your Secret Weapon for Work, Life, and Hard Decisions
Today we're talking about building your Personal Board of Directors. We’ll cover what it is, why the research says it outperforms the one-mentor model, and four tips that will have you building your Personal Board of Directors before the end of next week.
STUDY CITATION
Higgins, M.C., & Kram, K.E. (2001). "Reconceptualizing Mentoring at Work: A Developmental Network Perspective." Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 264–288.
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The Power of "Yet": The One Word That Keeps You Going When Your Goals Get Hard
Today we're talking about the power of "yet" — what it is, where it comes from, what a study published in Nature found about how “yet” changes real behavior, and three ways to use it right now, in the middle of whatever goal is testing your patience and your sanity.
STUDY CITATIONS
Yeager, D. S., Hanselman, P., Walton, G. M., et al. (2019). "A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement." Nature, 573, 364–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1466-y
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Pro...How to Stop Ruminating: Break the Overthinking Loop and Get Your Focus Back
Today we're breaking down what rumination is, looking at what the research says ruminating is doing to your productivity, your relationships, and your sleep, and giving you three practical ways to stop the ruminating loop.
STUDY CITATION
Cropley, M., Zijlstra, F.R.H., Querstret, D., & Beck, S. (2016). Is Work-Related Rumination Associated with Deficits in Executive Functioning? Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1524.Â
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I...
Jasper.ai: The AI App That Writes in Your Brand Voice So You Can Generate Content Faster
How to train your brand voice inside Jasper.ai so you can produce more content easier, what the research says about why brand voice consistency matters, and three practical steps to get Jasper sounding like you instead of sounding like every other AI output in your industry.
STUDY CITATION
Barcelos, R. H., Dantas, D. C., & Sénécal, S. (2018). "Watch Your Tone: How a Brand's Tone of Voice on Social Media Influences Consumer Responses." Journal of Interactive Marketing, 41, 60–80.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to B...The Aspirin vs. Vitamin Habit Test: Why Some Habits Stick, Others Die by February, and How to Create Habits Successfully
Today, we're breaking down the Aspirin vs. Vitamin Habit Test. We explain what Aspirin vs. Vitamin Habit Test is, where it comes from, why psychology backs it up, and three ways you can use the Aspirin vs. Vitamin Habit Test to build habits that actually stick and make you more successful.
STUDY CITATIONS
Elliot, A. J., & Church, M. A. (1997). A hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(1), 218–232.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!...Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: How to Rewire Your Brain and Boost Your Success
Today we're breaking down the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, covering the research that proves your brain is more adaptable than you think, and giving you 3 practical ways to rewire how you respond to setbacks so you start treating failures as data points instead of verdicts.
STUDY CITATIONS
Blackwell, L. S., Trzesniewski, K. H., & Dweck, C. S. (2007). Implicit theories of intelligence predict achievement across an adolescent transition: A longitudinal study and an intervention. Child Development, 78(1), 246–263.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Pr...Why Asking for a “Chris Voss No" Gets You Further Than "Yes”, at Work and at Home
We're taking a negotiation tactic straight out of the FBI playbook from former hostage negotiator Chris Voss and showing you how to use it to set boundaries, push back on overload, and protect your time and SANITY..Â
At work, at home, with a contractor, a friend, whoever. We explain what no-oriented questions are, cover the psychology behind why no oriented questions work, and give you three ways you can start using no oriented questions right after finishing listening to this episode.
CITATIONS
Brehm, J. W. (1966). A theory of psychological reactance. Journal of Personality, 34(2), 1–178.
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The IKEA Effect: The Psychology Behind Real Buy-In
We're breaking down the IKEA Effect — what the IKEA Effect is, what the research says, and three ways to use the IKEA Effect to build a more productive team that cares about the work.
STUDY CITATIONS
Norton, M. I., Mochon, D., & Ariely, D. (2012). The IKEA effect: When labor leads to love. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 22(3), 453–460.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make...
The Navy SEAL Mental Toughness Playbook: Four Techniques Anyone Can Use to Be Unstoppable
We teach you the four-pillar mental toughness system Navy SEALs use to conquer doing the hardest things, the research that proves it works, and how to put each Navy SEAL technique to use the next time pressure hits you.
STUDY CITATION:
Smith, E. N., Young, M. D., & Crum, A. J. (2020). Stress, Mindsets, and Success in Navy SEALs Special Warfare Training. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 2962.Â
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Manipulation: How to Spot Manipulation and Stop Being Manipulated Before It Steals Your Time, Energy, and Peace of Mind
We break down what manipulation is, walk through the six tactics researchers pinpointed people use to manipulate you, in a real psychology study, and then give you 3 ways to stop manipulation in its tracks, whether it's coming from a coworker, a family member, a friend, or a partner.
A must listen if you feel like you are or have been manipulated.
STUDY CITATION
Buss, D. M., Gomes, M., Higgins, D. S., & Lauterbach, K. (1987). Tactics of manipulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52 (6), 1219–1229.Â
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Read the Wee...The Productive Traveler: How to Get Work Done on a Plane (backed by over 500,000 miles traveled)
We look at what the research says about why planes are a hidden productivity goldmine and give you 5 tips to make your next flight much more useful to get work done. Based on science and my experience traveling over 500,000 miles in the air.
STUDY CITATION:
Mark, G., Gudith, D., & Klocke, U. (2008). "The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress." CHI '08: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, pp. 107–110.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It...Descript for Social Media: The AI Video Tool That Turns Your 20-Minute Video Into 10 Social Clips Easily
Descript, an AI video editor that turns long videos into short-form social clips by letting you edit video like a document.Â
We explain how Descript works, look at research that shows why short clips are worth the effort, and give you a simple process to pull 10 clips from one video...easily.
 CITATIONS:
Apasrawirote, D., Yawised, K., Chatrangsan, M., & Muneesawang, P. (2022). "Short-form Video Content (SVC) Engagement and Marketing Capabilities." Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 15(2).ÂBoeker, M., et al. (2024). "Shorts vs. Regular Videos on YouTube: A Comparative Analysis of User Engagement and Content Crea...
How to Stay Positive When It’s Cold, Wet and Never Stops Snowing or Raining
We explain what psychologists call “hope” that can change how you feel, look at a study from the Journal of Organizational Behavior that shows how hope drives real performance, and give you 3 science backed strategies to use hope to feel better and more positive.
STUDY CITATIONS
Peterson, S. J., & Byron, K. (2008). Exploring the role of hope in job performance: Results from four studies. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29(6), 785-803.Snyder, C. R. (2002). Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind. Psychological Inquiry, 13(4), 249-275.Hodson, L. (2026, February 13). How to stay positive when it never stops raining – a psychologist offers tips. The Con...How to Build Trust on Your Video Calls
We explain how to build trust on your video calls by breaking down why looking at your camera lens instead of your screen can 10x your ability to build trust in virtual meetings.Â
We explain the psychology behind virtual eye contact, review research that shows what it does and how best to do it, and finish up by giving you 5 proven tips to master this skill and become more trustworthy and persuasive in every video call you have.
CITATION:
Hietanen, J. O., Peltola, M. J., & Hietanen, J. K. (2020). Psychophysiological responses to eye contact i...
Nose Breathing: The Simple Switch That Boosts Oxygen, Lowers Blood Pressure, and Supercharges Your Productivity Backed by Science
More than half of adults in the U.S. are mouth breathers, and it's quietly sabotaging their energy and focus. Whether you breathe through your nose or mouth makes a massive difference in your productivity.Â
We explain the science behind a simple breathing switch that will increase your oxygen uptake by up to 18%, review research showing how nose breathing lowers blood pressure and sharpens focus, and give you 3 practical techniques to make nasal breathing work for you starting today.
CITATIONS:
Pingali, H., & Hunter, S. D. (2024). Acute nasal breathing lowers diastolic blood pressure and increases p...How to Use Gamma AI for Instant More Engaging Presentations
Today we're breaking down Gamma, the AI presentation tool that recently got supercharged with Claude integration.Â
We'll show you why this combination is a productivity game-changer, look at research proving AI tools dramatically cut creation time, boost quality and attention, and finish up by giving you 4 power moves to start using Gamma today.
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If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will m...
How to use How Self-Talk To Reduce Stress When You Are Under Pressure and Perform like a Rockstar
Olympic athletes, military special forces operators and professional athletes are taught how to change their self talk voice and shift their nervous system from panic mode to peak performance mode. Â
In this episode of the Productivity Podcast we’re teaching you how to do it. Â
We break down the science of self-talk and its measurable effects on your physiology.Â
We explain what's happening in your nervous system when you change your internal dialogue, review research proving these effects are real, then give you 3 practical strategies you can use immediately to activate your peak perfo...
TL;DR Method: How to Use the TL;DR Method That Makes You Celebrated and Unforgettable
We break down information density and the Too Long Didn’t Read or TL;DR style.
We explain TL;DR and information density, the brain science proving whyTL;DR works, and a dead-simple 5 step framework you can use in your next email or meeting that will have people thanking you in the office kitchen when you’re getting a coffee.Â
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Vibe Coding Explained: Build Custom Productivity Tools Using Plain English with AI’s Help (No Coding Required)
We're explain vibe coding, the method that's letting non-technical people build custom software tools using plain English instead of learning Python or JavaScript.Â
We explain what vibe coding is, review academic research showing vibe coding’s massive productivity gains, give you 4 practical tips to start building your own tools, and cover one critical security concern you need to know about before you begin.
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If you have an ama...
The Art of the Follow-Up: The "3-2-1" System for Staying on Someone's Radar Without Being Annoying
We break down the "3-2-1" follow-up system, a research-backed framework for persistent communication that works.Â
We'll explain what the "3-2-1" follow-up system is, show you the science proving why "3-2-1" follow-up system matters, and give you 3 actionable strategies to start using "3-2-1" follow-up system today.
Citation:
Verbeke, W., Dietz, B., & Verwaal, E. (2018). "More than one way to persist: Unpacking the nature of salesperson persistence to understand its effects on performance." Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, 38(2), 125-147.
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R...The CODE Framework: How to Stop Losing Great Ideas You Had and How to Remember Everything That Matters
We break down the CODE Framework. The CODE Framework is a simple four-step system that stops you from losing valuable information and helps you use what you learn.Â
We explain what CODE stands for, look at research on why your working memory needs external support, and give you 4 practical ways to start using CODE today to make you smarter and more productive.
CITATION:
Paas, F., & van Merriënboer, J. J. G. (2020). Cognitive-Load Theory: Methods to Manage Working Memory Load in the Learning of Complex Tasks. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29(4), 394-398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721420922183
Networking: How to Build a Powerful Network Without Asking for Favors
Today we're breaking down the "Give First" networking strategy: how to build a high-value network without ever asking for a "favor."Â
We explain what it means to give first, dive into the research that proves Giving First Networking works, and give you 4 practical strategies to start building your network smarter.
CITATION:
Flynn, F. J. (2003). How Much Should I Give and How Often? The Effects of Generosity and Frequency of Favor Exchange on Social Status and Productivity. Academy of Management Journal, 46(5), 539-553.
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Read the Weekly EDGE N...Lateral Thinking: How to Use This Problem Solving Skill That Solves Problems Logic Can't
We break down lateral thinking, the problem solving skill behind breakthrough solutions.Â
We'll define what Lateral Thinking means, explore the research showing how Lateral Thinking helps you solve tough problems faster, then give you the 3 step process to leverage Lateral Thinking the next time you or your team is stuck.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more p...
How to Train AI to Write Exactly Like You. Without the "AI Smell"
We explain what custom AI training is, review research proving personalized AI actually matches human writing styles, then give you a simple three-step process to train AI to write like you that works across Claude Projects, Google Gemini Gems, ChatGPT Custom GPTs, and Microsoft Copilot.Â
You'll walk away with an AI assistant that sounds like you and get’s you 90% to the finish line with any of your writing.
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The EAR Method for Conflict: How to De-Escalate Any Personal or Workplace Argument in 30 Seconds
Today, we're breaking down the EAR Method, a powerful conflict de-escalation technique that calms 90% of upset people within 30 seconds.Â
We explain what EAR stands for, review the research proving the EAR method to de-Escalate any personal or workplace argument works, then give you a simple framework to use it the next time workplace tension threatens to kill your productivity and relationships.
STUDY CITATIONS
Umashankar, V. (2014). Conflict Resolution Through Training on Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in a Workplace-An Empirical Study. Research in Business and Management, 1(2), 79-94. https://doi.org/10.5296/rbm.v1i2.5865Eddy, B. (2021). Calming U...Speak Like a Pro Series 3 of 3 - How to Crush Public Speaking Anxiety: Science-Backed Tips That Actually Work
Welcome to the final episode of our Speak Like a Pro mini series.Â
In episode 1, we covered the Rule of Three.
In episode 2, we tackled how to think faster and talk smarter in spontaneous moments.Â
Today, we're going after the thing that undermines all of public speaking anxiety.Â
We explain why your brain panics when you speak, what the research says about reframing that panic, and give you four techniques to manage your nerves so you can be a more confident communicator and master public speaking.
About the Speak Lik...
Speak Like a Pro Series 2 of 3 - Think Faster, Talk Smarter: The Framework for Sounding Smart When Faced with Spontaneous Communication
Welcome back to our Speak Like a Pro series episode 2. Last episode, we covered the Rule of Three.Â
Today, we're tackling how to be a more effective communicator when you're put on the spot.Â
We'll break down why it trips people up, share frameworks that fix it, look at what the research says, and give you four tips you can use right away.
About the Speak Like a Pro Mini-Series
Speak Like a Pro is a three-part mini-series from the Productivity podcast that teaches you how to become a more effective and co...
Speak Like a Pro Series 1 of 3: The Public Speaking Secret Behind Every Great Speech: The Rule of Three
In this episode, we’re covering the Rule of Three, what the rule of three is, why your brain is wired for three things, what the research says, and how to use the rule of three starting today.
This is the first episode in the three-part Speak Like a Pro Series
About the Speak Like a Pro Mini-Series
Speak Like a Pro is a three-part mini-series from the Productivity podcast that teaches you how to become a more effective and confident communicator in your professional and personal life. Whether you're giving a presentation, speaking up...
Avoid Creating "Workslop": 5 Rules for Using AI for Real Efficiency Gains
We define what workslop is, review the Stanford research that discovered this hidden productivity killer that's costing 10,000-person companies $9 million annually, explain why workslop is destroying workplace relationships, and give you 5 practical ways to use AI better so you create genuinely productive output instead of workslop.
STUDY CITATION:
Niederhoffer, K., Kellerman, G.R., Lee, A., Liebscher, A., Rapuano, K., & Hancock, J.T. (2025). "AI-Generated 'Workslop' Is Destroying Productivity." Harvard Business Review.
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The 41% Productivity Boost: Why Smart Leaders Are Measuring and Rewarding Results Over Hours Worked with Outcome-Based Metrics
We're breaking down what outcome-based metrics actually are.
Why the smartest companies are ditching time-based performance reviews.
Reviewing a University of Minnesota study that tracked 775 workers under different metric
And giving you 4 specific ways to start proving your value through deliverables instead of face time.
Citations
Moen, P., Kelly, E. L., & Hill, R. (2011). Does Enhancing Work-Time Control and Flexibility Reduce Turnover? A Naturally Occurring Experiment. Social Problems, 58(1), 69–98. https://doi.org/10.1525/sp.2011.58.1.69
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It...Return to Office Policies Are Getting it Wrong According to This Research of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 Executives
If you're leading a team, chances are you're worried about your team's productivity.Â
In fact, a recent Atlassian survey of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 executives revealed that low productivity is their number one organizational challenge.
But here’s the twist: how we're measuring productivity might be the real problem.Â
We give you the study results and some actionable tips.
Citations
Atlassian Team Anywhere Lab. (2023). Fortune 500 executives say low productivity is their #1 challenge. Atlassian.Van der Hoek, M., Groeneveld, S., & Kuipers, B. (2018). Goal Setting in Teams: Goal Clarity and Team Performance in the...Could Food Be Sabotaging Your Focus? What the Science Says About ADHD and Diet
We're breaking down a study from The Lancet that tested whether changing what you eat can reduce ADHD symptoms.Â
We explain what they discovered, why it matters, and give you a realistic 4-week process to test if food might be affecting focus, yours and/or your child's.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more productive please reach out to us a...
The AI ROI Crisis: 56% of AI Investments Fail. Here's What the 12% Who Succeed Are Doing
We break down why most AI implementations fail, reveal what the 12% of winners who implement AI projects are doing differently, show you the research on what separates successful AI deployment from expensive experiments, and give you four proven strategies to actually get ROI from your AI investments.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more productive please reach out to us at b...
Tactical Silence: The 4-Second Listening Hack That Extracts Deeper Insights in Any Meeting or Conversation
Today, I'm teaching you the "Tactical Silence" technique that helps you extract the deeper insights people don't share in their first answer. We'll explain what it is, show you the research that proves it works, and give you 3 actionable ways to use it starting with your very next conversation.
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If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more productive please reach...
Fluid Workdays: How to Structure Your Day Around Energy, Not a 9 to 5 Schedule
In today’s episode of the Productivity Podcast we explain what chronotypes and energy cycles are, review research showing how misalignment with your natural rhythms kills productivity, and then give you 4 practical ways to structure your workday around energy instead of arbitrary 9 to 5 office hours, to give you a fluid workday.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more pr...
Human-AI Agent Coordination How to Lead Teams of Humans and AI Agents to Increase Overall Team Productivity
We're breaking down Human-AI Agent Coordination, a topic that's reshaping how modern teams operate.Â
We explain what human AI coordination is, share cutting-edge research showing why most teams struggle with human AI orchestration , then give you 4 Practical Strategies to successfully coordinate both humans and AI on your team.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more productive please reach out to u...
Async-First Communication: Why 55% of Meetings Should Be Videos Instead of Live Meetings and the 3 questions test to know which one to use
We explain what async communication is, review research showing how it saves massive amounts of time and money, and then give you the Three Question Test to know if a meeting should be an asynchronous meeting or a live one.Â
Research Studies Mentioned:
1) Patel, B., Razzaque, M., Khot, V., & Allarakha, M. (2020). Examining the impact of an asynchronous communication platform versus existing communication methods: an observational study. BMJ Open Quality, 10(1), e001070
2) Asana. (2024). 2024 State of Work Innovation Report.Â
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Pr...75% Rule: Beat Procrastination and Finish Early with Less Stress Using The 75% Rule
We're breaking down the 75% Rule, a dead-simple productivity hack that helps you finish work early without working harder.Â
We explain what the 75% Rule is, dive into the research on why humans are terrible at estimating time, then give you 3 ways to start using the 75% Rule this week.
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Read the Weekly EDGE Newsletter to Boost Your Productivity. It's FREE!Over 24,225 listeners and counting!
If you have an amazing productivity tool or app that will make people more productive please reach out to us a...
