Category: Self Help

By Maria Popova

Asian Efficiency is one of the leading productivity training companies. We help people become more productive at work and in life. We believe that you should be able to get everything done without having to sacrifice your health, family and things that matter to you. We’ve helped millions of people save time, be happier, and become more productive.

By Maria Popova

I remember a time when my biggest challenge was deciding between a second cup of coffee or diving straight into my inbox. Life felt… simpler. Then came the beautiful chaos of kids, and suddenly, “productivity” took on a whole new meaning. It wasn’t just about managing tasks anymore; it was about navigating a minefield of Lego bricks, impromptu dance parties, and the ever-present question, “Can I have a snack?” If you’re a parent trying to juggle work and home life, especially with kids around, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It feels like you’re constantly trying to catch a greased pig while simultaneously solving a Rubik’s Cube.

But here’s the good news: it is possible to get things done, even with little (or not-so-little) ones underfoot. It requires a shift in perspective, a healthy dose of flexibility, and a few clever strategies. We’ve all been there, trying to focus on a crucial email while a tiny human demands immediate attention for a scraped knee or a philosophical debate about why the sky is blue. It’s enough to make anyone want to pull their hair out. But what if you could create an environment where both your work and your kids could thrive, without sacrificing your sanity?

This isn’t about achieving perfect, uninterrupted workdays. Let’s be real, that’s a fantasy for most of us. Instead, it’s about finding practical ways to integrate your work into your family life, minimizing stress, and maximizing those precious pockets of focused time. Think of it less like a rigid schedule and more like a fluid dance, where you learn to anticipate the rhythm and move with it. It’s about creating an operating system for your family that allows everyone to contribute and feel a sense of ownership over their day.

Create a Fun Learning Environment

One of the biggest hurdles when working from home with kids is keeping them engaged and learning without constant supervision. This is where creativity comes in. Instead of seeing their presence as a distraction, view it as an opportunity to foster independence and a love for learning.

For example, my co-host Brooks shared how his family implemented a “Kanban for kids” system. If you’re not familiar, a Kanban board is a visual way to track tasks, moving them from “to do” to “doing” to “done.” They have a physical board with sticky notes for tasks like schoolwork, emptying the dishwasher, or getting physical activity. Each morning, they have a family huddle, similar to our daily stand-ups at Asian Efficiency, where the kids choose tasks for their “to do” column. Once all their committed tasks are “done,” they’re free to play, even if that means screen time. This approach gives kids ownership and a clear understanding of their responsibilities, reducing the need for constant nagging.

This concept can be adapted for even younger children by using pictures instead of words. Imagine setting up “activity stations” around the house. One corner could be a “reading station” for 30 minutes, another an “arts and crafts” zone, and perhaps a “Lego station” for creative building. This breaks up their day, provides variety, and gives them a sense of purpose. Mary, a member of our team, themes her days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are “reading days,” while Thursdays and Fridays are “math days.” This predictability helps kids know what to expect and reduces resistance.

It’s about making learning and daily responsibilities feel less like chores and more like an engaging game. When kids are actively involved and have a sense of control, they’re less likely to interrupt your work. It’s a win-win: they learn valuable life skills, and you gain precious moments of uninterrupted focus.

Create a Routine for You and Your Kids

While flexibility is key, a consistent routine provides a much-needed framework for both you and your children. This doesn’t mean every minute needs to be scheduled, but rather establishing predictable rhythms for the day.

For many parents, this means waking up before the kids. Brooks and his wife, for instance, use this quiet time to get a head start on their work. If you have younger children who still nap, those nap times become golden opportunities for focused work. It’s about identifying those natural windows of opportunity and capitalizing on them.

Another effective strategy, especially if you have a partner, is to alternate “shifts.” One parent can be “on duty” with the kids for a couple of hours while the other focuses on work, then swap. This allows for dedicated blocks of uninterrupted time for both parents. While this might not be feasible for single parents, the core idea remains: find ways to carve out dedicated work time within your daily rhythm.

Think about what works best for your family. Is it a time-based schedule, where certain activities happen at specific hours? Or is it more task-oriented, where the focus is on completing certain tasks regardless of the clock? For example, my team member Marie uses a whiteboard with a general routine for her son: walk the dogs, do chores, complete home learning, and then he earns screen time. This clear sequence of activities helps him understand expectations and manage his own time.

The goal is to create a predictable flow that minimizes surprises and maximizes your ability to focus. It’s not about being rigid, but about building a structure that supports everyone’s needs. Remember, a routine isn’t a cage; it’s a compass that guides your day.

Use Visual Cues to Minimize Interruptions

Even with the best routines, interruptions happen. This is where visual cues become your secret weapon. They provide a clear, non-verbal signal to your family about your availability, especially when you need to concentrate.

For those with a dedicated office space, a closed door can be a simple yet effective cue. My own kids generally understand that if my office door is closed, I’m in a meeting or doing focused work. But what if you’re working in a shared space, like a living room or kitchen? This is where you need to get creative.

Megan McKearney, who shared the Kanban for kids idea, uses a simple red, yellow, and green paper system hung on the back of her laptop. Red means “do not disturb unless it’s an emergency,” yellow means “approach with caution,” and green means “it’s okay to interrupt.” This visual signal empowers kids to make informed decisions about when to approach you, reducing unnecessary interruptions.

Another example, though a bit more elaborate, is an LED “dad’s on a call” sign that one person automated with Telegram. While that might be overkill for most, it illustrates the power of clear visual communication. The key is to find a system that works for your family and your living situation. It could be a specific hat you wear when you need to focus, a sign on your door, or even a designated “quiet time” signal.

It’s important to remember that these cues aren’t foolproof, especially with very young children. There will be times when your signals break down, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection, but rather to create a system that generally reduces interruptions and allows you to carve out those essential blocks of focused time. It’s about setting clear boundaries in a gentle, understandable way.

Communicate Your Schedule with Others

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, communicate your situation and schedule with everyone around you. This includes your partner, other family members, and especially your colleagues and boss. Transparency is your ally in navigating the complexities of working from home with kids.

Don’t be afraid to let your coworkers know that you have children at home and that there might be occasional background noise or brief interruptions. Chances are, many of them are in similar situations and will be empathetic. This open communication can alleviate stress and prevent misunderstandings. For example, before a meeting, you might say, “Just a heads-up, my kids are awake, so you might hear some background noise or I might need to mute for a moment.” This sets expectations and creates a more understanding environment.

At Asian Efficiency, we all work remotely, and many of us have kids. It’s common to hear children in the background during meetings, and it’s simply part of our reality. We understand and support each other. This collective understanding fosters a culture of flexibility and empathy.

Remember, you don’t have to pretend everything is perfect. Be honest about your challenges and needs. If you need an extra day to complete a task, communicate that proactively. The more open you are, the more flexibility and support you’ll receive. It’s about building a network of understanding and support, both at home and at work. Your honesty will not only benefit you but also create a more compassionate and realistic work environment for everyone.

Remember that feeling when you first got a smartphone, and suddenly, the world was at your fingertips? Or when you discovered cloud storage, and the fear of losing your files vanished? It’s that same sense of transformative possibility that’s buzzing around Apple’s latest announcements, especially with the introduction of Apple Intelligence. It’s not just about new gadgets; it’s about a fundamental shift in how we interact with our technology, making our digital lives smoother, smarter, and significantly more productive.

For years, my iPhone 12 Pro has been a trusty companion. It did everything I needed, and honestly, I saw no compelling reason to upgrade. A better camera lens? More storage? Nice, but not enough to justify the cost. But then came the recent WWDC, and suddenly, I felt that familiar pull. The kind that makes you think, “Okay, this is different. This is something I want to be a part of.” It’s not just me; my co-host Brooks Duncan, who’s usually pretty pragmatic about tech upgrades, felt it too. This isn’t just another incremental update; it’s a leap forward, especially for anyone serious about productivity.

The Calculator App: A Glimpse into the Future of Work

One of the most talked-about features, surprisingly, was the iPad’s new calculator app. On the surface, it sounds underwhelming. A calculator? Finally? But then they showed “Math Notes.” Imagine writing out complex equations with your Apple Pencil, and as soon as you add an equal sign, the solution appears instantly. You can even update variables, and the results recalculate in real time. It’s mind-blowing.

This isn’t just a cool party trick; it’s a powerful illustration of how AI will reshape our work. In my Four-Day AI Sprints course, I always point out that the future of work is AI-driven. We don’t need to understand every detail of how a tool works; we just need to know how to use it effectively. Think about driving a car. You rarely know the mechanics behind the engine, but you still drive it effortlessly from point A to point B. The same principle applies here.

Apple Intelligence: Embracing the AI Era

Apple has opted for the term “Apple Intelligence” rather than just AI. This not only highlights their smart branding but also underscores their focus on privacy. A key feature is on-device processing that keeps most of your personal data right there on your device or in a private cloud environment. It takes away a lot of the fear about data being shared more broadly.

Your iPhone harbors a treasure trove of personal data: photos, notes, app histories, and more. By using this unique data set as a personal large language model, Apple Intelligence learns your habits and preferences. Imagine Siri not only hearing your commands but anticipating them – like automatically ordering your favorite coffee after your morning workout or suggesting a protein shake when you’re running low. This is a glimpse into a future where technology works for you in the background, quietly enhancing your efficiency.

Beyond the Basics: Features to Enhance Your Daily Workflow

Along with upgrades to Siri, there are several new features designed to improve your daily productivity:

– Priority Notifications: Instead of drowning in non-essential alerts, Apple Intelligence learns which notifications truly matter and brings them to the forefront.

– Enhanced Focus Modes: These are not about shutting everything out, but about intelligently filtering interruptions so you stay in the zone during deep work sessions.

– Integrated Writing Tools: Picture drafting an email in Apple Mail or a document in Pages where a single tap can polish your text—making it more professional or concise—without needing to jump between apps.

And that’s not all. There are subtle innovations like improved window management on macOS, intuitive home screen customizations, and even scheduling for text messages. While these might seem small on their own, together they create a seamless, powerful digital environment that lets you get more done without extra effort.

I remember a time when my weekends felt like marathons. I was over-scheduled, rushing from one event to the next, always feeling like I had missed out on something. Even though I was busy all the time, I never felt truly refreshed at the end of the days. It wasn’t until I took a step back and asked myself one simple question – what would make my weekend really good – that everything changed. This realization transformed even the busiest of weekends into precious time for rejuvenation and growth.

Today, I want to share a simple blueprint to help you design a weekend that leaves you feeling recharged and ready for the week ahead. Whether you’re juggling work, family, or personal projects, learning to create balance on your days off can be a game-changer. Let’s dive into how you can intentionally shape your weekend to boost your overall well-being.

1. Define Your Ideal Weekend

Have you ever stopped to think about what a good weekend really means to you? For some, it might be a day of total rest; for others, it could include a mix of meaningful activities and relaxed downtime. The first step is to clearly define what success looks like at the end of your weekend.

• Ask Yourself: What would make your weekend feel truly successful? Write down one or two ideas that are non-negotiable for your happiness. For example, it could be having a quiet morning to yourself, getting outdoors, or spending quality time with a friend.
• Pick a Flag: Choose at least one key activity or experience that will serve as your anchor. This might be a morning walk in nature or a long, undisturbed coffee break. Having that one centerpiece helps ground your weekend in something that matters to you.

Reflect on this: When was the last time you intentionally planned your leisure time instead of just reacting to what came your way? This simple step can make all the difference.

2. Cherish Quality Time with People You Care About

One of the most potent ingredients for a good weekend is quality time with people who lift you up. I learned early on that the energy from genuine connections can be a secret weapon in resetting your mindset. It isn’t about filling every moment with interactions; rather, it is about choosing meaningful, uplifting encounters.

Consider these actionable tips:

1. Make a List: Think of three to five people who add positive energy to your life. These might be close friends or family members you haven’t connected with in a while.
2. Set a Plan: Decide on an activity that feels natural and satisfying. It might be a shared meal, a casual outing, or even a simple phone call to check in with someone.
3. Say No to Obligations: Not every invitation is a must. If spending time with a certain group feels like an obligation rather than a joy, allow yourself the space to skip it.

Remember, research shows that spending time with people you care about can boost your life satisfaction significantly. What small step can you take this weekend to deepen a meaningful connection? Sometimes, it’s the simple act of reaching out that makes all the difference.

3. Embrace Spontaneity by Leaving Room for Flexibility

Having a plan is important, but so is leaving space for the unexpected. I used to fill my weekends with tightly packed schedules until I realized that over-committing can drain your energy and stifle creativity. The key is finding a balance between structure and spontaneity.

Why Flexibility Matters:

• Unexpected Opportunities: Sometimes the best ideas or moments happen when you least expect them. Leaving gaps in your schedule gives you the freedom to explore these opportunities.
• Reduce Stress: A packed calendar can become overwhelming. When you leave open blocks of time, you give yourself the breathing room needed to recharge.
• Personal Reflection: An unstructured period can be a great time for a personal check-in. Think about what you need in that moment without a strict agenda pressing you.

Consider applying these ideas:

• Limit your weekend commitments by scheduling only the essential activities.
• Block out at least one long period where nothing is planned. Use this time for exercise, a hobby, or simply to relax.
• When an unexpected invitation comes up, having free space on your calendar makes it much easier to say yes.

Ask yourself: Would you rather stick to a rigid plan or allow yourself the possibility of a delightful surprise?

Bringing It All Together: Your Weekend Blueprint

A good weekend is not about being busy; it is about being intentional with your time. Here’s a simple framework to design a weekend that nourishes both your body and mind:

1. Start with Intention: Decide one key thing that will define your weekend. It could be as simple as spending an hour outdoors or reading your favorite book.
2. Prioritize Meaningful Connections: Touch base with the people who add value to your life, even if it means just a quick coffee or a text conversation.
3. Keep It Flexible: Don’t pressure yourself to stick to a master schedule. Allow for flexibility so that you can enjoy spontaneous moments without guilt.

By following this blueprint, you can transform your weekends from a series of tasks into a restorative ritual that propels you into the coming week with clarity and vigor.

Final Thoughts

Your weekend holds the potential to reset your mindset for the entire week. Instead of letting it slip away in reaction to endless obligations, take control and shape your off days into something that truly matters. Ask yourself what would make your weekend truly good, invest in meaningful relationships, and always leave room for the unexpected in your schedule.

Next time you approach the weekend, reflect on these steps. What small change can you make that will have a big impact on your energy and productivity? Try setting one clear intention for your weekend and see how it transforms your outlook. It might just be the breakthrough you need to balance the demands of a busy life with the enjoyment of truly living.

Remember, a good weekend is not a luxury—it’s an essential part of sustaining a productive and fulfilling life. Before your next busy week begins, give yourself permission to take a step back, relax, and recharge.

Ever feel like you’re running on fumes, even when you’ve technically got the time to tackle your to-do list? You’ve blocked out an hour for that big project, but when the time comes, your brain feels like it’s wading through treacle. You might think it’s procrastination, or a lack of interest, but often, it’s simply an energy problem. It’s like having a supercar with an empty fuel tank—all the potential in the world, but no way to get moving.

This isn’t just about having enough hours in the day; it’s about having the right kind of energy for the right tasks. We often focus on time management, but the truth is, energy management is the silent, powerful engine behind true productivity. When your energy is aligned with your tasks, everything flows better, feels easier, and gets done more effectively.

Understanding Your Energy Cycles: Are You a Morning Person, Night Owl, or Something Else?

Think back to your college days. Were you burning the midnight oil, or were you up with the sun, ready to conquer the world? For many of us, those energy patterns shift over time. I used to be a night owl in college, then a super early morning person in my 20s, and now I’m more of a mid-morning guy, hitting my stride around [7:30] or 8 AM. My co-host, Brooks, has gone the opposite way, becoming an extreme morning person who’s ready for bed by 9 PM.

The key here is self-awareness. We all have natural peaks and valleys in our energy throughout the day. A night owl feels most energetic and focused late in the day, while a morning person thrives in the early hours. Some of us are somewhere in the middle. Knowing your unique cycle is the ultimate productivity hack.

> When do you typically have your peaks and valleys?

For me, my peak energy and creativity hit between 8 AM and noon. Once I realized this, I made a conscious shift. I used to work out in the mornings, but that was when my brain was at its sharpest. So, I moved my workouts to the afternoons, when my energy naturally dips. This allowed me to dedicate my peak hours to high-energy tasks like scripting, content creation, and writing newsletters—anything that required deep thinking and focus. The result? My work became more enjoyable, I got more done, and things just felt easier. Even though I was doing the same activities, simply changing the order made a world of difference.

Now, you might be thinking, “But Thanh, I don’t have a flexible schedule like that. I work a 9-to-5!” And I get it. But even within a fixed schedule, there are powerful tweaks you can make.

Aligning Tasks with Your Energy: High, Medium, and Low

Imagine categorizing your tasks not just by urgency, but by the energy they demand. This is a concept I experimented with years ago, even trying to label tasks in OmniFocus as “high energy,” “medium energy,” or “low energy.” While I didn’t stick with the rigid system long-term (it can get a bit too “fiddly,” as Brooks would say), the exercise itself was incredibly insightful.

It forces you to take inventory of your to-do list and truly understand what each task requires from you. Most people struggle to identify what’s truly important, so everything looks equally urgent. But when you add the energy component, you gain a new lens for strategic planning.

What would be a high, medium, and low energy task for you?

For me, high-energy tasks are anything that requires deep thinking and creativity: scripting, content creation, writing newsletters, teaching. Medium-energy tasks are those that require focus but less intense thought, like creating outlines or double-checking someone’s work. Low-energy tasks are administrative: checking emails, uploading files, attending routine meetings.

Brooks, as a content creator, also identifies building courses, making and editing videos, and live presentations as high-energy activities. He pushes tasks like organizing, learning new skills, or reviewing tickets to his lower-energy periods. The goal is to front-load your day with your most demanding work during your peak energy times.

Practical Strategies for Maximizing Your Energy

Even if you have a fixed 9-to-5, you can implement these strategies to align your energy with your work:

• Block Off Your Peak Times: If possible, block out time on your calendar during your peak energy periods. Even if you don’t know exactly what you’ll be working on, this protects your focus time from meetings and interruptions. You can fill in the specific tasks later. If someone tries to book you during your peak, suggest an afternoon slot when your energy is naturally lower. This isn’t about being unavailable; it’s about protecting your most valuable asset—your focused energy.
• Delegate or Automate Low-Energy Tasks: If you have a team, an intern, or even the possibility of using AI tools, offload those low-energy tasks. Why spend your precious mental fuel on something that can be done by someone else or automated? Tools like ChatGPT and other AI solutions are transforming how we handle mundane tasks, freeing up your time and energy for higher-value work.
• Question the Timing: As Brooks wisely points out, we often feel compelled to do things immediately, especially if we’re people-pleasers. But sometimes, you have more leeway than you think. If someone asks you to do something, it’s okay to clarify the deadline or suggest a later time. A simple, “Is it possible to do this next week?” can often be met with a “Yes, no problem,” saving your energy for when you truly need it.
• Embrace Movement and Micro-Breaks: You don’t need a full nap (though if you can swing it, go for it!). Even small movements can recharge you. Get up from your desk, go for a short walk, grab a glass of water (or, like Brooks, use a smaller mug to force more trips to the kitchen!). I make it a point to walk for 10 minutes after every meal to aid digestion and boost energy. These little shifts prevent you from being chained to your desk and can significantly impact your energy levels.
• Prioritize Breaks and Recovery: This is perhaps the most underrated productivity hack. Most people don’t take enough breaks. For every 90 minutes of work, aim for a 15-30 minute break. These aren’t periods to feel guilty about; they’re active recovery. Think of them as pit stops for your brain. A 10-minute meditation with an app like Calm can reset your mind, giving you a fresh start. If you can get two hours of uninterrupted, focused work in an eight-hour day, that’s a win. The rest of the time is for breaks, lower-energy tasks, and recovery.

Building Self-Awareness for Lasting Change

To truly master energy management, you need to understand yourself. Tools like fitness trackers (Apple Watch, Oura Ring) can provide data on your sleep and energy patterns. Journaling is another powerful way to track your peaks and valleys, helping you identify what boosts or drains your energy. Ask yourself: “How am I feeling right now?” and then, “What made me feel this way?” This deeper reflection helps you uncover patterns and make informed adjustments.

Remember, the goal isn’t to work harder, but to work smarter by aligning your efforts with your natural energy flow. By understanding your unique energy cycles and strategically planning your day, you can unlock a new level of productivity without sacrificing your well-being.

I used to think productivity was all about cramming more into my day. I’d wake up, immediately dive into emails, and try to tackle my to-do list before my coffee even kicked in. The result? A constant feeling of being rushed, overwhelmed, and frankly, not very productive at all. It felt like I was always playing catch-up, and my days often ended with me feeling drained and unaccomplished.

Then I realized something crucial: true productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about setting yourself up for success. And for me, that revelation came through understanding the power of what we at Asian Efficiency call a “rise ritual.” It’s not just a morning routine; it’s a personalized set of actions you take after waking up, whenever that may be, to prime your mind and body for a focused and effective day. This isn’t about rigid schedules or waking up at 4 AM (unless that works for you!). It’s about intentionality and creating space for yourself before the demands of the day take over.

Make Time, Don’t Find Time

One of the biggest misconceptions about a rise ritual is that you need to “find” time for it. The truth is, you have to make time. For years, I struggled with this. Living in Los Angeles, my mornings were a blur of rushing to work, often eating in the car. I wanted a morning routine, but it felt impossible to fit in. I was already lacking sleep, going to bed late, and waking up just in time to commute.

My breakthrough came when I stopped trying to wake up earlier and instead focused on going to bed earlier. It sounds simple, but it was a game-changer. By shifting my bedtime, I created the space I needed to actually implement a routine. I could read, reflect, and prepare for the day without feeling like I was sacrificing precious sleep or rushing through everything. This wasn’t about magically hoping for a different tomorrow; it was about intentionally adjusting my habits to support my goals.

Many people fall into the trap of trying to force an “ideal” routine into an unrealistic schedule. They envision doing yoga, planning their day, reading a chapter, and calling friends, all before the kids are up or an early meeting starts. Life happens. Kids, commutes, early meetings across time zones, unexpected surprises – these all impact your morning. The key is to assess your current situation and see what you can adjust. Maybe it’s your sleep pattern, like it was for me. Maybe it’s doing some “pre-work” the night before, like planning your day in the evening instead of the morning. The goal is to create a realistic time duration you can commit to, even if it means stacking tasks or making small adjustments.

*What small adjustment can you make today to create more space for yourself in the morning?

Personalize Your Routine: One Size Does Not Fit All

I’ll admit, I used to be a sucker for reading about other people’s routines. I’d see successful individuals doing certain things and think, “Oh, I should be doing that too!” Whether it was Benjamin Franklin’s schedule or a popular entrepreneur’s morning habits, I tried to emulate them. But I eventually realized that my life, my goals, and my situation are unique. Why should my rise ritual be the same as someone else’s?

The power of a rise ritual lies in its personalization. It should support your goals and help you have a good day. Instead of copying, think in terms of categories of activities that can contribute to a productive start. You don’t have to do something from every category, but consider what resonates with you:

• Movement: Stretching, light exercise, a walk, or a gym session. This gets your body moving and blood flowing.
• Mindfulness: Reading, meditation, gratitude exercises, or journaling. This helps you engage your mind and set a positive tone.
• Planning: Visualization, affirmations, or outlining your day. This provides clarity and direction.
• Nourishment: Drinking water, coffee, tea, or a healthy breakfast. This fuels your body.
• Other: Family time, preparing for the day, or anything else that brings you peace or prepares you for what’s ahead.

For me, my rise ritual takes about 30-40 minutes. I used to exercise in the morning, but I’ve shifted that to the afternoon. I realized my energy dips then, and a workout helps me power through. This frees up my mornings for deep, focused work. The most important thing is what makes you feel good and productive. It’s an iterative process; don’t expect perfection from day one.

*Which of these categories speaks to you most, and what’s one small thing you could try from it?

Embrace Imperfection: The “Something is Better Than Nothing” Rule

Life is unpredictable. There will be days when your perfectly planned rise ritual goes completely off the rails. My co-host Brooks recently shared how his morning routine was disrupted when he had to take his son for a driver’s test. Things like travel, unexpected appointments, or even just a bad night’s sleep can throw you off. The danger here is that one missed day can easily turn into two, and suddenly your entire routine is abandoned.

This is where the “something is better than nothing” rule comes in. Just because you can’t do your full rise ritual doesn’t mean you should ditch it entirely. Instead, have a compressed version ready. Identify your non-negotiables – the absolute core elements you want to do every day. Then, know what’s droppable or can be shifted to later in the day. For Brooks, reading for 30 minutes is a core part of his routine, but it’s also the first thing to go if his schedule gets wacky. He’ll just read later in the day.

I used to be the person who, if I couldn’t do a full 60-minute workout, I’d skip it altogether. Now, if I only have 40 minutes, I’ll do a compressed version. Maybe two sets instead of three. The point is to maintain momentum. The worst thing you can do is skip it twice in a row. It’s much harder to get back on track once you’ve lost that rhythm. Imperfection is part of the process. Be okay with it, adjust, and keep moving forward.

*What are your non-negotiables for a productive start to your day, and what’s your plan for when things don’t go as planned?

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]

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We’re constantly told that life is supposed to have Meaning.

Capital M, neon-sign-flashing-in-the-dark, meaning.

Uh-huh. Sure. That’s the kind of thing people say in interviews with The New Yorker or after running a marathon. But for something so universal, the whole “meaning of life” thing remains disturbingly unresolved.

The terms and conditions for existence are the only ones we’d actually read but also the only ones we don’t actually get. You’d think, given how many centuries humans have been at this, we would’ve nailed it down by now, like the best way to cook bacon. Trying to find meaning can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle is also made of hay, and you’re not entirely certain what a needle is.

So how do we do it? Or at least make life feel more meaningful? Well, I know where we can find some answers…

Steven J. Heine is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. His book is “Start Making Sense.”

Let’s get to it…

 

Self-Grounding

Want a quick way to boost that feeling of meaning? Do what’s called a “self-grounding exercise.”

Here’s the “technique” and I am using quotation marks because calling this a technique feels like calling microwaving a Hot Pocket “cooking.” It requires about as much effort as writing a grocery list.

Pick a value: kindness, loyalty, not yelling at call center workers, whatever. Write a small paragraph about why it matters to you. That’s it.

Simple as it sounds, this isn’t pop-psychological snake oil. It emerges from Claude Steele’s self-affirmation theory, a body of research so well-established that dozens of studies have confirmed its effects: a temporary boost in meaning, improved academic performance, even a more forgiving attitude toward one’s past poor decisions.

Sure beats brushing your teeth while screaming into the mirror.

(For more on how to find meaning in life, click here.)

So what’s another quick way to get a boost of meaning?

 

Nostalgia

You primarily get it accidentally via Facebook “Remember When” posts. But it deserves a little more respect than that.

Nostalgia helps us make sense of our lives. It provides narrative structure, which is desperately needed when most days feel like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure story where every choice somehow ends with meh.

Here’s the psychology: humans hate open loops. We hate chaos. Nostalgia is a way of shutting the loop, of saying, “No, no, it all led here.” With nostalgia, life’s a journey. Nostalgia says you’re progressing, that it isn’t all just entropy with a soundtrack.

You stare at a Polaroid of yourself at eight years old (bowl haircut, missing teeth, Ninja Turtles backpack) and for a brief, hallucinatory second, you believe your life is not an aimless accumulation of trivialities but rather a novel with a discernible plot, a protagonist, and maybe even a moral arc.

Nostalgia makes you less bothered by your problems. Because if you can believe that once upon a time you felt carefree and invincible then maybe today’s challenges aren’t the end of the world either.

And if you’ll excuse me, I have to go watch a grainy VHS copy of “The Goonies.”

(For more on how to use nostalgia to improve your life, click here.)

Okay, time to take it up a notch and actually leave the house…

 

The Transcendent

Most days the news reads like a never-ending list of despair, every ping of your phone bringing fresh evidence of some small apocalypse…

But then you stumble out at night, stare at the stars, and for a brief, dazzling nanosecond, you feel at one with the universe.

You feel a little awe. And you need to feel that more often.

The irony? Real transcendence doesn’t make you feel bigger; it makes you feel smaller. You think transcendence is about enlightenment. It’s not. It’s about relief. Relief from what? From you. From the constant, difficult labor of being you.

Transcendence untethers us from our normal operating system. Those frantic loops of acquisition, comparison, grievance. And for a while we float above the grim bureaucracy of daily life.

(For more about how to increase the amount of awe in your life, click here.)

Okay, enough little tricks. Time to dig deeper for some real meaning-making…

 

Relationships

The real shortcut to existential significance isn’t found in a wellness influencer’s feed. It’s found in relationships, those messy, noisy, irritating, and absolutely necessary entanglements with other people that remind you you’re more than just a collection of bad habits wrapped in skin.

Children are the ultimate subscription service for meaning. You don’t have time to question the void when you’re too busy wiping applesauce out of your hair and explaining why, no, you cannot marry a cartoon character. Your continued existence becomes crucial because if you don’t show up, someone literally dies.

Overall, family can feel like a dirty trick life plays on us: you spend your adolescence trying desperately to get away from them, only to spend adulthood realizing that they are the only people genetically obligated to tolerate you.

Family not an option? Join a group. It doesn’t even have to be a good group. It can be the “We Hate How Expensive Avocados Are” Facebook group. Just find a crew. Find something stupid and decide it’s sacred. That’s literally how cults start and honestly, I respect the hustle.

One way or another, reach out to people. Not just when you need something. Not just when you’re lonely. But because they exist, and so do you, and the space between that is something holy if you bother to look.

Meaning is constructed, fabricated, stitched together out of obligation, loyalty, neediness, and a desperate, gorgeous refusal to give up on each other. If you’re waiting until you feel “whole” to show up for your kid, your family, your trivia team, you will die waiting. Show up broken. Show up faking it. Show up resentful and messy and tired. Show up anyway. That’s where meaning is. That’s the whole game. That’s all there ever was.

Now answer that text from your mom.

(For more on how to improve your relationships, check out my bestseller on the subject here.)

Some people are not going to like this next one but that doesn’t make it any less true…

 

Work

Let’s get this out of the way: yes, work can suck. You have to interact with people, some of whom pronounce “espresso” with an “x”. You have to answer emails, usually from someone who is wrong and also loud about it.

But we need it. We crave structure. We crave belonging. We crave a reason for being that isn’t just binge-watching true crime documentaries and wondering why you feel anxious all the time. Work fills that void. Even if it’s deeply imperfect.

Work gives you social structure. You have people to complain with, and that, my friend, is the glue of civilization. That’s tribal cohesion. The strongest bonds you form at work are with the person who’s also hiding in the supply closet during the team-building exercise.

Work also gives you purpose, which sounds embarrassingly earnest until you’ve tried living without it. We’re not talking about saving-the-world purpose here. But even the dumbest task gives you something to push against. A form. A shape. Sounds unimportant, but you know what’s worse? You, unsupervised.

Because here’s the thing: without work, you don’t become your truest self. You become your worst self. All you’ve done is switch bosses. Instead of answering to Susan from operations, you now answer to your bad habits, which are far worse and don’t even give you dental.

(For more on how to have a fulfilling career, click here.)

Okay, time for the big one…

 

Story

Real life, left to its own devices, is not a story. It is a slow-motion avalanche of obligations, minor regrets, and unanswered emails. They do not “add up.” They simply happen. And that, I would argue, is intolerable to the narrative-seeking, pattern-hungry minds of a species that invented both religion and Sudoku.

Enter Joseph Campbell and “The Hero’s Journey.” If you’ve taken a high school English class or accidentally watched “The Lion King” with a humanities major, you’ve heard of this. You’ve seen it in Harry Potter and literally every Pixar movie that made you cry about a lamp or a fish or whatever. Campbell’s structure, for all its overuse and Instagram bastardization, offers a way to interpret the mess.

Yes, we’re going to transform your life into “Star Wars”, but with less incest. Let’s break this sucker down. Seven parts to turn the bloated mess of your existence into a tale worth retelling, preferably over scotch and not therapy.

Think about a challenging time in your life where you overcame difficulty. We’re going to turn it into your superhero origin story:

1-The Protagonist (That’s You)

The main character. Before conflict shaped you for the better. (Yes, it did. Remember: even Luke Skywalker started out whining about power converters.)

2-The Shift: The Plot Twist No One Ordered

This is the moment when your previously stable world was upended. Could be you realized your job was eating your soul. That your partner didn’t know you anymore. That you didn’t know you anymore. Whatever it was, this is where the story starts.

3-The Quest: The Journey You Didn’t Want But Couldn’t Avoid

You had to do something about The Shift. The Quest is the part where you do something differently, where you make an effort and try. Not because you believe it will work, but because not trying is worse.

4-Allies: Not All Of Them Wear Capes

Somebody helped you. Nothing says “main character” like assembling your Fellowship of the Existential Crisis.

5-The Challenge (Insert Screaming Sound Here)

You initially struggled. You must struggle. That’s the point. The challenge isn’t really about victory. It’s about showing up anyway.

6-Transformation: Becoming (Slightly) Less Terrible

Forged in the fire of The Challenge, something changes. Not in the world, but in you. A realization. A re-prioritization of what matters.

7-Legacy: Leave the Place a Bit Less On Fire Than You Found It

Here’s the final part: you give back. Maybe you mentor someone. It’s the part where this story stops being just yours. The legacy of a good life is the relief it brings to others. Sometimes it’s being the person you once needed, for someone else.

Yeah, it’s all a bit twee and self-indulgent. But it beats the hell out of nihilism. Because without a story, your life isn’t a life; it’s just a to-do list with a death date.

The genius of this structure isn’t that it’s “true.” It’s that it’s useful. You manufacture significance through narrative coherence. Because when you skip that part? When your life is just a series of disconnected tasks and frustrations, without arc or resolution?

You don’t just feel lost.

You are lost.

(For more on how to create a meaningful story for your life, click here.)

Okay, we’ve covered a lot. Time to round it up and answer the big question of why meaning matters…

 

Sum Up

Here’s how to find meaning in life…

• Self-Grounding: Write a paragraph about a value that’s important to you. It’s simple, it’s easy and it’s far more tolerable than listening to motivational podcasts hosted by men who wear too many rings.
• Nostalgia: Indulging in nostalgia gives you a temporary boost of meaning. It’s a button-mashing cheat code for the game of life when you’re stuck in the quicksand of Now.
• The Transcendent: Get out in nature and feel some awe. Cue the violins, release the doves, quick, someone knit me a dreamcatcher. It’s transcendence, baby.
• Relationships: There is a very particular species of loneliness that descends on a person who has no one to attend to and no one attending to them. A loneliness that feels less like solitude and more like you’re a clerical error in the filing system of the universe.
• Work: If you weren’t working, you wouldn’t be writing a novel or starting that nonprofit. You’d be on your couch, in yesterday’s underwear, scrolling Instagram Reels until you feel like your soul’s been microwaved. Work provides structure and purpose.
• Story: If you’re not the hero of your own story, odds are you’re the side character in someone else’s. And trust me: they’re not paying you enough for that role.

When you start doing things that give you meaning, life starts getting better. It’s like your existential tinnitus has mercifully dulled. You stop measuring your worth in other people’s envy. You’re less bitter because you’re not in competition. You do things and you don’t immediately expect praise or likes. You do them because they matter. Even when no one sees it.

Meaning re-humanizes you. It resuscitates the parts of you that get trampled in the long, dull march of survival. You go from thinking of life as an endless sequence of things you have to get through, to realizing it’s something you get to live.

We treat meaning like it’s a side quest we’ll get to once we’ve unlocked the main mission of “Having It All™.” But spoiler alert: Having It All is a lie. Meaning is right here, in the tiny choices you make every day, disguised as responsibilities.

Raise a kid. Care for an aging parent. Build a community. Show up for someone who will never, ever say thank you. Risk being misunderstood. Risk mattering.

“But that sounds hard.”

It is. It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, you wouldn’t feel like it meant anything. And no, it won’t always feel transcendent. In fact, most of the time it’ll feel like nothing at all. You won’t feel like a better person when you clean up vomit at 3 a.m. or when you drive your cousin to chemo. There is no montage. There is no score. There is only you, doing what you believe needs to be done.

I have spent much of my life searching for meaning, and I can confidently report that I have found it approximately one million times and also not at all. I have found it in the lyrics of a song I played on repeat during a hard year. I have found it in a stranger holding the door open for me at a grocery store. I have found it in the quiet companionship of sitting beside someone I love.

I don’t have all the answers. But I do know that last week, I laughed so hard with a friend that my stomach hurt, and in that moment, I wasn’t worried about the question at all.

The son of a Wisconsin schoolteacher, Todd Bol was well into his fifties when he dreamt up the first Little Free Library, not expecting that tens of thousands of these tiny shrines to the love of reading would sprout around the world to outlive him.

I was visiting a friend on the other side of the continent when I encountered a Little Free Library for the first time. I fell in love instantly. Years passed. I kept thinking about it. As soon as I moved into my Brooklyn home in the autumn of 2018, I put one up in front of my house, painted it yellow, and left a few well-loved books inside.

That week, Todd Bol died.

In the years since, in our community of artists and low-income families with kids, nowhere near a bookstore, with only an understocked and overrun public library branch to suffice, I have watched my Little Free Library bustle with books given and taken, spanning the entire spectrum of genres, eras, and sensibilities.

One day during a challenging season of being, longing for something that would turn my spiraling mind outward, knowing that a daily creative practice has always been my best medicine and that constraint is the mightiest catalyst of creativity, I decided to try applying my bird divination process to the Little Free Library, trusting the lovely way our imagination has of surprising us and, in doing so, reminding us that even in the bleakest moments it is worth turning the page of experience because the imagination of life is always greater than that of the living.

Every day for thirty days, I took a random book from the Little Free Library, opened to a random page, and worked with the text on it, making no aesthetic judgments about the literary value of the books — self-help, airport romance novels, finance textbooks, breastfeeding guides, Lemony Snicket, Tolstoy, Ayn Rand, Harry Potter, and the Bible were all raw material on equal par.

As every creative person knows, and as Lewis Carroll so perfectly articulated in his advice on working through difficulty in math and in life, our most original and unexpected ideas arrive not when we strain the mind at the problem, but when we relax it and shift the beam of attention to something else entirely; it is then that the unconscious shines its sidewise gleam on an unexpected solution no deliberate effort could have produced.

After reading over the page, I would take a long walk to let the words float in my mind as I knelt to look at small things — pebbles, petals, leaves, feathers, and a whole lot of that great teacher in resilience, lichen — picking one thing up to take home. The words invariably arranged themselves unconsciously into the day’s… divination? koan? poem?… that always surprised me, always revealed what I myself needed to hear that some part of me already knew.

Upon returning home, I would place the found object under my microscope and take a photograph — cellular and planetary at the same time, itself an invitation to a shift in perspective — then begin laying out the text over the image.

Here they all are — perhaps uncommon gifts for the book-lover in your life, perhaps simply inspiration to try the practice yourself — available as translucent 4×4 blocks with proceeds supporting my endeavor to put up Little Free Libraries in book deserts throughout the five boroughs of New York City — communities more than a mile from a public library or bookstore.

Everybody craves respect but not everyone earns it. Some people believe that a title, years of experience, or a position of authority automatically entitles them to respect.

That may work temporarily, but genuine respect can’t be demanded. It must be earned through character, behaviour, and example.

As John Bytheway rightly said, “It is better to be respected than it is to be popular. Popularity ends on yearbook day, but respect lasts forever.”

In today’s world, people don’t want to be treated as subordinates; they want to feel trusted, empowered and valued. They prefer soft leadership over hard leadership. Leaders who influence rather than impose are the ones who ultimately earn respect.

Respect Can’t Be Demanded, It Must Be Commanded

Manipulation, ego, and coercion never create respect. Leaders who truly earn respect:

• Show genuine warmth toward others

• Lead by example rather than authority

• Empower instead of dictate

• Use influence, not intimidation

• Value contribution over control

If followers feel that their leaders genuinely deserve respect, they will offer it freely and gladly.

The Story of Susan: “I’m the Boss”

Susan had worked in the research department for nine years, with six years of previous experience in another sector. She built a strong foundation and naturally became the go-to person for new employees, regardless of their background.

Over time, she began to expect and eventually demand respect simply because of her seniority.

When Ron joined the department with almost 20 years of experience in other companies, he entered with humility. He wanted to learn, grow, and eventually return to academia as a faculty member.

But he soon realised that some seniors, including Susan, weren’t interested in collaboration, only compliance.

They used their experience as leverage, not leadership. The “buddy system” became a tool for exploitation rather than mentorship. Seniors would delegate all the work to new employees and take the credit.

If the newcomers didn’t comply, they risked losing their chance to author books independently, a requirement in the department.

Ron eventually refused to accept this dynamic. Instead of complaining endlessly, he thought creatively, sought experienced collaborators from other departments, completed his projects, and bypassed the cycle of exploitation.

His quiet persistence exposed the truth: Respect doesn’t come from tenure. It comes from contribution.

The lesson? Titles and experience don’t qualify someone for respect. What truly matters is the impression you leave on others through integrity, guidance, skill, and character.

Level 5 Leaders Command Respect Naturally

What you give is what you get, especially with respect. It works like an echo: you hear what you project. The most respected leaders don’t chase admiration; they chase purpose, excellence, growth, and impact. Respect follows them naturally, almost as a side-effect.

Jim Collins, in Good to Great, describes this as Level 5 Leadership, a powerful blend of:

• Humility

• Passion for excellence

• Professional will

• Service to others

These leaders don’t demand respect. They command it, quietly, consistently, and through undeniable example.

People Are Better Judges Than Ever Before

Today’s world is more connected, informed, and discerning than any other time in history. Leaders can’t hide behind polished resumes or impressive titles. People observe actions, not introductions.

The greatest leaders in history, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., never asked to be respected. They acted on their values, and respect naturally followed. Even Gandhi rejected the title “Mahatma” because recognition was never the goal; impact was.

Ultimately, people are excellent judges of character. They see:

• Who listens (not just speaks)

• Who empowers (not just commands)

• Who guides (not just criticises)

• Who serves (not just leads)

Respect comes from behaviour, not position.

Key Takeaways: How to Command Respect

To truly earn respect, leaders must:

• Treat everyone equally, from interns to executives

• Walk their talk consistently

• Stay open-door, open-minded, and accessible

• Influence with humility, not authority

• Focus on impact, not image

• Teach, guide and empower others

Final Thought

Just as people get the government they deserve, leaders get the respect they deserve. Don’t assume respect comes with a job title or seniority. People today are wiser, more aware, and quick to identify authenticity.

If you want respect, don’t ask for it. Earn it. Command it. Live in a way that makes it impossible not to give it.

What do an environmental scientist, a model, and a cancer survivor have in common? They relied on these three strategies to reach their finish lines and become part of my Goal-Crusher Class of 2025.

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🌟 Welcome to Interview with a Goal-Crusher! 🌟

Hi, I’m Coach Tony, and this is Interview with a Goal-Crusher.

This is where I sit down with someone who’s crushing their goals and building a happier life in the process. These are real people, not gurus … just like you. Think of it as free mentoring from people who’ve done the hard work and have the wins (and lessons) to prove it.

Are you ready for a dad joke?
Before we dive in, here's a groan-worthy dad joke as a little palette cleanser. I promise it will be worth every penny you paid for it. 😂
Not all construction work is equally enjoyable. For example, enlarging a drilled hole is boring, but fastening pieces of metal together is riveting.

3 Things I Learned From The Goal-Crusher Class of 2025

2025 is drawing to a close, and I am celebrating three years of sharing stories of how inspirational goal-crushers are building the lives of their dreams one goal at a time.

I’m happy to say the Goal-Crusher Class of 2025 did not disappoint. This year’s group included people who furthered their education, ran big races, explored modeling and bodybuilding, started businesses, closed businesses, changed careers, created art, and even survived cancer.

Talk about diversity.

Instead of sharing a new interview this month, I want to do something a little different.

As I reflected on the Class of 2025, I found three major themes woven through their stories. These themes are powerful goal-crushing lessons.

And if you have a dream buried deep inside you, these goal-crushing pro tips may be the spark you need to follow in their footsteps.

Lesson 1: You don’t need to be ready. Every breakthrough begins with one brave step

If there’s one idea that showed up again and again this year, it’s this: nobody waited for the perfect moment. They moved anyway.

Across the entire Class of 2025, goal-crushers acted while scared, uncertain, or unqualified.

• Hannah ran fifty miles despite not knowing whether she would be able to finish.
• Alex started writing before believing she was an author.
• Margaret got over her own bullshit and did the damn thing.
• Miles didn’t settle for a job that wasn’t working.
• Ashley walked away from a business that looked perfect on paper.
• Marissa pursued professional dance even when people didn’t believe in her.

The universal truth:
Progress didn’t start with confidence.
It started with courage.
Confidence comes from doing the work.

These goal-crushers remind us that courage isn’t a personality trait. It’s a decision. And anyone can make it.

This is the backbone of PMYL: start small, start scared, start anyway.

Lesson 2: Motivation is overrated! Real wins need purpose, mindset and a plan.

Sure, motivation showed up in these stories… but it wasn’t the key ingredient.

Their success was built on purpose, mindset, and alignment.

Every interview reinforced the same pattern: people succeed when their approach matches who they are and why they care.

They built plans around their real lives, not ideal schedules.
They leaned on deep emotional “why” statements that kept them moving when motivation faded.
They treated mindset like a skill to strengthen, not a wish to hope for.

Examples across the board:

• Mallory anchored everything to her lifelong passion for the environment.
• Kayla built internal resilience before building her business.
• Lindsay created a twenty-year plan that flexed around her family.
• Patti had an “after” vision and plan stronger than cancer.
• Teresa embraced progress over perfection while learning as she went.
• Marissa intentionally acted as her own biggest supporter to fortify her mindset.

The truth:
People don’t win because they have more willpower.
They win because their plan, purpose, and mindset are aligned.

That alignment is what turns a maybe into a mission.

Chasing your mission is what carries you on the days when inspiration is gone and life gets in the way.

Lesson 3: Nobody crushes their goals alone

This might be the loudest theme of the entire year.
Support isn’t cheating. It’s the strategy.

The Class of 2025 was collaborative, supported, resourced, and deeply connected.

• Hannah’s running club carried her through her hardest miles.
• Teresa built her business with Rich.
• Allison surrounded herself with mentors and advisors.
• Miles created his “after” with Monica as a full partner.
• Alex leaned on Mallory and her grandmother’s inspiration.
• Lindsay built an entire community of trainers, judges, and family support.
• Patti assembled a team of doctors, friends, and joyful rituals.
• Marissa stayed grounded with help from her mentors.

The truth:
Accountability isn’t optional.
Community multiplies courage.
And success stories rarely happen in isolation.

The proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
If you want to go farther, faster, and with fewer meltdowns, you need people in your corner. Period.

What is the dream buried deep inside you?

The Goal Crusher Class of 2025 is proof of a powerful truth.
Everyone has a dream inside them.
But dreams only turn into success stories when you have a plan and someone in your corner.

Are you ready to stop reading other people’s success stories and finally create your own?
You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to take one brave step.

If you want a simple way to begin, the Project Manage Your Life Starter Kit gives you the structure, tools, and guidance to turn your dream into momentum.

The Starter Kit bundles three powerful resources designed to help you bring your goals to life:

📘 Project Manage Your Life – My complete six-step framework for turning goals into accomplishments.

📝 PMYL Workbook – A companion guide with templates, trackers, and coaching style prompts to help you put the framework into practice.

📩 Email Mini Course – A one-month, guided email experience that helps you build real momentum. It’s your taste test of what PMYL coaching feels like.

The Starter Kit will help you convert that dream into a goal… then a plan… then momentum.

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✨ Start 2026 Already in Motion

If 2025 didn’t turn out the way you hoped, you’re not alone. Mine didn’t either.
So let’s say “fuck it,” call the year done, and start building momentum for 2026 right now.

If you want to enter the new year already moving, join me for the free Say It Out Loud Goal Crusher Coffee Chat on 12/29.
Say your goals out loud, get support, and leave with clarity and energy.

Click below to sign up to join this free online event.

Can’t make the Coffee Chat? Use code 2026STRONG to get 25 percent off the Starter Kit and start today.

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💥 Are you ready to make 2026 the year you stop reading about goal-crushing success stories and become one instead? You don’t need to be ready. You just need to take one brave step, and we’ll do this together.

✨ I believe in you, let me help YOU believe in you! ✨

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Meet Coach Tony

Tony Weaver is a master life coach, technologist, consultant, writer, and founder of Operation Melt.

He helps project managers and other left-brained high-achievers pursue their biggest goals.

Through free resources, personalized coaching, and his proven Project Manage Your Life system, Tony empowers clients to move their dreams from “someday” to success… one step at a time.

Learn more about Project Manage Your Life, the system my clients and I use to crush our goals, at OperationMelt.com/PMYL/

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