I have a question for you...
What’s the single best professional event you’ve been to? (e.g., a conference, mastermind, training, networking event) And what was the #1 thing that made it so impactful?
I'm asking because we're diving deep into the preparation for our first in-person Second Brain Summit in October in LA and I want to make it the best possible experience.
It would mean a lot if you could reply and share your thoughts! Thank you 🙏
From Time-Wasters to Time-Savers: The Art of Using Workday Gaps
There are so many small gaps in our workday – in between meetings, waiting to pick up the kids, or when your computer is going through a software update.
These gaps often aren't long enough to make meaningful progress on anything. So it's all too easy to grab your phone and watch TikTok videos to stay occupied.
I don't know about you, but this doesn't exactly leave me refreshed and motivated to tackle whatever is next.
Here are two ways I like to use these inevitable gaps more "productively":
1. Take a break
Give your eyes and brain a rest by looking away from screens. You can go outside to get some fresh air or even just stare at a wall. What's important is that you're not further stimulating your brain. When you're getting a little bored, you'll actually look forward to diving back into work.
2. Prepare for the next work session
Empty your mind by journaling or brainstorming a list of tasks. You could also identify your next top priority or take care of small tasks so they don’t interrupt you later. Whatever you do now will help you be more focused in your next work session.
What do you like to do in the gaps in your workday? Hit reply and let me know.
The B2B Education Frontier: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Corporate Training
For 10 years, I’ve been immersed in the world of online education.
Yet I’ve been haunted by the feeling that we’re still barely scratching the surface – that after a decade spent translating my methodology into every medium I can think of (even a bestselling book), we’ve not yet reached even 1% of the people who could most benefit from it.
This led me to spend much of the past year researching and investigating what it would look like to radically expand our footprint and spread my message much further and wider.
The answer I arrived at was business-to-business (or B2B) education, also known as “corporate training.”
I’m documenting what I’m learning about B2B education in public so you can accompany me on the journey to understand and master this new domain.
In this first blog post, I cover...
- The B2B vs. B2C mindset (they require different attitudes to navigate successfully)
- Why move into the B2B world
- The three paths of B2B education that determine the business model
- 6 guiding principles for entering the B2B market
How To Use NotebookLM As a Research Tool
I recently published a video on how to use NotebookLM, Google's new AI notetaking tool.
Steven Johnson, who spearheaded the development of NotebookLM, now expanded on my introduction, going into more detail about the best techniques for gathering information from sources such as e-books and others.
He also dives into the extensive tools NotebookLM offers to help you organize and brainstorm ideas once you’ve collected a set of sources to use in your project.
Book Recommendation: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
I can't wait to get my hands on Cal Newport's new book on "The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout."
It challenges our society's definition of productivity, which pushes us to constantly try to do more in less time, leading to overwhelm and burnout.
Newport promises key principles for a more sustainable alternative, shifting your performance toward long-term quality.
(The book comes out on March 5th.)
