Part 6: Maker, Manager, and Consumer — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 6 minutesThis is the sixth blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. In this post, we’ll discuss how the maker, manager, and consumer functions work within our roles. Each of these “hats” we wear within roles has different …

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Part 5: Achieving Your Best Self Through Consistent Weekly Reviews and Daily Planning — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 6 minutesThis is the fifth blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. In this post, I want to help you get the work done to “move the needle” on your Arete projects and habits. We’ll discuss how to …

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Part 4: Using Quarterly and Monthly Planning to Live Your Best Life In Each Role — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 7 minutesThis is the fourth blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. In this post, I want to help you move beyond merely having your roles identified and your Arete “best possible version of yourself” statements written. I’ll …

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Part 3: Using Projects and Habits to Implement Your Arete — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 6 minutesThis is the third blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. In this post, I want to help you move beyond the intellectual exercise of identifying your roles and writing your Arete “best possible version of yourself” …

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Part 2: Identifying Your Roles & Writing Your Arete Statements — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 7 minutesThis is the second blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. I intend to write 10-12 posts covering each of the major topics in the Field Guide. In this post, I want to help you identify your …

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Part 1: Getting Started With a “Carrying Water” List — Working Through the Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 6 minutesThis is the first blog post in a series about my experiences working through the Productivity Field Guide by David Sparks, available in the Plus and the Standard editions. I intend to write 10-12 posts covering each of the major topics in the Field Guide. The Productivity Field Guide comprises a 100+ page PDF or …

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Debunking the Digital vs. Analog Debate: Meaningfulness is Subjective, Not Tool-Dependent

Reading Time: 5 minutesLately, I’ve been hearing a mantra about the relative merits of using analog tools versus digital tools, “Use digital for efficiency; use analog for meaningfulness.” It is stated as though it’s an established truth. I’ve read it and heard it repeated on two popular podcasts. The source of this advice is Chris Bailey, writing In …

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Finding Purpose in Our Work: Letting Go of the Need for Approval and Embracing the Power to Help Others

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen we work, we hope that our work will benefit others. But the reality is that not everyone responds to our work positively with thanks and praise. Instead, we encounter criticism and rejection. The old saying, “You can’t please everyone,” is true. We Can be Influenced By How People Respond to Our Work How people …

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Discover the Life-Changing Productivity System That Will Transform Your Work and Personal Life — MacSparky’s Productivity Field Guide

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen David Sparks (aka MacSparky) started writing about Apple tech, he was a full-time litigation lawyer. He did his “MacSparky” work of writing books, podcasting, and blogging in his spare time. As MacSparky grew, he left his law firm and started his own practice. He did so with the intention of spending about half his …

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All Time is Not Created Equal: How to Schedule Your Work Based on Mental States and Biological Prime Time

Reading Time: 4 minutesHave you ever noticed how your mental state affects your productivity? In this blog post, I will define the mental states affecting our productivity and explore how to schedule our work to take advantage of them. I’ll also discuss the need to change our daily schedule sometimes to accommodate mental states. We’re often unrealistic when …

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