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Productivity Gladiator

Productivity Gladiator

Written by: Productivity Gladiator
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Sharing knowledge, hacks, and ideas on work-life balance and personal productivity, and talking to knowledgeable people in those areas.

 Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • Should I Quit Social Media? A Digital Marketing Expert’s Answer (You’ll Be Surprised) - Corey Perlman

    Should I Quit Social Media? A Digital Marketing Expert’s Answer (You’ll Be Surprised) - Corey Perlman
    Nov 4 2025
    Should I quit social media? A debate with a social media & digital marketing expert - With Corey Perlman What if the secret to winning at social media is barely being on it at all? Brian debates social media expert Corey Perlman, who runs a digital marketing agency but doesn't even have Instagram on his phone—and that contradiction is exactly the point. Turns out the productivity drain isn't social media itself; it's the doom scrolling that's stealing 40 minutes of your day while you pretend you're "networking." Corey drops the truth bomb that influencer metrics and business metrics are completely different games, yet most professionals are playing by Instagram rules and wondering why they feel like failures when seven people like their post.This conversation gets practical fast: discover the "rented land vs. owned land" framework that'll save you from platform catastrophe, learn why your LinkedIn company page isn't dead (just neglected), and find out exactly how to be authentically present online without pressing a single button yourself. Brian and Corey tackle the hypocrite's dilemma head-on—can you tell people to quit social while still posting yourself?—and land on a game-changing distinction that lets you have your cake and eat it too. You'll get the app blocker that nukes newsfeeds while keeping connections alive, the 15-minute commenting strategy that builds real relationships without the scroll spiral, and the truth about which platforms actually matter for your business (hint: stop chasing TikTok if you're selling B2B).If you're trapped between FOMO and burnout, convinced you need social media but hate what it's doing to your brain, this episode hands you the escape hatch. The show notes include all the tools to take back control starting today.References In This EpisodeCorey Perlman – Impact Social Media – Corey's LinkedIn profile and Impact Social Media websiteKey Resources:Authentically Social – Corey's book on being authentic on social media for businessCorey's Instagram – @CoreyPerlmanSpeaksCoreyPerlman.com – Corey's main websiteBrian's Resources:Social Media Addiction with Tech Hacks to Fix It – Brian's blog post with tools to combat social media time wasteShould I Quit Social Media? A Debate With A Focus Expert - Penny Zenker – The primer discussion before this debateBrian's TEDx Talk on Time Management – His signature presentation on productivityTools & Techniques:Block It App – Safari browser extension that blocks social media newsfeeds while keeping notifications visible15-Minute Social Media Blocks – Corey's time-blocking strategy: 15 minutes for OPP (Other People's Posts), 15 minutes for connection requestsContent Creation vs. Posting Separation – Strategy of texting content to someone else to post on your behalfConcepts & Frameworks:Rented Land vs. Owned Land – Understanding which digital properties you control (website, email list) versus platforms you don't (social media)Influencer Marketing vs. Business Marketing – Critical distinction between vanity metrics and conversion metricsQuality Audience Over Large Audience – Business success doesn't require thousands of followers"You Can Be On Social Media Without Being On Social Media" – Chapter from Corey's book on maintaining presence without constant engagementThe New Rich Concept – From Tim Ferriss's The 4-Hour Work Week about $10K/month in perpetuity vs. chasing millionsHiring & Outsourcing Options:Fiverr – Entry-level social media helpUpwork – Platform for hiring freelance social media managersCollege interns – Another cost-effective option mentionedSubscribe to Brian’s email listChapters00:00 Introduction to the Debate on Social Media06:42 The Duality of Social Media: Good and Bad08:24 Navigating Social Media Without Being Overwhelmed12:02 The Importance of Early Social Media Engagement16:49 Influencer Marketing vs. Business Marketing22:20 Staying Unforgettable in a Digital World31:55 Categorizing Social Media Platforms32:52 Navigating Social Media for Business37:53 The Role of LinkedIn in Professional Networking43:49 Balancing Personal and Business Presence46:39 Prioritizing Social Media in Marketing Strategies48:43 Managing Time on Social Media59:28 Taking Control of Social Media UsageToday’s GuestCorey PerlmanFounder & Digital Marketing Expert, Impact Social MediaCorey Perlman is a social media and digital marketing expert with 15 years of experience helping businesses navigate online presence without losing their focus. As both a keynote speaker and agency owner, he bridges strategy and execution—his team runs social media for about 50 companies while he speaks to audiences about the bigger picture.His book, Authentically Social, challenges one-size-fits-all tactics and pushes for genuine storytelling over billboard-style posting. Corey specializes in helping professionals separate influencer marketing (chasing likes and followers) from business marketing (quality audiences...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • The Bad Productivity Habits That Drive Away Your Best Employees - With Cara Silletto

    The Bad Productivity Habits That Drive Away Your Best Employees - With Cara Silletto
    Sep 30 2025
    Think your productivity systems are helping your team? They might be driving your best people straight out the door.Brian sits down with retention expert Cara Silletto, who's spent 13 years figuring out why good employees quit, and the answers will make you rethink everything about your management style. Turns out that one-size-fits-all approach you're so proud of? It's treating orchids like cacti, and your team is withering because of it. Cara reveals the generational blind spots that have leaders scratching their heads while talent walks away, plus the uncomfortable truth about why your "common sense" expectations are anything but common.This conversation gets tactical fast: discover the ChatGPT trick that instantly exposes whether you're a delegation disaster, learn why your meeting style might be silencing half your team, and find out how your follow-through failures are quietly destroying trust. Brian and Cara dive deep into the spectrum of leadership styles, from micromanagement hell to delegate-and-abandon disasters, showing you exactly where that sweet spot lives.You'll walk away with the houseplant framework for understanding your team's needs, a system for operationalizing check-ins that actually matter, and the communication preference conversation that stops mind-reading madness before it starts. Plus, they reveal why those productive latchkey Gen Xers are clashing with collaborative millennials and Gen Z workers who need different kinds of support.If you're hemorrhaging talent, confused why good people keep leaving, or ready to stop accidentally sabotaging your own team's success, this episode maps out the leadership moves that keep your best people around.Ready to become the boss people actually want to work for? The show notes are packed with tools and templates to get started.References In This EpisodeCara Silletto – Magnet Culture – Cara's LinkedIn profile and Magnet Culture websiteKey Resources:Magnet Vault – Cara's collection of downloadable tools and templates for managersGet to Know You Sheet – Template for understanding team members' communication and praise preferences (available in Magnet Vault)Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer – Cara's 2018 book on employee retentionBrian's Resources:Team Communication Protocol – Blog post and template for establishing clear communication channels and preferences"This Meeting Could Have Been an Email" – Brian's signature conference session on effective meeting managementTools & Techniques:ChatGPT Delegation Test – Use the prompt "ask me questions one at a time until you have everything you need" to evaluate your delegation clarityCalendar Color-Coding System – Cara's method using purple blocks for non-meeting tasksOne-on-One Agenda Framework – Structure for regular check-ins with team membersConcepts & Frameworks:Employee Retention Ecosystem – Cara's systematic approach to retention strategyHouseplant Spectrum – Management framework from high-maintenance "orchids" to low-maintenance "cacti" employeesLatchkey Generation Theory – Understanding generational differences in independence and problem-solving approachesCommunication Preferences Mapping – Systematic approach to understanding how each team member prefers to receive information and feedbackSubscribe to Brian’s email listChapters00:00 Introduction to Productivity and Employee Retention01:37 Understanding Generational Gaps in the Workforce03:06 The Impact of Leadership Habits on Employee Retention06:48 Balancing Processes and People in Leadership10:28 Identifying Employee Needs: The Houseplant Analogy13:13 Communication: The Key to Effective Leadership17:20 Unwritten Expectations and Their Impact on Workplace Culture19:34 The Importance of Clear Communication in Delegation23:42 Finding the Balance in Delegation and Empowerment25:28 Empowering Employees to Find Answers28:10 The Spectrum of Leadership Styles30:24 Generational Differences in Critical Thinking32:36 Time Management and Meeting Effectiveness37:24 Reliability and Accountability in Leadership43:07 Making Productivity Skills Contagious46:21 Operationalizing Check-Ins for Better CommunicationToday’s GuestCara SillettoPresident & Chief Retention Officer, Magnet CultureCara Silletto is a workplace retention expert who has spent 13 years helping leaders keep their best people longer by understanding today's multigenerational workforce. Born in 1981 as one of the oldest millennials, she launched her career bridging generational gaps after recognizing that communication breakdowns between managers and employees were driving costly turnover.Her book, Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer (2018), established her as a leading voice in retention strategy before it became a mainstream business priority. Cara specializes in translating generational differences into actionable management practices, helping leaders adapt their communication and ...
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    53 mins
  • The Productivity Skills That Will Fast-Track Your Promotions - with Kendall Berg

    The Productivity Skills That Will Fast-Track Your Promotions - with Kendall Berg
    Aug 28 2025
    Ever wonder why some high performers skyrocket while others stay stuck in middle management hell?Brian teams up with career coach Kendall Berg, who cracked the code after getting promoted five times in six years—and it wasn't by working harder. This conversation gets uncomfortably real about workplace politics, invisible performance reviews, and why your boss probably has zero clue about your actual contributions. Kendall opens up about her journey from being "too direct, too stubborn, too emotional" to mastering the unspoken rules that actually drive promotions, while Brian shares his AI trick that instantly reveals whether you're delegating like a pro or driving your team crazy.You'll walk away with immediately usable tactics: the magic of investing 20% of your time in relationships, how to handle "urgent" requests without becoming a pushover, and the email structure that makes people think you're incredibly thoughtful. Plus, they pull back the curtain on what really happens in those executive rooms where promotion decisions get made—and why knowing your boss's peers might be more important than impressing your boss.If you're exhausted from working endless hours without advancement, confused by office politics, or ready to stop waiting for someone to notice your hard work, this episode reveals the strategic moves that separate the promoted from the passed-over.Ready to level up? Dive into the resources and links waiting in the show notes!References In This EpisodeKendall Berg – “That Career Coach” – Kendall’s website and LinkedIn profileBooks Mentioned:Secrets of the Career Game – Kendall’s book with 36 strategies to help high performers move up in their careers.The Extraordinary Leader: Turning Good Managers into Great Leaders– book by John Zenger and Joseph Folkman, recommended during the episode.Concepts & Frameworks:Nine Box performance evaluation systemCross calibrations/Performance calibrations meetings3-2-1 backup strategy (mentioned in context)CORE delegation framework (Context, Oversight, Resources, Expectation)ARS email template (Acknowledge, Restate, Solve)Subscribe to Brian’s email listChapters00:00 Introduction to Productivity Skills for Promotions02:59 Kendall's Unique Approach to Career Coaching05:25 The Gap Between High Performers and Stagnation08:28 Understanding Performance Reviews and Visibility10:55 Navigating Urgency and Productivity13:17 Effective Networking and Relationship Building16:16 Planning and Structuring Your Work Week18:56 The Importance of Strategy in Career Advancement30:23 The Importance of Automation and Goal Setting32:37 Effective Communication in Management35:52 Delegation and AI: A New Era of Productivity41:00 Communication Habits for Career Advancement54:36 Navigating the Career Game: Insights from Kendall's BookToday’s GuestKendall BergCareer Coach, Leadership Development Expert, Corporate Strategy ConsultantKendall Berg is a career strategist and executive coach who transforms high-performing professionals into promotion-ready leaders. After struggling with workplace politics early in her career—being "too direct, too stubborn, too emotional"—she developed tactical systems that propelled her through five promotions in six years, culminating in a CFO offer before age 30.Her book, Secrets of the Career Game: 36 Strategies to Get Ahead in Your Career, serves as a no-nonsense tactical guide for navigating corporate realities. Kendall specializes in helping middle managers break through to executive levels by mastering the unspoken rules of workplace advancement, relationship building, and strategic communication.Known for her refreshingly honest approach, Kendall doesn't sugarcoat corporate life or pretend workplaces are meritocracies. Instead, she equips clients with concrete templates, scripts, and frameworks to advocate for themselves effectively while staying authentic. She believes career success isn't about working harder—it's about working strategically and building the right relationships.Currently balancing her coaching practice with a corporate role (because her boss "refuses to let her go"), Kendall brings real-world credibility to her advice. She's the coach for professionals tired of playing games they don't understand.Connect with Kendall:LinkedIn: Kendall BergWebsite: thatcareercoach.netWhy Subscribe To The Email List: Brian shares separate hacks, tips, and actionable learning exclusively for his email subscribers. Sign up so you don’t miss out!About The Creator/Host: I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. As a kid I took time for granted, but now as an adult, time is the most precious thing that I have. After spending a career hands-on in the trenches as a leader at all levels, I now train Productivity Gladiators to level up their careers. Graduates wield superpowers in time management, practical ...
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    1 hr
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