For this Flashback Friday episode of A Productive Conversation, I’m bringing back a truly impactful discussion with Neil Pasricha, whose work centers on intentional living, resilience, and finding happiness in everyday life. Our original conversation took place in 2019, just after the release of Neil’s book You Are Awesome, which explores resilience, change, and the art of bouncing back when life gets tough.
Neil has since released Our Book of Awesome, a celebration of small joys that unite us, which feels especially timely as we approach the holiday season and prepare for a new year. In our conversation, we explore themes that are more relevant than ever: resilience, happiness, and the importance of taking small steps toward living an intentional, fulfilling life.
Key Discussion Points
- How Neil’s personal struggles led him to write The Book of Awesome and explore resilience through his work.
- Why resilience is not just about grit but the ability to bounce back from life’s inevitable challenges.
- The importance of adding “yet” to reframe our perspective on skills we haven’t mastered.
- Why untouchable days (completely offline days) are Neil’s key to deep work and creativity.
- Insights from the research on the “Spotlight Effect” and how it affects our perception of others’ attention.
- How small, consistent steps add up to big achievements over time, a theme Neil dives into in his latest work.
- Neil’s journaling practices and why he believes journaling triples the impact of our experiences.
Neil’s insights on resilience, intentional living, and the power of gratitude offer timeless wisdom. I hope revisiting this conversation inspires you to find and celebrate the awesome moments in your life. Remember, resilience isn’t about avoiding failure but learning how to get back up… one small step at a time. (Originally released November 2019)
Links Worth Exploring
- Connect with Neil: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
- Get the book we discussed: You Are Awesome: How to Navigate Change, Wrestle with Failure, and Live an Intentional Life
- Check out Neil’s latest book: Our Book of Awesome: A Celebration of the Small Joys That Bring Us Together
- Day One
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
- The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World
- The Pomodoro Technique
- Check out 3books.co
- Related Conversation: Episode 288: How to Be Awesome at Your Job with Pete Mockaitis
- Related Blog Post: Why Small Wins Can Make Or Break Your Productivity
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