Episode 250: 5 Days with John Poelstra

On today’s episode, I spend time with John Poelstra on a different kind of episode. I actually walk through the elements of adding elements of TimeCrafting to his productivity workflow through a series of conversations over the course of a five day period. Essentially, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like working with me through one of my Productivityist Coaching experiences.

This episode is also brought to you by GanttPRO. It is interactive online Gantt chart software that’s used for planning and controlling multiple projects at once. You can split your projects into groups of tasks and subtasks. Aside from that, you can also organize and schedule tasks, set durations and dependencies between them. With GanttPro, you can create Gantt charts to set accurate estimates and manage your resources wisely. Go to https://ganttpro.com/go/TimeCrafting and get $50 off when you sign up to GanttPRO today!


This episode is also brought to you by MetPro. Metabolic Profiling (MetPro) is the advanced methodology created by Transformation Specialist Angelo Poli that analyzes a person’s specific response to diet and activity, and adjusts based on their personal needs and goals. It has allowed Poli and his highly respected team to quickly redirect his clients in the direction they’ll personally see the greatest results. Go to https://www.metpro.co/timecrafting and receive a complimentary metabolic profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert.


Here’s a little about today’s guest (and producer of The Productivityist Podcast) John Poelstra…   John helps people take complete ownership of their lives and live in ways that are most meaningful to them–even when they think it’s impossible. This is the crux of his beliefs. John would say that he’s in the “personal development” and “human potential” business and that he help end unnecessary suffering. John loves clarifying confusing ideas and complicated situations that thwart progress and distract people from what’s most important. He helps people get clear on what they want and own their path to it. John helped executives, managers, small business owners, engineers, marketers, and people who are done having life happen to them and want to create something better.   Specifics that we covered on the show include:  
  • Monday: How John’s doing on Monday morning and how he’s lining up his day (2:45)
  • Monday: John’s normal Monday theme (3:35)
  • Monday: How important is it for John to start the week right? (4:24)
  • Monday: Mike’s homework for John (5:33)
  • Tuesday: On how John usually set up his Mondays (8:05)
  • Tuesday: Setting up Planning Day (11:24)
  • Tuesday: What is John going to learn today? (11:51)
  • Wednesday: What did John learn yesterday? (13:17)
  • Wednesday: Focusing on what things to do (15:01)
  • Wednesday: John’s theme for the day (16:47)
  • Wednesday: Mike’s challenge for John (17:38)
  • Thursday: How was John’s Wednesday? (28:30)
  • Thursday: Lessons on focusing (30:05)
  • Thursday: Things to talk about on Friday (36:44)
  • Friday: How John feels about keeping a consistent theme throughout the week and weeks beyond? (44:01)
  • Friday: Setting up the theme for the day (47:13)
  • Friday: Mike reveals the recommended number of weeks where people should practice adopting their theme days (50:54)
  • Friday: John’s takeaway from his themed 5 days (1:03:40)

“I cannot say enough about the power of focus and just having these boundaries around what you are supposed to be working on.” ~ John Poelstra

Relevant Links

  The key takeaway from this episode is that having an outside perspective and accountability can help you see the “blind spots” in your workflow and enhance your personal productivity in the short and long term.   (Note: You can also look into taking on an Productivityist Coaching initiative of your own by visiting https://productivityst.com/coachingand reviewing the options Mike has available.)

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