If you dread answering the question "what do you do?" because you have trouble picking just one thing, you could be a multipotentialite. And you're not alone. Today's author says there's nothing wrong with you if you too have difficulty picking one thing and sticking with it. Join Joe & Mike on their own multipotentialite journeys as they try to figure out what they want to be when they grow up.
In an increasingly demanding world, we’ve been told that we can do everything—maintain friendships, devote ourselves to work, spend time with family, stay fit, and get enough sleep. Today's author encourages us to come to grips with the fact that we can't do it all - at least not every day. Join Joe & Mike as they challenge the unrealistic burden of being balanced and learn what it means to be well-lopsided instead.
Life is negotiation. And today's author (& former FBI hostage negotiator) teaches us how to use tactical empathy so it can help us get more of what we want out of life. Join Joe & Mike as they seek to develop their own communication skills in hopes of getting better results.
After 100 episodes, Joe & Mike go back and fix a few of the ratings that don't seem quite right. Mike also tests Joe knowledge recall with some impromptu Bookworm trivia.
It's time for another Patrick Lencioni leadership fable! Join Joe & Mike as they consider the responsibility of leadership, take a look at the five omissions of reward-centered leaders, and consider why they want to be leaders in the first place.
Do you view your work as a job, a career, or a calling? Today's author argues that the most life-affirming thing you can do is to honor the voice inside that says your have something special to give, and encourages us all to heed the call and act. Join Joe & Mike as they explore passion, purpose, and what it might look like if who you are are and what you do became one and the same.
In our digital age, it's easy to stay connected. Emails, text messages, and social media allow us to share snippets of our lives with others- without really having to look, listen, or reveal ourselves. Today's author argues that we have lost the art of conversation, and makes the case that now, more than ever, is the time to get it back.
Do you ever find yourself reacting to something, then immediately saying something like, "I can't believe I just did that?" It may not be your fault - at least, not entirely. Join Joe & Mike as they take a look at the triggers in their own environments and consider how to overcome them - without doing or saying something that they later regret.
More than ever, people are overwhelmed. Today's author argues that what we really need is stillness - the ability to be steady while the world spins around you. Join Joe & Mike on their own journeys to achieve self-mastery, discipline, and focus.
When it comes to change, tiny is mighty. Today's author (who also happens to be the world’s leading expert on habit formation) shows us how we can have a happier, healthier life: by starting small. Join Joe & Mike as they dive back down the habits rabbit hole and examine how these little changes lead to big results.
Whether it's deciding what to eat for dinner or which investments to pick for our 401k, we humans have a track record of making poor choices. But is it really our fault? Today's author argues that choice architecture is largely to blame, and explains how small nudges can help move us in a better direction. Join Joe & Mike as they consider why we make the choices we do - and how we can make better ones in the future.
Can pen & paper really cut it as a task manager in today's fast-paced world? Today's author makes a compelling argument that it can. Join Joe & Mike as they take a look at The Bullet Journal Method, and see if it's enough to get these digital natives to get their heads out of their apps.
If you find yourself repulsed by the blatant optimism espoused by most self-help gurus, then today's book may just be a breath of fresh air for you. Join Joe & Mike as they consider stoicism, death, and the negative path to happiness.
What makes a successful business tick? Today's author shares the results from a five-year study that "fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people.” Join Joe & Mike as they discover why some companies make the leap - and others don't.
Today's author takes us on a 17-day motorcycle ride from Minnesota to California. Join Joe and Mike on their journey to discover quality, truth, and what it means to get a real education.
Long hours, an excessive workload, and a lack of sleep have become a badge of honor for modern professionals. But the authors of today's book argue that it's actually a mark of stupidity. Join Joe & Mike as they examine what it means to run a calm company.
What causes us to act the way we do? Today's book offers a comprehensive look into the depths of behavioral science. Join Joe & Mike as they examine their own cognitive biases in an effort to understand why they have a tendency to make dumb decisions.
Today's author argues that the lackluster and unproductive gatherings in our lives don't have to be that way. Join Joe & Mike as they consider how to bring a more human-centered approach to gathering in an effort create meaningful, memorable experiences for everyone involved.
In today's episode, Joe & Mike revisit the topic of Getting Things Done (GTD). Join them as they take a closer look at the mother of all productivity systems and discover all the things that they're doing wrong.
In a world of distraction, focus is a superpower. In today's book, Joe and Mike look at how to channel their attention in a quest to become indistractable.
How do we win a game that has no end? In today's book, author Simon Sinek explains how an infinite mindset helps overcome the letdown that typically comes shortly after achieving a goal by commiting to a just cause that inspires us to show up day after day, week after week, and year after year.
Do you ever feel overhwelmed? Today's book by Dr. Richard Swenson has the prescription for anyone who yearns for relief from the pressures of overload. Join Joe & Mike as they investigate the topic of margin, reevaluate their priorities, and attempt to simplify their lives.
Bad things happen, but they don't have to keep you realizing your dreams. Today's author shares 9 secrets from his own experience of overcoming negative circumstances by changing his perspective. Join Joe and Mike as they examine the mindsets that make people like Neil so resilient, even in the face of personal tragedy and failure.
What does radical truth and radical transparency have to do with personal and professional success? Everything, argues today's author. Join Joe & Mike as they dive deep on the systems and principles of life and business in their quest to understand the idea meritocracy.
Reality is broken. In today's book, author Jane McGonigal attempts a fix by applying a gameful approach to personal growth. Join Mike & Joe as they examine the idea that playing games can make us better.
Lifelong learning is a noble goal - but is ultralearning really the best approach? Today's book aims to help you achieve your goals faster, future-proof your career, and maximize your competitive advantage. Join Joe & Mike as they unpack the principles the author promises can help you learn anything deeply and quickly, without teachers or budget-busting tuition costs.
Pixar has inspired the creative world for over 20 years with iconic films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and WALL-E, just to name a few. Today’s book gives us an inside look at the meetings, postmortems, and Braintrust sessions that have produced some of the most successful animated films in history. Join Joe & Mike as they discover how to overcome the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration.
We've all heard stories of famous people who knew what they were born to do from a young age. But should we really be trying to follow in their narrow-focused footsteps? Today's author challenges the traditional idea that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice is what it takes to become an expert, explains why specializing early on in life may actually hurt your long-term success, and make the case that we should all look lead more generalized lives.
Lots of books teach systems to help you achieve more, but the problem is that they are usually very strict and rigid. Today's book promises to deliver a simple system that is flexible and adaptable so you can change course as needed without sacrificing meaningful results.
In today's book, Joe and Mike embark on a journey from self-centered individualism to others-centered relationalism in pursuit of discovering just what exactly a life worth living looks like. Join these fellow travelers on their quest for a moral life as they examine the 4 commitments that today's author uses to define a life of meaning and purpose.
Today's book promises to help you escape the 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich. But is it really that simple? Join Joe & Mike as they examine what a millionarie lifestyle looks like (with or without the millions) and unpack the concept of lifestyle design in creating a life worth living.
True productivity is not about crushing your to-do list or optimizing every hour - it's about intentionalliy focusing on what really matters. Join Joe & Mike as they rethink their own defaults, drain the infinity pools, and make time for the things that are truly important.
For many writers, few things are as intimidating as staring at a blank page - but it doesn't have to be this way. If you're looking for some solid writing advice, today's book is for you. Join Joe & Mike as they confront perfectionism, shine the light on the monsters within, learn to quiet the radio station in their heads, and seek to discover their own unique writing voice.
A system to help you achieve more *and* do less? It may sound too good to be true, but that's exactly what today's book promises to deliver. Join Joe & Mike as they take a closer look at Michael Hyatt's approach to the topic of focus.
It can be difficult to measure, but the topic of emotional intelligence is a worthwhile study for anyone with a desire to reach their full potential. In today's episode, Joe & Mike take a deep look at a different way to be smart.
It's been said that for a writer, nothing is as intimidating as a blank page. But the author of today's book says that doesn't have to be the case. Join Joe & Mike as they look at how to take better notes and automate the writing process.
The rise of the Extroverted Ideal has led to a world that can't stop talking. But where does that leave you if you find groups exhausting or prefer to work alone? Join Joe & Mike as they discover the soft power introverts possess and why understanding it is so important.
We can't control everything that happens to us, but how might our lives look different if we assumed ownership for them anyway? That's the topic Joe & Mike examine in today's book. Tune in to find out why "responsibility" is not a dirty word.
Our environment shapes our thoughts and actions in myriad ways, without our permission or even our knowledge. In today's episode, Joe & Mike discover the subtle but substantial ways in which outside forces influence our everyday behavior.
Few things have impacted our everyday lives as much as the smartphone. In today's episode, Joe & Mike discuss the fallout from our digital addictions and contemplate Cal Newport's radical approach as a potential cure in the war for our attention.
Can small habits really transform your life and deliver amazing results? Author James Clear believes they can. In today's episode, Joe and Mike revisit a familiar topic to tackle one of Bookworm's most requested books and see if it lives up to the hype.
Have you ever struggled to achieve a goal, even though you were fully committed to and believed in it? Today's book gives you a simple framework to help you understand why. Join Joe & Mike as they try to understand themselves a little bit better.
Your brain is an incredibly powerful computer, rapidly processing information to help you make better decisions - except when it doesn't. Should you really trust your first impressions? Join Joe & Mike as they dive into the world of rapid cognition and thinking without thinking.
Is it true that less is more? When it comes to goal achievement, Gary Keller & Jay Papasan say, "Aboslutely!" In today's episode, Joe & Mike dive into the surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results to see if the answer really is that profound or if Mike is just remembering one of his favorite books through sentimental, rose-colored glasses.
No matter how careful we are or how healthy our habits, one day we will all die. In this episode, Joe & Mike tackle their most uncomfortable topic yet as they consider how to bring meaning and purpose to end of life care.
Is Scrum really the magical project finishing formula that author Jeff Sutherland says it is? Joe & Mike share their own Scrum stories and point out the pitfalls in this episode covering Bookworm's most requested book.
When it comes to making decisions, we like to think we’re capable of making smart, rational choices. But are we? Tune in to find out why Dan Ariely believe our irrational behavior is completely predictable - and what you can do about it.
Focus is a hot topic, but there’s more to it then just turning off Twitter and blocking out distractions. Today’s book shows us how to manage our focus, helps us understand how it works, and shows us how to recharge it when it gets low. Author Chris Bailey joins us at the end to talk about writing Hyperfocus, what he learned from the process, and which mechanical keyboard is the best.
Happy people are productive people, but can you really choose to be happy? Things may not always happen for the best, but in today’s episode Mike & Joe figure out how and why some people are able to make the best of the things that happen.
Can the world of professional chefs teach us anything about productivity? Joe and Mike seem to agree with Dan Charnas and say, yes. Mis-en-place!
Should you set limits on what you’ll do with and for other people? And if so, what should those lines be? And do those limits have a place in the church?
Up to 40% of our daily actions are influenced by our habits, but how do you actually influence them? In this episode, Joe & Mike dive into The Power of Habit and discover the secret to lasting positive change.
There is a myth in the workplace that says we need to work longer hours to achieve more and do so with higher quality. But this is purely a myth and there’s a lot of science to prove it.
If you listen to Bookworm as a way to filter your book list, then this episode will blow your mind. Joe and Mike pick their top ten books draft-style. They’re not necessarily Bookworm books either. Also included: a special surprise.
What does it take to become the best? And what do the world’s greatest do that puts them at the top? And how does that translate into our day to day lives?
It’s time for another classic that both Mike and Joe are a bit embarrassed they haven’t read previously. And it turns out to be a book where the title doesn’t do it justice.
Should you think about your family in the same way you think about an organization? And what are the ramifications of the answer to that question?
Don’t have time to read books? Then listen to this! Joe and Mike jump into the topic of a busy culture and what we can do about it.
What does the Bible say about productivity? And how does this book compare to other productivity books?
Knowing your purpose and finding meaning in life can save your life. This episode covers the challenging topic of World War II and escaping concentration camps alive.
Mike and Joe have mentioned Mihaly way too often. So it's about time they covered his book and discussed it directly.
It's finally here. An episode about how to read a book. And what better way to cover the topic than to read a book about it.
Where does your time go? And do you actually spend it where you think you do? These are tough questions when you dive into it, which is exactly what Mike and Joe do.
Morning Pages has been an intriguing concept to both Mike and Joe. So they finally jump into the source of the practice. There's a time commitment involved but they both seem okay with that.
This round we learn why Mike doesn't care for this book. Joe picked it only because it's been popular and it was a listener recommendation. But that doesn't affect their ratings at all.
Your mindset can change how you respond to pretty much everything. The question is whether or not yours is a good one or a bad one. But there are also ways to change them, which is what Mike and Joe go over this week.
Is it possible that attempting to break a thing can make it genuinely stronger? Also, Mike is back on OmniFocus. Who knew?
It's time to tackle our latest textbook. It was a listener recommendation and has a lot to talk about. So we're glad this episode didn't end up being 5 hours long.
Mike has a bone to pick with Joe on this one. Let's just say this was a very fun, passionate conversation about a book that turned out to be much different than expected.
This week Mike and Joe talk about money. And they talk about thinking about attracting money. We know. Complicated. But it rates well.
This show comes with a disclaimer as Mike and Joe talk about faith, the church, and business. There are fine lines and lots of opinions on all of these.
This week Mike and Joe talk about the cognitive biases that they struggle with and the ones they are fascinated by. And it seems there are a lot of these. So picking a few is not as easy as it sounds.
Saying No. It’s something neither Mike nor Joe enjoy doing but know they need to embrace. The question is whether or not they can bring themselves to do it.
This round Mike and Joe are joined by Joe’s other podcast co-host, Josh Rensch, to discuss the challenging dysfunctions that teams can be plagued by. It turns out that Josh has a rough backstory about his introduction to this book.
Going after a task with unending motivation. This is something a go-getter has and that Joe and Mike struggled with.
It’s time for a classic that both Mike and Joe have failed to read until now. But they have completed their duty and are no longer in the dark.
How do you be creative and does the traditional school system train creativity out of our kids? These are hard questions but this week Joe and Mike explore them.
Sleep. A lot goes on when we’re not awake. This round Mike and Joe go through their experiences and struggles with getting rest.
Powering through things we don’t want to do. That’s what Angela Duckworth helps us do with this week’s book, Grit.
This week we’re joined by the author himself, Chris Capehart, to discuss his book Step and the impact a single action forward can have on your dreams.
Let’s be rhinos! It’s an interesting concept and this round Mike and Joe discuss the implications of becoming a 6,000 lb rhinoceros.
This round Mike and Joe are joined by Shawn Blanc to talk about taking massive action with The 10X Rule.
Let’s get an MBA (unofficial) without the big price tag. There are a lot of gems here but the format got under Joe’s skin.
Mike dives head-first into the world of internet-connected light-bulbs. Joe doesn’t get it. And yet they both explore the world of moving cheese together.
Does the use of internet devices change our brains? And if so, is it worth doing anything about? It’s a tough topic but Mike and Joe work their way through it.
A new baby, a continuing morning phone addiction, and learning how to make better decisions. It’s all covered in this week’s episode.
It may not be your fault, but you can take responsibility for it. Mike and Joe discuss the role of personal accountability in our lives and asking ourselves better questions.
Mike loves his coffee and he’s trying to drag Joe along. But that still doesn’t stop them from talking checklists and the power they hold.
BrainChains was a listener recommendation that taught Mike and Joe a lot about how technology affects our minds. From attention to focus, it’s all covered.
If you’re looking for a way to set goals and achieve a year’s worth of work in 12 weeks, then The 12 Week Year is an excellent choice and structure to try.
One of the most valuable tasks you can begin is the development of your self-awareness. This week Mike and Joe delve into the questions posed by Peter Drucker that prompt you to learn how to manage yourself.
Mike and Joe get a breath of fresh air with a book on productivity. There are a lot of tips here that they’ve both practiced for years but learned a lot regardless.
Mike almost put this one down. The business principles discussed are vital but the book itself was a challenge.
This week Mike and Joe talk about the value of finding a “why” in everything we do and what happens when companies start with “how” or “what.”
We’re trying a different flavor of book this time and discussing our relationships and feelings with Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly.
When you step out beyond time management you land in the world of energy management. It’s a simple concept that is drastically different for everyone embarking on the journey.
Mike has a new Apple device despite his minimizing efforts and Joe has finally done something about his email issue.
This week Mike and Joe talk about cutting back and simplifying life with Joshua Becker’s book The More Of Less.
Joe gets too much email, Mike thinks he should hide his email address, and they both have an interest in saying “no” more often.
We all deal with something painful in our lives. And although they are hard to talk about, it’s these obstacles that strengthen us for the future.
Whether it’s writing or building a business, we all struggle to put in the work to create. Mike and Joe discuss going pro with their art and overcoming resistance.
Whether it’s overcoming an addiction to email or sticking to a diet, The Willpower Instinct is excellent at helping you develop the self-control to accomplish your goals.
Welcome to Bookworm! To kick things off, we’ve reread a book we both rely on heavily in our lives, Getting Things Done by David Allen. This is the best discussion either of us have had about GTD in a long time.