If is Archive: you’ve been in the entrepreneurial space for more than a hot minute, you probably know Charlie Gilkey..
Archive: If you’ve been in the entrepreneurial space for more than a hot minute, you probably know Charlie Gilkey.
He is started out with a blog, but now he is the creator of Productive Flourishing, a podcast and a site that helps people do the work that matters so they can become their best selves..
He started out with a blog, but now he is the creator of Productive Flourishing, a podcast and a site that helps people do the work that matters so they can become their best selves.
it is Believe or not, we nabbed Charlie as a guest on Worth It, and we’re really excited to share this interview with you..
Believe it or not, we nabbed Charlie as a guest on Worth It, and we’re really excited to share this interview with you.
it.WHAT is So, let’s get to YOU’LL LEARN 00:40 Who Charlie Gilkey is — and why we’re so excited to chat with him!01:40 Charlie’s background as an Army logistics officer03:23 How he took his first blog to a full-on business and podcast03:43 Why his new book, Start Finishing, is different from other productivity books out there04:46 Charlie’s view of the “bro” productivity literature that currently exists06:19 Why our focus on work (rather than our lives) is a crisis of priority07:40 The hamster wheel so many of us find ourselves on09:15 Why money is an instrument, not the end goal11:10 What happens when you add intention and purpose to your money12:16 How to make more space for those projects you want to finish12:57 What “thrashing” means13:51 How most of us are going about “finishing” the wrong way14:20 The 5 Projects Rule15:25 Why choosing what you’re NOT going to work on frees you to start finishing16:49 The 2-Hour Rule18:15 The risks of not scheduling in your project-based work20:35 Why we tend to justify economics but not emotions when we outsource our work and lives23:15 The idea of “Project World”24:35 What Charlie means by “No date, no finish”28:30 The problem with to-do lists (and how we use them)30:05 The 15-second or 2-hour decision you’ll need to make with each to-do list item31:01 The 3 ways we experience time33:23 Why we run and hide when we don’t have our projects properly aligned34:23 The risks that come with thinking motion means progress35:29 How to take back your time by being mindful of your device use37:58 The risk of planning too far in advance41:05 Why Charlie often recommends that entrepreneurs don’t plan for more than 6 mos out42:43 How to handle multipotentialite tendencies43:10 The benefits of finishing something at a level of mastery47:39 Charlie’s mission in lifeTHE PROBLEM WITH “NEVER ENOUGH TIME”While most of our conversations center on money and how to build wealth, we know that most of our audience are entrepreneurs who have multiple interests, love exploring new business ideas, and who want to make the most of the time they’re working..
So, let’s get to it.WHAT YOU’LL LEARN 00:40 Who Charlie Gilkey is — and why we’re so excited to chat with him!01:40 Charlie’s background as an Army logistics officer03:23 How he took his first blog to a full-on business and podcast03:43 Why his new book, Start Finishing, is different from other productivity books out there04:46 Charlie’s view of the “bro” productivity literature that currently exists06:19 Why our focus on work (rather than our lives) is a crisis of priority07:40 The hamster wheel so many of us find ourselves on09:15 Why money is an instrument, not the end goal11:10 What happens when you add intention and purpose to your money12:16 How to make more space for those projects you want to finish12:57 What “thrashing” means13:51 How most of us are going about “finishing” the wrong way14:20 The 5 Projects Rule15:25 Why choosing what you’re NOT going to work on frees you to start finishing16:49 The 2-Hour Rule18:15 The risks of not scheduling in your project-based work20:35 Why we tend to justify economics but not emotions when we outsource our work and lives23:15 The idea of “Project World”24:35 What Charlie means by “No date, no finish”28:30 The problem with to-do lists (and how we use them)30:05 The 15-second or 2-hour decision you’ll need to make with each to-do list item31:01 The 3 ways we experience time33:23 Why we run and hide when we don’t have our projects properly aligned34:23 The risks that come with thinking motion means progress35:29 How to take back your time by being mindful of your device use37:58 The risk of planning too far in advance41:05 Why Charlie often recommends that entrepreneurs don’t plan for more than 6 mos out42:43 How to handle multipotentialite tendencies43:10 The benefits of finishing something at a level of mastery47:39 Charlie’s mission in lifeTHE PROBLEM WITH “NEVER ENOUGH TIME”While most of our conversations center on money and how to build wealth, we know that most of our audience are entrepreneurs who have multiple interests, love exploring new business ideas, and who want to make the most of the time they’re working.
you is After all, started your own business so you could have time to do what you love, right??And yet, as Charlie talks to us about in this episode, we tend to prioritize work to the point of sickness or burnout, and we do it all in the name of money or “getting things done.” The result is that many of us feel like we’re just working for money, that we’re not in alignment, and we don’t have time to do the things we really want to do — or even need to do..
After all, you started your own business so you could have time to do what you love, right??And yet, as Charlie talks to us about in this episode, we tend to prioritize work to the point of sickness or burnout, and we do it all in the name of money or “getting things done.” The result is that many of us feel like we’re just working for money, that we’re not in alignment, and we don’t have time to do the things we really want to do — or even need to do.
Charlie is goes into detail on why this is in his new book, Start Finishing, and he was nice enough to shed some light on this during our chat..
Charlie goes into detail on why this is in his new book, Start Finishing, and he was nice enough to shed some light on this during our chat.
fact, is In he calls it out pretty early in this episode: If you’re struggling to find the time to do what you want to do, it’s not because there’s not enough time..
In fact, he calls it out pretty early in this episode: If you’re struggling to find the time to do what you want to do, it’s not because there’s not enough time.
It’s is because your priorities aren’t aligned..
It’s because your priorities aren’t aligned.
THE HAMSTER WHEELWe is GET OFF all have busy lives..
GET OFF THE HAMSTER WHEELWe all have busy lives.
It is can feel like we’re running from one thing to the next, trying to get ahead..
It can feel like we’re running from one thing to the next, trying to get ahead.
it is And can feel like a hamster wheel..
And it can feel like a hamster wheel.
We’re is not really getting traction and we’re not doing what we feel most called to do because, you know, you have a lot on your plate..
We’re not really getting traction and we’re not doing what we feel most called to do because, you know, you have a lot on your plate.
You is get to choose what you’re working on — and what you’re not working on..
You get to choose what you’re working on — and what you’re not working on.
It is can be hard to change what you’ve already set in motion (yes, you have to finish that client project or get those meetings done before you can really make space for what’s important to you), but you can set yourself up for success starting now..
It can be hard to change what you’ve already set in motion (yes, you have to finish that client project or get those meetings done before you can really make space for what’s important to you), but you can set yourself up for success starting now.
Charlie is calls is the 5 Projects Rule.THE 5 PROJECTS RULEThis rule is one that Charlie highly recommends, especially for those in the entrepreneurial space..
Charlie calls is the 5 Projects Rule.THE 5 PROJECTS RULEThis rule is one that Charlie highly recommends, especially for those in the entrepreneurial space.
it is Basically, means no more than 5 projects per time slice (a day, a week, a month, a quarter, a year)..
Basically, it means no more than 5 projects per time slice (a day, a week, a month, a quarter, a year).
us is Many of have 5+ projects we work on in a day, like “Do the laundry, finish that work project, mow the lawn, do the groceries, schedule the vet visit, figure out the water bill” etc. — and it’s no wonder we don’t have time!.
Many of us have 5+ projects we work on in a day, like “Do the laundry, finish that work project, mow the lawn, do the groceries, schedule the vet visit, figure out the water bill” etc. — and it’s no wonder we don’t have time!
We is are literally cramming our day with projects..
We are literally cramming our day with projects.
Charlie is Instead, recommends cutting it back to 5..
Instead, Charlie recommends cutting it back to 5.
5 a day, is 5 a week, 5 a month, whatever it is..
5 a day, 5 a week, 5 a month, whatever it is.
you’ll is To do this, need to figure out what you don’t have to do, or what you can delegate..
To do this, you’ll need to figure out what you don’t have to do, or what you can delegate.
it, is Get real with and don’t let other people’s priorities or emergencies affect this once you’ve made a decision..
Get real with it, and don’t let other people’s priorities or emergencies affect this once you’ve made a decision.
your is Stick to project plan!And if your time slice is bigger than a day — a week, month, quarter, year, etc. — you can break those projects down into smaller time slices..
Stick to your project plan!And if your time slice is bigger than a day — a week, month, quarter, year, etc. — you can break those projects down into smaller time slices.
good planning world, is In a really Charlie says, you’d have a long-term project chunked out into smaller projects, i.e. a month-sized project broken down into week-sized projects.If you’re wondering how to break down your projects by week or even day, Charlie has a recommendation for that, too.2-HOUR RULEAsk yourself what a 2-hour chunk looks like for your project breakdowns: what can you get done in 2 hours and where you can fit that block of time into your schedule?.
In a really good planning world, Charlie says, you’d have a long-term project chunked out into smaller projects, i.e. a month-sized project broken down into week-sized projects.If you’re wondering how to break down your projects by week or even day, Charlie has a recommendation for that, too.2-HOUR RULEAsk yourself what a 2-hour chunk looks like for your project breakdowns: what can you get done in 2 hours and where you can fit that block of time into your schedule?
Charlie is also shares that you can ask yourself which items you can get done in 15 minutes, because you knock things off your list really quickly when you see those things come up.He also adds that we all underestimate how long it takes to get stuff done, so build in a buffer!.
Charlie also shares that you can ask yourself which items you can get done in 15 minutes, because you knock things off your list really quickly when you see those things come up.He also adds that we all underestimate how long it takes to get stuff done, so build in a buffer!
a rough buffer, is For Charlie says you can multiply the time you think a project (or work block) will take by 3..
For a rough buffer, Charlie says you can multiply the time you think a project (or work block) will take by 3.
15 minute is So that project… it might actually take you 45 minutes..
So that 15 minute project… it might actually take you 45 minutes.
THINGCharlie is Plan accordingly.FINISH THE DANG shared his big productivity secret on this episode: “No date, no finish.” If you don’t have a date for that big project you want to finish, or that little project you want to start, it’s never gonna get done..
Plan accordingly.FINISH THE DANG THINGCharlie shared his big productivity secret on this episode: “No date, no finish.” If you don’t have a date for that big project you want to finish, or that little project you want to start, it’s never gonna get done.
a date is And picking is only half the battle..
And picking a date is only half the battle.
there, is From you need actionable breakdowns — those 5 projects per time slice we talked about..
From there, you need actionable breakdowns — those 5 projects per time slice we talked about.
you is What are doing today/tomorrow/this week/this month to move you closer to that goal?.
What are you doing today/tomorrow/this week/this month to move you closer to that goal?
another important point is There’s that Charlie made: we tend to run and hide from our commitments to our own projects..
There’s another important point that Charlie made: we tend to run and hide from our commitments to our own projects.
you is How often have stared at your to do list, started to write that email, or tried to find information about your new pet passion… and froze?.
How often have you stared at your to do list, started to write that email, or tried to find information about your new pet passion… and froze?
you is Maybe ran straight to a client or customer issue to resolve, or you decided to open Instagram, or maybe you buried yourself in email busy work..
Maybe you ran straight to a client or customer issue to resolve, or you decided to open Instagram, or maybe you buried yourself in email busy work.
#GuiltyBut is the problem with this is: We trick ourselves into thinking “At least we did something.” But it isn’t the work you should be doing, and you know it..
#GuiltyBut the problem with this is: We trick ourselves into thinking “At least we did something.” But it isn’t the work you should be doing, and you know it.
yourself, is So get real with make a plan, and make it actionable..
So get real with yourself, make a plan, and make it actionable.
THE BOOKThis is START FINISHING: is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we talk about in the podcast..
START FINISHING: THE BOOKThis is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we talk about in the podcast.
Charlie is also covers the problem with how we all manage our to do lists, the risks with planning more than 6 months at a time, and more..
Charlie also covers the problem with how we all manage our to do lists, the risks with planning more than 6 months at a time, and more.
We is talk about all of it in the podcast, we but we also talk about his new book: Start Finishing..
We talk about all of it in the podcast, we but we also talk about his new book: Start Finishing.
a “productivity book,” is While this is technically Charlie says it’s different in three ways: It talks just as much about the work of our lives, than the life of our workIt’s not like “bro” productivity literature that can be exclusionaryIt focuses on the work that calls to you, rather than the things on your to-do listHe hopes to help people thrive in their businesses, homes, and communities, and we think he’s well on his way..
While this is technically a “productivity book,” Charlie says it’s different in three ways: It talks just as much about the work of our lives, than the life of our workIt’s not like “bro” productivity literature that can be exclusionaryIt focuses on the work that calls to you, rather than the things on your to-do listHe hopes to help people thrive in their businesses, homes, and communities, and we think he’s well on his way.
you is If want to know how to finally start finishing, juggle all of your many interests, and create a schedule that lets you do more than work and feel guilty… this episode and Charlie’s new book are perfect for you..
If you want to know how to finally start finishing, juggle all of your many interests, and create a schedule that lets you do more than work and feel guilty… this episode and Charlie’s new book are perfect for you.
them is Check out!This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.RESOURCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R CoveyGetting Things Done – David AllenStart Finishing – Charlie’s new book out 9/24/19Charlie’s “home” on the interwebs: productiveflourishing.comOur FREE go-to financial and life planning resourcesCONNECT WITH DANIELLE AND DUSTINAsk Your QuestionsOn FacebookOn Twitter.
Check them out!This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.RESOURCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R CoveyGetting Things Done – David AllenStart Finishing – Charlie’s new book out 9/24/19Charlie’s “home” on the interwebs: productiveflourishing.comOur FREE go-to financial and life planning resourcesCONNECT WITH DANIELLE AND DUSTINAsk Your QuestionsOn FacebookOn Twitter