Episode 693 Productiveness With Mike Vardy
Show Highlights
In this episode of The SDM Show, host Rob Cairns sits down with longtime productivity strategist, speaker, and author Mike Vardy to discuss his career journey, evolution in the productivity space, and his latest book, Productiveness. They dive into moving past rigid metrics and system obsession, focusing instead on bringing humanity, trust, and flexibility into productivity.
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Show Notes
Key Highlights & Discussion Topics
- From Costco to Productivity Expert:
- Mike shares his background working in retail at Costco, managing multiple distinct departments (Food Court and Service Deli) simultaneously.
- How balancing these contrasting roles led him to discover time management tools, Covey planners, color-coding techniques, and early productivity literature.
- The Evolution of Productivity & GTD:
- Transitioning from productivity parody and comedy to writing seriously about productivity.
- Mike’s experience connecting with industry icons like David Allen (Getting Things Done), Seth Godin, and Merlin Mann.
- How David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology has evolved to address team collaboration and modern digital workflows.
- Doing Productive vs. Being Productive:
- The central message behind Mike’s book, Productiveness: shifting focus from merely “doing productive” (checking boxes, clearing inboxes) to “being productive” (aligning with intent and qualitative value).
- Why productivity is broken when it prioritizes quantitative output over human well-being.
- Humanizing Productivity & The Nine Principles:
- The importance of the core principle Humanness—acknowledging that humans are not machines and cannot run on pure output metrics.
- Exploring the role of Trust, Nuance, Tolerance, and Cadence in personal and organizational workflows.
- Rob shares personal reflections on dealing with loss and fatigue, illustrating why rest is a necessity rather than a reward.
- Practical Implementation vs. System Trap:
- The danger of trying to adopt entire complex productivity systems at once rather than implementing sustainable, bite-sized habits.
- How corporate environments often strip emotion and soul from work, hindering genuine creativity and innovation.
- Upcoming Audiobook & Additional Resources:
- Mike discusses plans for the upcoming audiobook edition of Productiveness and details about the companion bonuses (including “The Founding Year”).
Notable Quotes from the Episode
- “Stop doing productive, start being productive.” – Mike Vardy
- “Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a requirement.” – Mike Vardy
- “When it comes to productiveness, competitiveness takes a bit of a back seat to cooperation and collaboration.” – Mike Vardy
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