How to Manage with Lean Manufacturing & A Trust Culture

Charles Duhigg wrote the book Smarter Faster Better, in which he discusses the eight secrets of being productive in life and business. One of the eight principles is how to manage others effectively. In this post, we’ll run through the Toyota Production System, which relies heavily on a culture of trust. We’ll examine five types …

How to Set SMART & Effective Stretch Goals for Success

Charles Duhigg wrote the book Smarter Faster Better, in which he discusses the eight secrets of being productive in life and business. One of the eight principles is how we can set and achieve effective goals. In this post, we’ll dive into the SMART framework and how to set audacious long-term goals. We’ll round off …

How to Focus & Avoid Cognitive Tunneling with Mental Models

Charles Duhigg wrote the book Smarter Faster Better, in which he discusses the eight secrets of being productive in life and business. One of the eight principles is the role of focus in our daily productivity. In this post we’ll discuss mental models as a way to focus and avoid cognitive tunneling. We’ll finish off …

How to Gain Self-Motivation with the Locus of Control

Charles Duhigg wrote the book Smarter Faster Better, in which he discusses the eight secrets of being productive in life and business. One of the eight principles is the role our sense of control plays in self-motivation. In this post we’ll discuss a theory of self-motivation and its benefits. We’ll finish off with a case …

How to Create Effective Teams with Cultural Norms

Charles Duhigg wrote the book Smarter Faster Better, in which he discusses the eight secrets of being productive in life and business. One of the eight principles is the role that cultural norms play in effective teamwork. In this post we’ll discuss how norms impact team productivity along with two keys to creating effective teams. …

How to Streamline Cooking with Weekly Meal Plans

Today we’re discussing meal plans as a time- and cost-effective method to improving our cooking process. With a weekly view of our meals and a few tips, we can reduce the energy required to answer the age-old question: “What’s for dinner?” Our ideal week should include time for meal prep to ensure we keep an …

How to Plan Your Ideal Week for Productivity

The Ideal Week is a productivity technique that involves designing our lives to live more intentionally. Its ultimate purpose is to manage current tasks and help us work systematically towards our goals. In this post, we’re discussing what an Ideal Week is, how it works and how you can start one yourself. What is an …