The Key to Feeling Productive (Without Adding More to Your Plate) with Guest Expert Penny Zenker

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10d ago 42:16

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The Key to Feeling Productive (Without Adding More to Your Plate) with Guest Expert Penny Zenker

Do you end your days frustrated because your to-do list isn't any shorter? Like you worked hard all day but somehow didn't get the important things done?

Maybe you're constantly putting out fires while your big goals sit untouched. You're crossing things off your list but still feeling unproductive because the work that actually matters keeps getting pushed aside. You know you need to focus differently, but everything feels urgent.

The problem isn't that you need better time management apps or more discipline. This is about understanding that focus is more than attention – it's strategic alignment.

In this episode with guest expert Penny Zenker, aka "The Focusologist," you'll discover why productivity is actually a feeling, not a metric. You'll learn daily reset practices that will help you reduce overwhelm and improve your focus on what actually moves the needle. Plus, you’ll walk away with strategies to overcome leadership overwhelm without working longer hours.

Episode Highlights

Why Your To-Do List Feels Endless

[09:17] - Our addiction to distraction & false urgencies [10:48] - Why crossing things off doesn't create satisfaction [11:29] - The 80/20 trap: Spending energy on the wrong 80%

The 135 Rule: Daily Reset Practices for Focus

[12:38] - The "four-hour workday" exercise that forces intentional choices [16:52] - One long-term goal action, three midterm milestones, five truly urgent tasks [18:36] - How to improve focus while still handling life's realities

Three Gatekeepers to Reduce Overwhelm

[23:04] - Rules: Boundaries that create freedom from decision fatigue [26:45] - Filters: Strategic focus through clear priorities & better questions [28:05] - Environment: Reset habits that support clarity over chaos

Daily Reset Practices for Leadership

[29:40] - Adaptability as the antidote to overwhelm [33:11] - Moving from perfect plans to real-time strategic focus [37:21] - Step back, get perspective, realign: Your daily reset framework

Powerful Quotes

“Productivity is a feeling. It's like happiness. We're human you know, we're not machines. You can prove if a machine is productive. But how do you prove that we're productive? It's usually how we feel in making progress.” -Penny Zenker

“What I have seen over and over again is that the unknown is the possibility and the opportunity.” -Blake Schofield

“With leaders there are patterns; behavioral patterns, belief system patterns, or conditional patterns that actually are what's driving a significant amount of distraction.” -Blake Schofield

“Make more reset moments. That's how we create the space that we need throughout the day. And what if it was like a football game, you get three timeouts in the first half and three timeouts in the second half. So make more reset moments, give yourself six timeouts a day.” -Penny Zenker

Resources Mentioned

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyzenker/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyzenker/
Distraction Quiz: https://pennyzenker360.com/distractionquiz/

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