Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship

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  2176: When Good is Good Enough: Five Situations When Perfection Is Counterproductive by Laura Stack of The Productivity Pro on Time Management 15.09.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2176: Laura Stack explains why perfection is often the enemy of finished work, and names five situations where good enough really is good enough. She walks through limited launch time, being overwhelmed, waiting on other people, ballpark estimates, and the point where diminishing returns set in. The takeaway is a practical time management habit: do the job properly, then get it out the door. Read along with the original article here: https://theproductivitypro.com/blog/2017/05/when-good-is-good-enough-five-situations-when-perfection-is-counterproductive/ Quotes to ponder: "You don't always have to do a job perfectly!" "Sometimes getting something from 90 to 100% takes just as long as getting it from 0 to 90%." "But generally, good enough really is good enough, MOST of the time." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2175: [Part 2] Don't Build an Empire, Find a Few Friends Who Care by Jeff Goins on Driving User Engagement 14.09.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2175: Jeff Goins shares two more examples of work that reached millions by starting with a handful of believers. The Shack sold its first million copies through friends, garage shipments, and volunteer street teams, while The 5 Love Languages grew slowly because its author kept testing and promoting an idea he believed in. He argues that naming a powerful idea and refusing to quit matters far more than optimizing for the masses. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/care/ Quotes to ponder: "This is how you go viral. This is how you hit it big. You start small. You reach the few and empower them to reach the many." "More often than not, perseverance is what takes something from struggling to massively successful." "You always have to find a few and trust that they will carry that work to the many." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2174: [Part 1] Don't Build an Empire, Find a Few Friends Who Care by Jeff Goins on Marketing 13.09.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2174: Jeff Goins explains why the best marketing is not building an empire but finding a few people who genuinely care about the work. He uses the long, posthumous rise of The Great Gatsby to show how a small circle of committed advocates can keep work in circulation until the wider audience catches up. The same logic drove his own approach of serving the influential voices in his field for months before ever asking them for anything. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/care/ Quotes to ponder: "The best marketing you can do for your work is not to build an empire, but to find a few friends who care." "The job of an artist is not to make something for everyone, but to create the right thing for someone." "Remember that influencers don't want someone who knows everything already. They want someone who is humble." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2173: The Real Perfect Productivity System by Carl Pullein on Productivity 12.09.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2173: Carl Pullein explains why the search for the perfect productivity app is a dead end. He argues that a system exists to show what needs doing next, and that productivity comes from the decisions made in the moment rather than from the tool holding the list. Getting commitments, appointments, and ideas out of your head and into a system you trust frees your brain to do what it is actually best at. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.carlpullein.com/blog/the-real-perfect-productivity-system/25/10/2016 Quotes to ponder: "No matter how brilliant your system is, no matter how feature rich your todo list app is, nothing is going to do your work for you. Only you can do that." "it is not the system you use that makes you productive, but the decisions you make about what to do now" "The real 'perfect' productivity app is inside your head." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2172: The Power of Others by Shawn Achor with Live Happy on Workplace Collaboration 11.09.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2172: Shawn Achor explains why our culture overvalues what people accomplish alone, and why the research on human potential points the other way. He argues that success is not survival of the fittest but survival of the best fit, decided by how well someone connects with, contributes to, and benefits from the people around them. Helping others succeed, he says, lifts the soft cap that individual achievement quietly places on a career. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.livehappy.com/work/the-power-of-others Quotes to ponder: "We spend the first 22 years of our lives being judged and praised for our individual attributes and what we can achieve alone, when, for the rest of our lives, our success is almost entirely interconnected with that of others." "The people who rise to the top are not those who try to do everything all by themselves, but, rather, those who can ask others for help and rally others to grow." "The pursuit of potential must not be a lonely road." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2171: How to Enjoy Work (Even When You're Busy And Kind of Overwhelmed) by Sarah Von Bargen of Yes and Yes on Work-Life Balance 10.09.2026 10min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2171: Sarah Von Bargen explains that saying no and taking on less is not always an option at work, so the goal becomes enjoying the busy season rather than escaping it. She offers eight practical moves, from scheduling genuinely restorative breaks and keeping a file of kind notes to eating away from your desk and guarding the boundary between work and play. The through line is that burning yourself out borrows from work you have not done yet. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.yesandyes.org/2015/11/how-to-enjoy-your-professional-life-even-when-youre-insaaaanely-busy-kind-of-overwhelmed.html Quotes to ponder: "When you wear yourself down and burn yourself out, you're compromising the quality of your work and you're borrowing from future productivity and creativity." "Ferociously guard the boundaries between work and play." "Taking a break - and spending that break really relaxing and rejuvenating - is an investment in yourself and your work." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2170: How to Become an Entrepreneur in 6 Steps by Lorraine Roberte with I Will Teach You to Be Rich on Starting A Business 09.09.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2170: Lorraine Roberte explains that entrepreneurship begins as an identity shift rather than a fifty-page business plan. She walks through six steps: take ownership of your results, choose an idea built on what you are good at and what people already pay for, connect with the right professionals, set up only the basics, test the idea by actually selling it, and scale once the formula works. The emphasis throughout is on momentum over preparation. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/how-to-become-an-entrepreneur/ Quotes to ponder: "Becoming an entrepreneur is not just something you do. It's something you are." "Entrepreneurs get comfortable with discomfort for the sake of their business dreams." "People pay for things that add value to their lives." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2169: Owning A Business Vs Working A Day Job - What Everyone Needs To Know by Steve Chou of My Wife Quit Her Job on Self-Employment Basics 08.09.2026 10min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2169: Steve Chou explains what he has learned from working a full time job and running three online businesses at the same time. He credits the day job with stability, benefits, and a real off switch on vacation, and credits self-employment with unlimited upside and the selling skills a large company never teaches. His advice for anyone tempted to quit cold turkey is to build the business on the side first and decide later. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://mywifequitherjob.com/working-a-day-job-vs-running-your-own-business/ Quotes to ponder: "The reality is that when you work a day job, you have very little control and your situation can instantly go from good to bad at the flip of a switch." "The hardest part about owning your own business is not letting it run your life." "Start your business on the side while you are working and then make the decision later." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2168: Thoughts About Career Paths And Taking Risks by Kevin of Financial Panther on Taking Career Risks 07.09.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2168: Kevin explains that we tell young investors to take risk because they have decades to ride out a loss, then tell those same people to play it safe in their careers. He traces his own path into law school back to that mindset and names the three fears that keep people locked in: thinking in worst-case scenarios, believing they could not do anything else, and worrying what others think. His takeaway is that time is on your side at work the same way it is in the market. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://financialpanther.com/thoughts-about-career-paths-and-taking-risks/ Quotes to ponder: "We're taught to think about our jobs and careers conservatively, playing it safe at times when we can and probably should be thinking much more aggressively." "Even a totally failed decision probably isn't going to be the end of your life." "Most of us probably have the skills to do different things." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2167: How to Tame Interruptions (That Derail Your Best Laid Plans) by Julie Morgenstern on Time Management 06.09.2026 7min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2167: Julie Morgenstern explains why most spontaneous requests at work do not deserve an immediate yes. She lays out three strategies: pause before answering, weigh the request against everything else on your plate, and then respond with a gracious yes, no, or modified yes. The result is a workload you can actually carry and a reputation as someone who delivers on what they commit to. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/tips-tools-blog/how-to-tame-interruptions-that-derail-your-best-laid-plans Quotes to ponder: "But 80% of the spontaneous requests that come our way do not need to be dealt with immediately." "In all other cases, it's better to put a pause in it and put some distance between the request and your response." "It's helpful to stop thinking of outside requests as their work vs. your work. The truth is, all of it is the company's work." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2166: How To Address the Grey Market by Antonella Pisani of Eyeful Media on Protecting Your Brand 05.09.2026 10min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2166: Antonella Pisani explains what the grey market is, how legitimate goods leak out of authorized distribution and end up discounted on marketplaces, and why that costs brands money and reputation. She notes that chasing individual sellers with cease-and-desist letters rarely works, since they simply reappear under new names. The more durable fix is controlling supply: buyback programs for excess stock, a responsible liquidation partner, service benefits resellers cannot match, and a limited set of resellers bound by clear terms. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.eyefulmedia.com/blog/how-to-address-the-grey-market Quotes to ponder: "The grey market (or gray market if you prefer) is a legal yet unethical trade involving products being sold by unauthorized resellers or through unauthorized distribution channels." "The truth is, going after grey market sellers often feels a lot like playing whack-a-mole." "Instead, you must find ways to keep your products out of the reach of the grey market as a whole." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2165: Do I Really Need Business Insurance? by Laura Gariepy with Women Who Money on Self-Employment Basics 04.09.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2165: Laura Gariepy answers a question most new freelancers and business owners skip past: whether business insurance is actually necessary. She explains why a homeowner's policy and an LLC will not cover business losses, then works through the common coverage types, including general liability, professional liability, product liability, commercial property, and commercial auto, plus what changes once a company has employees. She ends with the SBA's four-step approach to finding the right policy. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/need-business-insurance/ Quotes to ponder: "Many people mistakenly believe their homeowner's insurance will protect them from business losses." "Getting business insurance will protect your business assets as well." "It's therefore crucial for you to find an insurance professional you trust." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2164: Staying Motivated to Work on the Road by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits on Building Discipline 03.09.2026 7min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2164: Leo Babauta reports from two weeks into a travel experiment in which he deliberately left his work undone so he would have to do it on the road. He describes four things that kept him working: refusing to give himself a choice, using a public challenge for accountability, having people who expect the work, and finishing early so the rest of the day is free of it. He closes with the observation that fitting his normal workload into a short window while traveling suggests how much time he wastes at home. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/roadwork/ Quotes to ponder: "Work is something I'm going to do, non-negotiable, just like I'm going to do the basic duties of being a parent, without question." "I have to be on task, be sharp, get it done, and then I have the luxury of not thinking about work for the rest of the day." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2163: The 2 Biggest Myths In Selling Today by Brian Tracy on Sales Success 02.09.2026 7min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2163: Brian Tracy takes apart two ideas most salespeople are taught early: that selling is a numbers game, and that rejection is an unavoidable cost of the work. He argues the numbers game was invented to make constant rejection feel normal, and that in a low-trust market the quality and depth of a conversation matters far more than the volume of calls. Rejection, in his view, is usually triggered by how a seller communicates, which means it can be diffused rather than endured. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.briantracy.com/blog/sales-success/the-2-biggest-myths-in-selling-today/ Quotes to ponder: "It's about how good you are at creating trust." "Why do you accept that rejection is just something you have to accept in selling?" Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2162: Why Coaching Is Important in the Workplace by Lisa Jeffs on Business Leadership 01.09.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2162: Lisa Jeffs explains why a coaching culture belongs in every workplace, not just in the onboarding of new hires. She walks through five effects coaching has on an organization: sharper performance, stronger soft skills, higher employee engagement, teams that solve their own problems, and managers who lead by empowering people rather than presiding over them. The through line is that coaching raises productivity by building people up rather than by pushing them harder. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lisajeffs.com/why-coaching-is-important-in-the-workplace/ Quotes to ponder: "Coaching not only improves productivity, but also helps employees improve their skills, competencies, and even make your office happier." "Coaching helps empower your team to find solutions for themselves." "The effectiveness of a leader is limited by how good their teams are." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2161: Feeling Like a Fraud? How to Identify Impostor Syndrome by Sara Stanizai of Prospect Therapy on Overcoming Self-Doubt 31.08.2026 8min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2161: Sara Stanizai explains how to tell impostor syndrome apart from ordinary self-doubt: the defining feature is chronic doubt held by someone who is in fact wholly qualified. She traces the pattern back to early cycles of praise and criticism, describes how it compounds with anxiety and shame at work, and points to self-awareness and outside help as the way through. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2019/8/26/feeling-like-a-fraud-how-to-identify-impostor-syndrome Quotes to ponder: "Impostor syndrome is the personal belief that you may not be as qualified or successful as others may perceive you to be." "The most common symptom of impostor syndrome is chronic self-doubt." "People with impostor syndrome also tend to overlook or cheapen their accomplishments." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2160: How to Find Career Fulfillment by Joe Wilner with Dig To Fly on Meaningful Work 30.08.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2160: Joe Wilner explains what meaningful work actually requires, starting with the question of what someone would pay to do if money were irrelevant. He argues that respected colleagues, an honest inventory of talents and values, and a self-written job description matter more to career fulfillment than salary, and that hitting an impasse is a signal for professional growth rather than a failure. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/how-to-find-career-fulfillment/ Quotes to ponder: "Recognize that money does not provide enduring career satisfaction." "Enjoy the process more than the proceeds." "Working with people we respect and appreciate is essential for career fulfillment." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2159: How To Find Freelance Jobs When You Have No Experience by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents on Self-Employment Basics 29.08.2026 6min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2159: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner explains how to land a first freelance client without a track record to point to. She recommends running a blog that doubles as a live portfolio, creating sample work, taking selective low-pay or free projects that genuinely build credibility, and then networking in the places clients already gather - a practical on-ramp to self-employment and side hustles. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2015/03/how-to-find-freelance-work-with-no-work-experience.html Quotes to ponder: "The truth is, you need experience in order to gain experience and this applies to freelancers as well." "In the beginning, you should be more focused on getting your name out there, gaining valuable experience, and building your portfolio." "The worst thing that can happen is someone will say no." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2158: The Pursuit of Flow Is Overrated by Nir Eyal on Productivity Habits 28.08.2026 9min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2158: Nir Eyal explains why treating flow as a precondition for good work leaves most professionals stuck. He points out how narrow the conditions for flow actually are, then offers play - adding constraints and looking for the mystery in a task - as a more dependable set of productivity habits for the days the zone never arrives. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/the-pursuit-of-flow-is-overrated/ Quotes to ponder: "The good news is, we don't need to wait for flow to accomplish what we need to." "That's why we can't make flow a precondition to getting things done." "Reimagining difficult work as play is empowering." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  2157: Onboard New Employees More Effectively With These Tips by Michael Levitt of Breakfast Leadership on Business Management 27.08.2026 7min

  Get the 200+ Page Optimal Living Daily Workbook (PDF) - Free. Want to turn today's episode into an actionable plan? Join the Optimal Living Weekly newsletter and I'll send you our 200-page digital workbook immediately. It's packed with the best takeaways from the show, formatted for easy reading and implementation at home. Get your free PDF workbook here: https://oldpodcast.eo.page/join Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com Episode 2157: Michael Levitt shares a practical framework for onboarding new employees, starting with defining exactly what the process needs to cover. He recommends handling paperwork before day one, using a learning management system for training, building in a tour and introductions, and scheduling a follow-up after the first week. Better onboarding, he argues, creates a better experience for the new hire, their manager, and the wider team. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/onboard-new-employees-more-effectively-with-these-tips Quotes to ponder: "Employee onboarding doesn't end on the first day." "You don't need to wait until your employee's first day to get started with onboarding." "Better onboarding helps to create a better employee experience." Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices