Optimal Work Daily - Career, Productivity and Entrepreneurship

Episoder

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  2149: Tackle Work Stress With These Practical Tips by Chris Libby with LiveHappy on Work-Life Balance 19.08.2026 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 2149: Chris Libby shares practical, research-backed ways to lower stress at work and raise well-being on the job. He explains why wellness programs pay for themselves, how compassion changes the mood of an entire office, and what a full night of sleep does for your productivity. He closes with a mindfulness teacher's simple routines for before, during, and after the workday. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.livehappy.com/work/tackle-work-stress-with-these-practical-tips Quotes to ponder: "Strategy and balance, both physical and emotional, come from a relaxed place." "When compassion flows, a business grows." "Every key facet required for business success will fail when sleep becomes short within an organization." 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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  2148: How to Set Your Freelance Rate by Daniella of I Like to Dabble on Side Hustles 18.08.2026 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 2148: Daniella breaks down how to set your freelance rate when you have no idea what to charge. She covers researching the going rate through freelancer communities and rate databases, then walks through the hourly wage method, factoring in your expenses, your unpaid admin time, and the share of your hours that are actually billable. She closes with the other factors that move your number, including experience, how fast you work, availability, and discounts for steady clients. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://iliketodabble.com/how-to-set-your-freelance-rate/ Quotes to ponder: "Don't focus too much on what other people are doing; set your rates based on what you feel is appropriate." "Reputation matters as a freelancer and clients will pay more (and offer consistent work more often) when you're reliable." "Keep in mind that low rates can help your business at the start, but eventually it makes sense to work fewer hours for higher paying clients and earn the same amount." 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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  2147: Career Transition Grief and Identity Loss by Kathy Robinson of Athena Wellness on Career Change 17.08.2026 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 2147: Kathy Robinson explains why leaving a long-time career so often brings on grief, and why that grief is so easy to miss. She walks through the signs of identity loss, from confusion about purpose to trouble focusing and a general feeling of fog, and why our work becomes such a large part of how we define ourselves. She then offers a six-step roadmap for acknowledging the feelings, staying connected to others, and rebuilding a sense of self beyond the job. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://athenawellness.com/blog/2023/7/1/career-transition-grief-and-identity-loss Quotes to ponder: "Our work is often a major part of our identity. It's how we define ourselves, how we make a living, and how we contribute to society." "Identity loss is a natural reaction to change and it's a sign that you're growing and evolving." "The best way through this type of grief is finding new ways to define yourself beyond your career." 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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  2146: Hard Work and Mindfulness Can Co-Exist by Jenny Lee of Hello Brio on Work-Life Balance 16.08.2026 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 2146: Jenny Lee pushes back on the idea that a mindful life means never working hard. She shares how years of relentless side hustling, and then a serious health crisis and a long recovery, completely changed her relationship with work. Today she argues that big goals and real work-life balance can coexist, as long as the work does not bulldoze health, relationships, and the people who matter most. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.hellobrio.com/blog/hard-work Quotes to ponder: "We are not what we produce." "Even though our hard work does not define us, it's still okay to have big goals and to work hard. Just don't let those dreams bulldoze what really matters." "Mindfulness is an emotional minimalism: focus on what matters most to you and say no to the rest." 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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  2145: The 8 Questions That Create Perfect Landing Page Copy by Michael Lykke Aagaard with Neil Patel on Conversion Copywriting 15.08.2026 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 2145: Michael Lykke Aagaard shares the eight questions he asks before and after writing a first draft of landing page copy, illustrated with a Saxo Bank case study that nearly doubled trial sign-ups. The first four clarify the page's single goal, the offer itself, the benefit to the prospect, and what a prospect needs to know before saying yes. The last four pressure-test the draft for a compelling reason to act, a title that carries the strongest selling point, anything that can be cut, and a design that supports the words. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://neilpatel.com/blog/high-impact-landing-copy/ Quotes to ponder: "Confusion is one of the great conversion killers. The more you ask your prospects to consider, the more likely they are to end up doing nothing at all." "Your prospects are busy, and they are not going to spend several minutes trying to figure out what your offer will do for them." "Design and copy go hand in hand. The presentation of the landing page has a huge impact on the copy and to which extent it will be read." 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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  2144: The Stable Mucking Method: A Freestyle Approach To Keeping the Annoying Little Stuff Under Control by Cal Newport on Productivity Habits 14.08.2026 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 2144: Cal Newport explains why an obsessive focus on a few big projects left all the small administrative stuff piling up around him, and what finally worked. He shares the stable mucking method, a freestyle productivity approach that asks only that you do something administrative at the end of each day, no matter how small. Because the bar is so low, the habit defuses procrastination, and more often than not it leads to knocking out far more than the minimum. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2008/11/18/the-stable-mucking-method-a-freestyle-approach-to-keeping-the-annoying-little-stuff-under-control/ Quotes to ponder: "At the end of each day I require myself to do something administrative. Even if it's really small." "Because the work could conceivably involve only the easiest, smallest possible task on my list, it isn't scary. This, in turn, defuses the urge to procrastinate." "We should deploy good systems to capture and organize tasks, but rely on creative strategies, crafted on the fly, to plan how we actually tackle the work in the short term." 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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  2143: How to Get a Job with No Experience (4 Accessible Strategies) by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to Be Rich on Job Search Tips 13.08.2026 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 2143: Ramit Sethi shares four accessible strategies for landing a job with no experience: selling your skills instead of your work history, creating spec work samples, writing a strong cover letter, and finding an inside connection. He also explains why working for yourself can be a path worth considering, since your resume does not matter when you are the boss. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/get-job-no-experience/ Quotes to ponder: "Make an effort to strengthen your abilities and you'll stand out for it." "By finding a way to create mutual value, the people you reach out to will genuinely look forward to helping you." "Your resume doesn't matter when you work for yourself." 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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  2142: How to Raise Capital for Starting Your Business by Sabado Domingo with Len Penzo on Startup Funding 12.08.2026 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 2142: Sabado Domingo explains how to raise capital for a new business when you have no savings, covering angel investors, venture capital, crowdfunding, title loans, side hustles, and government startup programs. It is practical guidance for anyone whose entrepreneurship dreams are bigger than their bank account. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id70052-how-to-raise-capital-for-starting-your-business.html Quotes to ponder: "While talent, skill, and intellectual abilities are crucial to fostering a highly profitable business, capital is vital." "Patience and making the right decisions to grow your business are crucial." "Many people start their business with not even a single penny in their pocket." 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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  2141: Become a God of Learning Your Trade AND Confidence in Your Business by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits on Entrepreneur Mindset 11.08.2026 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 2141: Leo Babauta shares two essays on growing your craft and your business. First, he explains how working in public, like a street performer, delivers the instant feedback that builds real mastery of your trade. Then he makes the case for entrepreneurship built on confidence and trustworthiness instead of manipulative marketing tactics. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/god/ and https://zenhabits.net/markety/ Quotes to ponder: "Instant feedback is the most valuable thing you can get." "Be a street performer. There's no better way to get amazing at something." "The fear of losing business will always be there to some extent, but don't be driven by it." 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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  2140: [Part 2] An Emergency Fund Can Save You from Financial Disaster and Even Grow Your Business by Dustin Heiner on Business Finances 10.08.2026 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 2140: Dustin Heiner continues his case for keeping an emergency fund as a business owner, covering exactly where to keep it so it stays safe, liquid, accessible, and earning interest. He also shares how to calculate your target number, and why avoiding bad debt is essential for entrepreneurship that lasts. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://masterpassiveincome.com/emergency-fund Quotes to ponder: "The best time to plan for hard times is when things are going well." "Bad debt (money taken out of your pocket) will be the death of your business." "Cash is king so make sure you keep your emergency fund that way." 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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  2139: [Part 1] An Emergency Fund Can Save You from Financial Disaster and Even Grow Your Business by Dustin Heiner on Entrepreneur Mindset 09.08.2026 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 2139: Dustin Heiner shares how a business that was supposed to make him money instead drained his paycheck month after month, and how the cash his family had set aside is the only reason he could hold on long enough to sell it. He explains what an emergency fund actually is, why the best time to plan for hard times is while things are going well, and how that one habit protects both your household and your business. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://masterpassiveincome.com/emergency-fund Quotes to ponder: "The best time to plan for hard times is when things are going well." "It is better to have one and not need it than need it and not have one." "How you prepare for those emergencies will prove how successful you are at being an entrepreneur." 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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  2138: Energy Management at Work by Shana Olmstead on Work-Life Balance 08.08.2026 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 2138: Shana Olmstead shares five practical ways to protect your own energy through a workday, starting with a twenty-minute morning routine and honest boundaries with your employer. She explains how hourly check-ins and kinder self-talk keep stress from quietly building all day, and why the small reminders you keep at your desk matter more than you would think for real work-life balance. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://shanaolmstead.com/2019/09/16/energy-management-at-work/ Quotes to ponder: "The only one that can take care of you better than anyone else, is you!" "A lack of boundaries comes from a self-worth deficit." "Work is a part of you, it's not all of you." 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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  2137: "Woo" Your Employees by Karl Staib of Dig To Fly on Employee Retention 07.08.2026 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 2137: Karl Staib explains why companies pour so much energy into wooing customers and new hires, then quietly stop wooing the people who already work for them. He shares the five one-on-one questions that surface the real reasons employees walk out the door, how to filter those answers down to three changes worth committing to, and why announcing those changes out loud is what makes the staff believe you mean it. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://digtofly.com/woo-your-employees/ Quotes to ponder: "The best way to find out why you are losing employees is to ask the staff." "Don't shy away from the ideas that are difficult to implement because this is where you'll see the most progress." "You must remember you won't keep every employee; some are just meant to spread their wings." 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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  2136: Learning Through Laughter: How Fun Corporate Team-Building Events Boost Employee Development by Michael Levitt on Workplace Collaboration 06.08.2026 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 2136: Michael Levitt explains why corporate team-building events have earned a bad reputation, and what separates the forgettable ones from the events that actually develop employees. He walks through the gains in communication, collaboration, and morale that teams pick up along the way, why long-established teams need bonding just as much as new hires do, and three practical tips for running an event people get something out of. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/learning-through-laughter-how-fun-corporate-team-building-events-boost-employee-development Quotes to ponder: "Despite how outdated they may seem, team-building activities can be valuable for managers and employees, but only if they're done right." "Team building isn't just for new hires or newly formed teams." "By improving communication, collaboration, and morale across departments, companies can reap the rewards of employee engagement, productivity, and loyalty." 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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  2135: Hustling For Money: How Do I Determine the Best Side Gig? by Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock of Women Who Money on Side Hustles 05.08.2026 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 2135: Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock walk through the real numbers on side gigs, from average earnings to the surprising gap between what men and women take home. They share a practical set of questions on timing, upfront costs, and time commitment so you can pick a side hustle that fits your goals and makes the entrepreneurship leap worth it. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/hustling-money-side-gig-for-extra-cash/ Quotes to ponder: "The lure of earning extra money has you considering a side gig." "While you can definitely accomplish a lot in a year, some side gigs will take more time than others to start paying off." "No matter what side gig you choose to go with, know your why, obtain any necessary skills and resources, and start building your business!" 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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  2134: Tips For Success AND Setting Goals For Your Business That Scare You by Chalene Johnson on Goal Setting 04.08.2026 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 2134: Chalene Johnson shares her core tips for success: set attainable goals, exercise regularly, and build accountability by breaking big goals into smaller ones. Then she flips the script for your business, explaining why real entrepreneurship growth means setting goals that scare you, investing in your brand, delegating, and surrounding yourself with people who push you. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.chalenejohnson.com/tips-for-success-how-to-be-successful/ and https://www.chalenejohnson.com/setting-goals-for-your-business-that-scare-you/ Quotes to ponder: "Setting yourself up for success means setting goals that are attainable." "Taking a large goal, like running a marathon and breaking it into five smaller goals will help focus your efforts and will help build confidence to reach that large goal." "In order to move forward with your business you have to push the boundaries, and this means doing things that scare you." 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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  2133: Making Work Work by Dr. Jenny Brockis on Job Satisfaction 03.08.2026 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 2133: Dr. Jenny Brockis reveals the four forces that quietly drain our engagement at work: overwork, invisible results, poor relationships, and fear of failure. She shares how setting boundaries, asking for feedback, and nurturing workplace connections can restore work-life balance and bring back a sense of purpose in your career. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://drjennybrockis.com/2018/3/6/making-work-work/ Quotes to ponder: "All business is in the business of relationships and it is those social bonds that create the foundation of trust, loyalty and understanding." "Social cohesion makes us happy. It builds contribution and collaboration and increases your desire to stay." "Failure is normal too. While you may wish to avoid it, accepting it when it occurs helps to build resilience for the next time and opens up opportunities to try something different." 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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  2132: How to Give Effective Feedback in the Workplace by Christopher Dollard with Gottman on Workplace Communication 02.08.2026 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 2132: Christopher Dollard shares how a simple assertive communication formula, starting with "I feel" and "I need," transformed his relationship with a difficult manager. He explains how giving feedback this way keeps the other person from getting defensive and builds healthier working relationships, a piece of career advice that pays off far beyond the workplace. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.gottman.com/blog/effective-feedback-workplace/ Quotes to ponder: "Because I used this assertive style, my manager listened and didn't get defensive." "In the months that followed, my manager not only treated me with more respect and offered more constructive feedback and direction, but our conversation also caused that manager to treat other employees the same way." "When we did fight, we fought in a healthy way." 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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  2131: Why Can't I Stop Procrastinating? by Sara Stanizai of Prospect Therapy on Overcoming Procrastination 01.08.2026 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 2131: Sara Stanizai explains why chronic procrastination is rarely laziness and points instead to real causes like perfectionism, learned habits, and ADHD. She shares how noticing the thoughts and feelings that surface when you avoid a task can reveal what is really going on, so you can build strategies that actually improve your productivity. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/blog/2020/1/20/why-cant-i-stop-procrastinating Quotes to ponder: "In reality, those who procrastinate often aren't lazy at all." "One way to figure out what causes your procrastination is to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that come up when you avoid a task." "As humans, we learn a large number of our behaviors by watching other people." 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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  2130: [Part 2] The 9 Surefire Ways to Fail at Anything by James Altucher on Personal Development 31.07.2026 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 2130: James Altucher explains how unfocused ambitions, shallow knowledge, unhealthy relationships, and resistance to change can undermine success. He shows how connecting your interests, learning continuously, choosing relationships carefully, and improving by just 1% each day can create meaningful long-term growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://jamesaltucher.com/blog/surefire-ways/ Quotes to ponder: “Focus is about connecting the dots so that one vision emerges.” “You’re only competing against the person you were yesterday.” “Focus is not about doing one thing. It’s about doing many things that connect and combine in ways nobody ever thought of before.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices