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PODCAST

Focused

David Sparks and Mike Schmitz are not nearly as productive as they’d like to be. Join these fellow travelers (and a bunch of special guests) as they share the best ways to get focused, and talk through their successes and failures along the way. Hosted by David Sparks and Mike Schmitz.

business careers

All Episodes

56:31

25: Breadcrumb of My Life, with Stephen Hackett

Focused ·

2017/07/11

Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett discusses his origin story, including an abortive attempt at being an Apple blogger, a fateful meeting over tea with Jason and David, how he left his job to become a full-time podcast entrepreneur, and the personal challenges he first encountered when he went independent.

en-US

43:48

24: Take Care of Yourself

Focused ·

2017/06/27

What happens if you're a lone-wolf independent operator, and then you get sick? Jason was recently out of commission for several days, and David had serious health issues immediately upon going independent. What strategies can help mitigate against illness? How can you avoid getting sick? And what's the deal with disability insurance?

en-US

40:26

23: It's Hard To Get on a Different Train

Focused ·

2017/06/13

When should you form a corporation, and if so, what kind? David has some broad advice, though you should be sure to consult with a local attorney and your accountant before making any final decisions.

en-US

27:57

22: Staying Agile

Focused ·

2017/05/30

One of your great advantages as an independent worker is your agility. While larger companies have more resources, they can be much slower to react to change. David and Jason swap war stories about adapting and changing, including Jason's decision to leave one podcast and start another.

en-US

57:37

21: The Second Feedback Episode

Focused ·

2017/05/16

We're once again answering your letters and tweets In a wide-ranging episode covering all sorts of aspects of being an independent worker.

en-US

59:36

20: Jason's Origin Story

Focused ·

2017/05/03

David asks Jason to explain where he came from, the background of his career, and what the circumstances were that led him to become an independent worker, and then asks him to reflect on his two-plus years no longer being employed by a big corporation.

en-US

59:57

19: Nobody Grades You on the Scaffolding

Focused ·

2017/04/18

Every independent worker will agree that being organized is important. But should you adopt an organizational system? How can these systems help you, and are they worth the investment? Jason and David detail their own personal organization systems and discuss approaches to getting more organized, as well as tools to use to help in the process.

en-US

44:37

18: A Series of Logical Decisions, with Greg Pierce

Focused ·

2017/04/04

Agile Tortoise's Greg Pierce discusses what he's learned in a decade as an independent developer and consultant.

en-US

28:50

17: Stop Digging

Focused ·

2017/03/21

Not all clients are good clients. If you don't manage the herd, you could lose the farm. This is why it's important to consider the right time, and right way, to fire a client. We discuss fireable offenses both obvious and subtle, and the best approach to take when firing a client.

en-US

53:43

16: R2-D2 on My Desk

Focused ·

2017/03/07

Jason and David discuss their home-office set-ups and the challenges they face when working in a house they share with other people. When do you lock your doors? How do you "go home" at the end of the day? What gear do they use? And do they admit to their clients that they're working in their pajamas?

en-US

41:39

15: Put on the Business Hat

Focused ·

2017/02/21

You can't earn a living as a Free Agent if you don't get paid. In this episode we discuss why the sign of a true professional is ensuring that they're being compensated. Why is getting paid so hard? How do we handle billing? When you're on your own, you're the one who has to make sure that the money is flowing in. If you don't get paid, you won't be an independent worker for very long.

en-US

38:56

14: Putting Numbers in Boxes, with Andrew Carroll

Focused ·

2017/02/07

A new year brings accounting and tax challenges for independent workers, so we asked accountant and financial advisor Andrew Carroll to join us. Andrew recently went out on his own and now provides tax and financial advice to free agents and entrepreneurs.

en-US

39:42

13: Promotion Can Feel Gross

Focused ·

2017/01/24

Being good at what you do isn't enough. You also need customers, clients, or whatever else you need to pay for shoes. That may mean you have to do a little promotion of your own. But you can be really great at what you do and still terrible at self-promotion. Tricky stuff!

en-US

43:27

12: Right Now It's Only Me, with Katie Floyd

Focused ·

2017/01/10

Very recently David's Mac Power Users co-host, Katie Floyd, left her law firm and went out on her own. We ask Katie about making the move, her workspace and work habits, and the issues of adding support staff and partners versus staying entirely independent.

en-US

23:53

11: Balancing Dollars and Delight

Focused ·

2016/12/14

One of the best things an independent worker can do is invest in both belts and suspenders. We discuss cultivating and managing multiple income streams, and both the risks and benefits of getting your money from a bunch of different places.

en-US

37:24

10: Indie Vacation

Focused ·

2016/11/29

We discuss planning and taking vacations as an independent worker. How do you set client expectations? How do you set boundaries with the people you're traveling with? What's the best way to get prepared for taking a trip? Most importantly, we talk about the importance of taking time off and meaning it.

en-US

52:04

9: The Feedback Episode

Focused ·

2016/11/15

In a wide-ranging episode, David and Jason answer your letters and tweets.

en-US

27:36

8: Email Is Not Your Job

Focused ·

2016/11/01

Email can be a vital communication mechanism, but it can also be a black hole of lost productivity. David and Jason discuss managing email and setting rules about how you use it.

en-US

40:22

7: Be Like a Duck

Focused ·

2016/10/18

So you've decided to leave the nest. What can you do to prepare while you're still working for the man? What's the right way to give notice, and prepare for the aftermath? David and Jason discuss getting set up, preparing your loved ones for the change, rehearsing your big break-up speech, and the importance of not panicking when everything goes sideways.

en-US

48:20

6: The Shawshank Redemption, with Shahid Kamal Ahmad

Focused ·

2016/10/04

PlayStation veteran Shahid Kamal Ahmad left Sony to become an independent game developer. We discuss why he left and how he schedules his workday in his garden shed, the ShaShed.

en-US

205 results

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