Back to Work

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Episode 73: Permission to Unclench Jun 25, 2012

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TOPIC: Aspects of Letting Go

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about two very different viewports into doing what you want to do and being who you want to be.

There's the non-fiddly value you earn from getting junk out of your head and into a place you trust (in this instance, OmniFocus location-based contexts).

Then, there's the "what the cuss?" situation faced by listener, "Evan," who's struggling with a work conundrum that's hard on the office freezer and his feelings.

How do you move toward doing the right thing in the face of a lot of wrong? And, how do you take care of the piddly crap that's made your brain such a messy white board?

Also, there's our new t-shirts, some boot scoots, lots of tickles, plus, that total tool who pushed Shlomo out. Don't even get Merlin started. Literally.

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This week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Squarespace, Igloo Software, Smile Software.

Episode 72: Rocky Balboa Moment Jun 18, 2012

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TOPIC: Confidence, Courage, and the Problem with Thinking

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about why we may or may not feel confident to do stuff. How do other people seem to get it so easily, and where do they find the courage?

Well. You walk through The Forum, you check the mics, and you never let thinking get in your way.

Too much thinking? UNACCEPTABLE!

Dungeon. Seven years. No trials.

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This week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Squarespace and MailChimp.

Episode 71: Sorry to Lose You as a Son Jun 11, 2012

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TOPIC: The Problem with Passive-Aggression. If that's okay with you.

This week, Dan and Merlin apologize if they've made you unhappy with an episode about passive-aggressiveness, wussy non-communication, and non-apology apologies. But, maybe, that'll just have to be okay with them.

But, could you PLEASE take your tuna out of the fridge, pick up after your dog, make more coffee, change the toilet paper roll, and help with taking trash to the curb?

Thank You In Advance For Your Cooperation!
— The Management

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This week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by MailChimp, Smile, and Squarespace.

Episode 70: Expectation Zero Jun 05, 2012

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TOPIC: Recalibrating Expectations

This week, Dan and Merlin talk more about struggling with expectations. Everybody's expectations. Including yours.

Why it's worth recalibrating your own expectations, managing others' expectations, and accepting the impossibility of knowing—let alone meeting—the expectations of the entire world.

Because, that's monkeyballs.

We also learn that Merlin likes his buttons touched very gently.

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This week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at Igloo Software and MailChimp.

Episode 69: Seven Dwarfs of Bad Emotion May 29, 2012

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TOPIC: Boogers and Expectations

Are you making perfect reports when your boss just wants them on time? Are you making crème brûlée when you should be jumping in a trench? Are wangs and boogers causing problems at work?

This week, Dan and Merlin talk more about expectations – whether you're willing to or not – and the risks of expectations of partners, bosses, and kids.

How can you handle expectations? There aren't a lot of easy answers. As you'd probably expect.

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at Warby Parker, MailChimp, and Squarespace.

Episode 68: The Black Queen is Killing Me May 21, 2012

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TOPIC: Incentive, Inspiration, and Motivation

This week, Dan and Merlin are inspired to talk about the incentive and the motivation to make something.

Inspiration is marketed as something you're missing, but it has a short expiration date, and if you're more scared than uninspired then it doesn't matter how many pieces of candy you're offered. And what do you do if selling bottled water cozies affects your intrinsic motivation to make them?

Well. It's complicated. As usual.

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at Smile and MailChimp.

Episode 67: Ad Hoc Bra May 15, 2012

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TOPIC: Trying On The Change

This week, Dan and Merlin (who might not have mentioned he didn't sleep much) discuss the balance between placing nickel bets versus going all-in—or at least thinking all-in.

You might be talking yourself into stasis or change, but if you don't really try it on first, you may find out the techno and combat boots are nothing compared to living under incontinent grackles.

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at MailChimp and Squarespace.

Episode 66: Horseradish on My Raccoon May 07, 2012

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TOPIC: The Pete Campbell Problem

Ever notice how you never really "arrive?" Or, have you ever noticed that right when you think you've "arrived," you don't stay arrived for very long—but now have a whole big bunch of new stuff to do? Yeah, us too.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about expectations, the wrong kinds of ambition, and the unquenchable lust for prestige and respect. Good practitioners practice, great leaders lead, and crummy managers just get their fingers all brown from digging around in your chocolate bag.

How to see yourself more as your team does—and less as That Guy who deserves more everything.

Because there will always be more "everything."

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at Squarespace and MailChimp.

Episode 65: A Light Dusting of Life May 03, 2012

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TOPIC: Stressing Out About Stress

Dan and Merlin talk about what happens when stress meets stress, anxiety feeds anxiety, and 10 guys maybe try to jump you in the woods.

Which kinds of stress are simply unavoidable? Which ones are addictive? Which ones can be tolerated? And, yes, which kinds of stresses can be vanquished by firing your boss?

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at MailChimp and Squarespace.

Episode 64: Frozen Poster Apr 23, 2012

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TOPIC: The Surprising Problems of "Doing What You Love"

Merlin has some follow up on Agency: be in control of what you give away and why you charge what you charge, and Dan is interested in what happens when you stop loving what you love when you do it as a job.

There are no guarantees, so don't mistake the Federalist Papers for Constitutional Law, and if you miss the signs you shouldn't be sailing, you'll just end up vomiting in your bucket hat.

You're not going suddenly arrive and do what you love. You get there through course correction: look back at all the ugly birdhouses and look ahead for the next step toward building a home.

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This episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our friends at MailChimp and Squarespace.

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