How I Work

Latest Episodes:

Atlassian’s Dom Price wants you to up your communication game by designing a “working agreement” Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

Have you heard praise showered on the concept of being a “lifelong learner”? You might’ve missed it in school, but our kids’ generation are reminded everyday that learning should continue far beyond the classroom. And if you didn’t hear it in school or in parent-teacher conferences, you’ve surely heard it at work by now. But what does it actually mean, and how do you become a lifelong learner yourself?

Enter Dom Price, Atlassian’s Work Futurist and a celebrated keynote speaker. Given his title, it makes sense that Dom spends a lot of time thinking about the future of work, but he’s certainly not keeping it to himself!

Dom discusses how the future of work might look, but cruciually, he’s just as passionate about sparking broader conversations on the future, so that we can all design it together. He covers everything from updating our methods of communication, to designing a working world that can truly support its workers’ physical and mental health.

Connect with Dom on Twitter or Linkedin

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My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

If you’re looking for more tips to improve the way you work, I write a fortnightly newsletter that contains three cool things I have discovered that help me work better, which range from interesting research findings through to gadgets I am loving. You can sign up for that at http://howiwork.co

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Liam Riordan

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Jordan Calhoun - Make your devices work for you, not against you Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

Trying to call Jordan Calhoun, Editor in Chief at Lifehacker, isn’t easy. Trust me - I’ve tried!

Jordan simply doesn’t take chances when it comes to his attention and his productivity. While it might be slightly tedious to have to pre-organise every phone call ahead of time, it’s more than worth it when it means your attention is entirely under your control.

Jordan shares his step-by-step process for ensuring his phone and computer only command his attention when he wants them to, and breaks down his more intense, “nuclear” option for those who really want to drill down on their device usage.

Connect with Jordan on Twitter or Instagram

You can find the full interview here: Weaponising accountability with Lifehacker editor-in-chief Jordan Calhoun

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My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Catriona Wallace’s million-dollar nose ring and what it taught her about running a business Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

Would you say no to a million dollars? Imagine if your business was minutes away from securing a huge investment boost, only for the founder to turn it down. What could possibly make her say no to such a big payday?

A nose ring.

Dr Catriona Wallace founded Flamingo AI, which became only the second women-led company to list on the ASX, and she takes money seriously. She explains how some investors inject “bad money” into your business, and teases out the most important lessons she’s learned about leadership across the course of her career.

She also details the differences between running a public and a private company, and shares her excitement over the future of healing and wellness practices across the world.

Connect with Catriona on Twitter and Linkedin

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Liam Riordan

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Evernote Founder Phil Libin - The difference between ‘difficult’ and ‘uncomfortable’ decisions Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

When you get right down to it, being a leader is ultimately all about being a decision-maker. Everything from hiring a team to devising a business strategy is built on your ability to make all kinds of decisions. So if you’re a leader, and you want to be a better one, you need to learn how to make better decisions.

For Phil Libin, cofounder of Evernote and mmhmm, this process began with introspection - in particular, Phil wanted to understand what a “difficult” decision actually is, and in the process, realised that more often than not, we think a decision is difficult, when it’s actually just uncomfortable.

He was surprised to find that 90% of the time, he knows what the right answer is, but what’s holding him back is that enacting that decision feels uncomfortable. So, how do you know whether a decision is truly difficult or not, and how do you make the right decision, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Connect with Phil on Twitter or Linkedin

You can find the full interview here: Evernote co-founder Phil Libin on the key to making better decisions at work

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is how I wrote Time Wise Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

If you’re a frequent How I Work listener, you’ve probably noticed how frequently I’ve been asking guests for specific advice on tackling big projects, developing focus, and writing. And it’s because writing a book, no matter how many times you do it, is really difficult!

But thanks to this show, I have first-hand access to some of the sharpest minds of our day, and I want to share that access with you.

I talk to Charlotte Rush, Inventium’s Head of New Product Development, about the process of writing Time Wise, and which tips and tricks from this podcast helped me out along the way.

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Michael Bungay Stanier - How to build an ‘operating manual’ for collaboration Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

Collaboration can be a pretty volatile part of work… working alongside great people can make even the most mind-numbingly boring tasks feel like pure play - but when you don’t gel with a particular team, even a passion project can become a drag.

So how do you make sure you’re collaborating with the right people? And collaborating the right way?

Author and coaching expert Michael Bungay Stanier wants you to have these conversations before you even start working with a new collaborator. Before any project begins, he recommends co-writing an ‘operating manual’, a set of processes and guidelines for collaborating.

He shares the most effective questions to ask when you’re thinking of working with someone, and breaks down the reasons every team needs to have discussions like these.

Connect with Michael on Twitter or at his website

You can find the full interview here: Michael Bungay Stanier teaches you how to begin

Visit Inventium Labs to download your operating manual.

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Quirkology” Professor Richard Wiseman on using magic to up your public speaking game Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

If you know anything about magic, you know a true magician never reveals his secrets. While psychologist and author Richard Wiseman might not share the secrets behind his favourite magic tricks, he’s more than happy to share how magic has made him a better thinker, a better psychologist, and a better public speaker.

Richard also shares how focusing more intently on listening has led to some of his most successful outings as an author, and describes his unconventional - and frightening - method for pitching experiments.

Richard’s also the creator of the beloved YouTube channel, Quirkology, where he demonstrates short experiments and explains unusual facets of psychology. He shares how the channel came about, and why he works across so many platforms.

Connect with Richard on Twitter and at his website

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Liam Riordan

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Favourite Tip: Taylor Jacobson - Use technology to find an accountability partner Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

Did you ever have a great study buddy? Someone in high school or university who made those long sessions on the books a little less punishing?

What did that person actually do? Were they giving you tips? Or was it enough to just have them… there? I know I work with a whole lot more concentration and energy when my teammates are around.

And Taylor Jacobson does too - he had such a great study buddy in college that he turned the experience into a company. Taylor explains how Focusmate works, and crucially, details the processes that go into turning a regular social interaction into an accountability tool.

Connect with Taylor on Twitter or try Focusmate here

You can find the full interview here: Focus! Why Taylor Jacobson founded Focusmate to force himself to concentrate

***

My new book Time Wise is out now. You can grab a copy here.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anything you can imagine: how 1800-GOT-JUNK CEO Brian Scudamore turns visions into reality Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

All entrepreneurs get things wrong; it comes with the territory. But great entrepreneurs love getting things wrong, because it means they’re learning. Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO of O2E (which includes brands such as 1800-GOT-JUNK and Shack Shine), is no different, and as tough as the pandemic was, he still sees it as an invaluable learning opportunity.

One of O2E’s iconic practices is its enormous, company-wide “huddle”, in which all employees gather in one giant room for seven minutes every morning to discuss the action plan for the day. Brian loved the huddles, loved seeing everyone together, in one place. So he was worried the company would love a vital bit of magic when they moved to remote work during COVID.

But then, something brilliant happened - the huddles ended up being even better online. Suddenly, instead of everyone in the room looking at one person amidst a sea of backs, every single person could see every other person’s face on the Zoom screen.

And Brian realised he’d been wrong - and he was pumped!

Brian shares the other unexpected lessons and surprising wins encountered during the pandemic, as well as his process for turning visions into reality.

Connect with Brian on Twitter and Linkedin

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Get your hands on a copy of Time Wise.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Production Support from Deadset Studios

Episode Producer: Liam Riordan

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transform fear into excitement with this simple question Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Think back to something… scary. Intimidating. Something you signed up for and thought was a great idea in the moment, but that grew more and more unnerving as it grew closer.

Maybe it was an athletic endeavour, an overseas adventure, or a serious stretch goal at work. If you asked friends for advice as the big day crept ever closer, they probably asked you the classic question: “What’s the worst that could happen?”

And for a second, you might’ve calmed down. You might’ve remembered the big event wasn’t going to kill you. But if that wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, what was?

You could’ve been utterly humiliated. Maybe you could’ve lost a lot of money, or ruined your reputation? You could’ve been injured, or rejected, or… See? Now your mind is spiraling, overflowing with worst-case scenarios.

Michelle Poler, who speaks on fear and the comfort zone, has heard that advice countless times, and she’s fed up. When you ask yourself for worst-case scenarios, surprise: you get them.

She has a better question for you to ask when something’s scaring you, and I share it in this extract from my new book, Time Wise.

Connect with Michelle on Instagram or on her website

You can find the full interview here: Michelle Poler on how she overcame 100 fears and the key question she asked to help conquer them

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Order my new book Time Wise.

Connect with me on the socials:

Twitter

Instagram

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium