The Better Show

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Better Bite - Time Management with Focus Matrix Sep 03, 2018

Show notes

We dive into the Focus Matrix app - a tool for prioritization and time management. We discuss the underlying philosophy behind the app and how Ian is using it to focus his time and energy on his most important tasks.

Show Notes

1:55— Ian introduces us to the Focus Matrix app for iOS and the Ike app for Android and explains the history behind the focus matrix method for prioritization.
3:26— We discuss why prioritization matters — the preciousness of our time, the satisfaction of being in control of one’s efforts — and methods we have used to make the best use of our time.
9:20— Ian describes the four quadrants of the Focus Matrix and explains how to use them to categorize your tasks.
11:19— Ian’s experience using the Focus Matrix app, how it works, and things to avoid when employing the Eisenhower matrix.
13:59— Ian describes the benefits he’s realized from using a dedicated app for prioritization like The Focus Matrix and compares it to typical to-do apps like Wunderlist.
18:10— Ian’s list of tips for getting the most out of the Focus Matrix app — swipe gestures, filters, and integrations with other services.
20:40— We agree to do a dedicated episode on apps for employing the Pomodoro technique for focus & time management.

Mentions

App: Focus Matrix by Xwavesoft
App: Ike
App: Wunderlist
Product: The Productivity Planner by Intelligent Change

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Channel Your Creativity Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

We dive into how to increase and apply your creativity. We'll explore ways get into a creative mindset, strengthen your creative muscles and apply your imagination to problems worth solving.

Show Notes

2:15— March discusses the different definitions of creativity and the importance of creativity for society.
6:00— The role of followers and how they can be just as important as inventors for the evolution of ideas.
26:07— March describes a technique for spurring creativity where you shift from “associative thinking” to “analytical thinking”.
34:10— The effect of laughter on thinking.
48:20— The effect of music on thinking and creativity.
54:04— A tip that nearly everyone can get excited about: taking a nap to help creativity. 😁😴
55:55— March leads Ian and Darren in a creativity exercise.

Mentions

Book: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Baroque playlist
Video: How to Start a Movement TED Talk by Derek Sivers

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Better Bite - Traveling with TripIt Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

We test out the TripIt app for planning & organizing travel. We discuss how it works for summarizing and sharing travel plans while staying on track during your next vacation or business trip.

Show Notes

2:10— We discuss the stressors of traveling including the need to organize a bunch of different documents and confirmation numbers.
3:40— How March and Darren originally learned about TripIt.
7:50— We describe the different features of TripIt and share examples of when TripIt saved us time.
11:57— TripIt pricing and the difference between the free and premium versions of the service.
13:03— The basic mechanics of what TripIt does and how it works.
15:09— Setting TripIt to automatically share your travel plans with others.
17:57— Using TripIt to store important travel documents like passports and travel awards programs.
19:58— Using TripIt to get alerts on flight price changes or when better seats are available.
21:40— Ian explains the “Go Now” feature for premium users of the mobile app.
24:59— March describes a feature offered by Inbox by Gmail that makes accessing travel information easier.
28:20— We mention two other apps that make traveling easier: Trips by Google and TripCase.

Mentions

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Stay Safe Online Part 2 Aug 06, 2018

Show notes

We wrap up our 2 parter on protecting your identity, your accounts & your devices. We dive into how to protect your home network, your devices & how not to get snooped on when using public Wi-Fi.

Show Notes

2:00— March shares some advice about using a separate email address for your most sensitive accounts.
3:40–March discusses 2-step verification
5:15— How to choose a good secret question
11:32— How to be safe on social media; Privacy Checkup on Facebook; making sure that your profile and posts not is not public; finding out what apps are connected to your Facebook account
16:50—TakeThisLollipop.com
19:50— Different ways to use Twitter as a public
22:18— How to be safe using public WiFi networks using VPNs.
30:14— How to secure your home WiFi network by changing your default password, updating your router software, disabling WPS, and setting your router to not broadcast the network name.
42:20— The importance of applying the latest software updates to your electronics
45:43— How to leverage your browser’s security warnings to recognize when you are about to visit a sketchy web site
47:40— Monitoring your credit reports and credit score
50:30— Ian commits to updating his router software
50:40— March decides to start using a password manager and a VPN for public browsing
51:59— Darren is going to disable WPS on his routers and set his routers to stop broadcasting the network name.

Mentions

TakeThisLollipop.com
CheekyWifi.com
VPNs to make using public WiFi more secure: NordVPN, Private Internet Access, HotSpot Shield Elite, CyberGhost
Credit monitoring services: CreditKarma, CreditSesame, annualcreditreport.com

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Stay Safe Online Part 1 Jul 31, 2018

Show notes

We kick off a 2 part episode on protecting your identity, your accounts & your devices. We explore what makes a strong password, common mistakes people make around online security & how to protect yourself from data breaches.

Show Notes

1:20— We discuss why understanding basic online security best practices is becoming a basic life skill given how much of our life is connected to the Internet.
6:55— March shares the impact of online security on the US and global economy and the number of people effected by security breaches and we discuss how the costs are borne by all of us — even if our data or accounts haven’t been directly hacked.
13:30— Ian shares a list of the biggest data breaches as cataloged by Wired Magazine and the number of people effected.
17:30— March shares an experience he had today (the day we recorded this episode) about his debit card number being stolen and the steps he took to deal with it.
22:45— Darren and Ian offer a tip about the benefits of using a credit card instead of a debit card for online transactions.
28:04— March explains what a botnet is and how online hackers use them to steal passwords and sensitive information.
31:25— Darren struggles with how to spell the work “phishing” but ultimately figures it out and explains what a phishing attack is and how to spot them and avoid them.
35:50— March shares tips on creating more secure passwords including the concept of a passphrase.
39:26— Darren talks about the benefits of using a password manager and shares his experience in using the Dashlane password manager.
43:05— Ian explains the “haystack concept” and puts Darren and March to the test asking them to identify which password is more secure.
47:40— Darren shares a tip about creating a password system using a root password plus a prefix or suffix so that you have unique passwords for every site.
49:30— March discusses the feature of modern browsers that offer to save your passwords for you.
52:55— Darren commits to doing a password audit using the security center on Dashlane.
53:48— Ian decides to go through all his online accounts and delete the ones he no longer uses.
54:40— March is going to test out different password managers and commit to using one going forward.

Mentions

Article: Credit Cards vs Debit Cards
Steve Gibson's Haystack
Password manager: Dashlane
Password manager: LastPass
Password manager: 1Password
iCloud Keychain

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Make Sense of Science Headlines Jul 23, 2018

Show notes

We explore how to interpret science headlines and see through the hype. We dive into understanding the strengths & weaknesses of science reporting and how to dig into the science behind the headlines.

Show Notes

1:35— March shares the inspiration behind why we wanted to create this episode and we discuss the challenges in trying to make sense of all the “scientific” data coming at us.
9:29—March points out the potential for conflicts of interest in the way research is presented by people who have a particular position they want to promote.
11:20— Ian talks about the general trend of our having more and more data available to us and the importance of being data literate.
12:59— March shares his personal experience becoming interested in science.
13:59— Darren describes how participating in debates at school and at home helped him develop critical thinking skills and fostered his interest in being able to discern credible vs deceptive sources.
16:55— March shares a tip for how to quickly assess the validity of a headline and
18:23— Ian chimes in with a tactic he uses when first reading a headline: he asks himself what might the motivation be of this author.
22:27— March explains the difference between causation and correlation and we discuss the importance of discerning the difference between the two.
35:25— Darren invokes the famous quote from British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (later made famous by Mark Twain): “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”
38:29— Darren shares a list of his personal tricks to determine the credibility of a source.
42:20— March explains some of the tricks that writers use to make statistical results sound more significant than they really are.
44:54— We discuss p-values: what they are, why they matter, and how to make them easier to understand.
49:24— Ian shares one of his favorite blogs on nutrition called Summer Tomato and explains how it got him interested in p-values and how to think about them through a different lens.
1:02:50— March shares two resources for staying abreast of science news and also understanding it more thoroughly.
1:09:45— Ian tests our ability to analyze the news by presenting us with a recent article about chocolate’s effect on cancer and we have fun trying to break down the different bits of the story and its sources.
1:22:40— Ian notes that the article originated from HealthDayNews.com which turns out to be a very legitimate source.

Mentions

Blog: Summer Tomato
Blog: ScienceDaily.com
News source: Longform.org
News source: Curiosity.com
YouTube channel: SciShow by PBS
Scientific research source: PubMed
Health news source: HealthDayNews.com

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Better Bite - Ian tries the Chilipad Jul 16, 2018

Show notes

Temperature has a huge impact on one's quality of sleep. With summer heat in full effect, The Better Show gets ❄️cool ❄️ by testing out the ChiliPad- a mattress pad that promises to keep your bed cool & comfy. Ian was our guinea pig for this test. He explains how the ChiliPad works and shares his experience with it so far.

Show Notes

1:34— Ian introduces the ChiliPad and we establish that it is not a kitchen utensil or a side dish at a truck stop. 😃
3:21 —We talk about the pricing of the ChiliPad, the warranty, and share some options for getting it at a discount.
4:42— Ian describes how the ChiliPad works and explains the different parts of the system.
6:02— March wonders whether the noise from the compressor would be a noticeable distraction and we talk a bit about white noise.
9:07— Ian shares a tip for how he has used the ChiliPad to cool his pillows before getting into bed and also while he sleeps.
12:26— March questions whether a ChiliPad would be as useful for him since he has A/C in his house.
13:47— Darren remarks at how the ChiliPad might help make the bed more comfortable for people who sleep with their dogs or cats.
19:35— Ian calculates the cost savings of using the ChiliPad at night instead of running the A/C in an entire house.
21:12— Darren recalls the urban legend about the guy who flew over a city in a lawn chair attached to a bunch of balloons and March bursts his bubble by revealing that Snopes had debunked the myth.
24:46— Darren discovers that ChiliTechnology offers a less expensive ChiliGel Body Pad that offers temporary bed-chilling magic and March suggests testing this before spending the full amount on the ChiliPad.

Mentions

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Make the Most of Summer Jul 09, 2018

Show notes

We talk about how to make the most of your summer. We reflect on the power of using the seasons to mark time, the best activities to take up during the summer, and how to fully enjoy those long summer days.

Show Notes

1:10— We discuss the difference between when summer starts astronomically versus when it actually starts from a weather (and cultural) perspective.
4:50— Ian shares Conan O’Brian’s perspective on summer weather and the change of seasons.
6:44— Darren talks about his desire to adopt the “snow bird” lifestyle in retirement.
9:22— Ian and March discuss why it’s important to make the most of our summers and how we can use the seasons to mark the passage of time and fully appreciate life.
12:30 —March talks about the difference in seasons in different geographies around the world.
16:12— March recalls two very different summer experiences — one making the summer feel very long and the other that seemed to cause the summer to fly by.
21:35— Ian reflects on his memories of summer starting lemonade stands as a young child and later on working at his family’s ice cream shoppe, Sprinkles.
26:45— Darren talks about summer road trips and accidentally discovering a beautiful waterfall.
30:05— Darren describes the fun beach trips to St. Augustine that marked his childhood summers.
32:35— March suggests checking in on your goals for the year — you’re half way through the year now so how are you doing?
37:50— March and Darren share that they both have vacations planned to visit Portugal and Ian gets motivated to plan a trip to Portugal himself.
39:05— Darren declares The Pimm’s Cup to be the Official Summer Cocktail of The Better Show and reflects on how he was introduced to this drink while on a ridiculously extravagant business trip. See recipe below.
45:35— We discuss the opportunity that summer presents to eat outside with friends— either at home or at a favorite restaurant with outdoor seating.
46:35— We suggest taking full advantage of the huge variety of fresh produce available during the summer by visiting farmer’s markets during the summer.
49:30— March has an “outside of the box” suggestion for spending the summer starting a small side business.
54:05— Darren notes that many cities organize outdoor theater events like Shakespeare in the Park.
55:38— Ian reminds us about the opportunity to enjoy outdoor movies during the summer.
56:45— March shares another “outside of the box” suggestion for fully enjoying the summer by taking time to visit a friend of mentor whom you don’t often see.

Mentions

Cliff Mass' Weather Blog
Shakespeare in the Park
Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Park hosts free outdoor yoga classes
The Cliveden
History of the road trip
The Better Show New Year's Resolutions Decoded episode
Pimm's Cup cocktail recipe:\
- 1 part Pimm's Cup №1\
- 3 parts Bundaberg Ginger Beer\
- 3--4 slices of cucumber\
- Slice of lemon\
- Spring of mint\
- (optional) razor thin slice of fresh ginger

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Maximize Your Time with Better Priorities Jul 02, 2018

Show notes

We explore how to prioritize all the competing demands on your time to maximize your effectiveness and happiness.

Show Notes

2:50— We discuss how prioritization touches all different aspects of one’s life — personal, career, health, etc.
7:08— Ian shares his experience years ago when he discovered the need a framework for prioritization when he felt overwhelmed with all the things he needed to do.
11:42— March discusses how moving from Ireland to the US and then having children changed his priorities and the way he prioritizes his time and energy.
16:44— Darren frames his experience with prioritization in terms of practicing delayed gratification.
18:59— March describes the triage method that firefighters and first responders use to prioritize.
22:30— Ian explains the Eisenhower decision matrix.
27:46— We discuss the connection between prioritization and delegating some tasks to others or outsourcing some tasks.
35:48— March discusses the importance of having a rhythm and routine in your planning.
37:13— Ian explains that a key aspect of the Eisenhower matrix is having a single list including all of your personal and work related tasks. Darren and March share their personal methods for combining their personal and work priorities.
43:23— March shares a piece of wisdom from Mark Twain about doing the most distasteful task in your day first.
45:14— Ian shares a key piece of wisdom about prioritizing the one thing that will give you the most sense of satisfaction once you have accomplished it.
46:09— Darren shares his opinion that the #1 most important life skill is the ability to exercise delayed gratification.
49:16— Darren discusses the challenge of balancing the needs of others you care about and one’s own needs.
52:25— Ian describes the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method employed by Google and other large firms of aligning goals and priorities across the company.
59:12— Darren describes the RICE Method for prioritizing business decisions.
1:03:52— March explains the ABCDE Method for prioritizing all the tasks in a very long list.
1:06:25— Darren admits to being (very) human in his planning rigor and commits to re-adopting the practice of planning his days on the night before.
1:07:33— March shares a tip about focusing on the “mean time between recovery” instead of the “mean time between failure.”
1:10:20— March is going to document the change in his daily routine when he moves back to Ireland later this summer.
1:13:13— Ian is committing to applying the Eisenhower matrix to his Productivity Planner routine.

Mentions

Eisenhower App
RICE method from Intercom
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

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Better Public Speaking with Chad Fowler Jun 25, 2018

Show notes

We explore how to engage an audience with public speaking veteran Chad Fowler. We talk the art of storytelling, how to surprise an audience and the pros & cons of scripted versus free style public speaking.

Show Notes

1:13— We introduce our special guest for this episode, Chad Fowler.
4:16— Chad describes how he first began becoming aware of the importance of public speaking from watching his grandfather, who was an electrifying Assembly of God preacher.
6:07— We discuss the training that preachers go through that helps them learn how to best deliver a public speech using techniques like physical movement and one’s position on stage to enhance the message they intend to convey.
7:35— Chad recounts an experience where his history of writing and speaking about programming in Ruby caused others to consider him “the best Ruby programmer in the world” even though they had not seen at any of the code he’d personally written.
8:50— “If you speak around a topic, you tend to be perceived as one of the leaders in that topic.” — Chad Fowler
19:02— Chad compares the experience of creating a public speaking performance to creating an improvised jazz track and how you never really know how it went you can gauge audience reaction.
20:16— Chad shares a tip about how he prepares a speech. He creates a basic outline but gives himself the freedom to improvise during the talk itself.
27:51— March discusses the difference between being under-prepared and over-prepared for a speech and Chad agrees with a comparison to creating an improvised musical piece.
31:15— We explore the tactics that stand-up comics use to prepare their material for a performance and rigorously study their audience’s reactions. We also mention a few of our favorite stand-up comics and explore the unique styles they have for their performances.
35:42— Chad discusses some advice he outlined in an essay he wrote titled “On Having Something to Say”.
39:20— On getting the nerve to speak on a topic: “If you don’t think you have anything to say, then you can think about what you wish you had something to say about.” — Chad Fowler
47:48— Chad explains why he never rehearses his public speaking performances.
49:45— Ian shares a trick that Rosie O’Donnell used to elevate the energy of her audience prior to a show.
54:35— We discuss the power of silence as a tactic that speakers can use to captivate audiences.
58:20— Chad shares the names of a number of speakers that he admires for their great storytelling ability.
1:01:58— Ian shares a few of his tips about how to get more comfortable with the room prior to getting on stage for a speech and Darren shares a trick that politicians use to make an audience feel more empathetic to them.
1:05:59— Ian shares the differences between speaking to large audiences versus smaller audiences and March recounts his anxiety in presenting to Bill Gates on several occasions.
1:08:47— Ian asks Chad for his advice on how to get started with public speaking.
1:13:27— Ian decides to experiment by picking one of his passions and
1:14:13— March decides to dive deeper into the talks by Sandi Metz, Katrina Owen, and Dave Thomas to get better at storytelling.
1:14:45— Darren decides to practice employing the use of silence as a tool to better engage audiences during his presentations.
1:15:19— We talk a bit about Chad’s earlier decision to step back from public speaking.