The Incrementalist

Uncertainty makes it harder to make progress and find flow in meaningful things. In easy conditions, progress is a straight line toward an end point. But when there’s uncertainty, progress is more like a feedback loop. In episode 68 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) 0:09 When faced with the unknown, you can either do something or do nothing.2) 0:26 The difference between uncertainty and ambiguity and why they both cause frustration. 3) 1:03 The Paradox of Control and how we create anxiety.4) 1:47 How good anxiety works for you and bad anxiety works against you. 5) 2:09 The Progress Principle and ways to leverage it. 6) 4:03 How to step into uncertainty to make progress and find flow:4:08 Tip 15:15 Tip 26:23 Tip 3 (stage 1 of flow cycle)8:36 Tip 4 (stage 2 of flow cycle) 9:37 Tip 5 (stage 3 of flow cycle)11:23 Tip 6 (stage 4 of flow cycle) 7) 13:02 Benefits of the Flow Cycle8) 13:08 Benefits of the Progress Loop 9) 14:03 I'm making an online course currently titled "The Busyness Trap: How to Escape Overload and Focus on What Matters." To get updates on the course launch and registration process, subscribe to my e-newsletter at dyanwilliams.com or The Incrementalist YouTube channel or podcast. Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsDTheme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve.

Setting goals - when done right - puts you on the path to a more desired life. In goal setting, do not make the finish line the main thing or lose sight of the journey. In episode 67 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) 0:15 By breaking your big goals down into mini goals, you achieve small wins that build your confidence, grow your knowledge, and keep you on an upward spiral.2) 0:32 Goals are spotlights pointing you in a certain direction. They are not always your ultimate destination point. 3) 1:21 The key differences between extrinsic goals and intrinsic goals. 4) 1:53 Why it's better to focus on goals you control, like your daily habits and actions.5) 2:41 How to measure progress by thinking about the gains rather the gaps.5) 4:09 The benefits of embracing failure as a chance to learn, instead of a negative experience to avoid at all costs. 6) 5:05 Why you need to choose or design the ideal environment and not rely on your willpower.7) 6:40 Fear of hope is a root cause for why we resist change. 8) 9:56 I'm creating an online course currently titled "The Busyness Trap: How to Escape Overload and Focus on What Matters." To get updates on the course launch and registration process, subscribe to my e-newsletter at dyanwilliams.com or The Incrementalist YouTube channel or podcast. Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsDTheme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

A bias for action can help you do big things and reach big goals.  In big projects, it's vital in the delivery phase, which should be fast. But it hurts the planning phase, where it’s better to be slow. In episode 66 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) 0:00 A bias for action feels productive but can also backfire and cause big failure in big projects.2) 0:55 Every big project has 2 basic phases: Planning and Delivery. 3) 1:11 In their book, How Big Things Get Done, authors Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner note that 99.5 percent of megaprojects go over budget, over schedule, fail to deliver promised results, or have some combination of these.4) 2:01 Failed projects use the Think Fast, Act Slow approach (rushed, superficial planning before project delivery). Successful projects apply the Think Slow, Act Fast pattern (careful, precise planning before project delivery). 5) 2:59 To do big things, apply the Think Slow, Act Fast approach with these 5 action tips:  i) 3:05 Tip #1 - Commit to not committing. ii)  6:06 Tip #2 - Think from right to left. iii) 8:33 Tip #3 - Tinker, test, and experiment. iv) 12:10 Tip #4 - Figure out what’s your LEGO - your basic building block – and keep adding one block to another. v) 13:19 Tip #5 - Take the outside view, not just the inside view.6) 15:15 Why the significance of planning is often downplayed: The Principle of the Hiding Hand and the Theory of Beneficial Ignorance or Providential IgnoranceYou don't need to be deep in delivery mode to spark creative ideas. Use the think slow, act fast pattern to plan carefully, deliver effectively, and get the best results in big projects. Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)🎧 Listen to The Incrementalist podcast and get transcripts at:https://theincrementalist.transistor.fm/Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsDTheme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. https://open.spotify.com/album/7lbT8zOQMXeWkRUZto3tKL

Solitude is a chosen state of being alone. It is not the same as interpersonal loneliness or existential loneliness, which may lead to an early death or death by suicide in extreme cases. The need for alone time is as vital to human life as the need for social interaction. When you practice solitude, you will be better able to move through loneliness with skill, rather than try to end it unskillfully at all costs. In episode 65 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) The main differences between solitude and loneliness 2) The key differences between loners and introverts, who both enjoy solitude3) The reason extroverts might need solitude more than loners and introverts4) The four key benefits of solitude:i) Intentionalityii) Intellectualityiii) Simplicityiv) Self-sufficiency5) Easy ways to practice solitude in daily lifeThe Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)To learn more about how to get a Leanpub book on your Kindle, or into the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, go to:How do I get Leanpub books on my Kindle, or into the Kindle app on my phone or tablet? | Leanpub Help CenterWatch the video, Solitude: The Overlooked Path to Moving Through Loneliness, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/Subscribe to e-newsletter at:https://bit.ly/3J9EbsDTheme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

As you make gains, step by step, your actions and behaviors that used to take a lot of effort become more like a habit. You can choose to stay there and enjoy what you’ve accomplished or take the next step for a new challenge. The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is now available on both Amazon and Leanpub.The book shows you how to skillfully practice the Incrementalist principles to do the right things, in the right way, at the right time – even when you feel unmotivated or uninspired.If you buy it, read it, and enjoy it, please recommend it to others and post a 5-star customer review on Amazon! Your support goes a long way in encouraging more readers to check it out and benefit from it as well.https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)To learn more about how to get a Leanpub book on your Kindle, or into the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, go to: How do I get Leanpub books on my Kindle, or into the Kindle app on my phone or tablet? | Leanpub Help CenterWatch the video, Turn your hard efforts into easier steps, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsDTheme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

Uncertain outcomes and imperfect data make it tougher to decide. A decision starts with a choice, which is an opportunity to select from two or more options. A decision is cutting off options and narrowing it down to just one. This is harder to do in novel, high-stakes situations.In episode 63 of The Incrementalist, you will learn how to make better decisions in the face of uncertainty: 1. Understand that decision making starts with knowing what you really want. Go with thick desires, instead of thin desires. 2. Find out where you are on the Social Behavior Map in decision making. 3. Embrace Wicked Learning Environments.4. Create Kinder Learning Environments.5. Consider the need for certainty as a pitfall in decision making.  Watch the video, Making Decisions When You Don't Know What to Do on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

Decision-making can be daunting. A decision can be so tough that you avoid it for as long as possible, instead of approach it head-on.  And we can get worn out by the sheer number of choices we make daily. In episode 62 of The Incrementalist, you will learn two major pitfalls in decision making and strategies to navigate them:1. Pitfall #1 - Choice Overload Decision MatrixParadox of ChoiceMaximizer vs. SatisficerNarrow Framing2. Pitfall #2 - Cognitive BiasSystem One vs. System Two ThinkingCommon Cognitive BiasesMental ModelsGet Distance3. Four Basic Steps to Decision Making: there's a villain at each step. Watch the video, Making Decisions When You Have Choice Overload and Cognitive Biases on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. It adds a visual dimension to what you hear on the podcast.Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

Goals are targets, milestones or results you want to achieve.  But week after week, month after month, year after year, we set goals that we soon forget. Before you decide that goals don’t work, first look at how you set them. In episode 61 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) Even when we don't set goals, we carry them around in some shape or form. 2) 7 big mistakes to avoid when goal setting (and how to fix them). Watch the video, 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Goal Setting on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. It adds another dimension to what you hear on the podcast.Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

Even if goals don’t make you happy or happier, you still need to make them for different reasons.In episode 60 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) The limits of goal setting and goal achievement. 2) The 5 reasons you still need to set goals, even if they don't really make you happier. Watch the video, Why You Need to Set Goals, Even if Achieving Them Doesn't Make You Happier, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. It adds another dimension to what you hear on the podcast.Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

What to do - when you feel like doing nothing - depends on the reasons you're unmotivated and unproductive. In episode 59 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) The Procrastination Equation, a formula by Dr. Piers Steel that helps explains why you feel unmotivated and why you procrastinate.  2) 10 tips to get out of a mental slump and motivation rut. Watch the video, What to Do When You're Motivated to Do Nothing, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. It adds another dimension to what you hear on the podcast. Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

Toxic productivity occurs when you apply habits, routines and practices that are prescribed for someone else. Some of the productivity advice are hacks, tricks and tips that won’t work for you. They just don’t match with your mindset, preferences and season of life. In episode 58 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) The truth about productivity advice and toxic productivity. 2) 5 universal principles or basic rules to apply in any productivity practice. 3) 7 common mistakes to avoid when moving from being unproductive to productive. Watch the video, The Truth About Productivity Advice and Toxic Productivity, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. It adds another dimension to what you hear on the podcast.  Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Harness the power of slow living and practice the slow philosophy. This is how you break the obsession with doing more faster and, instead, do the right things at the right speed.On the road of life, there are twists and turns, hills and valleys. We can map out and plan our journey. But even then, we can’t always see what’s ahead of us in a given moment. And slowing down is the only way to move ahead. In episode 57 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1. Slow living gives you an infinite source of energy that constantly renews and recharges.2. Seven steps to slow, productive living.  Watch the video on episode 57 on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. You will see video clips of my recent travel to my home country, Jamaica, a tropical island in the Caribbean. Taking extended breaks (vacations) is one of the steps to slow living and doing less, but better! Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

If you have trouble finishing projects and goals, you’re not alone. This is a common human experience.  But there are 5 things you can do to finish strong with any project or goal. In episode 56 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1. The limits of willpower, better habits, and more refined systems. 2. The 5 things to start doing to finish your goals -i. Make progress incrementally and imperfectly.ii. Set smaller, more flexible goals.iii. Enjoy the process, not wait for the desired result.iv. Rest and recharge fully. v. Attend to one priority at a time. 3. The Incrementalist YouTube channel is inching toward a milestone, with the last video, How to Stay Focused and Control Your Attention, giving it a boost.Watch the video on episode 56, especially if you're a visual learner! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Your ability to focus on deep work is key to being productive. Your power to connect ideas is vital to being creative. Whether you’re focusing or mind wandering, you need to direct your attention to perform at your peak.    In episode 55 of The Incrementalist, you will learn: 1) The difference between Hyperfocus and Scatterfocus and why you need both modes of focus to control your attention. 2) Mind wandering is not a problem if you have meta-awareness or metacognition, i.e., to be aware of your awareness or to pay attention to your attention. 3) The three types of attention - the Flashlight, the Floodlight, and the Juggler   - that coordinate with each other to affect your state of focus. 4) 4 tips to build your focus muscle and direct your attention:i.  Define your priority and focus on one thing at a timeii. Tame the distractions and interruptions that dilute your focusiii. Match the challenge with your skills or abilityiv. Allow mind wandering with intentionWatch the video on episode 55, which caught the attention of the YouTube algorithm and became a recommended video for viewers to find more easily.Breaking the YouTube barrier in this way is a major milestone that is difficult to reach -- and was done through incremental learning and tweaking in the creation process. At this time, The Incrementalist is still (proudly) a very small channel.Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show!Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Digital technology has its benefits and is not all bad. But tech-overuse and tech addiction cause problems too. To break our tech addiction and master our tech use, we need Digital Minimalism: “A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else," says author Cal Newport.In episode 54 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) Online information and entertainment often create distraction (move you away from what you really want), instead of traction (move you toward what you really want).2) Social media and online search platforms are designed to hook us. The technology that connects us also controls, manipulates, polarizes, distracts, monetizes and divides us.3) 3 things you can do to break your tech addiction and master your tech use:i. Complete the digital declutter processii. Practice solitudeiii. Reclaim true leisureWatch the video on episode 54, especially if you're a visual learner! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Memento Mori is a powerful practice to create a meaningful, productive and fulfilling life.  Roughly translated to English, it means, "Remember you must die."Reflecting on your own death might seem like a dark and depressing way to live.  But it offers three unique gifts that help you live with intention.In episode 53 of The Incrementalist, you will learn: 1) Memento Mori is an ancient practice that spans across time and cultures. 2) Life lessons on death from Stoicism and philosophers, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epicurus. 3) Key takeaways from Irvin D. Yalom's book, Staring at the Sun. "Though the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death saves us.” 4) 3 gifts from reflecting on death:-  the gift of gratitude-  the gift of groundedness-  the gift of grit5) How I applied Memento Mori to grieve the loss of two loved ones who recently died within 6 months of each other.  Watch the video on episode 53, especially if you're a visual learner! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Songs – La Nieve (Intro & Outro music) and Kuura (featured music). Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

When we hear the term work-life balance, we tend to think of it as a good thing. It’s doing great work, without overworking. It’s getting enough rest, without staying idle. But if we want to have a meaningful and productive life, striving for perfect work-life balance is not often the right path. What we really want to aim for is Intentional Imbalance. In episode 52 of The Incrementalist,  you will learn:1) 3 reasons work-life balance isn't really practical or beneficial2) 3 elements of Intentional Imbalance - Alignment- Introspection- Momentum3) There’s nothing wrong with having a comfortable and balanced life. But if you want to do something great or extraordinary, you will need to focus on one thing at the expense of the other. And if you’re going to have imbalance, you might as well be intentional about it.  Watch the video on episode 52, especially if you're a visual learner! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. Intro & Outro Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr: Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve (hearnow.com)Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Do you struggle to stick with challenging projects? Can you stay curious when you do tedious tasks?How do you deal with boring, hard things you have to do?Habits help you automate positive behavior and actions on a daily basis. But they are not enough to perform at your peak. There will be times when you will have to do boring or hard things that take uphill effort.  If you can make boring, hard work easier to do, that’s more than half the battle in making the impossible possible.In episode 51 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1. The power of grit and the habit of ferocity2. Three ways to make boring or hard work easier to do:a) Pick the right task to do in a given moment- The task itself should match your level of focus and energy, which often depends on the time of day and your natural rhythm- The 3 stages of the flow cycle- The mind-body ultradian rhythm- The challenge-skills balance and work-rest ratiob) Keep the right mindset for lifelong learning- A growth mindset is better than a fixed mindset to learn and develop any skill- The importance of reading books to learn- The two modes of learning theories - entity vs. incremental theories of intelligencec) Choose the right turf- Your workspace environment affects your ability to think and do work- The one advantage that remote workers have over workers who have to go to a shared office space- The difference between focused thinking and diffused thinking- The difference between divergent thinking and convergent thinking- Four tactics to design your environment for sparking ideas and triggering flowWatch the video on episode 51, especially if you're a visual learner! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show. Intro & Outro Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr: Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve (hearnow.com)Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Are you feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list?  Do you have thoughts churning around, usually about things you don’t control? Is lack of clarity stopping you from taking action?  If you feel stuck, bored or just plain lazy, you might be waiting for inspiration to strike. But what if it doesn’t? You might think you need more discipline or willpower. But even the most disciplined people procrastinate on the things they need to do. And willpower is finite. The more you use it, the less you have on a given day.  In episode 50 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:5 steps to reset and start fresh - 1) Acknowledge what you control and don't control.2) Figure out what you really want.3) Remove obstacles that take up mental bandwidth and drain your energy.4) Take one small action. 5) Set artificial deadlines. Check out the new YouTube channel at The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show! If you're visual learner, there is a video on episode 50! Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel! Intro & Outro Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr: Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve (hearnow.com)Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter

Do you have trouble remembering to do a new habit?Are you setting the right conditions to form the habit?Do you lose motivation when you don’t get immediate results?Habit stacking is a quick way to build good habits, which have a lasting, massive impact in your life. Habits are automatic behaviors that reduce decision fatigue, make time your ally, and save your energy for the hardest things.In episode 49 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:1) The Habit Stacking formula2) How habit stacking fits with Professor BJ Fogg's ABC method for designing behavior and building habits3) Habit stacking applies the four rules of habit formation, outlined in James Clear's book, Atomic Habits:Rule 1 - make the cue obviousRule 2 - make the craving attractiveRule 3 - make the response easyRule 4 - make the reward satisfying4) 5 quick tips for habit stackingCheck out the new YouTube channel at The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show! If you're visual learner, there is a video on episode 49!  Become one of the first 100 subscribers on our YouTube channel! Intro & Outro Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr: Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve (hearnow.com)Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.comSubscribe to productivity e-newsletter