What is n8n?: https://posts.rsidneysmith.com/2026/01/09/what-is-nn.html

Is it me, or is Google Gemini Live constantly trying to end the conversation with me? Ending every response with “Is there anything else…?” is giving I’m-done-with-you vibes.

For nearly a decade, I hosted #ProdChat on Twitter, a weekly #productivity conversation. I'm bringing it back in a new audio-focused format once or twice per month. If you're interested, join (for free): www.personalproductivity.club/share/NGSGig....

You may soon be able to change your Gmail address. This is going to move slowly and break things fast. Think long and hard before you change it! More here: techcrunch.com/2025/12/2…

We don’t always default to kindness, and sometimes that may reflect how we treat ourselves, especially amid old hurts or harsh self-talk. Reminder: be kind to yourself today.

Tomorrow’s the day! We launch our book, Podcasting for Small Business! To celebrate, join Steve Orr and me for a live recording of our first podcast episode, where we’ll explore the book’s ideas and more. 📘 Learn more: podcastingforsmallbusiness.com 🎙️ Join us live: lnkd.in/eQ7F5RQ4

There are no problems, only projects (per David Allen). Chasing fully automated solutions are how you get stuck (and downstream problems occur when automations inevitably break). Settle for 75-80%. That imperfect solution still saves huge time and can be iterated on over time. Action is the win.

Reject “hustle culture” for a better kind of growth. You can be a high performer without acting like a robot. Stop seeing every action as a worthiness test. Incremental progress equates often to better output. Consistency is great, but don’t choose it over being human.

Parasocial relationships are hardly a modern phenomenon. They have likely been occurring since humans could create mass media (since Gutenberg press, perhaps? cc: @jeffjarvis.bsky.social).

The more employees can trust in you, your company, and one another, the happier and less burned out they’ll be. f-st.co/GPqzinL

@cloudflare.social seems to be down. Multiple of my sites are not working...which run DNS/CDN through Cloudflare.

In life and work, resist two traps: ⚠️ Don’t take one moment and make it a universal truth. ⚠️ Don’t treat universal truths like they apply without exception. Wisdom lives between the general and the specific. That’s where agency begins.

As some may remember, I ran #ProdChat for many years...and it's returning as an audio-only format (with live chat). For those interested in #productivity #timemanagement conversations, join Personal Productivity Club and RSVP 1/7/26: www.personalproductivity.club/events/produ...

The best leaders know how to appropriately celebrate wins with the right spheres of influence.: https://posts.rsidneysmith.com/2025/11/11/the-best-leaders-know-how.html

Misuse of the Pareto Principle: https://posts.rsidneysmith.com/2025/10/30/misuse-of-the-pareto-principle.html Misunderstanding the Pareto Principle often leads to oversimplified time management strategies that falter once one becomes well-organized.

From Minimalism to Optimalism: Rethinking the Pursuit of Less: https://posts.rsidneysmith.com/2025/10/30/from-minimalism-to-optimalism-rethinking.html

Hot take: You don’t need a digital detox. You have great control of your devices' settings. Limit notifications, manage screen time, delete distracting apps, and focus on creating over consuming. If it’s addiction, seek professional help; don’t fall for “detox” gimmicks from self-proclaimed experts.

We’re not meant to look at others to see how we measure up. The real growth happens when we look in the mirror, when we compare who we are today with who we were yesterday. Progress isn’t about others. It’s about being a little better than your present self, one day at a time.

This buries the lede; the main takeaway is that finding a balance between tidiness and creativity/messiness is key for a productive and healthy work life. hbr.org/2019/03/the-...

Jane Goodall, a conservationist who broke barriers for women and revolutionized the study of primates, has died at 91. https://cnn.it/4o44cxf

My coauthor Steve Orr and I released "Podcasting for Small Business" for preorder - amzn.to/4q2SuVs - Release for hardcover and paperback are on December 2nd as well!

In life and work, resist two traps: 1) Don’t take one moment and make it a universal truth. 2) Don’t treat general truths like they apply without exception. Wisdom (and productivity and even peace of mind) lives between the general and the specific. That’s where agency begins.

It is even more complicated when the truth is nuanced. You are infrequently only correct or wrong, but partially so. We need more of the "yes and" approach to thoughtful disagreement. The productivity gains are a huge opportunity.

Some really good suggestions for when you can't get to sleep. Also, a good reminder about good sleep hygiene. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Personal productivity doesn’t start with efficiency. It starts with curiosity. When we lead with curiosity, we deepen empathy, foster connection, and tap into a quiet resolve that turns our wishlists into task lists. That’s where mastery begins.

Join us in Personal Productivity Club for an upcoming session, Using Time Tracking to Improve Focus and Productivity, with rize.io 's Macgill Davis ! www.personalproductivity.club/events/using... #free #events

Check out our upcoming GTD Café virtual Meetup: www.meetup.com/gtd-dc/event...

Check out the upcoming WordPress Pittsburgh Social Mixer: www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-w...

🌟 Happy #WorldProductivityDay! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the many ways we can be productive, both at work and in life. Remember, productivity is not just about getting things done, but also about finding balance and making time for rest. Let’s make the most of what we have!

July 2 is coming soon...and it marks the halfway point of 2025. If your goals stalled or never left the runway, now’s your moment to reassess. Do they still matter? What small step can you take today? Research shows steady progress beats grand plans. Midyear is not too late.

I'm not worried about AI becoming conscious. I'm concerned that we will use it and erode our best human productivity. Use AI for mundane tasks, free your mind for creative, strategic and complex thought.

Fear can spark urgency, but it's a short-term fuel. It doesn't spark growth; it limits it. For sustainable growth and next-level productivity, shift from survival mode to a mindset of empathy and compassion. That's where true time mastery and lasting progress live.

Bounce lets you move from Bluesky to Mastodon without losing followers www.theverge.com/news/678928/...

I taught my first GenAI for Small Business full-day workshop (online/in-person hybrid). I definitely find it more difficult having half the class virtual and not visible/off-camera. At the same time, I was really pleased that their answers during exercises were cogent and engaged.

We often assume that counterintuitive ideas are too hard to understand. But to lateral thinkers, the unexpected feels natural. The good news? Lateral thinking isn’t just a gift — it’s a skill.

I feel seen! 🎧🎧🎧😆 The Best Time to Buy Headphones www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/m...

Next time you travel for work, interact with the locals, avoid getting online, and take a day to do nothing but explore.

I wonder if this changes the experiment for the better if one instead subscribes to your local newspaper and actually reads the print/digital articles in full (not just headlines with rage commenters' opinions). Remove social networks for news, and dedicate an hour a day to book reading.

If this works well and is available to most users, I can see how useful something like this could be...like how Windows Defender has helped WinOS ecosystem: Microsoft announces security AI agents to help overwhelmed humans www.theverge.com/news/634598/...

Congress Wants to Kill Section 230. Here’s Why That Law Is Important for Businesses www.inc.com/chris-morris...

They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.

A thoroughly interesting listen to @fwade-strategy.bsky.social interviewing @sethgodin.bsky.social about systems and strategic planning. https://open.substack.com/pub/longtermstrategy/p/ep-26-seth-godin-stuck-in-stale-strategy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=zem9

I can't wait for this; so many times I want to reference past items while drafting an email! // "Outlook just gained a feature on Android that Gmail desperately needs" https://www.androidpolice.com/outlook-feature-android-gmail-desperately-needs/

Grammarly is acquiring Coda to define a new era of AI-native productivity - https://coda.io/blog/about-coda/grammarly-acquires-coda

Hackers are using AI to attack your Mac and it’s only going to get worse www.macworld.com/article/2597...

I really hope there is some semblance of interoperability across iOS and Android. 🤞🏻 || "Introducing Apple Invites, a new app that brings people together" www.apple.com/newsroom/202...

From a productivity perspective, you can use your time better than on TikTok. Also, we should be talking more about being discerning information consumers. || https://www.psypost.org/algorithmic-manipulation-tiktok-use-predicts-positive-views-of-chinas-human-rights-record/

Just a friendly reminder of the importance of Internet Archive (https://archive.org/).

I know it sounds cliché, but being productive isn’t all about doing more—there's a good part that is about doing what matters most. As the adage goes: measure twice, cut once. Do the same with aiming for your goals, energy, organizing, and attention.

I've been hearing from many people who feel overwhelmed and disheartened right now. It's valid to feel upset about what's happening and to prioritize your self-care. And, there comes a point where you can focus on contributing to solutions or dwell on the problems. I know which path I'd rather take.