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Quick Check: How Productive Are You REALLY?

"I went from scattered to national speaker thanks to Mark’s clarity coaching." — Kristie Ondracek

Featured Post

I Don’t Believe in “The Big 3” — Here’s What I Do Instead

Hey, Reader! I’ve never been a fan of “The Big 3.” You know the advice — every productivity coach seems to say it: “Pick your three most important tasks for the day and crush them.” I get why it’s popular. It sounds simple. It sounds focused. But in real life? It often creates more pressure than progress. Some days I only need to accomplish one thing. Other days it’s four. And some days the most important thing is simply to rest and recover. Forcing a fixed number doesn’t respect the reality...

Hey, Reader! One of my favorite things to do is read out in my backyard with my pups close by while grounding my bare feet on the ground and soaking up the Texas sun. I always have a physical book with me in the car — you never know when you’ll have a few minutes. I reach for the book instead of my phone. I also take reading walks — exactly what it sounds like: reading a physical book while walking. I do this as part of my daily 4:30 a.m. 30-minute prayer/reading time up and down our hallway,...

Hey, Reader! Gamifying your productivity is one of my biggest secrets to getting more done without feeling miserable. Here’s the simple premise: You turn productivity into a game. You compete against yourself. Who doesn’t like playing games? I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s helped me maintain my daily running streak since August 29, 2017, hit 15,000 steps for over 770 days, stay consistent with cold showers, weight lifting, meditation, outreach for speaking gigs, and more—even at 60....

Hey, Reader! Confession time. I’ve been preaching the power of time tracking for years. I tell clients it’s one of the fastest ways to gain clarity and kill procrastination. Yet for a while, I wasn’t doing it myself. Even Mister Productivity falters sometimes. After a recent speaking engagement, I got convicted. I realized I was telling others to do something I had quietly stopped doing. So I made a decision: I’m back to tracking my time. But I wanted to keep it simple. Complexity is the...

Hey, Reader! Setting boundaries at work used to make me feel guilty. I’d say yes to extra projects, stay late, and check email after hours because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. The result? Burnout, resentment, and less energy for the things that actually mattered. Sound familiar? After years of coaching high achievers and learning the hard way myself, I’ve discovered that strong boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re essential for sustainable productivity. Here’s how to set them at work...

Hey, Reader! Struggle is a part of life. We all struggle with something, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. Life is not perfect, it’s messy Filled with ups and downs. While life is messy, there are things we can do to make it a title less chaotic. Having the right tools is essential. Of all my life’s struggles, my battle with productivity has been at the top of the list. The struggle to get things accomplished has only gotten harder since being laid off last year. I remember when I was...

Hey, Reader! Simplifying your approach is the key to overcoming procrastination. I have always believed—and often mentioned—that complexity is the enemy of productivity. The more complicated we make our systems, routines, and days, the easier it is to freeze, delay, or do nothing at all. To help you increase your productivity, here are seven simple hacks that cut through the noise and help you get things done. No fancy apps. No 47-step frameworks. Just things that work when you actually do...

Hey, Reader! Quick question: Are you feeling that familiar tug of overwhelm lately? Tasks piling up, focus slipping, and the day ending with “Where did the time go?” I’ve been there (more times than I’d like to admit), and that’s exactly why I created the 21 Day Productivity Challenge a while back. I paused promoting it for a bit, but I’ve just gone through every single one of the 21 emails and refreshed them—updated tips, tighter wording, and even more punchy, actionable advice that fits...

Hey, Reader! Most people let their day happen to them. They wake up reactive, scroll through chaos, and end up wondering where the time went. You want more than that. You want days that feel intentional, energized, and productive. The good news? It doesn’t require a massive overhaul. Three simple routines can shift everything: bedtime, morning, and planning. I’ve used these for years to stay consistent with my daily mile run streak (since 2017), keep my coaching clients on track, and protect...

Hey, Reader! It's been a while since I mentioned my free Productivity Scorecard, and I thought it might be time for a fresh look at where your time, focus, and energy are going. This quick, 3-minute assessment (just 10 simple questions) gives you an honest snapshot of your habits—and personalized insights to reclaim 5–10 hours a week. No fluff, just clarity. 👉 Take the Productivity Scorecard here. You'll get your personalized results via email shortly after submission, plus a few actionable...