194 The One Where We Learn About Productivity Tools

If you want to get better, you need to surround yourself with people who don’t shy away at telling what you NEED to hear, not what you WANT to hear. My guest today is such a person. And between you and me, having him on the show is a bit selfish, because I want to hear how he maximizes every day to ensure his personal objectives are accomplished. 

Today’s guest is Daniel “Danny” Bauer. Danny and I met through our Mastermind several years ago and over the years I’ve been in awe of his productivity. When he sets out a goal for himself he always reaches the finish line. 

Danny Bauer is the Chief Ruckus Maker at Better Leaders Better Schools (BLBS). He launched the BLBS Podcast in September 2015. With over one million downloads, the BLBS show is the most influential podcast available for educational leaders.  

He is the author of The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap, which was released as an Amazon #1 New Release, and he is working on a new book tentatively titled: The Mastermind: Unlocking the Potential Within Every School Leader.  

He is a catalyst for change and he uses his passion for productivity to teach coaches, businesses, teams, and professionals the skills they need to ensure their objectives become reality. 

 

Bottom line: If you want to improve your productivity, Danny has the tools you need to make it happen. 

In the words of today’s guest, keep making a ruckus,   

-Trace  

 

Danny Bauer will walk us through this Focus Funnel

Can I eliminate a task?/Do I have to do it?  

Can a robot do this better?/Can it be automated? 

Can another human do this better than me?/Can I delegate this? 

What if I procrastinate on purpose?  

If you cannot procrastinate, you have to concentrate. 

 

Timestamps:  

James’ Challenge: “Convert 300 mg/L Nitrite (as NO2) to Nitrite (NaNO2).” [3:50] 

Introducing my friend and the Chief Ruckus Maker, Danny Bauer [6:26] 

The value of being in a Mastermind group together [14:15] 

Better Leader Better Schools [18:52] 

Core Values, Sticky Values, your Own Personal Philosophy, and investing in yourself [19:38] 

Productivity tools, Focus Funnel, and always getting better [25:35] 

Objectives, Key Results, and Time Blocking [33:23] 

The one thing you want Scaling Up Nation to know [40:33] 

Lightning Round Questions [42:48]  

 

Quotes: 

“When you force yourself to learn something new, you force yourself to grow.” - Trace Blackmore 

“I realized that I was my own bottleneck and I created my own ceilings.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Authenticity, belonging, and a challenging environment, that leads to life in leadership transformation.” -Daniel Bauer 

“If you are considering joining a Mastermind group. If you have been testing the waters, dive in, what’s the worst thing that could happen?” -Daniel Bauer 

“Leadership is easy when things are going well, but that’s not most days. You need to find a north star to pull you through those hard times.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Integrity, authenticity, honesty... we all expect that from a business, and it’s not remarkable.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Be an intentional catalyst.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Each day I try to end it knowing it was better than the last.” -Trace Blackmore 

“Get clarity on what matters and what doesn’t.” -Daniel Bauer 

“I ask myself: Is this related to one of my objectives or not? If it isn’t one of my big objectives, it drops way down the list... if it even makes the list.” -Daniel Bauer 

“I score myself each day only on the tasks related to my biggest objectives, and if I completed them or not.” -Daniel Bauer 

“I focus on the big picture, even if I measure in the micro.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Time blocking. Gift yourself that deep work time throughout the week. You will get so much more done.” -Daniel Bauer 

“You are not going to save the world. You’re not going to run the best business if you’re always in your inbox responding to whatever activity is in there.” -Daniel Bauer 

“My challenge to you after listening to this podcast: If you have your notifications on, turn off notifications now. Put the phone on silent. Turn off notifications on your computer. All these things are designed to take your focus away from whatever important stuff you are doing.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Scrolling through email inbox and social media is just a distraction from the harder and emotional labor that is going to provide greater value for your business and clients later.” -Daniel Bauer 

“Examine the issue. Don’t just look at the surface.” -Daniel Bauer 

“The next time you are trying to solve an issue, spend time trying to get at what that issue is and what that is behind that issue?” -Daniel Bauer 

“When you can talk with other people about issues you are having in business and personal. You can get to the next level faster, that’s what a Mastermind is.” -Trace Blackmore 

 

Links Mentioned: 

5 Easy Questions That Will Help You Be More Productive  

Roomba 

Stanford study about multitasking  

Anagrammer.com 

Calendly Scheduling Tool 

Convert Kit 

The Rising Tide Mastermind 

Submit a Show Idea 

 

Ways to connect with Daniel “Danny” Bauer: 

Daniel’s website, Better Leaders Better Schools  

daniel@betterleadersbetterschools.com  

 

 

Events: 

Scaling Up Business Webinar Series - Adam Lean May 28th  

Water Environment Federation - Check out all of their upcoming events 

 

Books Mentioned: 

The Better Leaders Better Schools Roadmap, by Daniel Bauer 

Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time -by Rory Vaden 

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable - by Seth Godin 

This Is Marketing - by Seth Godin 

Man’s Search for Meaning - by Viktor E. Frankl  

The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement - by Eliyahu M. Goldratt 

Measure What Matters - by John Doerr  

The Art of Possibility - by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander 

The Dream Manager - by Matthew Kelly 

The 12 Week Year 

Atomic Habits