It’s difficult to find enough hours in the day to get everything done and still find some downtime. When we do, the result is often stress, overextension, and exhaustion. My guest today, productivity expert Paula Rizzo, knows those feelings better than anyone. Paula comes from the fast-paced world of television production. With so much on her plate, she turned to list making to tackle the challenges of her career and her personal life. From finding an apartment to meeting deadlines, Paula had a list for every undertaking. Now, Paula has turned her passion for lists into a successful business, The List Producer, as well as a bestselling book, Listful Thinking: Using Lists to Be More Productive, Successful and Less Stressed. Paula is the NextFem because she is turning productivity into a no-brainer with her incredible, simple principles of list-making.
A Simple Concept with a Big Impact
Paula never thought that when she published a book, it would be about lists. Following the advice of an author friend, Paula started a blog before jumping headlong into a book proposal. She needed a topic that would sustain her and keep her writing for years to come. Paula turned to the unassuming list, a simple tool that made a lasting impact on her career. List Producer was born as a way to give anyone the tools they need to accomplish their goals and their dreams. Writing blogs on List Producer allowed Paula to hone her craft slowly. As a book began to take form, Paula relied on a mastermind she formed where everyone gathered together to talk about lists. Part mastermind and part market-research, Paula found that having accountability for writing was the juice she needed to finish her goal of writing a book. Listful Thinking is the powerful proof of Paula’s determination to get it all done!
Make a List and See Results
When you think of making a list, it is probably just a long, never-ending line of to-dos. Paula is going to show you how a list can be so much more than that! When you unlock the potential of a well-curated list, you can save time, reduce stress, and create space for downtime. Paula’s results speak for themselves: she is more productive at work, her home life is stress-free, and she still has time to fill up her social calendar. There is a list for every situation, big or small, and Paula is going to give you her best tips for starting small. For “advanced listers,” Paula will take you to the next level by sharing strategies to enable you to cultivate your goals and prioritize just the important things in life.
Find a System That Works for You
Paula’s overall message for you is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to list-making. What works to improve Paula’s productivity might not work for you. While finding the perfect pen or journal might feel like the magic sauce to make productivity happen, the real solution is your determination to write down your goals and then go and do them! Paula encourages you to experiment with your lists. Take some time to understand your own unique productivity style and really hone in on the important daily goals. Think of ways to use lists beyond a simple to-do. From packing lists to gift lists to shopping lists, the potential is as limitless as your imagination.
Set Your Intentions for Success
Productivity is not about doing more things in general; it’s about creating space in your life to do more of what you love. Paula believes that intentions are important. When you are working towards a worthwhile goal, every decision you make is progress. Every time you clear out your inbox or pre-plan your trip, it’s time you have saved down the road. Starting a list is a small step that can make a huge impact. Listen today to hear everything you need to know to get started and take your productivity to a whole new level!
Episode Highlights
• 1:00 Paula explains how she became an expert on The List.
• 4:30 How Paula made the shift between her job in television and her new calling as an author.
• 5:30 Hear all about the book writing process from drafting to proposals.
• 9:10 Paula planned meet-ups just to talk about lists!
• 11:40 You can make lists about anything. Paula shares the best place to start.
• 13:30 Paula shares the magic power behind her daily to-do list.
• 22:30 How you can evaluate whether or not something belongs on your list.
• 25:00 Paula has a new appreciation for entrepreneur’s lists.
• 28:30 Be strategic with your social life.
• 30:00 Learn list making tips for keeping your sanity during life’s big events.
• 35:00 Hear how Paula used the power of lists to get her book finished!
• 37:00 Discover Essentialism with Paula, a self-described Essentialist.
• 40:40 Paula tackles the dreaded beast, email!
The Fem Five
1. Favorite book for women?
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Making Tea. Not Tea bags—loose tea. It takes time to make and it gives you a little break. Plus I see it as a treat for myself!
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- My mother told me to, “always put on lipstick. You never know who you might meet.” That is so true so I always make sure I don’t go out without lipstick.
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
- Oprah Winfrey because she says, “You become what you believe.”
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- It’s OK to be spontaneous!
Resources Mentioned:
- Connect with Paula Rizzo online
- Listful Thinking: Using Lists to Be More Productive, Successful and Less Stressed by Paula Rizzo
- Follow Paula Rizzo on Twitter
- Toggl Time-Tracker
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