Self-improvement is an essential skill for any entrepreneur. How can anyone hope to get to where they want to be if they can’t take the simplest steps to better themselves?
But what if you’re constantly busy at work and home, with little time to attend inspiring seminars or read self-improvement books? The answer is simple: podcasts. They allow you to listen and learn on the move: during a workout, or on the way to work. But with thousands of podcasts to choose from, finding a starting place may be difficult.
Here’s a list of podcasts worth looking into.
The Tim Ferriss Show
Out of all the podcasts we looked into, Tim Ferriss’s stood out as the most popular. Bestselling author and “world’s best human guinea pig,” Ferriss is best known for The 4-Hour Workweek, now translated into over 40 languages. On his podcast, Ferriss invites and interviews someone from a niche background or industry, then uncovers the secrets to their success. In the past, he’s covered investment, technology, eastern philosophy, meditation, and much more. Ferriss’s disarming personality and genuine curiosity makes this podcast an entertaining listen.
Best Episode: “Lessons Learned Traveling The World”
The Accidental Creative
Learn to develop everyday skills that can help you stay healthy, creative, and productive. The Accidental Creative Podcast is hosted by Todd Henry, author of Die Empty, Louder Than Words, and of course, The Accidental Creative. Each episode is less than half an hour, which is perfect for squeezing in a little wisdom in between a lunch break. Whether you’re a creative or a business professional, there’s something for everyone in this podcast.
Best Episode: “Exactly What To Say” (with Phil M. Jones)
Back To Work
If you want something specifically focused on improving work habits, you’d be hard-pressed to find something better than Back to Work. This award-winning weekly podcast from Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin break down the most common topics in the workplace, from productivity to communication. Listening to Merlin and Dan is like listening to two friends talk casually, which makes for some great background listening.
Best Episode: “Alexa, Light It Up!”
Productivityist
Mike Vardy has made quite the name for himself. Not only has his company, Productivityist, been mentioned by Lifehacker and Fast Company, but the podcast of the same name has quickly become a productivity podcast favorite. Vardy’s goal is to help listeners “define your day, funnel your focus, and make every moment matter” through actionable tips and useful tools. Not bad for a half hour weekly podcast.
Best Episode: “Morning Routines with Benjamin Spall”
Cortex
A collaboration between Myke Hurley (host of Relay.fm) and CGP Grey (YouTuber, host of Hello Internet), Cortex explores the work processes and productivity hacks of two self-employed content creators. Listening to these two hosts talk about their work can be one of the most inspiring moments of your week, no different to learning from a mentor.
Best Episode: “Cortex 1: I Don’t Really Like Work”
Beyond The To-Do List
Host Erik Fisher hit a home run in choosing a title for his podcast. Not only does each episode teach you how to get more done, it explores the main purpose of productivity- living a meaningful life between personal and work life. Fisher interviews real entrepreneurs and thought leaders, extracting the most important lessons of time-management, motivation, and organization. After a couple episodes, you’ll be using some of his tactics right away.
Best Episode: “Mindfulness: Robert Plotkin on The Benefits and Distractions of Technology for Productivity – BTTDL222”
The Journey of Productivity
One of the best ways to improve yourself is to learn from the experts- the individuals who faced the same struggles and setbacks and converted their failure into wisdom. Listening to actionable advice helps us avoid the same pitfalls.
These are just six suggestions out of dozens other productivity podcasts. There’s simply far too many out there to put into a single list.
But it’s not enough to listen to podcasts, you have to apply the lessons each day: like managing your time, getting an early start, or finding a place to focus and work. Habits are formed with time and discipline.
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