Set your time free through smarter systems so you can do more of your best work. Free Time launched in 2021 and... more
“How do you decide who has the power to judge you? Who are you seeking to please? Is that validation... more
Hi Friends! Although the podcast is still paused, I'm dropping into the feed this week and next with two very... more
As I round the corner into this ninth year of podcasting and after over 700 episodes, today I’m announcing a... more
“I don’t get on the airplane—and definitely not the stage—unless all invoices are paid in full.” When my friend and fellow... more
What mysterious ingredients make a book launch successful? What number of first-week and first-year sales truly make a difference to... more
Laura Mae Martin has a fascinating role as the Executive Productivity Advisor at Google in the Office of the CEO—one... more
While the title of this episode, The Framework Framework™ is tongue-in-cheek, I’m pulling this out of the BFF bonus vault... more
What do you do when you lose your biggest client? If you haven’t already, listen to part one for some... more
What do you do when you lose your biggest client? That was my Spotify search query for podcast episodes on... more
“I am great in the early, messy days and I know that about myself, so I designed my business around... more
“Things today are waaayyyyy better than Things have ever been. Cavemen had sticks. In the Middle ages they had typhoid. We... more
If you’re anything like me, you may find conducting online launches for your programs or events exhausting and sometimes even... more
“Whenever you have a choice of what to do, choose the more interesting path." In honor of our upcoming Free Time... more
Before you post anything, ask: Why am I posting this? Is this within my brand guardrails? Even still, you may... more
What’s on your business owner to-do list? Here’s a peek at mine, full of items large, small, and existential. This... more
“We don’t want our time to be spread thin like peanut butter on a slice of toast. You will have... more
I'm so excited to bring you a listener submission today from Renee Rubin Ross about my summer Voxer coaching pop-up.... more
“It wasn’t about being better than others, it was being ourselves, and true to our ideals in our work.” That’s... more
Today is a crossover episode from the Pivot podcast celebrating eight lessons learned from over eight years of podcasting. The Free... more
“’Something I always say: at the very least, do it for the plot. Do it for the story. Be bold... more
”In a society that glorifies titles, visibility, reach, and the grind, taking a beat to opt out of all that... more
Just because you use pretty words that sound nice doesn’t mean they are effective. Although we know what we do... more
The phrase is emblazoned at WeWorks across the globe: in large neon lights across lobby walls, bedecking laptops via swag... more
“The biggest breakthroughs came from the random side projects that I had no expectation would turn into anything.” Josh Kaufman... more
Are you running a Franken-Brand? A quick, inexpensive logo here. And then someone a few months later tries to write... more
Has your business brand become stale, perhaps to the point of being a liability? After a few years, especially with... more
What do you do when a business area becomes energetically draining, or the income isn’t flowing? Today’s guest has many... more
How can you get paid for who you are, not just what you do? Today’s guest, Terry Rice, is teaching... more
“What am I pretending not to know?” There is tremendous power in asking better questions, whether it comes to ideal... more
"For the first time in a decade, I feel free again." That’s how one of my earliest blogging friends, longtime... more
“The world doesn’t need another expert.” So says today’s guest, Andrew Davis. Experts rely on hacks, tips, tricks, teaching, preaching,... more
“You do not need to cannibalize your healing for content.” Today, I’m in conversation with longtime blog-turned-IRL friend Nic Antoinette,... more
If you have been in business for any amount of time, then you know the feeling when a launch just... more
“I only write books for problems I can’t otherwise solve,” Nir Eyal says. “I don’t write my books for my... more
Abundance was my word of 2019. I’d love to tell you I meant abundance in the broadest possible sense, appreciating the bounty... more
What is your relationship to rest? How about your caretakers’ relationship to rest while you were young? What examples did... more
“Startup CEOs should not play the odds. When you are building a company, you must believe there is an answer... more
You can calm chaos at work, but it starts with a reality check from Charlie Gilkey, delivered with his signature... more
“As long as we settle for thinking inside the brain, we’ll remain bound by the limits of that organ. But... more
I’m excited to bring you this crossover episode with Rose Cox, founder of The HSP Business School and host of... more
Intuition is always speaking to you in subtle ways. Are you listening? Intuition isn’t a gift that is only bestowed on... more
“Let’s build ESPN.com for strength, and convince everyone they can lift weights.” With this mission in mind, the first six... more
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou Earlier this summer, I arrived late... more
When we say trusting ourselves, which self are we talking about? Which parts of ourselves can’t be trusted? That’s what we’re exploring... more
This is a free preview of this month's bonus episode for paying Free Time subscribers. Listen to the full episode... more
“I’m at my wit's end.” That was the conclusion of a text message that broke my heart a little bit.... more
“Nobody’s soul is moved by swag.” So says longtime friendtor of the pod, John Ruhlin, founder of strategic gifting company... more
I used to refer to myself as a hot mess often in the early blogging days circa 2008, until someone... more
“A book is not about something. A book is for someone.” That’s the mantra that drives AJ Harper’s work, that... more
Do you already have an elegant way of wrapping up with clients? If you work with people one-on-one, it's important... more
“Have you ever looked at someone else, someone you admire, who has accomplished a lot, and just assumed they must... more
Now that I’m one month into Rolling in D🤦🏻♀️h, I’m sharing my reflections on Substack as a software platform for personal writing (and potentially... more
“I see in books,” says today’s guest. “Every book is, at its heart, an argument for something—for a belief, a... more
I broke one of my own big rules this summer. For the last few weeks, I've been kicking myself, saying,... more
Since launching this show in September 2015, the podcasting landscape has grown and changed tremendously. What was once a niche... more
“Cultivate 12 people who love you, because they are worth more than 12 million people who like you.” That’s just one... more
Self-doubt isn’t all bad. It means you’re stretching outside of your comfort zone, that you’re willing to learn, and that... more
As “recovering people pleaser” Natalie Lue opens her book, The Joy of Saying No, “Suppressing and repressing my needs, desires,... more
I'm super excited to pilot a "what would we invent if anything were possible" experience this quarter—and you're invited! Join me and... more
Today’s solo riff is on a three-word phrase that has helped quell countless waves of anxiety in the decade since... more
Who is sitting in the boardroom of your brain? Who is sitting around the table, challenging your decisions, making noise,... more
As the saying goes, “Worrying is praying for what you don’t want.” A close cousin is future-tripping: projecting and living... more
Attending conferences can be overwhelming — even for the most excited extroverts among us—let alone the introverts who challenge their... more
“My little pirate.” That’s the nickname Michael has given me this summer, as it feels like many of my corporate... more
“When you’re in debt to the truth, the interest rate sucks.” That’s just one of many so-true-it-hurts gems in Rand... more
What do Manuka honey, brown M&Ms, chocolate milk, vanilla gelato, rose petals, fair trade bananas, and Twizzlers have in common?... more
The best systems aren’t cumbersome sources of frustration collecting dust in the cloud—they save you so much time, that creating... more
In 2021, I paid nearly a thousand dollars to hire a plumber to fix something that wasn't absolutely necessary and... more
From a certain outside perspective, turning down a $200,000 two-book deal from a traditional publishing house makes no sense. But... more
Today, I’m sharing eight reasons I really appreciate having a team inbox using HelpScout. They’re not paying for this episode;... more
Today we’re going behind the scenes of book launching, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly (cries) resulting from... more
Welcome to our #200 celebration...part two! 🎉 These next 20 permission slips all about mindset, staying in the game, and the spiritual... more
You’ve heard of buyers remorse—but what about new hire’s remorse? That is the feeling of worry, regret or uncertainty that... more
Hey, hey, Free Timers, we have arrived at episode 200! 🎉 To celebrate, I’m giving you the ultimate permission slip compilation... more
What’s the daily free time sweet spot? Between two to five hours, according to today’s guest, professor and researcher Cassie... more
When you catch a wishie, what do you yearn for? Today’s book club episode might shift your “wish” hereafter to... more
“Liking is the great fog of the mind.”—Todd Herman You’ve heard the adage that people need to know, like, and trust... more
What’s it like to be at a conference with “fancy” people, when you’re the one feeling like you snuck in... more
Does the world really need this? This is one of the inevitable existential dilemmas of creative work. You have to... more
Today I'm sharing ten more of my favorite recent GPT4 prompts and experiments for creative business owners. This episode originally aired... more
The average American worker gets 11 days of paid vacation per year. Among those with unlimited paid time off (PTO), the... more
Today I'm sharing five creative ways to better organize your phone contacts. I hope it’s helpful and time-saving toward a... more
“Small hinges move big doors.” That one thought helped Karen Allen pick herself up from the depths of grief after... more
Hi friends! A quick in-beteween-isode to let you know about a special opportunity to work with me 1:1 :) Back by... more
Time- and money-based targets don’t always serve the purpose we intend. In fact, sometimes, they actively work against us. Today... more
In episode 181: Be Irreplaceable, you heard from my creative coach, Jay Acunzo about how to prioritize resonanceover reach. I’ve been working with Jay for... more
When today’s guest, Kelli Thompson, was overwhelmed by opportunity—a level of success she had been dreaming of and working diligently... more
Today’s episode is the second half of an in-depth Licensing Q&A prompted by BFF Al Dea, host of the MBA Insider podcast. If you haven’t... more
“A shoe is just a shoe until my son steps into it.” —Deloris Jordan When negotiating Michael Jordan's famous shoe deal with... more
I'm excited to bring you an episode from the Pivot podcast vault today—this is a conversation with a longtime friendtor,... more
It was a hot summer day, and I’m grumbling while dragging a rolling carry-on suitcase full of books to sign... more
“You have to live spherically—in many directions. Never lose your childish enthusiasm—and things will come your way.” —Federico Fellini This week’s... more
📣 We’re publishing this week’s solo episode a day early as a friendly reminder that the Free Time podcast is nominated... more
Hi Friends! I'm re-airing this announcement as a friendly reminder that the Free Time podcast has made it to the... more
📣 The Free Time podcast is nominated for a Webby Award, the "Oscars of the Internet!" Please visit http://itsfreetime.com/webby to cast... more
📣 The Free Time podcast is nominated for a Webby Award, the "Oscars of the Internet!" Please visit http://itsfreetime.com/webby to cast... more
📣 The Free Time podcast is nominated for a Webby Award, the "Oscars of the Internet!" Please visit http://itsfreetime.com/webby to cast... more
📣 The Free Time podcast is nominated for a Webby Award, the "Oscars of the Internet!" Please visit http://itsfreetime.com/webby to cast... more
Friends!! I can't believe it!! The Free Time podcast has made it to the nomination stage of the Webby Awards,... more
I’m delighted to welcome Daniel Doyon to the pod this week, co-founder of one of my favorite software services, Readwise.... more
“Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple, and it's that hard.” —Danny Meyer,... more
“You are making a choice every time you undercharge.” How’s that for a splash of cold water to the face?!... more
🎉 This week marks the one-year bookiversary of Free Time making its way into the world, and the two-year podiversary of... more
“How did you go bankrupt?" Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” —Ernest Hemingway That’s the kick-off quote from returning guest Khe Hy’s... more
Free Time. The phrase connotes, leisure, fun, time off, vacation—as if we're skipping through meadows with butterflies! 🦋and unicorns!🦄 But if... more
“What’s the highest level I can serve?” That’s one of the driving questions that today’s guest, Melissa Hughes, helps business... more
Feeling slow, stuck, uncertain, or in the midst of a morale dip? If so, today’s minisode is for you—or for... more
Stephen Shapiro is a quintessential Free Timer. Throughout his 20+ year self-employment tenure, he has run a variety of experiments... more
One of the biggest lessons I learned from author Nassim Taleb is that whenever he finds himself bored with what... more
How do we use technology to facilitate real relationships? That’s the big question driving Gina Bianchini’s epic entrepreneurial quest. Today... more
How many times have you gone skidding into vacation, arriving exhausted from trying to “earn” it before you leave? Then... more
Here are a few food-for-thought reflection questions, inspired by today’s guest: Are you working with amateur clients or ones who... more
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “A book is a business card.” That’s because what you don’t hear is that a... more
Prolific punchy pontificator Khe Hy—creator of the $10K work accelerator and Supercharge Your Productivity—returns to the pod to share his... more
Should you self-publish? This is a big debate among aspiring authors, and there is no one right answer. Today I’m... more
Processing email and social media inboxes is overwhelming enough for one person — can you imagine creating an entire company... more
Do you ever feel like you’re just not good with systems? If so, then this episode is for you. The... more
Juggling a schedule for one person is tricky enough; for a two-entrepreneur household with kids, it’s another thing altogether! Learn... more
One of the most common questions from those accessing the Author Toolkit (an assembly of my best-open-sourced templates and processes... more
What type of business would you build if you no longer needed the money? After a life-changing exit from her... more
I had high hopes for the first couple of weeks of the year, but I rang in 2023 in bed,... more
What’s the right thing to do, and how do we do it quickly? In this conversation with Strategy Sprints founder... more
As I shared in last week’s solo episode, Free Time isn’t about time management or productivity, or even simply doing... more
Imagine my surprise when, on the Saturday before I was set to be interviewed on a podcast last summer, my... more
As I share in Free Time, nowhere is entropy more visually evident than in older homes or ones in nature.... more
If life is a circus, then maybe there’s a way to get better at performing in it. As Laura shares... more
Welcome Deep Questions with Cal Newport listeners! I had so much fun recording the "Help me do less!" episode —... more
"I never serve from my reserves" is just one of countless gems from one of my wisest friends, Christine Arylo.... more
Free Time for Your Future Self: For any area of your business that causes friction, run through these systems-thinking questions... more
What is your relationship to information? Scattered and chaotic, or clear and navigable? Do you have streamlined systems for saving,... more
This best of episode is a replay of the 100th episode of this show since launching on March 21, 2021.... more
How has Alexandra Franzen built two thriving businesses without social media? By delivering work with a quality I like to... more
Just a few days after launch, Free Time topped many Amazon charts! Although "making the lists" is not something I... more
“Stab the Hydra in the heart.” Cal Newport is not pulling any punches with his latest treatise on how we... more
What steps can you take now to free your time far into the future? Long-time listeners know this is one... more
According to SignalFire, the fastest growing type of small business is one that revolves around content creation, also known as... more
Your creativity and entrepreneurial spirit got you here. Smarter systems will take you there. There is less friction in your operations... more
If you’re a business owner thinking, “My platform is too small to land sponsors,” today’s guest will encourage you to... more
There’s a missing chapter in Free Time that, over the course of editing, got condensed down into a single bullet... more
For many of us running Delightfully Tiny Teams, the ideal team set-up is one where no one works full time... more
How do you define enough? Today, Jenny is sharing a bonus episode from the private BFF podcast feed where she’s... more
Do we really all have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé? That’s our tongue-in-cheek title, pulled from Tara McMullin’s new... more
You’ve heard the term low-hanging fruit: the easiest thing you can do to make the biggest possible impact in your... more
What do you do when your business model is no longer working for you? When your current income streams and... more
Licensing your IP to companies can be lucrative and a tough nut to crack. Pricing is opaque, deliverables and tracking... more
“Build an email list,” is business advice equivalent to “Make sure you breathe.” We all know it’s a best practice... more
Today I’m sharing a section from Free Time about one of the topics interviewers ask me about most: Sailing the... more
As you all may well know by now, I am a social media curmudgeon. But that doesn’t mean I’m not... more
In the spirit of “truth while it’s fresh,” one of my core values for this podcast, today I’m sharing a... more
Creating online courses does not require a huge investment in time or money. Although they certainly can cost tens of... more
My heart was thumping out of my chest as I sat at the front of the room for my first... more
Are the systems I share on this show and in Free Time just a “Jenny Blake Thing?” Rest assured, the... more
It is a small miracle of motivation that you are listening to this episode. When it was time to record,... more
Would earning $1 million dollars in revenue this year solve all of your problems? It might, but it could also... more
Consistently creating high-quality content can be challenging. To practice what I call ongoing original public thinking, I am often brainstorming... more
Think of your day-to-day work as fitting into one of four quadrants, as defined by today’s guest Khe Hy in... more
Nothing makes me more frustrated than poorly run companies that essentially steal time and money from the customers through bureaucracy... more
Today’s guest is an expert in cultivating creativity — and in remaining consistent over the long arc of content creation.... more
“If you’re on time you're late.” That’s one of my favorite mantras that I picked up from my dad, second... more
If there’s one software question that invokes a near-universal groan among small business owners, it’s “What do you use for... more
How often do you feel blocked when it comes to creating new content? If you want to be more consistent... more
“Time collapses when something you think takes 100 steps takes only one.” That’s just one of many gems from this... more
As I ask in the introduction to Free Time: What revenue streams are in that oh-so-sweet-spot of profit, ease, and... more
Take it from a self-described “recovering micromanager,” Annie Hyman Pratt: people are the most underleveraged, underutilized asset you have in... more
Is your to-do list piled to the sky with uninspiring tasks? Wait until you hear this listener submission from Leanne,... more
“Why would someone fly you across the world to do business with them?” That powerful question from a mentor in... more
Living in New York City for over a decade, I’ve woken up to many a strange sight over the years:... more
Do you shy away from marketing and metrics, or have trouble figuring out more of your ideal clients? If so,... more
“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”... more
We talk about The Fiji Test often here at Free Time HQ on documentation and making ourselves replaceable every day.... more
We’ve got a Grab Bag this week with three favorite time-saving techniques, starting with an image I can’t get out... more
Sometimes it seems like being a jerk pays off. Society often seems to reward the leaders who don’t mind stepping... more
As tough as it is to stomach sometimes, regret can be a helpful catalyst. As Daniel Pink shares in his... more
What is your relationship to information? Scattered and chaotic, or clear and navigable? Do you have streamlined systems for saving,... more
Are your business activities at the intersection of revenue, ease, and joy? If not, are you aware of what does... more
“A big life can weigh a lot . . . That’s why I was overworked—I was chasing the long-tail of... more
If you’re the bottleneck in a service-based business, consider freeing your time by building your bench. That is what I’ve... more
Are you pricing your products and services in an abundant sweet spot or a scarcity-inducing sink hole? How can you... more
Have you ever driven down a highway and gotten a whole bunch of bugs sadly splattered on your windshield? Eventually,... more
Are you winding down the path of writing the wrong book? What does it take to create a marketing tipping... more
So you’re getting good at saving yourself time; but what about saving other people’s time? How creative are you at... more
What takes a book proposal past the slush pile onto a publisher’s deal sheet? How do you get the attention... more
Free Time for Your Future Self: For any area of your business that causes friction, run through these systems-thinking questions... more
How has Alexandra Franzen built two thriving businesses without social media? By delivering work with a quality I like to... more
Dearest Free Timers: I can’t believe it, but this marks the 100th episode of this show since launching on March... more
Finding the perfect problem is like falling in love. You can’t always choose the when or the what, but when... more
There is a Goldilocks quality to designing a Delightfully Tiny Team, a horseshoe of team happiness. Too small, and you... more
How can you find — and attempt the great feat of solving — your perfect problem? That’s what I’m talking... more
Today I’m sharing the recording from our second-to-last book launch team Q&A one month after Free Time launched. I share post-launch... more
Do you feel like you are wasting precious moments just finding things? Today, I’m speaking with Nick Sonnenberg, CEO of... more
It’s time to stop Franken-stringing software together. If you've read Free Time or been listening to this podcast, you know... more
Could you sell your business? Would you even want to once it’s optmized enough to make selling an option? Today... more
Stress, frustration, overwhelm: These are systems flags from your business asking for renewed attention on a bottleneck or inefficiency. In... more
“I’m always stumping quarterly planning for business owners. It’s the Goldilocks horizon for strategy execution, project scoping, and team alignment.”... more
There is a chicken-and-egg problem in the early days (and transitional moments) of any business: you need to earn more... more
Don’t bother starting a {business, blog, podcast}, the market is already too saturated! That limiting sentiment gets thrown around a... more
If you’ve been in business for more than a few years, you’re probably well-versed in the perils of switching costs... more
What are your business goals for your current or potential podcast? If you are like many business owners, you may... more
How valuable is your time? Are you conveying that value to your potential clients? In the first five years of... more
“If you build an audience, you can figure out how to build a business.” That has been the guiding mantra... more
There's so much energy and attention that swirls around during a launch, and I cannot thank you enough for helping... more
“Brain science teaches that even if a prospect knows, loves, and believes in a company’s offerings, after they become a... more
Today we have a favorite time-saving strategy from listener Liron on keeping a Mess Page at your desk to free... more
Leadership and org design always involve tradeoffs. Which ones are you willing to make? Are you building traffic lights in... more
Just a few days after launch, Free Time is already topping many Amazon charts . . . although "making the... more
Thank you all so much for the incredible book launch support this week!! Because of you, Free Time is topping... more
I love mastermind groups, and how they create the space to support and learn from fellow business owners. They come... more
Today kicks off another exciting chapter of life and business because the Free Time book is officially out! There’s no... more
Hi friends! Just a quick four-minute thank you message to celebrate the official launch day for my brand new book—the... more
Without conscious reframing, launching can quickly tip toward stressful. Writing and launching a book is a privilege, so I hesitate... more
Thank you all so much for the incredible book launch support this week!! Because of you, Free Time is topping the Amazon... more