Episodes

Barbie Brewer has held executive positions at Netflix and GitLab and has been instrumental in establishing successful hybrid work environments at both places. In this interview she talks bout what she learned, how it affected her own life and what she recommends for leaders who are struggling with the concept of hybrid work at their own locations. Her website is https://barbiejane.com A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://CoolTimeLife.com If you're interested...

Welcome to an innovative approach to time management—steering clear of traditional to-do lists and task prioritization to embrace the art of influence. In this podcast episode, *CoolTimeLife* host Steve Prentice introduces the “Box of Time,” a revolutionary concept inspired by the structure of bonsai trees. Here’s the essence of this time-tested strategy that blends psychology, communication, and boundaries for better productivity. Key Takeaways The Box of Time Concept: Inspired by bonsai tree...

The problem with in-person get-togethers: Whenever events and get-togethers occur, they come up against a big problem – people’s time. We’re just not as available as we used to be, and frankly we don’t always want to go. So, what’s to be done? Are get togethers worth it anymore? A full listing and descriptions of our episodes is available at https://CoolTimeLife.com If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

Many high-profile companies these days are reflections of their superstar CEOs – people like Elon Musk and Jamie Dimon. Author Thomas Keil suggests that although they may be good for branding, just like regular rock stars, they can’t truly do it alone. His new book, co-authored with Marianna Zangrillo, is entitled The Next Leadership Team: How to Select, Build, and Optimize Your Top Team, and is available at Amazon and elsewhere. Thomas Keil, D.Sc. (Tech.) Thomas professional aim is to bridge...

In June 2023, FORTUNE magazine published a piece entitled "Bosses are fed up with remote work for 4 main reasons. Some of them are undeniable." Well, I'm going to deny them. If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/steveprentice

A career never should be a clear, straight highway laid out by someone else for you to follow. This is increasingly true in this age, where career mobility and self-determination are more valuable and more appreciated than ever. There has never been a better time to explore your options, and Chris Fontanella is here to share his story and his wisdom. Find Chris at https://chrisfontanella.com/ If you're interested in supporting the CoolTimeLife podcast series, visit https://www.patreon.com/stev...

Have you ever thought of the word office as a verb? It changes everything, shining a light on the work we do rather than the place we do it. This is just one of many great ideas presented by futurist Bob Johansen in his new book, Office Shock. In this conversation, Bob shares his views on the future of work, the impact of AI on careers, the way we handle change, and much more, all through the lens of his special brand of future-back thinking. Bob’s book, Office Shock, Creating Better Futures fo...

One of the ways the workplace has changed is an increase in disrespectful leadership. Where did such disrespect come from, and what can leaders to to reverse the trend? Can we blame politics? Social Media? How about the fall of the Berlin Wall? Or maybe all those things. Here’s my interview with author and leadership expert Gregg Ward. Find Gregg's tour schedule at https://restoringrespectbook.com The first CoolTimeLife listener who connects with Gregg on LinkedIn and mentions the CoolTimeLife...

The 40 hour workweek is a myth in term of productivity expectations. The reality is people in knowledge work positions get far less than 40 hours of work done per week, in fact you’re lucky if you get 40 days’ worth or work done in a year. This episode looks at the numbers and a suggests it’s time for a better way for employers to assess what work actually is.

The "slacker barista". The "McJob". The Liberal Arts "Basket weaving" degree. These terms are routinely used to make fun of people who work hard in the food service industry, or who pursue education that does not seem to have a direct path to a set career. In all cases, these people are thought of as unmotivated and unsuccessful. But despite the fact they are working hard to make a living, there is great career potential that can come from the experiences gained in food service and other types o...

The "slacker barista". The "McJob". The Liberal Arts "Basket weaving" degree. These terms are routinely used to make fun of people who work hard in the food service industry, or who pursue education that does not seem to have a direct path to a set career. In all cases, these people are thought of as unmotivated and unsuccessful. But despite the fact they are working hard to make a living, there is great career potential that can come from the experiences gained in food service and other types o...

The "slacker barista". The "McJob". The Liberal Arts "Basket weaving" degree. These terms are routinely used to make fun of people who work hard in the food service industry, or who pursue education that does not seem to have a direct path to a set career. In all cases, these people are thought of as unmotivated and unsuccessful. But despite the fact they are working hard to make a living, there is great career potential that can come from the experiences gained in food service and other types o...

Why Asynchronous meetings make more sense for the future of work. Email and meetings have been uncomfortable necessities for decades, and they both hearken back to a time when communication was formal and hierarchical. The fluid nature of collaboration technologies like Slack is a game changer.

Why Asynchronous meetings make more sense for the future of work. Email and meetings have been uncomfortable necessities for decades, and they both hearken back to a time when communication was formal and hierarchical. The fluid nature of collaboration technologies like Slack is a game changer.

Why Asynchronous meetings make more sense for the future of work. Email and meetings have been uncomfortable necessities for decades, and they both hearken back to a time when communication was formal and hierarchical. The fluid nature of collaboration technologies like Slack is a game changer.

How Human Reflex Stands in the Way of Digital Transformation Hidden behind the term digital transformation is the word “change,” and that does not sit well with most people because change represents a threat that strikes at the hearts of our greatest fear: losing our job.

How Human Reflex Stands in the Way of Digital Transformation Hidden behind the term digital transformation is the word “change,” and that does not sit well with most people because change represents a threat that strikes at the hearts of our greatest fear: losing our job.

How Human Reflex Stands in the Way of Digital Transformation Hidden behind the term digital transformation is the word “change,” and that does not sit well with most people because change represents a threat that strikes at the hearts of our greatest fear: losing our job.

A discussion with author Alberto Silveira about his new book on managing distributed teams. There is a big difference between remote work teams and distributed work teams, and this is as much to do with workplace innovation as with how the team members are managed, and with how they interact from their separate locations. Author Alberto Silveira chats with Steve about his book and his career to date, building successful companies by employing people who work somewhere other than the office.

A discussion with author Alberto Silveira about his new book on managing distributed teams. There is a big difference between remote work teams and distributed work teams, and this is as much to do with workplace innovation as with how the team members are managed, and with how they interact from their separate locations. Author Alberto Silveira chats with Steve about his book and his career to date, building successful companies by employing people who work somewhere other than the office.

A discussion with author Alberto Silveira about his new book on managing distributed teams. There is a big difference between remote work teams and distributed work teams, and this is as much to do with workplace innovation as with how the team members are managed, and with how they interact from their separate locations. Author Alberto Silveira chats with Steve about his book and his career to date, building successful companies by employing people who work somewhere other than the office.

One of the chief pushbacks to virtual presence technology and the work-from-home lifestyle has been that people will miss out on networking and career enhancement opportunities. Steve assesses whether this is true or not.

One of the chief pushbacks to virtual presence technology and the work-from-home lifestyle has been that people will miss out on networking and career enhancement opportunities. Steve assesses whether this is true or not.

One of the chief pushbacks to virtual presence technology and the work-from-home lifestyle has been that people will miss out on networking and career enhancement opportunities. Steve assesses whether this is true or not.