I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Forget everything you think you know about charisma. It's not something you're born with.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Anyone can develop charismatic behaviors through practice and technique</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Your personality doesn't need to change, just your approach to interactions</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Think of it like learning to play piano - it takes practice but the methods are proven</li></ul>

1. Charisma is Not a Gift, It's a Skill

This is your charisma blueprint. Master these three elements and you'll command any room.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Presence means being fully engaged in the moment, not distracted by your phone or thoughts</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Power is your ability to affect change, shown through confidence and competence</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Warmth is genuine care for others, making people feel valued and heard</li></ul>

2. The PPW Formula: Presence, Power, Warmth

For charisma, your body language matters far more than your words do." People read your nonverbals first.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Stand tall, take up space, and move with purpose</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Make eye contact that shows you're interested, not intimidating</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Keep your gestures open and avoid crossed arms or fidgeting</li></ul>

3. Your Body Language Speaks Louder Than Your Words

"Being charismatic does not depend on how much time you have but on how fully present you are in each interaction."<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Put away distractions and focus completely on the person in front of you</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Listen to understand, not to respond</li><li class="ql-align-justify">People can sense when you're mentally elsewhere, and it kills your influence</li></ul>

4. Full Presence is Your Secret Weapon

Silence is not awkward, it's powerful. Learn to use it.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Pause before answering important questions to show you're thoughtful</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Let others finish speaking completely before you respond</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use pauses to emphasize key points in your presentations</li></ul>

5. Master the Art of Strategic Pausing

Your brain can't tell the difference between a vivid imagination and reality.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Before big meetings, visualize yourself succeeding and feeling confident</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Picture yourself as the competent leader you want to be</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This mental rehearsal actually changes your body language and energy</li></ul>

6. Visualization Changes Your Internal State

Charismatic people don't get defensive. They get curious.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Thank people for feedback instead of justifying your actions</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Ask clarifying questions to understand their perspective better</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Show you value their input even when you disagree</li></ul>

7. Handle Criticism Like a Charismatic Pro

How you say something matters as much as what you say.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Lower your voice slightly to sound more authoritative</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Speak slowly and clearly to show confidence</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use vocal variety to keep people engaged and interested</li></ul>

8. Your Voice is an Instrument of Influence

Stories stick in people's minds long after facts are forgotten.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Share personal experiences that illustrate your points</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Use specific details to make your stories vivid and memorable</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Connect your stories to the listener's goals and challenges</li></ul>

9. Create Charismatic Moments Through Storytelling

The most charismatic people make others feel like the most interesting person in the room.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Ask follow-up questions that show you're engaged</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Reflect back what you heard to confirm understanding</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Remember details from previous conversations and reference them later</li></ul>

10. Practice Charismatic Listening

Being charismatic does not depend on how much time you have but on how fully present you are in each interaction.

Charisma isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It's about making others feel heard, valued, and inspired when they're with you. Start with presence, add genuine warmth, and back it up with quiet confidence. The rest will follow naturally.

What if charisma could be taught? For the first time, science and technology have taken charisma apart, figured it out and turned it into an applied science: In controlled laboratory experiments, researchers could raise or lower people's level of charisma as if they were turning a dial. What you'll find here is practical magic: unique knowledge, drawn from a variety of sciences, revealing what charisma really is and how it works. You'll get both the insights and the techniques you need to apply this knowledge. The world will become your lab, and every person you meet, a chance to experiment. The Charisma Myth is a mix of fun stories, sound science, and practical tools. Cabane takes a hard scientific approach to a heretofore mystical topic, covering what charisma actually is, how it is learned, what its side effects are, and how to handle them.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

communication

Communication

business

Business

books

Books

Olivia Fox Cabane

The Charisma Myth

People don’t want a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Traditional market research segments customers by age, income, or behavior.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">JTBD segments by the job people need done.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">A 25-year-old and a 65-year-old might hire the same product for the same job, despite having completely different demographics.</li></ul>

The job is the unit of analysis, not the custome

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">A Netflix subscription doesn’t just compete with other streaming services; it competes with books, video games, social media, or anything else people hire for entertainment.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Understanding the real job helps identify unexpected competitors and opportunities.</li></ul>

Products compete across categories, not within them.

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">People don’t just hire products to accomplish tasks; they hire them to feel a certain way or project an identity.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">A luxury watch isn’t just hired to tell time; it’s hired to signal success and craftsmanship.</li></ul>

Jobs have emotional and social dimensions beyond functional need

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">The same person might hire different products for the same job depending on their situation.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Someone might hire a food truck for lunch when they’re busy at work, but hire a sit-down restaurant when they want to impress a client.</li></ul>

Focus on the circumstances, not just the outcome

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">People have been hiring products for transportation, communication, and entertainment for centuries.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The specific solutions change from horses to cars to rideshares but the underlying jobs remain constant.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This stability makes jobs a reliable foundation for innovation.</li></ul>

Jobs remain stable while solutions evolve

The job, not the customer, is the fundamental unit of analysis for a marketer who hopes to develop products that customers will buy.

The Jobs-to-be-Done (JTBD) framework revolutionizes product development by focusing on the job customers hire products to accomplish, rather than customer demographics or product features.

marketingandsales

Marketing & Sales

strategy

Strategy

entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

product

Product & Design

The Framework That Predicts Product Success 

The hardest thing about getting things done is doing them

It’s about doing the right things.Efficiency means nothing if you’re working on what doesn’t matter.

1. Productivity isn’t about doing more

If your day starts by checking emails, you’ve already handed your focus to others.Set your priorities before reading others’ requests.

2. Stop working from your inbox

Peter Bregman uses 6 key areas (work, family, health, friends, community, self).These are your compass. Plan your day from them; not from random inputs.

3. Use a 6-box system

Every morning, list your top priorities. It takes five minutes.But it aligns your actions with your values and goals.

4. Plan your day in 5 minutes

If something doesn’t fit your daily list, it probably doesn’t deserve your attention today.

5. Use the list to say no

Use these to breathe, check in, and re-center.Micro-pauses prevent mental drift and keep you intentional.

6. Take one-minute breaks every hour

Every time you switch tasks for no reason, jot it down.You’ll quickly spot habits that sabotage your focus.

7. Track your distractions

Don’t wait to feel ready or inspired.Just start.Done is better than perfect.

8. Let go of perfection

What you don’t write down; like "recharge" or "connect with kids" ; doesn’t get done.Track it like any other task.

9. Make the invisible visible

It’s about being in alignment with your values.The more honest your actions, the more fulfilled you’ll feel.

10. Productivity is about integrity

You don’t need a new app. You need a better compass.

We all want to be more productive, but most of us start by adding apps, hacks, or tighter schedules. That rarely works. Real productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters, with focus and intention. This method is surprisingly simple. And it works.

productivity

Productivity

career

Career

mentalhealth

Mental Health

timemanagement

Time Management

Being More Productive Is Simpler Than You Think

If change is the only constant, let’s get better at it.

Make Your Next Move Without Burning Everything Down

10 Smart Ideas from Pivot by Jenny Blake:

It’s a series of small moves based on what’s already working. You don’t start from zero — you start from here.

1. A pivot is not a leap

Jenny’s 4-part method: Plant, Scan, Pilot, Launch. First, stabilize. Then scan for options. Test. Then commit.

2. Use the Pivot Method

Pivots work best when you amplify what you already do well. Skills, interests, credibility — stack them.

3. Double down on your strengths

Don’t pivot away from pain. Pivot toward alignment. Look for problems you’d love to solve.

4. Scan for opportunity, not escape

Don’t quit yet. Run small tests — freelance, side projects, new roles — to explore your next move

5. Start with low-risk pilots

You don’t need to reinvent everything. Just shift your weight and take the next right step.

Find your circle. People who see your potential often help you unlock it. You don’t pivot alone.

6. Build a team of believers

Financial, emotional, mental runway. Pivoting takes time and clarity. Panic moves kill good plans.

7. Keep your runway long

Look at moments you felt alive, creative, or valuable. That’s your compass.

8. Success leaves breadcrumbs

It’s evolving. You’re not leaving something behind. You’re taking what you’ve learned and applying it better.

9. Pivoting isn’t quitting

You won’t figure it all out by thinking. Momentum reveals the next step.

10. Action creates clarity

You don’t need to reinvent everything. Just shift your weight and take the next right step.

You don’t need to quit your job or move countries to change your life. Big transitions are often built from small, strategic shifts. Jenny Blake’s Pivot is is about control. This is your guide to changing direction without losing your balance.

“Looking to make a career change? Pivot is a book you will turn to again and again.”—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive If you've got the perfect job or business, congratulations. But if you are even a little bit uncertain that your current gig is the right one, it is time to start thinking about your next move. In the new world of work, it's the only move that matters.   What's next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck? Jenny Blake's solution: it's about small steps, not big leaps—and the answer is already right under your feet. This book will teach you how to pivot from a base of your existing strengths.   Pivoting is a crucial strategy for Silicon Valley tech companies and startups. Jenny Blake—a former training and career development specialist at Google who now runs her own company as a career and business consultant and speaker—shows how pivoting can also be a successful strategy for individuals looking to make changes in their work lives, whether within their role, organization or business, or setting their sights on bigger shifts. When you pivot, you double down on your existing strengths and interests to move in a new, related direction, instead of looking so far outside of yourself for answers that you skip over your hard-won expertise and experience. It empowers you to navigate changes with flexibility and strength—now and throughout your entire career. Much like the lean business principles that took Silicon Valley by storm, pivoting is the crucial skill you need to stay agile, whether or not you are actively looking for a new position. No matter your age, industry, or bank account balance, Jenny's advice will help you move forward strategically. Her Pivot Method will teach you how to: · Double down on existing strengths, interests, and experiences. Identify what is working best and where you want to end up, then start to bridge the gap between the two. · Scan for opportunities and identify new skills without falling prey to analysis paralysis or compare and despair. Explore options by leveraging the network and experience you already have. · Run small experiments to determine next steps. Do side projects to test ideas for your next move, taking the pressure off so you don't need to have the entire answer up front. · Take smart risks to launch with confidence in a new direction. Set benchmarks to decide when the time is right to go all-in on your new direction.   Pivot also includes valuable insight for leaders who want to have more frequent career conversations with their teams to help talented people pivot within their roles and the broader organization. No matter your current position, one thing is clear: your career success and satisfaction depends on your ability to determine your next best move. If change is the only constant, let's get better at it.

startup

Startups

Jenny Blake

Pivot

Give your overthinking pattern a name. <ul><li class="ql-align-justify">“Decision spiral.”</li><li class="ql-align-justify">“What-if zone.” </li></ul>Naming it helps distance yourself from it.

1. Label the loop

Your brain reacts to thoughts like they’re danger. Pause and ask, “Is this just a thought or is something actually happening?”

2. Ask: Thought or threat?

Don’t try to solve it. Just write down the entire spiral uncensored. It drains the mental noise and often reveals the absurdity.

3. Journal the loop, not the solution

Give yourself 10 minutes to think about it  (maximum). When the timer’s up, move. Don’t negotiate.

4. Timebox your overthinking

Walk. Stretch. Clean a drawer. Motion interrupts looping thoughts by changing your internal rhythm.

5. Move your body to move your mind

You don’t need to stop thinking. You just need to stop thinking the same thing again and again.

What’s the smallest next step you can take? Don’t chase the perfect outcome. Pick progress

6. Decide on your “minimum viable decision”

Ask: “What would future me wish I had done today?” That version of you often sees clearer than the current one.

7. Use the “Rule of Future You”

Use a post-it, sound, or object as a trigger to recognize looping when it starts. Visibility creates awareness. Awareness creates choice.

8. Create a “stuck” signal

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">“What if” thoughts are infinite. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">“What now” is grounded.</li></ul>Bring yourself back to the actionable present.

9. Replace what-if with what-now

Overthinking loves research. But it’s often a delay in disguise. Stop googling. Start deciding.

10. You don’t need more info. You need a pause

Thinking too much leads to paralysis. Action is where clarity lives.

Overthinking isn’t intelligence ; it’s a glitch. You’re not gaining insight.  You’re just replaying thoughts like a broken track. This isn’t about “thinking less.” It’s about thinking clearer. 

philosophy

Philosophy

Mental Ping-Pong: How to Stop Overthinking

Unlock Your Week: Stop Finding Time, Start Making It

3 Powerful Strategies to Reclaim Your 168 Hours

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Don't just do tasks; optimize them.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Look for ways to complete routine activities faster or more effectively.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">This could mean streamlining your morning routine or finding quicker ways to handle emails.</li></ul>

1. Squeeze Extra Efficiency

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">You can't do everything.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Identify activities that consume significant time but don't align with your most important goals, and then deliberately cut them back or eliminate them.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">For example, the average American spends 19 hours a week on TV and movies. Imagine what you could do with even half of that time!</li></ul>

2. Strategically Sacrifice

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Make the most of otherwise unproductive moments by combining activities.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Listen to an audiobook during your commute, plan your day while waiting in line, or brainstorm ideas during a workout.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Every minute counts when you're maximizing its potential.</li></ul>

3. Double-Dip (Leverage Downtime)

You don't need more time. You need a clearer plan for the time you have.

Clearer Path

Making time for pursuits often requires strategic sacrifices

Ever feel like there aren't enough hours in the week? You're not alone. We all have 168 hours,. The solution is not to find extra time; but to strategically allocate what you already have. Of course, you are not magically creating more hours; you're making deliberate choices to align your time with true priorities.

Visit https://brilliant.org/aliabdaal to start your free 30-day trial and get 20% off an annual subscription.

Join my FREE quarterly goal-setting and reflection workshop on Saturday, 28th June: https://go.aliabdaal.com/yt/summer25desc

Download the 168 spreadsheet here: https://aliabdaal.com/make-time-for-everything-template

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MY PRODUCTIVITY APPS
👻 Voicepal: AI Writing App (iOS/Android) - Download for Free → https://go.aliabdaal.com/voicepal/ytd

MY BOOK
📕 My New York Times bestselling book Feel-Good Productivity (2,000+ 5-star reviews) → https://go.feelgoodproductivity.com/amazon/yt

MY COURSES
🧠 My Productivity System: LifeOS → https://go.aliabdaal.com/lifeos/ytd
🤑 Grow / Monetise your YouTube Channel → https://go.aliabdaal.com/PTYA/yt

CONNECT WITH ME
💌 Join LifeNotes, my weekly email where I share what I’m reading & learning: https://go.aliabdaal.com/lifenotes/yt
📸  Instagram: https://instagram.com/aliabdaal
👨‍💻  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-abdaal/
🌍  My website/blog: https://www.aliabdaal.com/

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Hey friends, in this video, I’m breaking down the 168 hours we have in the week and the emotions behind why our calendars always feel overbooked. Plus, I share how I learned to get intentional about what makes the cut. Hope you enjoy xx

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO
📄 AMERICAN TIME USE SURVEY — 2023 RESULTS: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf
📕 The Wheel of Time: https://geni.us/H0WqL
📗The Stormlight Archive:  https://geni.us/4fSRj

⌚️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction
01:25 - How the Average American Spends Their Time
12:07 - How I Managed My Time with a Full-time Job
23:54 - Final Thoughts

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

videos

Videos

📚 Check out my first book Feel-Good Productivity here: https://www.feelgoodproductivity.com/

Hey, I'm Ali, a doctor turned entrepreneur, and the world’s most followed productivity expert 😜 

On this channel, we explore evidence-based strategies and tools that can help us be more productive, and build a life that we love. 

If that sounds interesting, consider subscribing! See you in the next video x

Ali Abdaal

How to Make Time for Everything (Then Actually Do It)

At the end of your day, ask yourself 3 questions:<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">What did I plan to do but didn’t?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Why didn’t I do it?</li><li class="ql-align-justify">What did I do instead?</li></ol>That’s it.You now have a mirror, not a scoreboard.It reveals your patterns, emotional states, fears, energy dips, and real desires; not just what your planner says.

What Is the Anti-To-Do List?

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">It exposes your real priorities, not just the pretty ones you wrote down.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It destroys the illusion of productivity.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It identifies repeat offenders. Tasks you keep skipping for a reason.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">It creates honesty, not guilt.</li></ul>

Why It Works

Here are some ways to apply the Anti To Do List to your daily life:

12 Smart Ways to Use the Anti-To-Do List

Memory fades. Capture avoidance in real-time.

1. Log it daily, not weekly

Were you tired? Anxious? Avoidant? Emotions are data.

2. Add your emotional state

Work, Health, Learning, PersonalPatterns live in the types.

3. Categorize your skipped tasks

This isn’t a punishment. You’re observing, not judging.

4. Zero blame allowed

Sometimes the “distraction” is more honest than the original goal.

5. Track what replaced it

If it keeps showing up, either break it down or drop it.

6. Watch for stuck tasks

Use what you skipped today to design what you’ll actually do tomorrow.

7. Link to tomorrow’s plan

It slows you down and makes reflection deeper.

8. Write by hand

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Red = emotional block</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Yellow = external interference</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Blue = poor planning</li></ul>The visual cues tell stories.

9. Color code

“Why am I avoiding this?” or “Do I even want this?” opens clarity.

10. End with a question

Look at 5–7 days together. The pattern will slap you in the face.

11. Weekly review

Accountability kills avoidance. Gently.

12. Share with someone

Planned: Write Medium articleDidn’t do: YesWhy: Felt insecure about my ideasDid instead: Watched 3 YouTube videos on “how to be productive”Emotion: AnxiousNext Step: Set timer for 10 minutes tomorrow. Write without judging

🧾 Example Entry:

The Anti-To-Do List is not a list of failures.It’s a list of insight.It tells you where your friction lives.It exposes the gap between intention and action.Start tonight.Skip the guilt. Skip the fluff.Track what you didn’t do and take the power back.You’ll be shocked at what your avoidance has been trying to teach you.

🔁 Final Thought

We’re all addicted to To-Do Lists. Wake up. List. Check. Repeat. But how often do we actually finish what we plan? Let’s be rea;  half the time, we just feel productive writing the list. And then avoid the actual work. That’s where the Anti-To-Do List comes in. This isn't about quitting. It’s about clarity. Instead of logging what you did, you track what you didn’t. And most importantly, why you didn’t.

The Charisma Myth

The Framework That Predicts Product Success

Being More Productive Is Simpler Than You Think

Pivot

Mental Ping-Pong: How to Stop Overthinking

Anunjay Chouhan