68 episodes

Hosted by Dyan Williams - productivity coach and solo lawyer - The Incrementalist is a productivity show on making big changes in small steps. You will who learn how to use the Incrementalist approach to turn your ideas into action, focus on your highest priority, and make time for what truly matters.

Website: www.dyanwilliams.com

The Incrementalist Dyan Williams

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 6 Ratings

Hosted by Dyan Williams - productivity coach and solo lawyer - The Incrementalist is a productivity show on making big changes in small steps. You will who learn how to use the Incrementalist approach to turn your ideas into action, focus on your highest priority, and make time for what truly matters.

Website: www.dyanwilliams.com

    How to step into uncertainty, make progress, and find flow

    How to step into uncertainty, make progress, and find flow

    Uncertainty makes it harder to make progress and find flow in meaningful things. In easy conditions, progress is a straight line toward an end point. But when there’s uncertainty, progress is more like a feedback loop.
    In episode 68 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:
    1) 0:09 When faced with the unknown, you can either do something or do nothing.
    2) 0:26 The difference between uncertainty and ambiguity and why they both cause frustration.
    3) 1:03 The Paradox of Control and how we create anxiety.
    4) 1:47 How good anxiety works for you and bad anxiety works against you.
    5) 2:09 The Progress Principle and ways to leverage it. 
    6) 4:03 How to step into uncertainty to make progress and find flow:4:08 Tip 15:15 Tip 26:23 Tip 3 (stage 1 of flow cycle)8:36 Tip 4 (stage 2 of flow cycle) 9:37 Tip 5 (stage 3 of flow cycle)11:23 Tip 6 (stage 4 of flow cycle)
    7) 13:02 Benefits of the Flow Cycle8) 13:08 Benefits of the Progress Loop
    9) 14:03 I'm making an online course currently titled "The Busyness Trap: How to Escape Overload and Focus on What Matters." To get updates on the course launch and registration process, subscribe to my e-newsletter at dyanwilliams.com or The Incrementalist YouTube channel or podcast. 
    Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/
    The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)
    https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)
    Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsD
    Theme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve.

    • 14 min
    Goal Setting to Make Your Best Year Ever

    Goal Setting to Make Your Best Year Ever

    Setting goals - when done right - puts you on the path to a more desired life. In goal setting, do not make the finish line the main thing or lose sight of the journey. 
    In episode 67 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:
    1) 0:15 By breaking your big goals down into mini goals, you achieve small wins that build your confidence, grow your knowledge, and keep you on an upward spiral.
    2) 0:32 Goals are spotlights pointing you in a certain direction. They are not always your ultimate destination point. 
    3) 1:21 The key differences between extrinsic goals and intrinsic goals. 
    4) 1:53 Why it's better to focus on goals you control, like your daily habits and actions.
    5) 2:41 How to measure progress by thinking about the gains rather the gaps.
    5) 4:09 The benefits of embracing failure as a chance to learn, instead of a negative experience to avoid at all costs. 
    6) 5:05 Why you need to choose or design the ideal environment and not rely on your willpower.
    7) 6:40 Fear of hope is a root cause for why we resist change. 
    8) 9:56 I'm creating an online course currently titled "The Busyness Trap: How to Escape Overload and Focus on What Matters." To get updates on the course launch and registration process, subscribe to my e-newsletter at dyanwilliams.com or The Incrementalist YouTube channel or podcast. 
    Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/
    The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)
    https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)
    Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsD
    Theme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

    • 11 min
    A Bias for Action Can Make You Fail

    A Bias for Action Can Make You Fail

    A bias for action can help you do big things and reach big goals.  In big projects, it's vital in the delivery phase, which should be fast. But it hurts the planning phase, where it’s better to be slow.
    In episode 66 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:
    1) 0:00 A bias for action feels productive but can also backfire and cause big failure in big projects.
    2) 0:55 Every big project has 2 basic phases: Planning and Delivery.
    3) 1:11 In their book, How Big Things Get Done, authors Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner note that 99.5 percent of megaprojects go over budget, over schedule, fail to deliver promised results, or have some combination of these.
    4) 2:01 Failed projects use the Think Fast, Act Slow approach (rushed, superficial planning before project delivery). Successful projects apply the Think Slow, Act Fast pattern (careful, precise planning before project delivery).
    5) 2:59 To do big things, apply the Think Slow, Act Fast approach with these 5 action tips: 
    i) 3:05 Tip #1 - Commit to not committing. ii)  6:06 Tip #2 - Think from right to left. iii) 8:33 Tip #3 - Tinker, test, and experiment. iv) 12:10 Tip #4 - Figure out what’s your LEGO - your basic building block – and keep adding one block to another. v) 13:19 Tip #5 - Take the outside view, not just the inside view.
    6) 15:15 Why the significance of planning is often downplayed: The Principle of the Hiding Hand and the Theory of Beneficial Ignorance or Providential Ignorance
    You don't need to be deep in delivery mode to spark creative ideas. Use the think slow, act fast pattern to plan carefully, deliver effectively, and get the best results in big projects.
    Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/
    The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)
    https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)
    🎧 Listen to The Incrementalist podcast and get transcripts at:https://theincrementalist.transistor.fm/
    Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsD
    Theme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. https://open.spotify.com/album/7lbT8zOQMXeWkRUZto3tKL

    • 17 min
    Solitude: A Path to Move Through Loneliness

    Solitude: A Path to Move Through Loneliness

    Solitude is a chosen state of being alone. It is not the same as interpersonal loneliness or existential loneliness, which may lead to an early death or death by suicide in extreme cases.
    The need for alone time is as vital to human life as the need for social interaction. When you practice solitude, you will be better able to move through loneliness with skill, rather than try to end it unskillfully at all costs.
    In episode 65 of The Incrementalist, you will learn:
    1) The main differences between solitude and loneliness 2) The key differences between loners and introverts, who both enjoy solitude
    3) The reason extroverts might need solitude more than loners and introverts
    4) The four key benefits of solitude:i) Intentionalityii) Intellectualityiii) Simplicityiv) Self-sufficiency
    5) Easy ways to practice solitude in daily life
    The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is available on Amazon and Leanpub:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)
    https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)
    To learn more about how to get a Leanpub book on your Kindle, or into the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, go to:How do I get Leanpub books on my Kindle, or into the Kindle app on my phone or tablet? | Leanpub Help Center
    Watch the video, Solitude: The Overlooked Path to Moving Through Loneliness, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.
    Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/
    Subscribe to e-newsletter at:https://bit.ly/3J9EbsD
    Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

    • 19 min
    Turn your hard efforts into easier steps (become an Incrementalist)

    Turn your hard efforts into easier steps (become an Incrementalist)

    As you make gains, step by step, your actions and behaviors that used to take a lot of effort become more like a habit. You can choose to stay there and enjoy what you’ve accomplished or take the next step for a new challenge. The Incrementalist: A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small Steps, is now available on both Amazon and Leanpub.
    The book shows you how to skillfully practice the Incrementalist principles to do the right things, in the right way, at the right time – even when you feel unmotivated or uninspired.
    If you buy it, read it, and enjoy it, please recommend it to others and post a 5-star customer review on Amazon! Your support goes a long way in encouraging more readers to check it out and benefit from it as well.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFHYHGFZ(Pros: lowest price for readers and readily available on Kindle)
    https://leanpub.com/incrementalist(Pros: price flexibility for readers and 60-day money back guarantee)
    To learn more about how to get a Leanpub book on your Kindle, or into the Kindle app on your phone or tablet, go to: How do I get Leanpub books on my Kindle, or into the Kindle app on my phone or tablet? | Leanpub Help Center
    Watch the video, Turn your hard efforts into easier steps, on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.
    Website: http://www.dyanwilliams.com/
    Subscribe to e-newsletter at: https://bit.ly/3J9EbsD
    Theme Music by: Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album – Olemus; Song – La Nieve. 

    • 3 min
    Making Decisions When You Don't Know What to Do

    Making Decisions When You Don't Know What to Do

    Uncertain outcomes and imperfect data make it tougher to decide. A decision starts with a choice, which is an opportunity to select from two or more options. A decision is cutting off options and narrowing it down to just one. This is harder to do in novel, high-stakes situations.
    In episode 63 of The Incrementalist, you will learn how to make better decisions in the face of uncertainty:
    1. Understand that decision making starts with knowing what you really want. Go with thick desires, instead of thin desires. 2. Find out where you are on the Social Behavior Map in decision making. 3. Embrace Wicked Learning Environments.4. Create Kinder Learning Environments.5. Consider the need for certainty as a pitfall in decision making. 
    Watch the video, Making Decisions When You Don't Know What to Do on our YouTube channel, The Incrementalist - A Productivity Show.
    Theme Music by:Sebastian Brian Mehr. Album –  Olemus; Song – La Nieve 
    Check out the book: The Incrementalist, A Simple Productivity System to Create Big Results in Small StepsEmail: dyan@dyanwilliams.comVisit website: www.dyanwilliams.com

    • 16 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

maralinaraqs ,

Dyan is a friendly, non-judgmental, wise voice of encouragement!

Like Dyan, the podcast creator, I am a lawyer. Like many lawyers, and like many people from all professions who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I suffer from lack of motivation, stress, anxiety, and procrastination - all of which affect my productivity and my general quality of life. Today I listened to Dyan’s podcast on Procrastination (while I was procrastinating working on an important project 😅), and her advice truly helped me to see things more clearly, to not blame myself, and to feel happy and confident about taking the next step that I need to do. I’m excited to listen to her other podcasts and I think of it as a form of valuable Self-Care! Bonus points: Dyan’s content is meticulously researched, and she shares her citations to professors and mental health experts; her podcasts and written descriptions are well-organized and easy to follow; and she has a pleasant speaking voice and excellent, professional audio quality to her recordings. I would rate this podcast 10 stars ⭐️ if I could!

Kat needs Space ,

Everyday advice for the working mom with big dreams

I love the high performance advice. I really do. But it’s usually from dudes who have no kids or a lot help with their family.

I have big dreams AND recognize that my family is my dream come true. How do I manage both ?? Dyan and her Incrementalist advice helps you have both. Your dreams come true while stretching towards those on the horizon.

Dyan has real advice that’s easy to put into action for the everyday human. She’s the real deal

Graham O-B ,

Helpful and practical!

The Incrementalist podcast has lots of helpful ideas and concrete practical suggestions for how to move in the direction of your goals. I have been trying to make a more disciplined writing practice part of my already very busy life, and Dyan provided lots of ideas in The Incrementalist that have helped me move in the right direction and to prioritize my creative goals. Highly recommended!

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