Advertise on podcast: Film Pro Productivity

AI is everywhere right now, but most of the conversation sits at the extremes. This episode looks at what actually happens when you try to use AI inside a real creative workflow. Based on a year of daily use, this is a practical report on where AI genuinely saves time, where it actively damages creative momentum, and why judgement, process, and human oversight still matter more than efficiency. “AI doesn’t fix incompetence. It amplifies it.” Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “ChatGPT is incredibly limited, but good enough at some things to create a misleading impression of greatness.” – Sam Altman “The model will confidently state things as if they were facts that are entirely made up.” – Sam Altman “A system that cannot reliably explain or justify its behaviour cannot be trusted.” – Judea Pearl “What computers cannot do is understand the meaning of what they manipulate.” – Joseph Weizenbaum “The danger isn’t that machines will start thinking like people. It’s that people will start thinking like machines.” – Jaron Lanier “The best way to predict the future is to invent it – not to automate yourself out of it.” – Alan Kay This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting who have been supplying SAs to the screen and media industry throughout Scotland for over 20 years. We know our people and we know when they’ll fit for you. gbmcasting.co.uk REFERENCES ChatGPT Claude Generative Pre-trained Transformers Context window AI hallucinations Willy’s Chocolate Experience Creative workflow automation  Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Hard work isn’t usually the problem. Unclear thinking is. When ideas are vague, assumptions go unchallenged, and decisions drift, effort multiplies and momentum leaks away. In this episode, I break down five questions that cut through unclear thinking and stop creative work stalling. These aren’t techniques or hacks. They’re tools for pressure-testing ideas, tightening decisions, and reclaiming time that gets burned on confusion. “One clear question, asked at the right moment, can save weeks of wasted work.” Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” – Richard Feynman “Confidence is a feeling, not a measure of accuracy.” – Daniel Kahneman “When you have to prove the value of your ideas by persuading other people to pay for them, it clears out an awful lot of woolly thinking.” – Tim O’Reilly “When the next step is unclear, the best way to figure it out is to take action.” – Scott Belsky “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” – Peter Drucker This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting who have been supplying SAs to the screen and media industry throughout Scotland for over 20 years. We know our people and we know when they’ll fit for you. gbmcasting.co.uk REFERENCES Socratic questioning Clear thinking Decision making Creative productivity Cognitive bias Four Thousand Weeks – Oliver Burkeman Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A This episode includes AI-generated content.

Time isn’t something you manage. It’s something you run out of. And most productivity advice avoids that truth because it’s uncomfortable. In this episode, I break down nine lessons from Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks and look at what finite time really means for creative people. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing better, accepting limits, and focusing on what actually matters while you still can. “You can’t do it all. The real work is deciding what not to do.” Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “You can’t do it all. But you can do what matters.” – Oliver Burkeman “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali “The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people.” – David Foster Wallace “You can do anything, but not everything.” – David Allen “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” – Seneca “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” – Warren Buffett “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” – Alexander Graham Bell “Procrastination is the fear of success.” – Denis Waitley “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself.” – Ralph Marston “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso “Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliot “The key to a good life is not the absence of negativity. It is the ability to navigate it.” – Oliver Burkeman This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting who have been supplying SAs to the screen and media industry throughout Scotland for over 20 years. We know our people and we know when they’ll fit for you. gbmcasting.co.uk REFERENCES Four Thousand Weeks – Oliver Burkeman Time management for mortals Finite time Creative prioritisation Attention and focus Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

When should you push through, and when is quitting the smarter move? This episode looks at Bean Soup Theory, a simple metaphor for why capable people stay stuck in projects that stopped making sense long ago. Using Batgirl as a real-world example, I unpack sunk cost thinking, drift, and why finishing something that’s wrong doesn’t make it right. This is about judgement, not grit, and learning to stop without turning effort into obligation. Finishing something that’s wrong doesn’t make it right. It just makes it finished. Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “Sometimes strength isn’t about perseverance. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to quit.” – Jennifer Donnelly “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt “The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it.” – Henry David Thoreau “When it comes to quitting, the most painful thing to quit is who you are.” – Annie Duke “The sunk cost fallacy is a hell of a drug.” – Dan Olson “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” – William Faulkner This episode is sponsored by GBM Casting who have been supplying SAs to the screen and media industry throughout Scotland for over 20 years. We know our people and we know when they’ll fit for you. gbmcasting.co.uk REFERENCES Sunk cost fallacy Escalation of commitment Loss aversion Bean Soup Theory Batgirl film cancellation Peter Jacobsen – The Daily Economy Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Oversharing can feel like honesty, progress, even connection. But more often than not, it trades short-term relief for long-term problems we don’t see coming. In this episode, I look at why creatives talk too soon, how oversharing leaks power, creates professional risk, and undermines momentum, and why learning to keep your powder dry is one of the most important skills for staying effective long term.  “Oversharing isn’t honesty. It’s often anxiety looking for relief.” Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle Network: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “Say less than you think.” – Baltasar Gracián “Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.” – Dionysius the Elder “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” – Seneca “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” – Will Rogers “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” – Sun Tzu “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed silence.” – Mark Twain “Silence is a true friend who never betrays.” – Confucius THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Christina at SAMH Scottish Action for Mental Health, Scotland’s largest mental health organisation. Now offering walk-in support seven days a week. Find out more at https://www.samh.org.uk/about-us/the-nook REFERENCES Warren Buffett Emotional disclosure research Social sharing of emotion Co-rumination Affect labelling The Art of War Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Busyness feels productive. It isn’t. Most of the time it’s just noise, distraction, and bad yeses stacking up over years. In this episode, I look at why doing more is often the thing that quietly kills creative momentum. Using Warren Buffett as an unlikely guide, I break down six practical lessons about time, restraint, and long-term survivability. This isn’t about money or hustle. It’s about protecting attention, avoiding self-inflicted mistakes, and building a creative life that still works a decade from now.  Busyness often hides uncertainty, not effectiveness. Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” - Warren Buffett “Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” – Michael Porter “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” – Warren Buffett “Never confuse motion with action.” – Benjamin Franklin “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.” – Warren Buffett “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY The McCommitments - The Scottish Saviours of Soul. A celebration of the classic soul music from and Inspired by the iconic movie The Commitments.  Totally Live by an 11 piece band. On tour across Scotland in 2026 www.themccommitments.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/themccommitments REFERENCES Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway Benjamin Franklin Michael Porter FRIENDS OF THE SHOW Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Unfinished business rarely looks dramatic. It looks sensible, cautious, even responsible. But beneath the surface, it quietly drains energy, attention, and belief. In this episode, I unpack why half-finished projects, unresolved endings, and drifting commitments cost far more than we realise. This isn’t about laziness or motivation. It’s about self-protection, disappointment, and how unfinished work reshapes how we think, decide, and create. Trying less isn’t laziness. It’s often a response to being burned too many times. Carter Ferguson LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” William James “Making a movie is like building a house of cards in a wind tunnel.” Terry Gilliam  “Movies don’t get made by inspiration. They get made by solving problems, one after another.” David Fincher “If you want an easy life, don’t make films.” Ken Loach “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” Samuel Johnson “Where there is distraction, there is diminished power.” James Clear “The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” Ernest Hemingway THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY The McCommitments – The Scottish Saviours of Soul. A celebration of the classic soul music from and inspired by the iconic movie  The Commitments. Totally live by an 11-piece band. On tour across Scotland in 2026. www.themccommitments.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/themccommitments REFERENCES The Traitors Your Best Year Yet – Jinny Ditzler The Zeigarnik Effect  Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Why do groups make bad decisions even when everyone involved is intelligent and well-intentioned? This episode uses The Traitors as a pressure test for real human behaviour. By stripping away politeness and certainty, it reveals how trust forms, how beliefs harden, and why productivity often collapses in groups under pressure. The focus isn’t the TV show itself, but what it exposes about information, bias, emotional control, and short-term thinking – and how misunderstanding these patterns quietly drains energy at work and in life. QUOTE  “Productivity collapses when attention shifts from truth to comfort.” Carter Ferguson (Host)  LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle Network: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” Stephen King “The one who controls the narrative controls the group.” Marshall McLuhan “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Aristotle “Where there is fear, there is haste.” Seneca “He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.” Confucius “What is avoided is rarely escaped.” Baltasar Gracián “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.” Jean-Luc Picard THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY Fraser Coull of Silly Wee Films www.copsandmonsters.uk https://www.instagram.com/copsandmonsters?igsh=YWdlaHh4dGczb2s2&utm_source=qr https://www.instagram.com/sillyweefilms?igsh=aGFmNHpudjFnMHBh&utm_source=qr REFERENCES The Traitors (UK & US) Information asymmetry Confirmation bias Group decision-making under uncertainty Emotional regulation and perceived credibility Short-term safety vs long-term trust Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Why does knowing what to do still not translate into doing it? In part two of this two-part series, the focus shifts from diagnosing the intelligence trap to dealing with it. This episode looks at how systems, attention, and environment matter more than motivation or willpower when it comes to sustained productivity. Rather than pushing harder, the episode explores how to redirect intelligence by changing structure, protecting attention, and designing conditions where progress becomes the default instead of a daily fight.  “Motivation is unreliable. Systems are what keep work moving when energy drops.” Carter Ferguson (Host)   LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle Network: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg  QUOTES “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” Stephen King “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear “Your focus determines your reality.” George Lucas “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle “Success is the product of daily habits, not once-in-a-lifetime transformations.” James Clear “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent van Gogh THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY JAMES MCCREADIE & DEBBIE MAY REFERENCES The Science of Intelligent Achievement – Isaiah Hankel Deep Work – Cal Newport Systems over motivation Attention as the primary bottleneck Environment shaping behaviour Habits and structural change Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Why do smart, capable people struggle to follow through? In part one of a two-part series, this episode looks at the intelligence trap - the way thinking, analysis, and complexity can quietly replace action. Drawing on ideas from Isaiah Hankel and real creative experience, it explores how depleted mental energy, busyness, and fragmented attention undermine productivity, even when motivation and ability are high. This episode isn’t about fixing anything yet. It’s about noticing what drains your energy, what work expands when focus collapses, and how intelligence can start working against progress instead of supporting it.  “Smart people don’t stall because they lack discipline. They stall because they see too much.” Carter Ferguson  LINKS Official website: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity Contact: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact Indie Film Hustle Network: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES “Being intelligent doesn’t automatically make you effective.” Isaiah Hankel “Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.” Cal Newport “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” David Allen “The key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Stephen Covey “What we call interruptions are really the enemy of deep thought.” Herbert Simon “What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.” Dwight D. Eisenhower “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.” Daniel J. Boorstin THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY JAMES MCCREADIE & DEBBIE MAY REFERENCES The Science of Intelligent Achievement – Isaiah HankelDeep Work – Cal NewportThe intelligence trapFinite mental energyBusyness as avoidanceAttention fragmentationPlease check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby MUSIC & CREDITS A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A Himitsu Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQE Music provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/ahimitsu https://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

In this episode, I explore why finishing creative projects feels so difficult, especially as time, energy, and resources become more limited. Building on the idea of momentum, I introduce the concept of High Impact Actions — small, focused steps that genuinely move work forward instead of draining attention through endless to-do lists. Drawing on insights from thinkers like Cal Newport, Andy Grove, and James Clear, I explain how choosing clarity, leverage, and focus over volume helps creative people manage friction, protect energy, and actually complete the work that matters. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FilmProProdPod FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity CONTACT: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact INDIE FILM HUSTLE: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES: “Vision without execution is hallucination.” — Thomas Edison“Clarity is power.” — James Clear“The tasks with the biggest impact are often the ones we resist most.” — Leo Babauta“Increases the output of others.” — Andy Grove“If you don’t produce, you won’t thrive – no matter how skilled or talented you are.” — Cal Newport“Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.” — Cal Newport“Concentration is the secret of strength.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” — Michael Porter“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” — Walt Disney“Action is the foundational key to all success.” — Pablo Picasso“Done is better than perfect.” — Sheryl Sandberg (referenced)“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” — Peter Drucker----------------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by a terrific supporter and friend of the show Matt Herbert. ----------------------------------------------------------- Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

This episode looks at how toxic people can subtly undermine creative drive. Focusing on subtle human interference rather than platforms or technology, it breaks down a series of toxic archetypes that drain momentum, shut down thinking, and make effort feel risky. The episode explores why productivity collapses in certain environments and why distance, not debate, is often the most effective response. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FilmProProdPod FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity CONTACT: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact INDIE FILM HUSTLE: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES: “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem“Clarity is power.” – James Clear“People who care about tone more than truth usually have a reason.” – Hannah Arendt“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.” – William James“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Sally Berger“Where there is no respect, there is no energy.” – Peter Drucker“Stay away from people who belittle your ambitions.” – Mark Twain----------------------------------------------------------- This epsiode is sponsored by my good friend and long time supporter of the podcast Petra Kolb. Thanks Petra! ----------------------------------------------------------- Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Episode 178A breaks down how LinkedIn is now restricting reach and pushing creators toward paid visibility. It’salso a very quick intro to season 15 which launches on teh 25th January 2026. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FilmProProdPod FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity CONTACT: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact INDIE FILM HUSTLE: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES: The enshittification of platforms isn’t a bug. It’s the business model.” Cory Doctorow“You haven’t failed. Your audience hasn’t vanished. The system has just decided it’s time to charge you.” Carter Ferguson, Film Pro Productivity“If effort no longer matches outcome, you’re not imagining it. That’s pattern recognition.” Carter Ferguson“Posting more won’t fix it. Trying harder won’t fix it. The system is no longer designed to reward that behaviour.” Carter Ferguson“Stop feeding the machine. Downgrade social media to a noticeboard and put your real effort where you have control.” Carter Ferguson“The cost of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” Henry David Thoreau ----------------------------------------------------------- Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

For creatives and freelancers, time and attention are our most valuable resources. In this New Year special, I dig into the idea of enshittification - how online platforms slowly shift from serving users to extracting value from them - and why social media, algorithms, and subscription-based systems are quietly undermining creative focus, ambition, and long-term work. This episode is about recognising the trap that today’s platforms have set, stepping away from systems that no longer serve you, and refocusing your energy on work that actually matters - work that is significant, honest, and genuinely representative of you as a creative. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FilmProProdPod FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity CONTACT: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact INDIE FILM HUSTLE: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES: “The enshittification of platforms is not a bug. It’s the business model.” Cory Doctorow  “When growth becomes impossible, companies turn to extraction, and quality is the first casualty.” Cory Doctorow  “Before long, you’re not making films. You’re making content.” Elliot Grove “When you build on someone else’s platform, you’re building on land you don’t own.” Douglas Rushkoff “The most important thing a creator can do is make something that matters. Everything else is noise.” Cory Doctorow ----------------------------------------------------------- Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST with Stephen Koepfer and Paul Varacchi (etc) THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST with Giles Alderson (etc.) THE HORROR CUT with Stephen Kerr and Gary Hewitt WILDE WORLD with David Wilde FILMMMAKING CONVERSATIONS with Damian Swaby ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Many people unknowingly follow “productivity myths” that hinder their progress rather than help it and you may recognise these myths in your own way of working and behaviour. But don’t worry—I’ll also provide clear, practical steps to replace your unhelpful productivity habits with effective solutions. So, without further ado, let’s get started. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/FilmProProdPod FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/filmproproductivity CONTACT: https://www.filmproproductivity.com/contact INDIE FILM HUSTLE: https://indiefilmhustle.com/ifh-podcast-network-filmmaking-and-screenwriting/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqo0Zld2Lm2lJDpDh3GsuZg QUOTES: You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything. Greg McKeownBeing busy is a form of laziness – lazy thinking and indiscriminate action. Tim Ferriss People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything. Thomas Sowell If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. Russian ProverbMultitasking is the art of messing up several things at once. Steve UzzellYou don’t have to be motivated to be productive. You just have to show up and let discipline take over. James Clear Where there is clarity, there is no room for confusion. Steve MaraboliWhen you know your role in the team, you empower others to play theirs. Simon SinekYour work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great. Steve JobsTHIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:  ----------------------------------------------------------- Please check out my friends shows: FILM FIGHTS WITH FRIENDS PODCAST THE FILMMAKERS PODCAST THE HORROR CUT WILDE WORLD ----------------------------------------------------------- Thanks: A Himitsu Music: Adventures by A HimitsuCommons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...Music released by Argofox https://www.youtu.be/8BXNwnxaVQEMusic provided by Audio Library https://www.youtu.be/MkNeIUgNPQ8 –––Contact the artist: [email protected]://www.facebook.com/ahimitsuhttps://www.twitter.com/ahimitsu1https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A