Get-It-Done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More

581. Running all-out all the time is the sure path to burnout. Productivity happens when you know how to use your energy wisely.Summer Saturdays: Best of QDT Encore Episode: This episode originally aired January 2020.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

905. Everyone's maxxing something now. Their sleep, their skin, their fiber, even their jawline. But underneath the ring lights, each of these trends is quietly teaching a real principle about getting better at something. This week, Rachel Cooke builds the trend nobody's named yet, successmaxxing, by stealing the smartest lesson from five maxxing trends and pointing it straight at your career.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

904. Most of us define productivity as doing more, faster — but when budgets shrink and the path forward gets murky, speed turns into a liability. Rachel shares five ways to boost your productivity during uncertain times, including how to make faster decisions, avoid duplicating work your team's already doing, and judge your choices by your process instead of the outcome — a trap that poker pro and decision expert Annie Duke calls “resulting.”Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

903. Most teams have mastered pushing hard. Some are even getting better at rest. But there's a third thing — the active recovery phase — that almost no one is protecting time for, and it's the one that turns raw effort into real capability. Rachel introduces the Breathing Room: a standing block on the calendar built not for output, but for reflection, after-action reviews, and solving hard problems together. Here's why it keeps getting cancelled, and five specific ways to use it when you don't.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

902. We already know what's slowing us down at work — too many priorities, meetings that go nowhere, no space to experiment, and processes that create drag on everything. So why aren't we fixing any of it? Rachel breaks down why we stay frozen on problems we could actually solve, and how to find the one move between all and nothing that finally gets things moving. Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can small habit changes really lead to a more productive, focused, and happy life? They can! Author and podcaster Jeff Sanders's shares his secrets to forming habits that lead to success.Encore Episode: Episode 598 originally aired May 2020Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

901. Three challenges showing up in organizations everywhere right now. Rachel shares what she's hearing, what she's designing, and what's actually helping teams move.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every job is a perfect fit, but that doesn't mean you can't love the one you're with. Your job can be a whole lot more than just a means to a paycheck.Encore Episode: This episode originally aired in February of 2020.Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows: www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcastsJOIN THE CONVERSATION:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/Newsletter: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentorModern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

900. Graduating into uncertainty isn't new. Every generation has done it. Rachel shares five pieces of career advice she wishes someone had handed her on the way out the door.Expert advice for navigating life after graduation — for new grads and the people cheering them on. From finances and freelancing to nutrition and knowing when to ask for help, find it all in our "Life After Graduation" playlist on Spotify.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

899. Two listeners wrote in this month asking how to make sense of a temporary leadership stint. Rachel shares five practices for turning a short employment stretch into a meaningful career chapter, both for the team you're leading and the version of you who walks out the other side.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

898. We're drowning in information, advice, and self-help — so why do we still feel stuck? Returning guest Nir Eyal, author of the new bestseller "Beyond Belief," explains the motivation triangle most people are missing and why your brain is actively working against change. In a rare unscripted moment, Nir walks Rachel through an inquiry-based coaching exercise that surfaces a limiting belief she's been carrying for decades — and the conversation takes a turn neither of them expected.Nir Eyal's book, "Beyond Belief"Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Find more from Rachel at LeadAboveNoise.com.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

897. AI is changing work fast — but some capabilities remain deeply human. This week, Rachel Cooke breaks down five things AI still can't do well, from reading a room to knowing your stakeholders, and explains how to turn those into your professional edge. If you've been anxious about AI replacing your job, this episode reframes what to actually focus on.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

896. Leaders right now are working hard, caring deeply and still coming up short. And some of what they're doing is quietly working against them. In this episode, Rachel delivers a tough love letter to the leaders she’s coaching, calling out four patterns that are quietly undermining performance, energy and trust. If something at work isn’t working, this one’s for you.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

895. Is your team "going through the motions"? Before you reach for another inspirational speech, Rachel Cooke has a reality check: Inspiration is not the antidote to a motivation crisis.In this episode, Rachel introduces the concept of "Motivational Gaslighting"—the trap leaders fall into when they use empty enthusiasm to mask systemic exhaustion. If engagement is tanking, it’s not an attitude problem; it’s an environment problem.In this episode, you’ll learn:The 5 real killers of motivation: Why uncertainty, workplace loneliness, and invisible progress are draining your team’s tank.Safety over stoke: How to provide stability and direction when AI, the economy, and shifting priorities feel like a constant threat.The loneliness loop: Why "collaborating" on Slack isn't the same as "connecting," and how to fix it without adding more meetings.The "gap vs. the gain": Using a simple psychological shift to give your team concrete proof that their work is actually working.Energy audits: How to identify and kill the "meaningless work" and bureaucracy that empty your team’s reserves.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

894. Trying to convince a senior leader or stakeholder to see things your way can be frustrating, especially when your data and logic don't land. In 2026, human-centered leadership means moving past traditional arguments and leaning into emotional intelligence and sensemaking to find common ground.In this episode, Rachel shares five proven strategies for strategic prioritization and effective persuasion drawn from a real-world executive coaching engagement. You will learn how to escape the expertise trap, build a coalition of partners, and navigate organizational dysfunction without triggering burnout. These adaptive leadership tools will help you secure the "yes" you need while keeping your work-life integration intact.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

893. Most workplace crises didn't have to be crises—they started small, stayed hidden, and grew. In this episode, Rachel Cooke explains why "firefighting" has become the corporate norm and how leaders can break the cycle. Learn how to build a monthly "slightly-off" conversation into your team's rhythm and why the "don’t bring me a problem without a solution" rule is actually sabotaging your results. Discover 5 practical ways to find problems while they’re still cheap and easy to fix.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

892. Is your team missing targets, dropping the ball, or responding to missed deadlines with a shrug?Many leaders believe accountability is a personality trait—you either have it or you don’t. But in reality, accountability is a design problem. When ownership is lacking, it’s usually because the "work design" itself is getting in the way.In this episode, Rachel shares a case study of a pharmaceutical manufacturer where low accountability wasn't just a frustration, it was a safety risk. You’ll learn the results of a real-world "work design pulse check" and the five simple, high-impact tweaks that transformed a culture of "oh well" into a culture of "I’ve got this."Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

891. At work we're constantly placing bets on uncertain outcomes, which projects to prioritize and which risks to take. But most of us never think about how to improve our odds. Today Rachel shares five “cheat codes,” simple, high-impact practices that give you a massive advantage before things go sideways. From running a "premortem" to flush out hidden risks to using a "stinky fish" exercise to surface team anxieties, learn how to anticipate problems before they become crises. Whether you're a team lead or a solo contributor, these tactics will help you work better by design and give your career a few "extra lives."Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app or QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

890. Are your teams clashing instead of collaborating? When balls are dropped and fingers are pointed, the problem usually isn’t your people—it’s your work design. If your team is "crushing it" but still missing goals, your productivity is being throttled by a lack of alignment.In this episode, Rachel explains why "cascading" directives without cross-functional alignment creates organizational chaos. Using a real-world biotech case study, she reveals how to move from team silos to a high-performing system where productivity and well-being thrive together.You’ll learn how to:Align leadership layers before deploying goals to prevent conflicting incentives.Shift from "demanding" to "inviting" to unlock hidden cross-team productivity.Turn daily workflows into employee development opportunities without adding more meetings.Stop blaming the people and start looking at the system. Learn how to Work Better By Design to drive sustainable results.Modern Mentor is a Quick and Dirty Tips Podcast, hosted by Rachel Cooke!Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email: modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com Discover more from Modern Mentor!FacebookLinkedInNewsletterTranscripts available on your podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

889. Every organization has dysfunction. And while we should always be working to make things better, we also have to keep moving in the meantime. Rachel shares four practical ways to make real progress, even when the system isn't cooperating.Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke.Have a question for Modern Mentor? Email us at modernmentor@quickanddirtytips.com.Find Modern Mentor on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to the newsletter to get more tips to fuel your professional success.Modern Mentor is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-mentor-podcast/https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/modern-mentor-newsletterhttps://www.facebook.com/QDTModernMentorhttps://twitter.com/QDTModernMentor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.