What if the secret to getting more done has less to do with working harder and more to do with how you focus, handle stress, and rest? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Christian Poensgen, executive coach and co-author of Ultra Productive with Eric Partaker, to look at productivity through a much wider lens. Christian did his PhD on the interplay between stress and performance, and he applies the research to the moments our audience faces every day: preparing for a pitch, following up with a client who went quiet, and protecting time to think when the calendar never stops filling up.

We talk about why so few of us ever reach real deep focus, how to work the edges of the day to carve out that time, and what it looks like to choose what you'll fail at so you can succeed at what matters. Christian explains the difference between stress and anxiety, why each calls for a different response, and a simple breathing technique to use minutes before a high-stakes meeting. We also get into sleep, why seven hours isn't the whole story, and what a rainmaker's ideal day could look like from start to finish.

Topics We Cover in This Episode:

• The 60 to 90 minute daily habit that can double what you get done

• Why a 5 to 9 mindset doesn't mean waking up at 5 a.m.

• What it means to choose what you'll fail at each day

• The hidden cost of replying within five minutes

• How stress and anxiety differ, and why it matters before a big pitch

• Three questions that take the sting out of waiting on a client's reply

• Why seven hours of sleep can still leave you running on empty

• What a high-performing relationship builder's ideal day looks like

If you've been living in back-to-back meetings with no room to think, tune in to learn how to protect your focus, use stress to your advantage, and treat rest as part of the job.

Resources Mentioned:

Preorder Ultra Productive and get 9 free infographics plus a free seat in the Ultra Productive Accelerator: ultraproductive.com

Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianpoensgen/

Alison Wood Brooks Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cracking-the-code-to-great-conversations-with/id1504330338?i=1000686081141

Johnny Miller Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nervous-system-mastery-science-backed-secrets-to-energy/id1504330338?i=1000673961607

100s of Infographics: https://bunnell-idea-group-inc.kit.com/a9d68c6c15

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