Back To Work

TOPIC: Modern Media Management: iTunes Match This week Dan and Merlin begin a 3-part series on Modern Media Management: handling your iTunes Library, iOS Devices, and iTunes Match without making yourself crazy. In this episode, they cover setting up and using iTunes Match, being safe and paranoid, what to do after you get the iTunes ping, some smart playlists that will help you exclude kwanzaa music, find stuff you don't want to listen to, and maintain your sanity. Next episode they'll discuss wrangling metadata and smart playlists. Then in the last episode of the series, they'll cover managing the libraries on your devices and some grab bag stuff. Links for this episode:Pokemann - Check out this 8bit version of Plica Plica that...iTunes Store: Subscribing to iTunes MatchDealing with iTunes Match's 25,000 Track Limit | MacworldApple - iCloud - All your content on all your devices.Apple - iTunes - Match[SPONSOR] Squarespace (use offer code `NICE` for an additional 10% off)5by5 | Back to Work #41: Carpa

TOPIC: Creative Costumes vs. Pushing Out Product This week Dan and Merlin talk about how the legends and mythologies around creative people and beautiful losers can become such a destructive MacGuffin for us aspiring civilians. Getting gakked out on Hunter S. Thompson's cocaine and buying Sylvia Plath's oven are unlikely to take you anyplace useful, interesting, or…creative. Also: "BRIANMICHAELBENDIS!" Links for this episode:List of Spider-Man Comics in Order to Amazing Spider-Man #700Template 1.2.0 · neocoticDaredevil Visionaries - Frank Miller, Vol. 2: Frank Miller: 9780785107712: Amazon.com: BooksNerdist Podcast: Warren Ellis « NerdistSpider-Man Read Order[SPONSOR] Shutterstock [SPONSOR] Frank & Oak How to Start Reading Avengers Comics!Amazon.com: Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human (9780812981384): Grant Morrison: BooksMarvels: Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross: 9780785142867: Amazon.com: BooksSpider-Man: Big Time - Wikipedia, th

TOPIC: Those New Years When We're Not Actually Resolved. This week, Merlin and Dan step back from resolutions and shooting yourself in the face with a wrist rocket to talk about what you're actually trying to change. You're failing and feeling bad and eating a whole bag of cookies because you're resolving to be someone you're not (yet). What are you really trying to address? Are you being honest with yourself? Where do you actually start? Find the real reasons, build a real infrastructure, and build yourself a real habit. Links for this episode:Loyalty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[SPONSOR] Squarespace(use offer code `NICE` for an additional 10% off) [SPONSOR] Frank & Oak(use code `BACKTOWORK10` for 10% off your first purchase) Ep. 21: "Dead Rubber Girl in My Closet" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThousandfold: Some podcast fan art. Love me some 5by5Make a Given Wish | You Look Nice Today5by5 | The Comic Shack #23: Lying Cat is My Spirit AnimalAmazon.com: Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Un

TOPIC: Yes. The caller is there. This week, in celebration of their hundredth episode, Dan and Merlin do the first call-in episode of Back to Work. A bevy of the beloved jackals and nerds ask questions about GTD, creative autonomy, sleep and energy, interpersonal work communications, moving up at work, self-publishing, finding your rabbi, Marines, X-Men, and more. Links for this episode:Amazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (9780142000281): David Allen: BooksAstonishing X-Men By Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Ultimate Collection - Book 1: Joss Whedon, John Cassaday: 9780785161943: Amazon.com: BooksAstonishing X-Men, Vol. 4: Unstoppable: Joss Whedon, John Cassaday: 9780785122548: Amazon.com: BooksAstonishing X-Men By Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Ultimate Collection Book 2: Joss Whedon, John Cassaday: 9780785161950: Amazon.com: Books5by5 | The Comic Shack5by5 | Quit!Zita the Spacegirl: Ben Hatke: 9781596434462: Amazon.com: BooksBird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and

TOPIC: Troubleshooting for Saner GTD This week, Dan and Merlin wrap up their epic summer crossover series on David Allen's book Getting Things Done, focusing on the trouble spots, hang-ups, and occasional rat holes that people often encounter in implementing and maintaining their GTD system. Links for this episode:Saga #1 - Comics by comiXology [Get it FREE!!!][Huffduffer MP3] Productive Talk Compilation: 8-episode podcast with GTD's David Allen (2006)5by5 | The Frequency #45: Something of a Hipster GeekDoes this "next action" belong someplace else? | 43 FoldersMental dialogues, yak-shaving & the triumph of the 'mini-review' | 43 Folders[SPONSOR] OmniFocus 2 Debut[SPONSOR] Email Marketing and Email List Manager | MailChimpProductive Talk Compilation: 8-episode podcast with GTD's David Allen | 43 FoldersAmazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (9780142000281): David Allen: BooksFractal Implementation, or, On the Dangers of David Allen's Finge

TOPIC: Working Getting Things Done to stay current, complete, and creative. This week, Dan and Merlin continue their discussion of David Allen's Getting Things Done system. Learning how to leverage GTD's modality to firewall time for guilt-free creative work. Links for this episode:5by5 | Back to Work #95: She's Five for a Living5by5 | Back to Work #96: Compensatory Muscles5by5 | Back to Work #97: Pope of the OfficeDavid Allen, Getting Things Done® and GTD®About GTD | David Allen, Getting Things Done® and GTD®Getting Things Done - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaGettingThingsDone - MineZone WikiGetting things done : the art of stress-free productivity (Book, 2001) [WorldCat.org]Getting started with "Getting Things Done" | 43 FoldersTrigger List - 43FoldersWikiCollectorz.com Connect: merlinmann: My ComicsAll New X-Men #1C in merlinmann's Comic Collector Connect collectionSkottie Young (on Tumblr)FF, Vol. 2 #1A - Parts of a Hole in merlinmann's Comic Collector Connect collection[SPONS

TOPIC: Using GTD to sanely and intelligently decide what to do, and when, and where. This week, Dan and Merlin continue their discussion of David Allen's Getting Things Done system. Hopping over the basic workflow and setup (you'll definitely need the book for that), this is all about doing—leveraging the horizontal and vertical axes of GTD to intuitively choose exactly the right task at any given moment. Regardless of interruptions, regardless of unexpected change, and regardless of what you're mindfully not doing. David Allen calls GTD, "The Art of Stress-Free Productivity," and this is the episode where you'll find out how having put this system in place can yield astronomical improvements in how your actual things get done. Also included: a teaser for January's "iTunes management" series, plus recommendations for the three best comic series Merlin read this week. Links for this episode:Getting Things Done - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaGetting Things Done is a book by productivity consultant David

TOPIC: A Better System for Dealing with Life's "Stuff" This week, Dan and Merlin continue their discussion of David Allen's book, Getting Things Done. Links for this episode:Fractal Implementation, or, On the Dangers of David Allen's Finger | 43 FoldersBeginner's Mind, Metropolis, and all our unnecessary parts | 43 FoldersAmazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (9780142000281): David Allen: BooksGetting started with "Getting Things Done" | 43 FoldersMac App Store - Flycut (Clipboard manager)Theatrical superstitions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAbout GTD | David Allen, Getting Things Done® and GTD®WorldCat.org: The World's Largest Library Catalogkung fu grippe • 67 Points of Articulation. [Merlin's Amazing Spider-Man]Life Hacks: Tech Secrets of Overprolific Alpha Geeks (11 February, 2004)Notes from Danny's session at O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference; 11 February, 2004; San Diego, CA [SPONSOR] Ting[SPONSOR] Studio Neat5by5 | Back to Work #

TOPIC: Intro to David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” This week, Dan and Merlin start a long-overdue three-part storyline on David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done.[1] How do you unwad that giant crapball of stuff you call a life? The answer is simple, but it’s not so easy. You need a trusted system in which to collect, process, review, and—yes—do all the things that matter. Getting Things Done is inarguably one of the best and most influential self-help books of all time for a good reason: it’s a candid, realistic, and painfully honest way to get out of your hole, and then stay out. This week, we start with the philosophical and psychological underpinnings of GTD, as well as the myriad and thorny problems it can help you address. So, pick up your own copy of GTD, read it through, then join us for a detailed tour of the system that changed Merlin’s game and helped jumpstart his online career. ©DavidCo, 2001.  ↩ Links for this episode:Am

TOPIC: How to be a proper list-maker This week, Dan and Merlin discuss the pros and cons of lighting your environment properly, how we fall into bad list making habits and how to solve these issues. Also, Merlin makes some sounds for your enjoyment. Links for this episode:New Business Templates: Aviator and Devlin — The Official Squarespace Blog5by5 | The Conversation #27: Missionless StatementsHammock Stock Photos, Hammock Stock Photography, Hammock Stock Images : Shutterstock.comAmazon.com: Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device: Health & Personal CareShutterstock (use code "dansentme10" for 30% off), Ting ($50 off your first device for Back to Work listeners), and Squarespace (use code "broastedbird" for 10% off).

TOPIC: Florida, Education, and Peaking This week, Dan and Merlin continue their purging personal odyssey through the state of Florida. Isolation, education, and a parting admonition not to throw your cap in the air. Also, for the comic nerds, Merlin recommends checking out the exciting new stuff happening with "Marvel NOW!" Links for this episode:Superheroes Stock Photos, Superheroes Stock Photography, Superheroes Stock Images : Shutterstock.comkung fu grippe • I ? My Freezer Door I’m a lucky little man.kung fu grippe • In Which We Literally Marvel This is part...Shutterstock: Merlin's "Superheroes" LightboxSuperheroes : Shutterstock Stock PhotographyHow To Pitch With TextExpanderMarvel NOW! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMarvel Now | Comics | Marvel.comBrian Posehn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAvengers vs. X-Men: Collected Edition - Comics by comiXologyAVX: Consequences Digital Comics - Comics by comiXologyAmazon.com: Spider-Man 2: The Movie - 18" AMAZING SPIDER-MAN SUPER POSEAB

TOPIC: Florida. Hinted at since Episode 1—and repeatedly threatened nearly every week since—here, at last: The Florida Episode. The heat, the driving, the isolation, the driving, the white driveways, the early-bird specials, the menacing parking-lot violence, the driving, the people, the stop lights, the gates, the urology clinics, the driving, the short pants, the driving, and much MUCH more. In part one of what will surely be an epic, multi-episode arc, Dan and Merlin finally start coming to terms with their undistinguished youths in the Sunshine State. Links for this episode:Google MapsPublix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWinn-Dixie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFlorida Stock Photos, Florida Stock Photography, Florida Stock Images : Shutterstock.comLaissez-faire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaLittle Boxes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaNew Google Search App With Siri-Like Voice Responses Finally Approved For iOSGuayabera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaEdward Scissorhands - Wikipedia, th

TOPIC: The tech you want, and the tech you can live with. On our second Last Show Ever™, Merlin and Dan talk about parenting, Gatsby hats, note taking and sharing, the Techno-Organic virus, and more. Links for this episode:kung fu grippe • Features: Our Gatsby Summer Afternoon - Nested...Our Gatsby Group | Flickr - Photo Sharing!Mr. Mann & the Girls | Flickr - Photo Sharing!Techno-organic virus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWarlock (New Mutants) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaSnapseed | Snap it. Tweak it. Love it. Share it.Nebulous NotesSponsored by Squarespace and Hover. Use code "DANSENTME" for 10% off.

TOPIC: Sleep and How to Get It This week, Dan and Merlin talk about sleep—why we need it, why most of us don't get enough of it, and why we all strain to find a million excuses for perpetually walking around like a sad zombie. Chock-a-block with painful personal anecdotes, horrible cautionary tales, and scary hand-waving about Recent Medical Science, your hosts make their best case for taking your own sleep more seriously. Now. Also, loaded with tips on how to sleep better, with a heavy emphasis on a wonderful iOS app called, "Sleep Cycle." Pretty good for our last episode. (Guys, we were kidding! KIDDING!) Links for this episode:Turn your iPhone into a cough button - Brett TerpstraMonte Cristo sandwich - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaSleep Cycle alarm clockf.lux: software to make your life betterDan Benjamin vs Sarlacc PitThe Walking Dead,Book One (Book 1): Robert Kirkman,Tony Moore,Charlie Adlard,Cliff Rathburn: 9781582406190: Amazon.com: BooksMarvel Now | Comics | Marvel.comWatchmen: Alan Moore,Dave

TOPIC: Programming Your Kid's Danger Room. This week, Dan and Merlin discuss the parenthood racket: the advice and expectations, the doubt and the fear, the assessment, the concentric circles, the snow cones. Parenting means programming a Danger Room that teaches you and the kid to handle the hovering, the hitting, the losing, and the play structure. Links for this episode:Shmuel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe name is Bond. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!At the playground (ya know?)Hippie | Flickr - Photo Sharing!The Author at Work | Flickr - Photo Sharing![SPONSOR] iOS Engineering - Mutual Mobile[SPONSOR] Build a Website - Squarespace 6[SPONSOR] Stock Photos and Royalty-Free Images by Subscription - Shutterstock[SPONSOR] Hover - domain name and email management made simpleEp. 51: "In Pursuit of an Errant Leaf" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannTwitter / danbenjamin: GF dining in NYC at L'Asso ...Hop 'n Play Kids Indoor Playground in Tanforan Shopping Center (San Bruno, CA)"The S

TOPIC: Finding Grit. This week, Dan and Merlin return to a popular topic from last week: grit. Why is it we stick with some things but totally abandon so many others? Why'd Merlin give up on learning "Little Brown Jug" on the trombone, then double-down on nailing "Pinball Wizard" on guitar? How come Dan got so good at programming, but can't kick a damned football to save his life? Is there a framework for understanding why we remember hit points, don't travel, can't draw, and forget why every good boy deserves fudge? Along the way, Merlin accidentally—grudgingly—reveals that he actually knows things about sportsball, Dan breaks down the exhilarating rewards of immediate feedback, and both hosts wonder how Mariano Rivera can keep his cool after giving up a two-run homer. Also, there's a pseudo-interesting rathole on why Merlin may or may not start spending more time with App.net. Links for this episode:New Squarespace 6 Template: DovetailNew Squarespace 6 Template: FiveCharacter Strengths and Virtues: A Ha

TOPIC: Grit, Confidence, and Intuition. This week, Dan and Merlin begin a conversation on what researchers and educators are learning about why students of all ages do or don't succeed. Yes, it's about intelligence and other cognitive skills, but it's also about tenacity, courage, self-restraint, and resolve. It's really about grit. See our show notes for lots of links to the stuff that inspired our topic, but definitely tune in for Merlin's slight addendum to the formula: mixing in our growing confidence in our own intuition. Links for this episode:Back to School | This American LifeWhat if the Secret to Success Is Failure? - NYTimes.comkung fu grippe • [MP3] Back to School | This American Life ...TwitterHow Children Succeed: Grit,Curiosity,and the Hidden Power of Character: Paul Tough: 9780547564654: Amazon.com: BooksPaul Tough - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWhat Makes a Good Teacher? - NYTimes.com‘How Children Succeed,’ by Paul Tough - NYTimes.comAmazon.com: Seven (Single Disc Edition): Brad Pitt, Mo

TOPIC: Anxious about the Change This week Merlin updates Dan about his schedule changes. They're going to come, but it's probably the anxiety, not the change, that is the problem. Take heart, it may be the change that you need. While you're at it, take the opportunity to plan your buffers and ramp up times. Your schedule will work better, your vacation may be less stressful, your pie will stay alive. Bonus: Dan and Merlin's comic book recommendations for new readers. Links for this episode:Squarespace Service Updates - Service BlogSquarespace Developer CenterHome - Back to WorkWiki - Back to Workkung fu grippe • Just in terms of a little background. Catching...Now, don't take this the wrong way...Back to School | This American LifeWhat if the Secret to Success Is Failure? - NYTimes.comFeedburner, Reader and Google's PrioritiesAstonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted: Joss Whedon,John Cassaday: 9780785115311: Amazon.com: BooksAstonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted - Comics by comiXologyMerlin’s Squarespace 6 Bl

TOPIC: One Operational Paper Towel; One Safety Paper Towel. This week, Dan and Merlin discuss how to use a public restroom. There's some other stuff, too. But, yeah. Mostly Dan and Merlin discuss how to use a public restroom. Links for this episode:Flickr: The 5by5 PoolRoderick on the Line • Roderick on the Line Ep. 48 Trailer - “Wherever...Twitter / nebulousapps: Just submitted Nebulous Notes ...Nebulous Notes 6.0 Features - Pastebin.comSandwich Videolonelysandwichchit - WiktionaryDyson Airblade™ hand dryerThe Aviator towel scene - YouTubeHoward Hughes - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - YouTubeHow to Use a Public Restroom: 12 steps - wikiHowCleanliness and Hygiene in Public Restrooms - Tork Experts on Designing Spaces - YouTubeBathroom Hygeine Guide, Tips About Bathroom Germs, Bathroom Cleanliness TipPublic toilet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaKick procrastination's ass: Run a dash | 43 FoldersThe Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play: Neil Fiore

TOPIC: Superpowers, Madness, and the Pursuit of Interesting Problems Dan and Merlin talk about the superpowers you have and can't control as well as the demons and drivers that our heroes have and can't control. How sometimes we find ourselves craving the screaming in someone else's head. Because, we surely do love and revere our Beautiful Losers and Genius Lunatics. Entered into evidence: Hunter S. Thompson, The Incredible Hulk, Sylvia Plath, Brian Wilson, Nightcrawler, Van Gogh, Syd Barrett, Tom Waits, Robert Lowell, Howard Hughes, and Corporate Stooges (n.b.: Dan said that; not Merlin). The upshot? Try not to get too obsessed with someone else's ether in the convertible or, for that matter, the cake in your own conference room. Get excited about constantly releasing that "better version of yourself"—and make the world a happy beneficiary of your own particular madness. Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] PDFpen for iPad: PDF Editing Software for Mac iOSEfficiency Ninja Part 3: A Tablet, a Stylus, a Man, a