Hi !

Now that I've massively simplified my operations I've been able to get back to focusing on what I love most about Less Doing, creating great content that helps people become more effective. When I began Less Doing, it was a blog on the now defunct platform, Posterous and really started out as a bunch of productivity hacks and software tips and tricks. In fact, the very first live class I ever taught was just me sharing 10 cool apps and the unique ways I was using them. I've always been good at processing a lot of information, scouring the web, podcasts, magazines, etc... for the most useful tech out there, but my real talent, in my opinion, has always been in my ability to "connect the dots."

I can't think of a time where I've discovered a new service or tool and followed the instructions on how to use it. Like when I used machine learning algorithms to identify and pitch relevant press opportunities, or how I automated a hiring process using Trello and Zapier to successfully hire over 100 people in 6 months with 2% turnover. I just tend to see things differently.

A few months ago I effectively shutdown Less Doing, disbanded the team, cancelled events, and decided to go back to offering 1 to 1 coaching. High level, private, individual coaching. The exact opposite of what you're supposed to do when you want to scale a business right? Well, as usual...

I started offering my coaching services...asynchronously. That means, no phone calls, no meetings, no zoom sessions. Every bit of communication with my clients is done through the exchange of voice messages using my favorite app, Voxer. It was an experiment, and the experiment WORKED!!! I currently work, intimately, focused, and effectively with 12 clients, and I don't have a single call on my calendar. What started off as a way of working more conveniently for me, became the most effective form of coaching I've ever seen. I became the coach in your pocket. Many of my clients send me messages multiple times per day, when they are in the trenches, and their challenges are fresh. I get the chance to digest, ponder, research, and respond with the 2 minute answer they need instead of waiting 3 days to get on a 45 minute call, and wasting 43 of those minutes. I realized that my clients didn't need more time with me, they just needed the right time with me. They needed access to an advisor, a second opinion, or just a place to rant, and this little space called asynchronous communication bridged that gap. Suddenly, we could accomplish more in 90 seconds then we might have been able to accomplish in hours of synchronous meetings.

This email is supposed to inform, entertain, inspire new ideas, it's not a lead magnet to get you to ask me for more info. If you want to know how the coaching works, here's the fine print.

$10,000 for 6 months of unlimited Voxer access to me

That's it, if you're interested, Vox Me. If you're not, consider how you might do more of your current communication, asynchronously.

The other big piece of news on the content front is that I announced the "sunset" of the Less Doing podcast, you can hear the details in this episode. I've got about 35 episodes left and I'm planning a couple of fun interviews. The final, 500th episode will be a reading of a thesis on productivity I've been working on for a few weeks (in terms of words on a page) but really, it's the culmination of my lifes work on productivity.

On Productivity...that's the name of this "little project" that started out as an essay and has turned into a 20,000 word behemoth. This is going to be my final treatise and definitive opus on what it takes to be the most effective human being and business owner possible. Just for fun, I'm in talks with a few traditionally publishing houses about making this book, the final word on productivity.

I've really doubled down on my volunteer EMT work this past year. I work with both the East Clinton Rescue Squad in the Hudson Valley where I'm on call 24/7 as one of three EMTs for the whole town. I've seen car accidents, cardiac problems, fallen children, drug overdose, suspected COVID patients, and pretty much everything in between. It's been the most thrilling and rewarding experience of my life. It's hard to describe, or compare anything else to the feeling of getting woken up in the middle of the night, to go somewhere you've never been before, to help someone you've never met, at what may be the worst moment of the entire life. Additionally, I've been working with the Central Park Medical Unit and a couple weeks ago during the snowstorm, we got activated by the FDNY and our first call of the night was a traumatic cardiac arrest that had me on top of a scaffolding, doing CPR in the snow. The work I do as an EMT is incredibly special to me, that's the best way I can put it.

Lastly, I've been having a lot of fun with Instagram stories, mainly sharing those technology finds I come across on a daily basis. It's the only place I share them but I thought I would summarize them here for your enjoyment. These run the gambit of apps, physical tools, consumer tech, anything that I think could make you more effective. These are some of the links from the past couple of weeks.

• Make Your Car Faster, Right Now
• Portable Shower
• My New Probiotic of Choice
• Best Firestarter
• Thermal Imaging With Your Phone
• Compost Under Your Sink in 48 Hours
• WOW Cube
• This Tape is Strong AND Waterproof

I'd love you're feedback on this newsletter. I plan to do this once a month, please hit reply and tell me what you thought or what you'd like to see more of.

Make it an effective day!

Ari