Focusmate Founder Taylor Jacobson on Distraction Free Productivity

Converge: The Business of Creativity Podcast with Dane Sanders

Focusmate is all about distraction-free productivity. As a creative entrepreneur, you often get pulled away from your work because of the other things you need to do to keep your business running.

Taylor founded the company on the principle that working with others and being “held accountable” for your productivity leads to improved work. And it took off. As the company’s popularity rose, Taylor found himself in the same position as his clients.

Today, we talk about the rise of Focusmate and what it really takes to prioritize properly.

Check out more at https://www.focusmate.com/ and create a free account to get a taste of enhanced productivity thanks to a “live” co-worker. You can also find him on LinkedIn on Twitter.

TIMELINE:

[1:20] The history of caring about humans and creating better lives for everyone- of “getting out of our own way.”

[6:25] Something to offer in a world with need. Productivity is more than just tools and techniques. It’s filling in the gaps with a human connection and understanding our differences.

[10:15] We want to look at the tools and duplicate them, but life is messier than that.

[11:45] Working in a corporate environment showed Taylor that lacking support meant a lack of performance. It informed his ideals of coming together to be better humans.

[14:47] Focusmate came from perseverance and luck. It connects the focus comradery that the service offers.

[19:27] While the press and interest have certainly gone up, Taylor thinks of it as a welcoming party for those discovering the benefits of Focusmate. Creating a great remote experience is crucial now more than ever.

[22:40] COVID has opened up a window to vulnerability, and it’s stripped away a lot of norms and status quos.

[25:05] Mental health and remote work have an interesting relationship. The challenge of learning these new life skills, especially through a pandemic, is something that we’re all dealing with.

[28:16] Understanding where you work best is crucial. How do you respond to working remotely? It can be a huge struggle for some, and it’s important to know what works for you and ask for it.

[31:20] Now is when employers must make a paradigm shift. We need to shake things up. We’ve never had more permission to do so than now