43 Folders Review: Productive Talks

In sixth grade, I was the kid whose desk was overflowing with overdue library books and month-old English essays. In college, I often had to sprint back to my dorm room to get a forgotten folder, running shoe, or ID card. And on my 25th birthday, my parents bought me a half-dozen extra car keys because I kept misplacing mine.

My wake-up call came when I was 27 and began freelancing. I learned quickly that if an invoice got lost on a pile on my desk, it didn't get paid. And that a laundry hamper is a horrible place to store a $300 check from a client. In real life, as in sixth-grade essays, neatness and organization count.

I've implemented a few systems since then: automated calendars, bookkeeping software, and electronic folders that hold all my documents securely. Still, I can always use a little more help.

That's when I discovered the 43 Folders podcast, which is (roughly speaking) a productivity podcast. You may know it from the wildly popular blog that's associated with it, but it's been only recently that creator Merlin Mann ramped up the podcast (after a two-year hiatus).

And it's fantastic. There's just a small amount of new stuff on it right now, but the archives are a gold mine. Last week, I listened to an hour-long podcast on how to get my e-mail inbox to zero. It was as though the sky opened up and the sun shone down and heavenly choirs started singing, because the next day I archived the 6,000 e-mails in my inbox and now have a pristine inbox. At 5 p.m. every day, it's so empty that it echoes. Hallelujah. 

I've learned about media diets, figured out when I'm most productive, and how a fresh start can make all the difference. I've even learned how to procrastinate more efficiently. Now that's progress. 

And the host? Well, Merlin's great. He's funny, he's relaxed, and he's got no qualms about taking you to task for your slovenly ways. YOU CAN DO BETTER, he always seems to be saying. And quit making so many damn excuses. He's got a little bit of tough love to him, but not so much that you grow to resent him. Not every podcast is ground-breaking, but even if it's just a heightened form of common sense, his delivery is often precise and motivating enough to get you to actually take action. 

But here's the thing: he doesn't just encourage you  to organize your life so you can get 30 hours of work accomplished in a 24-hour day. Nope, this is about carving out time so you can do what you want—maybe it's art, maybe it's music. Maybe you're part of the 81 percent of Americans who think they've got a book in them. Time saved is time wasted if you don't use it well.

For me, that thing I'm carving out time for is this blog. So if you see more posts, you can thank (or blame) Merlin.

Don't listen to the podcast because you want to find better list-making software. Listen to it because there's something important you've always wanted to do, if only you could find the time.