Productivity Smarts

If AI can plan your day, write your reports, and automate the busy work, what's really left for you? Are we all project managers now? Or is the bigger shift that entire organizations have to become project driven just to stay relevant?
In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard reunites with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, the world champion of modern project management and author of the new Harvard Business Review book Powered by Projects. This time, they go deep into the core ideas of his book and what they mean for the future of work.
Antonio breaks down why organizations must become project driven if they want to survive and grow. Despite decades of refined methodologies, 70 to 80 percent of projects still fail. The problem is not a lack of tools. It is outdated structures, weak governance, and leadership that has not adapted to change.
As artificial intelligence and automation take over routine tasks, Antonio explains that innovation, transformation, and strategic initiatives will define human contribution. That shift requires building what he calls a transformation muscle at both the organizational and individual level.
Gerald and Antonio unpack the three dimensions outlined in the book, why leaders must spend more time outside their comfort zones, and why killing the wrong projects can be just as important as launching the right ones.
Whether you're a CEO looking to transform your company, a team leader managing initiatives, or an individual navigating your career path, this episode provides a blueprint for thriving in the project economy.
 
What We Discuss
[00:00] Podcast introduction

[02:01] Guest introduction: Antonio Nieto Rodriguez

[04:13] Antonio's success and goal setting

[06:01] Keeping goals front and center

[08:58] The project economy and project driven organizations

[11:36] Adapting to change and building transformation muscle

[15:01] Project driven organizations key concepts

[15:39] Blueprint for project driven organizations

[17:27] Leadership's role in projects

[18:36] Finishing and sunsetting projects

[20:50] Working on vs in the business

[22:19] Advice for project driven organizations/Three big bets

[23:53] Laser focus vs multitasking in projects

[24:25] Embracing failure and stopping projects

[28:30] Harvesting value from failed projects

[29:44] Final advice for job seekers

[30:42] Where to find Antonio and his books

[31:08] Podcast closing 

 
Notable Quotes
[10:16]  "Robots and AI and automation, they will take over the whole operations that you don't need people to run any parts of the operations." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[10:33] " I see the future of work is project based work and you need to put projects at the center." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[11:42] " If you currently work always in the same place with the same people doing the same thing every day of the week, then your job was, will disappear for sure in six to 12 months. You have a problem." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[13:05]  "As human beings, we crave normal. At the same time, we crave novelty." – Gerald

[11:23] " AI's not gonna take your job, but a person who really knows how to use AI will." – Gerald

[16:12] " We have organizations built to be successful for the 19th century." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[16:50] " If you launch more projects than you finished, you're a bad leader.  You're creating an overflow of projects. " – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[19:49] " Most leaders don't feel like spending time in projects and transformation because they're uncomfortable." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[23:19] " How can a company with 50,000 people have people working of on a project of 20 people have everyone part-time. It's the worst you can do." – Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[25:51] " You should not see failure as failure. It's not failure. I think you're experimenting."– Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

[30:07] "If there's something that is going to set us apart is that entrepreneurship mindset."– Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

 
Resource and Links
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Website: https://antonionietorodriguez.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonionietorodriguez/

Book: Powered by Projects (Harvard Business Review)

Book: Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook

Productivity Smarts Podcast
Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard
Website - geraldjleonard.com

Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

 
Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

What if one of the biggest drivers of your productivity wasn't your calendar, your habits, or your willpower but the light around you?  In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, a world-leading expert in circadian biology and founder of the Circadian Light Research Center. Dr. Moore-Ede, known as "The Light Doctor," reveals a hidden productivity lever most of us overlook entirely: the light around us.
We live in a world of artificial light, but not all light is created equal. Dr. Moore-Ede explains how modern LED and fluorescent lighting disrupt our internal biological clocks, leading to poor sleep, foggy thinking, weakened immune systems, and even long-term health risks. What begins as a conversation about light evolves into a fundamental discussion on human biology, explaining how the blue spectrum in everyday bulbs tells our brain it is daytime, halting vital repair processes, suppressing cancer-fighting melatonin, and throwing our entire system out of sync.
Gerald and Dr. Moore-Ede explore practical, science-backed strategies to harness light for peak performance. Learn the four key pillars of a "healthy light diet," why morning outdoor time is non-negotiable, and how to choose evening lighting that will not sabotage your sleep. Discover how companies worldwide are using these principles to boost workforce productivity by over 30 percent, reduce errors, and improve safety.
This episode shows how to work with your biology rather than against it. If you want to sharpen your focus, enhance your energy, sleep deeply, and unlock a new level of sustainable productivity, it starts with the light you see.
 
What We Discuss
[00:00] Podcast introduction

[01:17] Kiva non-profit spotlight

[02:01] Guest introduction: Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[03:14] Personal interests: music preferences

[04:37] Immediate productivity gains from healthy lighting

[05:51] Dr. Moore-Ede's background and circadian research

[07:05] Discovery of the brain's circadian clock

[08:06] Modern lighting and health disruption

[09:39] How circadian rhythms work

[11:31] Health risks of nighttime light exposure

[12:49] Choosing healthy lighting at home

[14:00] How eyes detect light: rods, cones, and non-visual receptors

[15:41] Daytime light exposure and longevity

[17:08] Light's impact on productivity and sleep

[18:36] Aging, well-being, and productivity

[20:16] Types of light and their effects

[22:58] Four key principles for healthy circadian practice

[24:21] Practical home lighting adjustments

[25:01] Lighting for focus and brainstorming

[26:00] Lighting, stress, and 24/7 work culture

[28:18] Workplace design innovations

[31:03] Where to learn more: Dr. Moore-Ede's resources

[32:30] Podcast wrap-up and closing remarks

 
Notable Quotes
[04:49] These days people are inside, they're on their devices, and we are under lights that are actually rather unhealthy." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[05:07] "Light is not just for vision. It's actually very much to do with health." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[04:46] "If people start to adopt a healthy light diet, they get much sharper in their thinking, sleep deeper, feel better, and their immune system is strengthened." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[06:25] "I found myself working 36-hour long shifts under bright fluorescent lights around the clock, dealing with fatigue and health challenges under those conditions." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[11:23] "We are so much healthier and sleep better when we are aligned with the natural cycle of day and night." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[12:28] "We get into is the modern LED lights that have replaced all our lighting. All our lighting is pumping out tons of blue that is really disrupting our clocks and causing all sorts of ill health." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[16:50] "We just take light for granted and don't know what we're buying at the store or what we're switching on when we turn that switch on the wall." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[19:23] "Someone who is fatigued and sleep disrupted, whose clock is messed up by light, is just not going to be very productive." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

[29:08] "We can really boost performance and productivity, and reduce errors by putting the right lighting in those workplaces." – Dr. Martin Moore-Ede

 
Resource and Links
Dr. Martin Moore-Ede
Website (Consulting Firm): https://circadian.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-Moore-Ede-a25914

Book: The Light Doctor (Amazon Bestseller)

Newsletter: The Light Doctor Newsletter (Substack)

Productivity Smarts Podcast
Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard
Website - geraldjleonard.com

Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

 
Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

Imagine at 45, Melissa Jean Rod discovered that the man she had always believed was her father wasn't. What followed was a journey full of family secrets, DNA twists, and moments that felt almost like a detective story, all while learning to forgive when it seemed impossible.
In this episode of Productivity Smarts, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with Texas-born author and speaker Melissa Jean Rod to unpack her decades-long journey of uncovering the truth about her father. Her story, chronicled in The Daddy Files: How I Survived the Secrets and Found the Truth that Heals, takes listeners through the raw reality of questioning paternity, facing hidden truths, and learning to forgive, all while discovering God as the unwavering Father.
What begins as a search for biological answers evolves into a deeper spiritual and emotional transformation. Gerald and Melissa explore how unresolved pain can silently impact productivity, relationships, and personal growth, and why facing trauma courageously through writing, prayer, and honest reflection is essential for freedom. They share practical ways to navigate emotional bandwidth, from therapy, walks, music, and sunsets to leaning on supportive relationships, all while staying committed to life's daily demands.
Melissa reflects on how her identity shifted from being defined by others to being rooted in God and herself, showing that grit, persistence, and truth-seeking mirror the stamina needed for meaningful goals. This conversation is a beacon for anyone wrestling with family secrets, identity questions, or emotional blocks, offering hope that inner healing unlocks creativity, resilience, and lasting productivity.
 
What We Discuss
[00:00] Introduction

[02:01] Introduction to  Melissa Jean Rod and The Daddy Files

[04:14] How Melissa started writing

[05:41] Emotional challenges in writing

[06:07] Productivity and emotional healing

[07:48] Personal story: relationships & healing

[09:11] Processing trauma and growth

[10:39] Staying resilient while writing

[12:50] Balancing daily demands

[16:15] The power of routine and habits

[18:32] Identity shifts and inner work

[19:03] Forgiveness and letting go

[21:15] Support systems and emotional breakdowns

[23:00] Managing emotional bandwidth

[24:44] Tools for emotional healing

[25:59] Creativity, storytelling, and authenticity

[27:54] Persistence and stamina in goal setting

[29:02] Closing & where to find Melissa

[30:01] Podcast outro & call for reviews

 
Notable Quotes
[08:46] "Things that go on in your past, if you don't deal with them, they do affect what you're going through now, and it does affect how you process things and how productive you can be." – Melissa Jean Rod

[11:09] "I needed that break for my heart and my mind. Otherwise it would have been too much." – Melissa Jean Rod

[23:33] "For me, I do a lot of talking with God and I dump it on him." – Melissa Jean Rod

[19:07] "For me, it was a case of realizing that my identity did not revolve around who my biological father was or who my mother was. It was me. My identity was in me and in God." – Melissa Jean Rod

[20:04] "I had to make a decision to get better, not bitter, and to grow through this and not just go through this." – Gerald J. Leonard

[24:33] "I have gone to therapy many times. And it's a wonderful tool. If you have the right therapist, they are amazing." – Melissa Jean Rod




Resource and Links
Melissa Jean Rod
Website: https://melissajeanrod.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jean-rod-046b713a4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaJeanRod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissajeanrod/#

Book – The Daddy Files

Productivity Smarts Podcast
Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard
Website - geraldjleonard.com

Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

 
Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

In this episode, host Gerald J. Leonard pulls back the curtain on his personal journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence and accelerated learning. What began as a physical constraint, losing the ability to walk before a TEDx talk, became a catalyst for discovering the neuroscience of learning and the superpower of accelerated adaptation.
Gerald shares how he applied principles of music, meditation, and transformational learning techniques to not only recover but to thrive, eventually tackling four simultaneous Ivy League courses in AI. From this intense period of study and experimentation, the Jet Prompt Optimizer was born, a custom tool designed to solve the universal problem of communicating effectively with Large Language Models (LLMs).
This conversation is a deep dive into how curiosity and systematic learning can lead to innovation. Gerald explores the direct link between mastering new skills, building intelligent systems, and reclaiming personal time and freedom. He reveals how the right tools can transform chaos into calm, automate heavy lifting, and allow us to focus on what makes us uniquely human, creativity and connection.
https://app.jetpromptoptimizer.ai/ 
 What We Discuss
[00:00] Introduction

[02:04] Gerald's superpower & personal story

[02:27] Discovery of accelerated learning techniques

[03:16] Inspiration for Jet Prompt Optimizer

[05:12] Development journey of Jet Prompt Optimizer

[06:31] Patents and unique approach

[07:24] Benefits for clients and personal life

[08:42] Course and community plans

[09:53] How to connect with the guest

[10:47] Podcast closing & call to action

 
Notable Quotes
[02:16] "I lost the ability to walk six weeks before my TEDx talk, and I was able to recover because I'm a musician as well." – Gerald J. Leonard

[04:06] "AI is not broken. We just don't know how to communicate with it clearly." – Gerald J. Leonard

[06:05] "I built Six Sigma and evaluation frameworks into the prompts so AI gives you what you actually want." – Gerald J. Leonard

[08:23] "The systems are doing the heavy lifting and we can be humans and connect on an emotional level." – Gerald J. Leonard

 
Resources and Links:
https://app.jetpromptoptimizer.ai/ 
Productivity Smarts Podcast
Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard
Website - geraldjleonard.com

Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

 
Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds

How can a 22 day silent retreat at a Buddhist monastery transform trauma, mindset, and daily productivity? In this episode of Productivity Smarts, Gerald J. Leonard sits down with  Laurie S. Jacobson, certified health coach, motivational speaker, and author of Unexpected Awakening: 22 Days at a Buddhist Monastery Freed Me from Abuse, for a powerful conversation on transformation, resilience, and holistic productivity.  Laurie shares her raw and inspiring journey of leaving an emotionally abusive marriage at age 43 and finding unexpected refuge in a silent meditation retreat at a Buddhist monastery. What began as a one week stay stretched into 22 days due to a snowstorm and ultimately changed the course of her life.
Through silence, mindfulness, Buddhist teachings, and compassionate human connection,  Laurie experienced profound shifts in awareness, self trust, and purpose. Together, Gerald and  Laurie explore how silence sharpens listening and emotional intelligence, why productivity breaks down when mental and emotional blocks go unaddressed, and how small baby steps can dissolve feelings of being stuck. They discuss habit stacking, trusting the process like a GPS rerouting, and why integrating mind, body, and spirit leads to sustainable productivity beyond rigid to-do lists and short term motivation.
The conversation also dives into how meditation helps surface repressed emotions, how consistency outperforms inspiration, and why a strong why is essential for long term health, creativity, and meaningful change.  Laurie explains how habits naturally piggyback across physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions, creating momentum while preventing burnout and overwhelm.
If you are interested in turning adversity into growth, building mindful habits, or redefining productivity through holistic well being, this is a must listen.
 
What We Discuss
[00:00] Podcast introduction

[02:01] Introduction to   Laurie S. Jacobson

[02:33] Favorite music and personal background

[04:07] Journey to becoming a health coach

[05:39] Transformation at the Buddhist monastery

[06:11] The power of silence and listening

[08:40] Overcoming mental and emotional obstacles

[10:38] Dealing with feeling stuck

[12:55] The GPS analogy for getting unstuck

[15:32] Integrating physical, mental, and spiritual growth

[18:44] Building consistency and support systems

[19:42] Maintaining follow through and creating habits

[23:24] The importance of knowing your why

[23:53] Host's personal story and motivation

[26:36] How to connect with  Laurie S. Jacobson

[27:33] Podcast closing and call for reviews

 
Notable Quotes
[06:35] "Silence is so powerful. And I think what it does is it makes you a better listener." – Laurie Jacobson

[07:19] "When one of your senses is lost, the other senses get magnified." – Laurie Jacobson

[07:46] "When you focus on listening, you are able to pick up on the intent of what people are saying and the emotions." – Laurie Jacobson

[11:36] "I'm a big believer in baby steps. Slow and steady wins the race." – Laurie Jacobson

[12:27] "The hardest thing is starting." – Laurie Jacobson

[14:50] "You have to have faith and trust that once you start moving forward that you'll find the satellite." – Laurie Jacobson

[25:41] "Spend a lot of time focusing on the why." – Gerald J. Leonard

[25:58] "The bigger your why, the more powerful it's going to pull you." – Laurie S. Jacobson

 
Resources and Links
Laurie Jacobson
Website: https://lauriesjacobson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-s-jacobson-b6271b13/

Book – Unexpected Awakening: 22 Days at a Buddhist Monastery Freed Me from Abuse

Productivity Smarts Podcast
Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com

Gerald J. Leonard
Website - geraldjleonard.com

Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com

Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard

Mentioned in the episode:
Atomic Habits by James Clear

 
Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds