I’m Mike Vardy, and I help people build a better relationship with time — not by controlling it, but by working with it. Through my writing, courses, and community, I explore how intention and attention shape a more meaningful life — one rooted in the original idea of productiveness over productivity.
The Devil’s in the Details (and the Details Need Direction)
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Hello Reader, October 30 — sometime known as Devil’s Night. A fitting time to talk about what haunts so many of us: the details. The calendar gives us the directory of our days—where things live. We stare down a swarm of half-done projects and open loops. Fear sets in—the fear of forgetting, of not finishing, of facing too much at once. But fear fades when we can see clearly. That’s what Attention Paths are for: to give the details shape and sequence so they stop stalking us from the shadows. Every task you face can be sorted through five simple lenses:
When you use these paths, your to-do list becomes less of a haunted house and more of a map. Projects break into smaller pieces. See you later, P.S. The devil might be in the details—but The Productivity Diet helps you see the design beneath them. Get the book → |
The Practice of Productiveness
I’m Mike Vardy, and I help people build a better relationship with time — not by controlling it, but by working with it. Through my writing, courses, and community, I explore how intention and attention shape a more meaningful life — one rooted in the original idea of productiveness over productivity.
Hello Reader, I discovered Chris Dalla Riva the same way I discover a surprising number of meaningful things these days: by scrolling through TikTok. Not doom-scrolling, not distraction for distraction’s sake—just wandering through that unpredictable digital bazaar where brilliance and absurdity sit shoulder to shoulder. Depending on the hour, my feed swings between thoughtful essays, clever creators, and Sora-generated fever dreams of cats caterwauling at customers from behind fast-food...
Hello Reader, A quick note to share a few things I’m part of this week that you might enjoy. Tuesday November 18th: I’m hosting a live conversation with Stacey Harmon about where Evernote is headed—new ownership, new tools, and what all of this actually means for the way we take and use notes. Join in on LinkedIn or on YouTube. Wednesday November 19th: Erik Fisher and I are back with our Productivity A to Z (Volume 2) livestream. It’s open, unscripted, and you can learn more about the...
The Lantern by Mike Vardy Vol. 1, Issue 38| November 15, 2025 Hello Reader, Lately I’ve been noticing how haste hides well. It doesn’t always look like rushing—it often looks like helping. Like wanting to get the next idea into someone’s hands before it’s ready. Like tightening the prose just a little too much so it “lands.” Like turning a living concept into a system before it’s had the chance to breathe. In my work, I’ve learned that haste makes waste isn’t about losing time—it’s about...