182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

Author: Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart January 30, 2025 Duration: 21:20

Clarify your purpose — and stop wasting time.

The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resolutions and prepare for evolutions, this special four-part series on communication, happiness, and well-being explores practical ways to enhance our lives through better communication, deeper connections, and more meaningful choices.

As Cassie Holmes knows, how we spend our time has a big impact on our happiness and well-being. For her, that means focusing on the things not just immediately in front of us, but those that most closely align with our purpose.

"When I say purpose, what I mean is what really drives you," explains Holmes, a professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management and author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most. Living a happier and more fulfilled life, she says, rests on using purpose to drive our decisions. “Once you clarify for yourself: what is your purpose? What is your why? Then you can use that as a filter [for] where you should be spending your time.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Holmes and host Matt Abrahams explore practical strategies for being more purposeful with our time. From email management to relationship building, Holmes shares research-backed approaches for achieving greater happiness through intentional choices.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/ThinkFast and get ten percent off your first month.

Episode Reference Links:

Connect:


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (03:31) - Defining Purpose
  • (05:54) - Time Management Strategies
  • (08:26) - Time Tracking for Insight
  • (12:49) - Consolidating Tasks
  • (14:41) - Presence and Happiness
  • (16:44) - The Final Three Questions
  • (21:17) - Conclusion

********
Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.

Take advantage of our Sponsor offer from BetterHelp


Ever find yourself scrambling for the right words in a high-stakes meeting or struggling to get your point across clearly? That’s the territory Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques explores. Hosted by Matt Abrahams, a Stanford lecturer and author who understands the real-world pressure of thinking on your feet, this podcast digs into the mechanics of how we connect and convey ideas. Each episode features conversations with specialists across various fields, moving beyond theory to deliver concrete methods you can use immediately. Whether it’s navigating a difficult conversation, structuring a persuasive pitch, or simply becoming a more engaged listener, Matt focuses on the tactical skills that build confidence. The discussions are grounded in his professional experience and academic background, offering a blend of research and relatable application. You’ll hear specific techniques for organizing your thoughts under pressure, using storytelling to make data memorable, and adjusting your communication style for different audiences. This isn’t about abstract concepts; it’s a resource for anyone who needs to influence, lead, or collaborate more effectively in their career and daily interactions. Tune in to this practical podcast for a regular dose of insights that aim to make your communication more intentional and impactful, one conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 284

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Podcast Episodes
257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:57
Why it’s not about being born a great communicator, but becoming one.The greatest communicators aren’t always great from the start. As Lerone Martin knows, even the great Martin Luther King Jr. had to practice before he…
256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:49
Why being kind is the best investment.Can kindness be a company’s competitive advantage? Bonnie Hayden Cheng says yes — and she’s got a business metric to prove it: return on kindness.Cheng is a professor of management a…
255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if y…
253. Top 10: The Best Communication Tips from 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Our 10 favorite communication insights from 2025.The most transformative communication insights are the ones we actually remember to use. That’s why host Matt Abrahams is taking stock of his favorite communication tips f…
252. Rethinks: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:11
Presenting complex information for your audience to understand.As communicators, we often need to take complex information (e.g., financial, technical, or scientific) and make it more understandable for our audience – we…
251. How to Stop Performing and Start Communicating with Presence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
Why good communication requires presence, not performance.Effective communication isn't about perfecting your performance. According to Dr. Kate Mason, it's about being powerfully present.Mason is a world champion debate…
250. How to Navigate Conflict: Tools For Productive Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Celebrate our 250th episode with expert strategies that make tough conversations easier — and more meaningful.Some of the most meaningful shifts in how we communicate come from the moments that challenge us the most. In…