# Episode 114: What keeps you from productivity?

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2017-04-07
- Length: 1h 03m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the factors that hinder or help their productivity as makers and content creators. They identify specific blockers such as interruptions, lack of interest in a project, and missing materials, while sharing strategies like using checklists, managing email, and leveraging new tools for motivation. The conversation also covers technical experiments with laser-cut living hinges and belt grinders, alongside practical advice on intellectual property and community engagement.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=0) Introduction: Jimmy Diresta's Birthday and Atlanta Maker Faire Recap
- [5:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=303) David Picciuto's DNA Results and Laser Cutting Living Hinges
- [8:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=492) Restoring Tools and Belt Grinder Mechanics
- [14:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=883) Productivity Blockers: Interest, Materials, and Interruptions
- [23:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=1383) Managing Distractions: Email, Browser Tabs, and Shop Cleanliness
- [33:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=2035) Design Processes and the Crossbow Safety Project
- [41:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=2494) Motivation Strategies: New Tools and Random Idea Generators
- [48:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=2909) Trademarking Brand Names and Legal Considerations
- [56:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity#t=3391) High-Speed Drone Footage and Community Recommendations

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sheridan, Atlanta (other)
- Ancestry.com (other)
- McMaster-Carr (other)
- Sketchup (tool)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- Illustrator (tool)
- Trello (tool)
- Social Blade (other)
- Tipman Stitcher (product)
- South Bend Lathe (product)
- High-speed camera (product)
- Smarter Everyday (other)
- America's Test Kitchen (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S2 E43 Engineering Productivity | Matthew Gaddy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-10-08-s2-e43-engineering-productivity-matthew-gaddy) (Being an Engineer)
- [STL359: Making the Most of Shop Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-02-06-stl359-making-the-most-of-shop-time) (Shop Talk Live)
- [A word from the hosts: we've changed our podcast process for the better](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2024-08-07-a-word-from-the-hosts-weve-changed-our-podcast-process-for-the-better) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [439: Ditches and Psychology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-01-06-439-ditches-and-psychology) (Embedded.fm)
- [Is This A Show?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-02-is-this-a-show) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-04-07-episode-114-what-keeps-you-from-productivity. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.