674: Workflows with Shawn Blanc

Shawn Blanc left his job back in 2011 to become a full-time writer. Twelve years later, he's the mastermind behind sites like The Focus Course and The Sweet Setup and more. Stephen and David ask him about that journey and how he's grown his operation from a solo venture to a team running multiple projects.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• TextExpander: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander.
• Sanebox: Stop drowning in email!
• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code MPU at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
• Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.

Guest Starring:

Shawn Blanc

Links and Show Notes:

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums.

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Mac Power Users Feedback - Relay FM

Shawn Blanc

Colophon – Shawn Blanc

Shawn Blanc (@shawnblanc) / Twitter

Tools and Toys

The Focus Course

Focus Like a Boss — The Focus Course

The Sweet Setup

MacBook Air with M1 chip - Apple

Studio Display - Apple

Keychron Q2 QMK Custom Mechanical Keyboard

Clicky Keyboards – Shawn Blanc

Apple Extended Keyboard II | John Gruber on Flickr

Thirty Months with a 12-inch PowerBook G4 – Shawn Blanc

The 12-inch PowerBook G4 - 512 Pixels on YouTube

Otter - Voice Meeting Notes & Real-time Transcription

Marco Polo

Great Expectations – Shawn Blanc

"What do you write as the very first post on the first day of your new job as a full-time writer? I have no idea."

Writers I Read: Shawn Blanc – 512 Pixels

Stephen's interview of Shawn from January 2012.

The Matrix (1999) - Bullet Time Scene - YouTube

Apple’s plans to cut apps out of its affiliate program may shut down independent iOS news sites - The Verge

Reader’s Setup: Stephen Hackett – Shawn Blanc

Stephen's setup from October 2009. Those SoundSticks were retired just a few weeks ago!

World-Class, On-Demand Courses for Apple Users – The Sweet Setup

Find focus. Own your time. Gain traction with your goals. — Focus Accelerator

My Books - Chris Bailey

Basecamp

Slack

Notion

Notion Mastery

Loom: Async Video Messaging for Work

Things 3

My One Problem with Things 3 – 512 Pixels

The 2×2 Newsletter – Shawn Blanc

Ulysses

Audible

iA Writer