The Hidden ROI of Generosity with Stoyan Yankov

In this episode, Kat sits down with productivity expert, keynote speaker and community-builder Stoyan Yankov to unpack a surprisingly powerful truth: productivity isn’t about doing more - it’s about living intentionally.

They explore the “giver vs taker” dynamic in business and life, why scarcity thinking blocks opportunities, and how to protect your time without becoming transactional. Plus, Stoyan shares practical tools you can use immediately: the “MVP hat” for networking, building boundaries around advice requests, and his “Daily Menu” method for planning your time with outcomes (not vague to-do lists).

What you’ll learn

• Why productivity = intention, not efficiency
• The “givers / takers / matchers” idea and how to be a mindful giver (with boundaries)
• How generosity and connection create long-term opportunities (without being “salesy”)
• What’s really killing productivity right now: distraction, lack of discipline, and reactive days
• Stoyan’s Daily Menu approach: goals → priorities → time blocks (and why elimination beats addition)
• A simple boundary system for “Can I pick your brain?” requests (without guilt)
• Why scrolling feels like rest… but often fuels anxiety and what to do instead
• The power of identity-based habits (“I don’t do X” vs “I’m trying to do less X”)
• The most underrated truth: the basics (sleep, movement, breathing) still run the show
• Why 10 minutes is enough to create real momentum
• “Be the Most Valuable Person in the room”

ABOUT THE GUEST

Stoyan Yankov is a former movie producer who turned into a productivity & performance consultant, professional speaker, and bestselling author of two business books: PERFORM and PERFORM in Times of Crisis.

Stoyan spent a decade in Denmark, where he earned his MSc in Finance from Aarhus School of Business. After graduating, he began his journey as an entrepreneur, founding a high-end video production agency and working as a movie producer and director. Driven by his mission “to bring people together”, he engaged in organizing numerous premium events, private retreats, and business networking experiences.

As a consultant and coach, Stoyan has worked with over 570 companies worldwide, ranging from large international corporations to high-growth scale-ups, helping them build high-performance cultures, enhance productivity, and strengthen team cohesion.

Stoyan is an experienced speaker, having presented at hundreds of major conferences and events in over 35 countries, including Web Summit, The Next Web, Management Events - Executive Day, and InMerge.

Stoyan has personally interviewed 300+ of the most successful business leaders on the planet. As a founder & host of the Productivity Mastery podcast, he routinely learns from industry giants like Guy Kawasaki, the founder of Reebok, the president of Starbucks, bestselling authors, and top-tier executives.