In a world that never stops asking for more, how can we focus on what truly matters? In the season premiere of Visiting Experts, Brett Hendrie sits down with Oliver Burkeman, author of Meditations for Mortals and 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, to explore the power of accepting our limits.

Oliver shares insights on why striving for perfection can hold us back, how embracing imperfection can unlock ambition, and why small, deliberate actions often lead to the biggest impact. From navigating work and life like a kayak on a river to tackling intimidating tasks “one step at a time,” this conversation offers practical strategies for reclaiming control, reducing stress, and making time for what counts.

Show notes

[0:00] Brett Hendrie reflects on the myth of “zero inbox”

[1:26] Meet Oliver Burkeman, author of 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals and Meditations for Mortals, expert on productivity, time management and personal effectiveness.

[3:39] Understanding what it means to be a finite human in an infinite world, and how embracing your human limits can be freeing.

[5:52] The dangers of perfectionism in professional and personal life, and why imperfectionism can boost efficiency.

[7:19] Making conscious trade-offs instead of trying to do everything: practical tips for prioritization and decision-making.

[9:10] Oliver’s “kayak vs. superyacht” analogy for navigating uncertainty and making meaningful progress in life and work.

[10:37] Long-term, detailed plans for change can be destined for failure. Instead, start small: take action today without trying to control every outcome.

[12:21] The “just going to the shed” concept: confronting tasks and projects you’ve been avoiding to reduce decision paralysis and procrastination.

[14:43] The liberating idea: every choice on how you spend your time has a cost, and once you accept that reality, you’re free to choose which set of costs you’re willing to pay.

[16:42] Integrating imperfectionism with realistic ambition to achieve more without burnout.

[19:14] Applying these ideas as a leader or manager: balancing control and autonomy to empower teams and increase organizational productivity.

[21:18] “Obviously, what people want is like the three practices you can do every day, and then you've got this nailed. But a big part of what I'm trying to say in this book is life doesn't work like that. And so, if you actually want the change, I think you do need to work on developing the patience to sort of try these things bit by bit.

“If you were to ask me for like, what's one thing that people can do, then my answer would be: there is something in your work or your life that you know is really meaningful to you… Do 10 minutes of that thing today and actually do it.”

To explore more leadership tips and tricks from the Rotman School of Management, check out our Rotman Executive Summary podcast, featuring the latest research and thought-leadership from our esteemed faculty. Check it out on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And be sure to subscribe to the Rotman Insights Hub bi-weekly newsletter for even more insights shaping business and society.

Big ideas. Bold conversations. Rotman Visiting Experts returns September 30. Join host Brett Hendrie as he chats with the influential thinkers and leaders featured in our acclaimed speakers series. This season, learn how to embrace imperfectionism, master your intuition and lead like a maverick.

Season 4 launches September 30 — follow now so you don't miss an episode.

Every search, like, and click leaves a trace — but what do these digital breadcrumbs really say about you? Author and professor Sandra Matz joined host Brett Hendrie to explore the psychology of data and how businesses use this information to build detailed profiles, predicting everything from your personality to your spending habits. How much do they really know, and what can you do about it?

Three takeaways

1. What you do online says so much more about you than you realize. Even the words you use in social posts can be telling about your personality. If you use lots of self-centred language (I, me, myself), it can actually be a sign of emotional distress. And studies from nearly a decade ago show that by simply analyzing a person's Facebook likes and follows, AI can be better at predicting someone's personality than their closest friends and family.
2. And businesses can use this information to influence their consumer behaviour. Matz worked on one study with a beauty retailer that proves the point. For outgoing extroverts, language on the ads highlighted the fun nights ahead, while for introverts the ads focused on self-care at home, and the campaign was hugely successful. But Matz warns, leaders need to be very cautious about using this type of information; after all trust is easily broken and it's a fine line between giving people exactly what they want and need from a company and manipulation.
3. Finally, when it comes to privacy issues, Matz warns it's not your social posts people should be most concerned with. It's our phones. The apps on our phones often have complete access to our photo galleries, location data, and even message history. Managing your data privacy can be a full-time job, but for folks who want to take a first step, she recommends being way more mindful about the permissions you give to companies when downloading your next app or game.