Managing Digital Distractions: Insights from Mister Productivity (Part 2)
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
Release Date: 12/04/2025
Tiered Pricing in the AI Era: What Actually Works (with Dan Balcauski)
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
Tiered pricing is becoming the simplest way to sell AI-powered SaaS without turning your pricing page into a technical explanation. In my interview with Dan Balcauski, founder and Chief Pricing Officer at Product Tranquility, we talked about why AI is forcing new pricing decisions earlier than ever—and why “good, better, best” packaging often works because it keeps buying decisions clear while helping companies manage real AI costs. The AI era is making pricing margin-aware again. Tiered pricing helps you protect margins without forcing buyers to learn your cost...
info_outline
Minimal Viable Pricing: How to Stop Guessing and Start Learning (with Dan Balcauski)
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
Minimal viable pricing is the fastest way to stop debating what your product should cost and start learning what customers will actually pay for. In my interview with Dan Balcauski, founder and Chief Pricing Officer at Product Tranquility, we talked about how early-stage teams can set pricing that’s “good enough” to sell, validate value, and iterate—without getting stuck chasing the perfect number. Pricing can feel risky because it shapes perception, positioning, and revenue. But Dan’s message is practical: you don’t need perfect pricing to move forward—you need minimal viable...
info_outline
Workflow Efficiency Metrics: ROI Without Micromanaging (Michael Toguchi)
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
If you want real improvement—not just more dashboards—workflow efficiency metrics have to start with something most teams avoid: visibility. In Part 2 of our interview with Michael Toguchi, we move from “big ideas” into the operational reality leaders face every day: shadow tools, duplicate systems, fuzzy ROI, and the pricing pressure that shows up when AI makes work faster. This conversation is a reality check for ops leaders, engineering leaders, and consultants trying to scale without drowning in tool sprawl—or measuring productivity in ways that break trust. Workflow...
info_outline
Process Before Tools: How to Scale Without Burnout (Michael Toguchi)
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
If you’ve ever felt like your team is running on duct tape and good intentions, you’re not alone. In this Building Better Developers interview, Michael Toguchi (Chief Strategy Officer at eResources) makes a simple point that changes how you approach growth: process before tools. Before you buy another platform, automate another workflow, or roll out a new system, you need clarity on how the work actually gets done—and who it’s meant to serve. You can’t tool your way out of chaos. The real fix starts upstream—before the migration, before the CRM, before the next sprint. It starts...
info_outline
Conversion Rate Optimization: Find Funnel Bottlenecks and Improve What Matters
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
You validated the idea. You built the page. Maybe you’re even getting traffic. And yet… the conversions don’t match the effort. In Part 2 of our interview with Samir ElKamouny, we shift from “prove the concept” to conversion rate optimization—the discipline of diagnosing what’s actually limiting growth and improving the parts of your funnel that matter most. This isn’t about chasing shiny marketing tactics. It’s about execution: the kind that turns a funnel from “pretty good” into “predictable.” About Samir ElKamouny Samir ElKamouny is an entrepreneur...
info_outline
Market Validation Strategy: Stop Building in the Dark—Validate Your Idea First
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
If you’re a developer or founder, you already know how to build. The hard part is building the right thing, for the right people, at the right time. In Part 1 of our interview with Samir ElKamouny, we dig into a practical market validation strategy that helps you avoid the most expensive mistake in software: investing months of effort into something the market didn’t ask for. Samir’s message is refreshingly grounded: big ideas are great, but execution is everything. And execution doesn’t start with code—it starts with clarity, research, and small tests that tell you whether...
info_outline
New Year, New Momentum: What Developers Can Look Forward to in 2026
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
New Year’s Day hits different when you’re recording with a live studio audience, passing the mic around, and starting the year with a mix of laughs, honest reflection, and big goals. In this Building Better Developers special episode, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche kick off 2026 by sharing a “good thing / bad thing” recap from a recent Christmas party—then opening the floor to the team to talk about the New Year developer goals. It’s casual, it’s real, and it’s a reminder that growth (personal and professional) usually starts with clarity. Michael’s 2026 New...
info_outline
2025 Year-End Reflection for Developers: AI Hype, Layoffs, and What’s Next
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
It’s New Year’s Eve-Eve, and instead of recording from our usual virtual setups, we did something we’ve talked about for years: we hit record in the same room. If you’re watching on YouTube, you can actually see us together. If you’re listening on audio, you’ll just have to trust us—this one was in-person. In this special episode of Building Better Developers (our Building Better Foundations season), we keep it simple: a Year-End Reflection for Developers. What are we ready to leave behind from this year? What do we want to carry into the next one? And what’s the reality...
info_outline
Year-End Reset for Developers: A Pre-Christmas Check-In to Finish Strong
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
The week before Christmas has a way of exposing how the year really went. Deadlines either slow down or pile up, calendars get messy, and the pressure to “wrap everything up” shows up at the same time you’re trying to enjoy the season. In this Pre-Christmas episode of Building Better Developers, and keep it practical: looking back on the year, calling out what worked (and what didn’t), and sharing why a year-end reset for developers is the best way to prepare for a better new year. Why a Year-End Reset for Developers Matters A year-end reset for developers isn’t just...
info_outline
Adapting Your Business to AI: Productivity Surges, New Models, and the Power of Data
Develpreneur: Become a Better Developer and Entrepreneur
In Part 2 of our Building Better Foundations interview with , founder and CEO of Barefoot Solutions and Barefoot Labs, we explore how companies can begin adapting their business to AI over the next one to three years. Rather than imagining futuristic scenarios, Hunter keeps the focus on what’s already happening—and what leaders must do now to stay ahead. About Hunter Jensen Hunter Jensen is the Founder and CEO of Barefoot Solutions, a digital agency specializing in artificial intelligence, data science, and digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience, Hunter has...
info_outlineIn part 2 of our Building Better Developers conversation with Mark Struczewski (Mister Productivity), we shift from foundational habits to the modern reality of our digital world. With smartphones, notifications, social media, and AI competing for every second of our attention, managing digital distractions has become one of the most important productivity skills of our time.
Mark pulls back the curtain on how our devices keep us hooked—and offers practical, simple steps to regain control of our attention before the noise takes over.
About Mark Struczewski
Today, we're joined by Mark Struczewski—pronounced STRU-CHESS-KEY—better known as Mister Productivity. This Houston-based coach and host of the Mister Productivity™ Podcast, with over 1,340 episodes and thousands of downloads, equips busy professionals to crush overwhelm and reclaim focus. Drawing on his corporate grit and daily running discipline, Mark shares his proven 'Distraction Detox' framework to turn digital chaos into high-impact action. Please welcome Mark!
Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, SnapChat
Turning Off the Noise: First Steps in Managing Digital Distractions
Mark starts with a surprisingly bold recommendation: turn off vibration mode—permanently.
Even if your phone is “muted,” vibration keeps your brain on high alert. Removing it creates true silence and removes the physical stimulus that pulls you out of focus.
He also stresses the importance of auditing every app notification you have. Most people tap “Allow” without thinking, and developers take full advantage of that. Mark insists you go through each app and ask:
- Does this notification serve me?
- Or is it another distraction stealing my focus?
In most cases, you’ll turn off 90% of them.
A Notification Is a Demand for Your Attention: If your phone decides what you do next, you’re not in control—your apps are.
Advanced Techniques for Managing Digital Distractions
Beyond simple notification hygiene, we explore more powerful ways to reinforce boundaries.
1. Use Focus Modes Intentionally
Newer smartphones allow you to block almost everything while allowing a short list of apps or people through. It turns your phone into a calmer, quieter version of itself—ideal for deep work.
2. Block Websites at the Router Level
Michael shares how he blocks entire sites like Facebook or news apps from his entire home network. This prevents drifting into distraction, no matter which device he picks up.
3. Silence Individual Contacts
If someone sends constant memes or random texts, you can mute their message sounds without blocking them. Messages still arrive, but they don’t interrupt your work.
These tools aren’t “nanny features”—they’re modern essentials for managing digital distractions in a tech-saturated world.
Social Media Boundaries: Build the Muscle, Not the Habit
One area where many people struggle is social media consumption. Mark shares that he only spends 3–4 intentional minutes on platforms like X or Instagram before moving on.
How? He uses scheduling tools—Meta Business Suite, Buffer, TikTok Studio—to create content in batches and avoid the endless scroll.
His rule is simple:
- Use social media as a tool,
- Not as a default habit.
And if he’s with people in person? The phone goes away—no exceptions. If someone picks up their phone mid-conversation, he stops talking or walks away. For Mark, presence is respect.
True Focus Requires Presence: Being fully present strengthens your attention—even when you’re not working.
The AI Overload Problem
We also explore a growing concern: the overuse of AI tools as substitutes for real thinking. Mark notes that people are starting to treat AI chatbots like best friends, therapists, or decision-makers.
The risks include:
- Reduced mental engagement
- Outsourcing problem-solving
- Losing the ability to think deeply
- Feeling “validated” by an algorithm programmed to agree with you
Studies show that too much AI reliance leads to dramatically lower cognitive activity, essentially putting the brain into a passive state.
Managing digital distractions now includes managing AI—and knowing when to step away.
Why One-on-One Coaching Works Best
Mark explains that when it comes to overcoming distraction and productivity issues, individual coaching surpasses group settings. In groups, people hold back. They don’t want coworkers or managers hearing their real struggles—especially when those struggles involve digital habits.
One-on-one conversations create a safe space for honesty, clarity, and real change.
He even offers a free Productivity Scorecard on his website to help people understand their strengths and weaknesses. But he emphasizes: awareness is only the first step. Improvement requires action.
Ending the Day Right: A Shutdown Routine for Fewer Distractions Tomorrow
Mark ends with one of his most powerful recommendations: a shutdown routine.
This routine creates an intentional gap between screens and sleep—a crucial part of managing digital distractions at night.
His routine includes:
- Turning off screens at a set time
- Listening to calming music
- Journaling a few final thoughts
- Reading a book
- Going to sleep with a quiet, settled mind
A rested brain resists distraction better, thinks more clearly, and starts the next day stronger.
Better Sleep = Better Focus: Managing digital distractions starts with how you unplug at night.
Managing digital distractions isn’t about rejecting technology—it’s about using it on your terms. With the right boundaries, tools, and habits, you can reclaim your focus, protect your time, and build a healthier relationship with the digital world around you.
Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community
We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at info@develpreneur.com with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.