Listen " Sarah von Bargen is here to help you correct your bad self-help habits "
Episode Synopsis
“Better or happier usually takes much less time than we think.” – Sarah Von Bargen
Sarah Von Bargen (@yesandyesblog) is a writer, teacher, and business/lifestyle consultant. Her work focuses on goal-setting, work/life balance, productivity habits, money management, and the pursuit of happiness.
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Sarah deconstruct her six principles for identifying, embracing, and maintaining happiness:
Principle #1: You’re probably not the exception to the rule (6:30)
Principle #2: Stop pretending it’s easy (15:30)
Principle #3: The truth about work/life balance is that you’re going to find “success” a lot slower if you have that balance (17:30)
Principle #4: Track your process not your progress (37:30)
Principle #5: You probably can’t predict what will work (45:50)
Principle #6: Don’t set goals you can’t control (50:00)
For more from Sarah, check out her blog, yesandyes.org
Notable Links:
Moment (productivity app)
Pomodoro Technique (time management method)
Freedom (productivity app)
Anti-Social (productivity app)
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference
Everest mountaineer Alison Levine on introversion and finding mentors (episode of Deviate with Rolf Potts podcast
True Story (interview series, by Sarah Von Bargen)
Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in Rosedale, Mississippi, by Rolf Potts (article)
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].
More episodes of the podcast Deviate
An audiobook about how (not) to write a travel book: 9 lessons from my failed van-life memoir
02/09/2025
Vagabonding pioneer Ed Buryn on what indie travel was like in the 1960s and 1970s (encore)
05/08/2025
Before Sunrise (redo): Screenwriter Kim Krizan on what led up to the classic travel-romance movie
20/05/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.