“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.

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