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Everyone has experienced the way\xa0deadlines\xa0can act as a double-edged sword: on the one hand, they force us to get stuff done; but on the other, they often push us to wait until the last minute to get to work, so that we do that work in a poorly executed, slapdash rush. Scientists call that latter dynamic "the\xa0deadline\xa0effect," and my guest today has taken a field-tested dive into how to manage it, so that you can get the advantages of\xa0deadlines, without suffering from their downsides.\n\n\nHis name is Chrisopther Cox, and he's the author\xa0of\xa0The\xa0Deadline\xa0Effect: How to Work Like It's the Last Minute\u2014Before the Last Minute. We begin our conversation with how Chris's experience as a magazine editor got him interested in\xa0deadlines\xa0and what studies have shown as to both their benefits and their pitfalls. Chris then unpacks ways to harness the former\xa0towards greater productivity\xa0in both your personal and professional life, including creating interim checkpoints, knowing how to set reasonable due dates, planning left to right rather than right to left, and using what he calls "soft opens with teeth." Along the way, Chris explains these principles using a bunch of real world case studies, from the system a chef uses\xa0to open multiple Michelin 3-star restaurants to how the Telluride ski resort gets ready to open for the season. We end our conversation with what you can start doing today to take advantage of the power of\xa0deadlines\xa0in your own life.\n\n\nAfter the show is over, check out the show notes at\xa0aom.is/deadline