Starting his journey in the bustling world of food service as a General Manager, Darrell discovered the magic of Notion during a quest to streamline endless tasks and bring some order to the chaos. Hooked by the platform’s potential, he ventured into the realm of digital productivity tools, transforming his insights and experiences into templates that anyone could use to enhance their work and personal life.

Dive into this interview where Darrell reveals how he crafts tools that are as intuitive as they are innovative. Whether you’re a seasoned Notion user or a newcomer looking to declutter your digital space, Darrell’s journey and creations are sure to inspire.

Q: What inspired you to start Dub D Productions and focus on productivity tools like Notion templates?

A: Dub D Started off with our Video editing company and after working with Notion it was necessary to incorporate that part within the company.

I have been working in the food service industry for many years, and as a GM there are many moving parts that require attention. Once I found Notion and started plugging in some of my productivity sheets, I was hooked. The ability to have everything in one place was a no brainer.

Q: Can you describe the journey from concept to final product for one of your Notion templates?

A: It all starts with a need. Once the need was exposed the plan now becomes, how can I make this an easier task? Then the work begins, placing each piece of the puzzle together until the picture/ template is complete.

Q: How do you identify the specific needs your templates should address for users?

A: Again it started with needs that I personally had. Incorporating the databases to track, identify and solve different issues, I found this can apply to other users as well. When I started using Notion I realized it was a platform with endless possibilities for everyone. 

Q: What challenges have you encountered in designing productivity tools, and how have you overcome them?

A: Sometimes I have an idea that I know will work, but getting the software to cooperate is another task altogether. What I do then is to try and try again, without giving up. Eventually, the lightbulb comes on and the problem is solved.

Q: How do you ensure that your templates remain intuitive and user-friendly for both Notion novices and experts?

A: It actually starts with me, again because I’m relatively new to the Notion world. I have yet to master all of the special formulas and more complicated parts of Notion. So it’s easy to make it user-friendly for other users because I only know how to keep it simple at this time. I know that sounds funny, but it’s the absolute truth.

Q: What is the most underrated productivity tool that you think more people should use?

A: That was a tough question, I had to think about it for a minute. I believe and speaking from experience again, the calendar template. What I mean by that is, that I get all excited and put plans into the calendar / Planner and then do not even go back to it. Sometimes I “just do it” without checking the planner. Almost like going to the grocery store with a list and not even looking at it while shopping. LOL, I do it all the time. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to streamline their personal and professional life using Notion?

A: I would say start with the database, brainstorming exactly what it is you want to keep track of, and start adding all of those pieces into the master template. For example, project management may need things like a timeline, cost analyzer, scheduling, idea bank, and so on. Keep it clean, keep it simple, and always keep it going until you finish. Don’t give up, Ever.

Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?

A: Well, I get up in the morning and have my cup of tea while checking my emails, daily posts, and Spiritual reflections. After that, I have a bite to eat and spend about an hour looking at tasks that need to be done for the day and prioritize the order of importance. Then I usually do a light physical workout and finish the morning working on the planned tasks for the day.

After lunch, I Like to go for errands in town that get me out of the house for a while.

Then we get to the later part of the afternoon. I go back to the PC and hammer out any unfinished work for the day. Dinner time and beyond for the day is spent with my wife, usually watching some of our favorite shows. then off to bed. That sounds so ridiculously boring, right now that’s how I like it. You see I have just officially retired as of 6/30/24  before that my days were non-stop as a chef working 9 hours a day. I would come home tired which made it hard to do anything else.

Q: What’s your favorite way to relax or destress?

A: Usually it starts with my recliner and perhaps an intriguing movie or even a brief nap. One of my favorite things to do is a drive to the mountains or one of our famous attractions (garden of the gods) in Colorado Springs. This also holds a special place in my heart because of the connection my wife and I had the first time we went together.

Q: Are there any upcoming projects or new templates you are excited about?

A: Yes there are, I am especially excited about the advent of learning how to create OS templates. I just finished the “Newsletter OS for Notion 1.0” and am working on two more using the same kind of  Operating System outline.

As we wrap up our chat with Darrell, it’s clear that his journey from the heat of the kitchen to the cool efficiency of Notion templates isn’t just a career shift but a passion project that continues to evolve.

Whether he’s refining his latest template or enjoying a serene drive through the Colorado mountains, Darrell embraces each day with the same zest and zeal that he brought to his decades in the food service industry.

Keep an eye on Dub D Productions, because if Darrell’s past innovations are anything to go by, the future is sure to be exciting, productive, and impeccably organized.

Thanks for tuning in, and here’s to finding the tools that make life a little easier and a lot more fun!