12-Week Challenge
Examples of Testimonials
Why are testimonials important?
First of all, thank you so much for considering providing a testimonial. This is very much appreciated. As you have heard me saying before, my plan is to scale up the 12-Week Productivity Challenge to reach out to as many people as possible. One of the best ways to convince people to give it a try is to provide real testimonials from participants.
The most important part is that these testimonials are genuine!
How will I use the testimonial?
I will use them to promote the workshops and the 12-Week Productivity Challenges. The testimonials will mainly show up here on the webpage, but I plan also to develop promotional material (e.g., a leaflet) that I can use for communication with universities and research institutes to deliver workshops. Finally, I will use them for promotion on LinkedIn, X, and other social media. If you feel uncomfortable with one of them, please let me know. I will then use your testimonial only where you feel comfortable with.
Of course, if at any time you want to retract it, just drop me a short email. You don’t have to give me a reason at all.
Examples
Here are a few made-up examples to give you a feeling of what I am looking for. Again, the important part is to tell how this impacted you personally. What kind of impact did it have on you? Are you more calm now? Do you feel more in control? Did you get your promotion, tenure, or new position? Did you finish your PhD? Did it help you to go through very stressful times?
Below I added also a few examples for short versions as well. While they are not as effective, they are still useful. The best would be if you could me with a short and a long one.
Raj Patel, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science
Westbridge University
"Before the 12-week challenge, my research time was constantly hijacked by urgent admin and student queries. Now, reserving my mornings for deep work on my fellowship proposal became non-negotiable—and I submitted a strong promotion case I'd been delaying for over a year. The shared Excel log kept me accountable, and seeing consistent Pomodoros add up felt incredibly motivating. This wasn't about working more; it was about finally working on what matters most. Highly recommend for any academic stuck in reactive mode!”
Clara Moreau , Professor in Engineering
Technical University of Northridge
“I joined skeptical—another productivity 'hack'? But protecting dedicated time for my review paper (the one I'd been avoiding) changed everything. By week 6, I'd made more progress than in the previous two years combined. The “Rule of Three” kept me from overcommitting, and logging weekly efforts in the shared sheet built real momentum and a sense of community. This challenge gave me back control over my academic trajectory and reminded me why I love research. If you're serious about high-impact work without burnout, this is it."
Dr. Liam O'Connor, Postdoc in Chemistry
National Institute of Research
"The 12-Week Challenge was a game-changer during a tough transition phase. I picked three realistic goals: revise my first-author manuscript, outline a new grant idea, and maintain exercise. By committing to morning Pomodoros before email chaos hit, I protected 4–5 focused sessions most weekdays. Logging them in the shared sheet (with fun emojis!) made me accountable without pressure—Helmut's occasional nudges were spot-on and encouraging. I submitted the revised paper (accepted!) and now have a strong grant skeleton. This showed me productivity in academia can be steady .”
Elena Martinez, Assistant Professor in History
University of Southbank
“Years of accumulated 'important but not urgent' tasks had buried my book project. The challenge helped me apply the Rule of Three ruthlessly: only book writing, course refresh, and one outreach piece. Starting days with blue box time (before meetings or admin) felt revolutionary. Tracking weekly Pomodoros in the group log built quiet momentum—even on low weeks, the average held up. Helmut's feedback emails kept me aligned and motivated. By the end, I'd drafted three new chapters and felt in control again. If you're an academic drowning in reactivity, this program restores purpose and progress.”
Examples for shorter Testimonials
Dr. Sean O’Leary, Lecturer in Data Science, Westbridge University
"The 12-week challenge finally got me writing every morning before email took over. Three focused goals, daily Pomodoros, and the shared log kept me consistent. I submitted a long-delayed journal article—huge win!"
Dr. Fatoumata Akosua, Research Fellow in Neuroscience, Ashford Metropolitan
"Juggling grants and experiments left no space for thinking. Front-loading focused sessions delivered a funded proposal. The accountability felt supportive, not stressful. Game-changer!"
Prof. Bizimana, Professor in Mathematics, Crestview Academy
"Even at senior level, admin buries big ideas. Carving out protected time and tracking weekly efforts produced more quality output than in recent years. Renewed energy for research—highly recommend."
Dr. Nia Nsengiyumva, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Northridge University
"Thesis writing felt endless until I front-loaded Pomodoros on mornings. The shared Excel log showed progress even on slow weeks. Submitted my methods chapter—feels achievable now!"
Dr. Maria Santo, Senior Lecturer in History, Silverton Research University
"Years of reactive days buried my book project. Starting intentional with blue box time and Rule of Three brought three new chapters. Control and joy restored—transformative."
Dr. Claire Laurant, Associate Professor in Biology, Elmhurst University
“As a new mum juggling lab and teaching, this program gave structure without pressure. Three Pomodoros before anything else led to my successful promotion. Gentle accountability made all the difference."